Author Topic: French Press Recommendations? (Read 9037 times)

cautiouspessimist · « **on:** March 25, 2016, 08:33:55 AM »

So, my second French Press broke this last weekend, and now I need a replacement. I'm not really a big fan of having to replace things, so does anyone have any recommendations?

Obviously I don't want to spend too much on one, but I also don't want to go super cheap and have it break. I've found a few on Amazon that have good reviews and aren't too expensive, but I would like to solicit some opinions before making a decision.

FYSA, the first one broke because the filter had a plastic component that broke when it got stuck on a piece of coffee bean (this was a super cheap one), and the carafe for the second one broke the other day...not quite sure how (I suspect my roommate accidentally broke it without realizing), but it had a coupla leaks what with all the cracks and all.

TL;DR version: reliability is more important than price, but I don't want to pay a ton.

Thinkum · « **Reply #1 on:** March 25, 2016, 08:47:53 AM »

I have only had Bodum, the Brazil 8-cup model, about $20 at Target, Amazon, etc. It is made of metal and glass mostly. Only thing I've had to replace are the straining screens, but they are cheap on Amazon. Plus, if you break the glass it is replaceable without having to scrap the entire thing. I debated getting a nice shiny chrome and glass Bodum, but it's just too expensive.

On another note, have you tried a Moka pot? This is my other favorite way of brewing coffee.

kudy · « **Reply #2 on:** March 25, 2016, 08:49:20 AM »

I have an aeropress and love it. It's not a traditional french press, but it's the same style of steeping.

Meowmalade · « **Reply #3 on:** March 25, 2016, 09:06:33 AM »

Our roommate has an Aeropress and loves it, too. All plastic parts, so it will never break!

shelivesthedream · « **Reply #4 on:** March 25, 2016, 09:34:01 AM »

We have three Bodums (in different sizes) and I have been very impressed with them. Though actually my favourite thing has been the ability to buy single replacement parts. We've had the oldest one for maybe four or five years and the coffee brewing function is perfect but I am a clumsy washer-upper and it turns out glass breaks if you drop it straight on the floor. However, you can buy just the jug part on Amazon and have it fixed the very next day without needing any tools or special knowledge. Repairability is starting to be one of my top criteria for buying things and Bodum performs very well indeed.

elindbe2 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 25, 2016, 09:37:08 AM »

Go all stainless. Won't break and won't make the coffee taste like plastic.

http://www.amazon.com/SterlingPro-Double-Stainless-French-Coffee/dp/B00MMQOZ1U/ref=pd_sim_79_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=41neKF3R7dL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR132%2C160_&refRID=16YKTNZZ70S60R7CJJT6

cautiouspessimist · « **Reply #6 on:** March 25, 2016, 09:38:40 AM »

Thanks for the replies. I've considered the Aeropress and I think I'd rather have a traditional French Press.

The Moka looks like it makes more espresso style coffee, is that right?

Also, it looks from the Amazon reviews that the Bodum Brazil (which is 17.55 on amazon, so that's right what I was looking for as far as price) has the plastic piece a the bottom of the screen, which is what broke on my first one. Is that true?

Thanks again!

Ynari · « **Reply #7 on:** March 25, 2016, 09:44:41 AM »

I haven't used it, but next time we make it out to Ikea I plan on picking up their french press: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00297850/

It's really cheap, and the reviews on amazon are good. (For some reason, it costs twice as much on Amazon though.)

But, I've just been making my coffee like I make tea lately so any kind of coffee maker is a step up for me. I'm more of a tea person.

Parizade · « **Reply #8 on:** March 25, 2016, 09:58:56 AM »

I am also very happy with my Bodum. I bought a Mr Coffee first and the press part broke within a couple of months so I brought it back to Target and applied the refund to the Bodum.

SoftwareGoddess · « **Reply #9 on:** March 25, 2016, 10:06:22 AM »

Quote from: elindbe2 on March 25, 2016, 09:37:08 AM

Go all stainless. Won't break and won't make the coffee taste like plastic.

+1

Not a fan of plastic containers for any type of cooking (I can live with them for storage). Stainless is more expensive than glass or plastic upfront, but you save the cost of replacing broken parts. We had a Bodum before our current stainless steel press, but after replacing two glass carafes, we noticed that the plastic parts were starting to crack, too. I will say, though, that my DH is a bit klutzy, so maybe others can get away with a glass press longer than we could. :-)

chemistk · « **Reply #10 on:** March 25, 2016, 10:09:55 AM »

If inexpensive and reliable is what you're looking for, then I would do as the previous posters (and you) say and get the Bodum Brazil

My wife and I were gifted this Bodum a few years ago. It is fantastic at keeping coffee hot for a few hours if you're a slow drinker:
http://www.amazon.com/Bodum-1308-16-Columbia-Stainless-Steel-Thermal/dp/B00005YY9X

The only downside to it is that you have to make sure you're using a very coarse grind because there is only one filter on it, so you can end up with a bit of a gritty cup. To circumvent this, we just pour the coffee through a fine mesh strainer into the cup.

If you're hardcore about French Press coffee (as my in-laws are), and price is not an issue, then take a look at this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Espro-Ounce-Vacuum-Insulated-Stainless/dp/B0083XZ85I

My FIL got it for my MIL on Christmas and it is incredibly effective at removing nearly all the particulates. You do lose a little coffee in the space in the bottom and it can be a pain to clean, but it's worth it if you want an incredibly smooth cuppa joe.

chesebert · « **Reply #11 on:** March 25, 2016, 10:19:08 AM »

I have a Nomad espresso machine. 100% manual and the result is simply excellent. Saves electricity and makes great coffee.

cautiouspessimist · « **Reply #12 on:** March 25, 2016, 10:29:28 AM »

Wow, some of those stainless steel ones are pricey! Though if I'm 'buying for life' (hopefully) it's not so bad.

I'm leaning towards this one over the first ones linked (since it's, you know, half the cost).
http://www.amazon.com/Secura-Stainless-French-Coffee-Screen/dp/B00JE36GLQ?ie=UTF8&keywords=stainless%20steel%20french%20press&qid=1458922317&ref_=sr_1_6&s=home-garden&sr=1-6

Some of the reviews on the SterlingPro one are funny, though "the glass cracked right away". Umm...what glass?

Knitwit · « **Reply #13 on:** March 25, 2016, 11:02:19 AM »

We have gone through two Bodum Brazil french presses. Each one of them lasted about a year before the plunger broke. They both failed the same way. The nub that holds the three pieces of the plunger assembly together was plastic, and broke after about a year of using it once a week. I'm attaching a picture of a plunger assembly and I circled the nub I'm talking about. (This picture is stainless steel, the Bodums we had were both plastic.) After that nub broke, there was nothing to hold the filter and top piece together with the base piece, so essentially when you pushed down on the rod, the bottom piece was the only piece that moved. The actual filter just stayed at the top.

I can't recommend the Bodum, at least not the one with plastic. A stainless steel version might be ok. We now have a Grosche Madrid that's been going steady for 2+ years with no problems.

Knitwit · « **Reply #14 on:** March 25, 2016, 11:04:24 AM »

Here's a good view of the Bodum Brazil with the black plastic nub I'm talking about.

Parizade · « **Reply #15 on:** March 25, 2016, 11:10:44 AM »

Quote from: Knitwit on March 25, 2016, 11:02:19 AM

We have gone through two Bodum Brazil french presses. Each one of them lasted about a year before the plunger broke. They both failed the same way. The nub that holds the three pieces of the plunger assembly together was plastic, and broke after about a year of using it once a week. I'm attaching a picture of a plunger assembly and I circled the nub I'm talking about. (This picture is stainless steel, the Bodums we had were both plastic.) After that nub broke, there was nothing to hold the filter and top piece together with the base piece, so essentially when you pushed down on the rod, the bottom piece was the only piece that moved. The actual filter just stayed at the top.

I can't recommend the Bodum, at least not the one with plastic. A stainless steel version might be ok. We now have a Grosche Madrid that's been going steady for 2+ years with no problems.

That's where my Mr Coffee plunger broke too. My Bodum has a stainless "nub" though and it's holding up nicely so far.

Serve&Volley88 · « **Reply #16 on:** March 25, 2016, 11:27:52 AM »

I highly recommend a stainless steel press. Shattering a glass press with piping hot coffee inside never ends well.

cautiouspessimist · « **Reply #17 on:** March 25, 2016, 11:29:44 AM »

Thanks Knitwit, that's exactly the type of info I'm looking for!

zoltani · « **Reply #18 on:** March 25, 2016, 11:56:03 AM »

I just switched from French press to aeropress and won't go back. The coffee is smooth and tasty with the aeropress, cleanup is easier, just faster and tastier overall.

James · « **Reply #19 on:** March 25, 2016, 12:14:29 PM »

Quote from: freznow on March 25, 2016, 09:44:41 AM

I haven't used it, but next time we make it out to Ikea I plan on picking up their french press: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00297850/

It's really cheap, and the reviews on amazon are good. (For some reason, it costs twice as much on Amazon though.)

But, I've just been making my coffee like I make tea lately so any kind of coffee maker is a step up for me. I'm more of a tea person.

I use the Ikea press, got it dirt cheap from them last year, but I really don't like it. I get a lot of dust and grit through the filter. The filter also doesn't go far enough down, so there is a half inch of water in the bottom that continues to brew and then flows out when you pour. Just a bad design and poor filter, looking for a new one.

Thinkum · « **Reply #20 on:** March 25, 2016, 12:15:01 PM »

Quote from: cautiouspessimist on March 25, 2016, 09:38:40 AM

The Moka looks like it makes more espresso style coffee, is that right?

Also, it looks from the Amazon reviews that the Bodum Brazil (which is 17.55 on amazon, so that's right what I was looking for as far as price) has the plastic piece a the bottom of the screen, which is what broke on my first one. Is that true?

Thanks again!

The Moka pot is a stove top espresso maker, so yes, you are correct.

Now that I read what Knitwit wrote I remember what happened to my first Brazil model. It lasted a few years before breaking though. When I went to replace it I either forgot or just didn't feel like paying twice the amount for an all steel model. If this one cracks, then I'll check out that Grosche Madrid model. It looks pretty good. My current Brazil I've had for about two years now and the only thing I replaced was the bendable mesh screen/strainer.

Kris · « **Reply #21 on:** March 25, 2016, 12:19:32 PM »

I've had my Ikea one for one fifteen years. it works great, and i use it very frequently. Love it.

James · « **Reply #22 on:** March 25, 2016, 12:21:42 PM »

Quote from: Kris on March 25, 2016, 12:19:32 PM

I've had my Ikea one for one fifteen years. it works great, and i use it very frequently. Love it.

I'll bet a lot of money it's completely different than the current one...

RyanAtTanagra · « **Reply #23 on:** March 25, 2016, 01:59:59 PM »

Another vote for the glass+stainless Bodum. I've had two (lost the first in a breakup) and I'd buy the same again if I had to. The bottom pieces are all stainless, never had issues with them. Maybe the old ones had plastic pieces? I got my current one about a year ago and it's all metal. Broke the glass once, got a replacement easily (also available on amazon).

http://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Chambord-French-Coffee-Chrome/dp/B00008XEWG

Kris · « **Reply #24 on:** March 25, 2016, 02:19:28 PM »

Quote from: James on March 25, 2016, 12:21:42 PM

Quote from: Kris on March 25, 2016, 12:19:32 PM
I've had my Ikea one for one fifteen years. it works great, and i use it very frequently. Love it.

I'll bet a lot of money it's completely different than the current one...

Hmmm. Yes, I just went on the Ikea website, and it's not the same one. The one they sell now has a lot more plastic. Mine is pretty much all metal and glass except for the handle and the knob on the plunger. Indeed, the newer one looks flimsier. Too bad. Why did they have to mess with success?

ETA: However, you can still find the one I have on ebay! :-)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pyrex-Ikea-French-Press-Coffee-Tea-Maker-4-Cup-Glass-/191830176714?hash=item2ca9f833ca:g:Hb8AAOSwG-1WxNmH

Knitwit · « **Reply #25 on:** March 25, 2016, 02:43:18 PM »

Thanks all. Glad my comments helped. What sold us on the Grosche line is that we can pick up replacement parts at a local store. If the plunger goes, it's $10 for a replacement plunger rather than purchasing a whole new press. I believe they also sell the parts on their website at a reasonable cost.

cautiouspessimist · « **Reply #26 on:** March 25, 2016, 02:47:12 PM »

Ok, after far too much of my time at work spent on research/reading reviews, I ended up going with the stainless steel one that elindbe2 linked. It looks nice, isn't too expensive, and doesn't have any glass/plastic parts to be replaced.

I do find it rather amusing that the Bodum replacement carafes are the same price (if not more) on Amazon as the entire press. Maybe that really is their business model.

Thinkum · « **Reply #27 on:** March 25, 2016, 06:28:04 PM »

Quote from: cautiouspessimist on March 25, 2016, 02:47:12 PM

I do find it rather amusing that the Bodum replacement carafes are the same price (if not more) on Amazon as the entire press. Maybe that really is their business model.

Yes, that is most certainly true. That one you got, all stainless, is perfect really. Especially since it should keep the coffee warmer for longer. Score!

kudy · « **Reply #28 on:** March 25, 2016, 07:50:11 PM »

I don't want to turn this into a plastic debate, but I am not scared by using the plastic aeropress with hot water. If there's anything leeching out of the plastic, it's probably less damaging than the exhaust I breath while biking or the alcohol I willingly ingest every week. Maybe I'm uneducated, or not paranoid enough, but the aeropress is so convenient when compared to a regular french press.

fujiters · « **Reply #29 on:** March 25, 2016, 09:54:54 PM »

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00009ADDS/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It's a big up front cost, but I've had this 5.5 years and with daily use, it shows almost no ware.

I bought one for my mother as well and hers is likewise in great condition.

KBecks · « **Reply #30 on:** March 27, 2016, 08:43:55 PM »

We have a bodum one that is not plastic and I don't know what model or how old it is.

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Author Topic: French Press Recommendations? (Read 9037 times)

zoltani