Jul 29 2010
Press Pot
BonJour Hugo 8-Cup Unbreakable French Press
Piping hot coffee in three to five minutes with the exquisite taste that only a press pot can deliver is sure to be a hit in any coffee lover’s world. The press pot is a coffee brewing method that allows all of the coffee’s natural oils to be infused into the water unlike drip makers that use paper filters which tend to trap the oils and create a less flavorful coffee.
The press pot is another name used for the French press and is one of the simplest brewing methods available. This brewer is also packed full of history that goes back to the 1800’s but didn’t start to become popular until the early 1900’s.
At first glance the press pot looks like a small coffee decanter or carafe. Upon closer inspection the plunger becomes visible and the idea behind the press pot starts to form. The simplicity of the design is easy to see, a simple steeping process that occurs in a serving pot with a built-in filter on the end of the plunger to keep the coffee grounds held beneath the water when time to serve the coffee.
There are pros and cons to a press pot just like there are pros and cons to any other coffee brewing method. Proponents of the French press argue that it is the only coffee maker that does not trap the essential oils of the coffee bean in a filter. The oils are immediately released into the water to create one of the richest, most aromatic cups of coffee.
On the other hand, the lack of a paper filter means that some sediment is likely to get through the plunger filter and into the coffee. While this is not much and doesn’t bother most people, there are some people who just don’t want any sediment in their coffee. However, with practice pushing the plunger straight down and very slow, the amount of sediment that reaches the coffee becomes less and less.
Adjusting the grind and using a burr grinder for consistency helps with keeping sediment out of the coffee as well. The grind has to be coarse enough to stay beneath the plunger. A blade grinder can produce a coarse grind but it does not have consistency and so there may be fine particles that can escape the plunger filter.
The other downside to a press pot is that the coffee is not kept warm. It must be drunk as soon as it is brewed or it will get cold and lose its flavor. There are two arguments to this point. One is that the press pot is intended to be a brew and serve coffee maker; it is not designed to make a pot of coffee to serve an hour later. Additionally, the press pot can be filled with hot water prior to making the coffee to pre-heat it and aid in keeping the coffee warmer while it steeps. There are also specially designed double walled press pots that are made to keep coffee warmer than other model.
The last drop of coffee in the press pot is as delicious as the first sip, which is what makes the press pot one of the best brewing methods known to coffee lovers. It has been a part of the java jungle for many years and will be around for many more as new coffee drinkers learn what this simple yet powerful little pot can brew.
-Sharon Chapman