|
I've been searching for a replacement plunger without much luck. I thought the price was right and wanted a coffee maker for camping and sailing that wasn't glass (no breakage) but my experience is much like the others. After a few uses the plunger bottom cracked and broke.
its too small, even for a small-sized french pressthe mesh naturally starts to sink into the coffee before you even want to pressi wouldn't recommend the little presses
When mine broke, I found one on Amazon that was identical but made of glass (which I prefer anyway), and most importantly the filter housing is made of stainless steel making a very durable product (it also doesn't have a silicone seal, its just metal mesh).Unfortunately Amazon is not currently carrying it, but I've heard that the Bodum brand has the all stainless steel housing in theirs. This press makes such wonderful coffee, and it's never bitter, I drink it black and love it. Over a very short period of time, from normal pressure of pushing it down on the coffee grounds it breaks apart rendering it useless.I bought mine several years ago from a local company and it was the only small one they had. I'm mainly drinking one "cup" a day for the antioxidants and other health benefits you get from drinking freshly ground coffee, and by using a french press, there is no paper filter to absorb most of the beneficial and flavorful oils.I use two measuring tablespoons of coarsely ground beans for each pot, pour almost boiling water over them, stir and let brew for a few minutes, then slowly depress the plunger to push the ground to the bottom and pour.
This was the first "french press" I ever bought. Bottom Line: If you can find the one with the stainless steel filter housing grab it. I wrote this review because I see from the current reviews that they are still making this model with the same lousy plastic filter housing. The 3 cup size is measured by the European tiny 4oz per cup size, so it should make about 12 oz, though with the beans taking up room, it holds between 10oz-11oz.
BTW, The leftover grounds are great for the compost - the worms never had it so good ;-DI buy my coffee locally from a small company that roasts their own beans, but I think any coffee would work fine as long as it is coarsely ground so you don't get small gritty pieces escaping through the filter into your cup.I get the beans whole and freshly grind them myself with the Krups Fast Touch Coffee Grinder.Now on to the big con and why I only gave it three stars:The housing for the metal mesh filter is made out of thin cheapo plastic. If you want the unbreakable carafe (this one) be very careful not to exert much pressure on the plunger or the plastic will break.Edit: I forgot to mention that the sturdy rubber base the carafe sits in makes it very stable, and allows you to set it on surfaces where heat would have been a problem. It makes the perfect (for me anyway) size cup for one.I was never a big coffee drinker, and when I did drink it, I always loaded up on cream and sugar. In case you are assuming that since I'm not a huge coffee drinker that I like it weak and light, I much prefer the coffee to be dark and full bodied.
I went to wash it the other day and the plastic around the screen just fell apart into a bunch of pieces. This thing didn't even last a year. Who cares if the outside works if your coffee is full of grounds. The outside is unbreakable but not the plunger. I never dropped it or put it in the dishwasher.
At least when you smash a glass carafe you can pick up a new one. And, wouldn't you know it, you just can't buy a replacement. This thing makes good coffee, but you'll have to buy a new one before long. Bonjour's claims of indestructability are true, in part: the hard plastic carafe of this French press won't shatter no matter how many times you drop it on the floor. But after a year of regular use the plunger, which holds a fine metal screen in place with a pair of plastic braces, fell to pieces.
|
