I'm thinking about getting rid of my Keurig. The coffee just isn't that good. So to replace it, I'm thinking of buying a French Press. Does anyone have one they recommend? The choices on Amazon are overwhelming!
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I mean, you can't really go wrong. Bodum is a great brand, but we also have one from IKEA that works just as well. I use it everyday and love it.
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@glitterboots: My husband uses the Ikea french press or the Areopress which is slightly more complicated but according to him brews a far better cup of coffee. I do not drink coffee so I'm not actually helpful.
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do you like strong coffee? I've found it brews a very different "feel" of coffee. Stronger, yes, but also richer tasting, with more residual very fine grit from the grinds. It has a much more full mouth feel. You should measure the coffee somewhat carefully (I weigh it) but I guess you don't have to.
If you want a great cup of no fuss coffee try the bonavita.
https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV1800SS-Original-Coffee-Stainless/dp/B00P7T4WK8/ref=sr_1_3?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1490204016&sr=1-3&keywords=coffee+maker+bonavitait looks like there is a newer model. This thing brews the best cup of coffee I've ever had. There aren't timers or fancy buttons, just on/off switch and a thermal carafe.
I also have a bialetti and a french press. -
DH is a coffee snob and he has the best seller from Amazon and it has been great! He also uses the aeropress.
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DH has the Bodum brand.
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Have you tried a better coffee with your keurig? I had a french press but was so tired of the cleaning process and the mess, so I switched to Peet's k-cups and have loved it!
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@Coral: That's what I was going to suggest too - trying better coffee. (we also, like you use Peets!)
I have a french press (one Bodum and 1 brand I can't remember) and love both, but I also can get a great cup of coffee from a Keurig depending on what coffee I use.
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@yoursilverlining: I love Peet's! My favorite is Guatemala San Marcos from Amazon for super cheap. It also helps that I got a new Keurig that allows you to brew a stronger cup (which is amazing for when I make iced coffee.)
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I love strong coffee but I really don't like French press. It makes me jittery and it's just too thick or something. I absolutely love my chemex, but a easy thing to try would be a more simple pour over like this :https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0014CVEH6/ref=pd_aw_sbs_325_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=6285GYB6XND6XHP56R2J
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Bodum. You don't need to spend a lot. French press coffee is wonderful.
Hopefully you have (or could get) a nice grinder that will allow you to set a coarse grind, which is appropriate for French press. That prevents the grit that some have mentioned can get into your coffee if you have too fine a grind for the press sieve.
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@PawPrints: yep! bodum and a burr grinder and you're in business!
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@PawPrints: Ok i just ordered a burr grinder. Ive heard that for years too and just never been inspired enough till now!
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@mrsbubbletea: Oh yeah. Lifechanging.
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The two most important factors when brewing something are time and temperature. With a french press the hot water spends more time extracting your caffeine molecules and your aroma compounds, so you will get a more caffeinated, stronger cup than a Keurig where the water runs through the coffee beans.
We use an Ikea French press and its awesome, but Bodum looks nice too. It is such a simple design to begin with, you don't need anything fancy. I even use espresso ground Cafe Bustelo in ours and it doesn't leak through the sieve. I also like that you can brew French press overnight and stick it in the fridge for strong ice coffee in the morning.
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@PawPrints: Ooooh I used to live with an older couple that had a nice grinder for their beans before putting them in the French press, and it did make a world of difference!
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@birdofafeather: is a burr grinder better than a regular coffee grinder?
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Third vote for Peet's k-cups! Try coffee from a french press before buying one. I actually think it's gross because of the residue it leaves on the cups.
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We have an Ikea press and it's perfect for us- I even throw it in the top rack of the dishwasher occasionally! It makes a pretty darn good cup of French press and I wouldn't feel bad if I dropped the carafe or anything. It might be a good option to see if you like the taste of French press coffee and have the patience to wait for it to brew- it definitely takes longer than the Keurig and has an incredibly different taste than drip coffee.
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Have the all metal bodum, which I like because it can't break. I went through a few glass ones before I realized it was worth it to spend a little more for the metal one. It claims to be insulated, too, but it's not really all that insulated.
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We've had several brands and the most (seriously the MOST!) important thing is that you need coarse ground coffee. Pre-ground coffee is usually too fine as it's meant for drip machines. What we do is buy big bags of whole bean and then just grind it at the store (on the coarse setting). Or I'll just grind a week's worth at home. If the coffee is too finely ground you'll get tons of grounds and sludge in your cup.
Honestly I'm constantly breaking them on accident (mostly by dropping them into the sink), so I usually make sure to have a spare ready. But that's just me. I've broken like 10+ in 10 years! It's crazy!
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I have a Bodum loaner. I like it well enough - the only thing different I will be looking for when I invest in my own is one with ounce measurements on the side.
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@JessyMess: agree that with French press it's more about being precise than the actual press you use.
When I first started I used this as a guide. It didn't take long to memorize the process.https://www.craftcoffee.com/how-to-make-coffee/french-press-brew-guide
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@petitenoisette: more consistent cutting instead of kinda slapping the beans around and getting bigger chunks and smaller.
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@SweetiePie: so funny, I'm way too lazy to measure weights even though we got a scale awhile ago for that. But I like my coffee strong and since I make it daily, I know how many scoops! But it's been every single day for years so I guess I know my routine by now! Great guide for beginners though.
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@birdofafeather: oh I should clarify I definitely don't weigh. Its been so long so I can't remember, but I either looked up roughly how many tablespoons or I tinkered till I got it right. But getting it just right to your preference is key. I also found that things like preheating the beaker, the bloom, how long it steeped, etc were all important. If I tried to skip steps I noticed a difference.
And I don't do it daily! I'm too lazy. But it's nice when I have extra time or feel like treating myself. Then I get on a kick and think "man this is the only way to drink coffee!" Then laziness prevails again at some point.
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Also want to add that good kcups are key in a keurig. I like Peet's and LaVazza.
Also, definitely have to descale every few months. It's a pain but I notice a weird taste after a while and then I descale and it improves. -
We looooove our French press! We use the Eileen model from Bodum, and we refer to the French press as Eileen, haha.
We switched to a French press years ago when my drip coffeemaker died. My sister had given me a French press so we started using it and never looked back. After awhile we got a larger one because the original only made just under two mugs of coffee.
I have never really enjoyed a cup of coffee from a Keurig! I do not understand that trend at all! Plus there's this: https://www.google.com/amp/s/mobile.nytimes.com/2016/04/17/business/energy-environment/keurigs-new-k-cup-coffee-is-recyclable-but-hardly-green.amp.html
Good luck with your coffee quest!
ETA: The French press is also small enough to store in a cupboard. I love that it does not take up counter space!
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