Keyword: coffee press
The coffee press is a coffee maker that uses pressure to force hot water through coffee grounds. This method of making coffee results in stronger coffee, more similar to espresso; the strength of the coffee is entirely up to you (the amount of ground coffee used).
There are two coffee press coffee makers: the French coffee press coffee maker, also called a cafetiére, and the coffee plunger coffee maker.
The French coffee press
The French Coffee Press is made up of three main parts: A beaker, filter screen assembly (plunger), and top cover/plunger mechanism with a knob. Water is boiled in a separate vessel and is poured into the bottom of the beaker to heat it. Ground coffee is placed in the mesh filter screen assembly (plunger) which sits on top of the beaker. The screen has fine holes that allow hot water to slowly drip onto the coffee grounds and then trickle through them into the beaker, but coffee grinds cannot pass through these tiny holes. Once the coffee has brewed long enough, the coffee drinker gently pushes down on this screen to trap the coffee grinds at the bottom of the coffee press. This traps the coffee grounds at the bottom, allowing them to settle there while not passing through to your coffee mug.
The coffee plunger
This type of coffee press is very similar to the French Press, except that it contains a piston in place of a mesh plunger. The piston forces hot water through ground coffee beans and then separates it from the grounds by driving it through filters fixed into its frame or held between discs that are fixed into its frame. Usually made with stainless steel or other durable materials for better resistance against rusting due to continued use over time. The plunger coffee press is widely available in department stores.
Coffee plunger coffee makers are commonly made of glass, which is not recommended for coffee presses because coffee is very acidic and the coffee press may only last a short period before the glass is etched by coffee solids that can’t be cleaned off or scrubbed away.
The coffee press coffee maker has several benefits over other coffee-making methods: The water heats up quickly on a stove-top coffee maker. Espresso machines are expensive to buy and maintain. Instant coffees are full of undesirable chemicals. French presses do not contain filters, meaning any waste. Filters also allow unfiltered oils to make it into your brew. Coffee grounds in an espresso machine can be difficult to clean out adequately.
Coffee Press Advantages
The coffee press coffee maker has several benefits over other coffee-making methods:
Espresso machines are expensive to buy and maintain Instant coffees are full of undesirable chemicals French presses do not contain filters, meaning no waste Filters also allow unfiltered oils to make it into your brew Coffee grounds in an espresso machine can be difficult to clean out adequately Cleaning a french coffee press is simple. If you use a non-abrasive cleaner or scrubber and avoid using soap, the plunger will last for years without stains or odors.
The total brewing time is generally 2-4 minutes, depending on how strong you like your coffee. French presses can make the coffee stronger than other coffee-making methods because coffee grounds remain in contact with the coffee for a longer period.
Coffee Press Disadvantages
The coffee press coffee maker has several benefits over other coffee-making methods: Espresso machines are expensive to buy and maintain Instant coffees are full of undesirable chemicals French presses do not contain filters, meaning no waste Filters also allow unfiltered oils to make it into your brew Coffee grounds in an espresso machine can be difficult to clean out adequately Cleaning a french coffee press is simple. If you use a non-abrasive cleaner or scrubber and avoid using soap, the plunger will last for years without stains or odors. The total brewing time is generally 2-4 minutes, depending on how strong you like your coffee. French presses can make the coffee stronger than other coffee-making methods because coffee grounds remain in contact with the coffee for a longer period.
Coffee presses are typically made of glass or stainless steel. However, washing coffee grinds out of small cracks and crevices is difficult even with the most thorough cleaning methods. Since coffee press pots do not contain filters, they allow coffee oils to pass through into your beverage which can affect the taste and health benefits of coffee. The lack of paper filters also means more waste to deal with when cleaning up after each use.
It takes about 3-5 minutes longer to brew coffee in a coffee press than in an automatic drip machine because it’s necessary for the coffee to brew completely before removing the coffee press plunger. The coffee grounds need time to steep in hot water for maximum flavor extraction.
Many coffee presses have small openings at the bottom where coffee grinds can pass through into your coffee, which is aesthetically unappealing and may affect how much actual coffee you are getting per cup of coffee you make.
