This coffee press (from England) is advertised as a 3 cup press. It actually holds 1-1/2 standard measurement cups.(8 oz.cup) I was very disappointed with it, but shipping costs were too high for me to return it. The 3-cup coffee press from Bodun I had before actually held 3 cups. Also, it isn't a very good coffee press as the bottom widens out so you can't press all the coffee out. I would not buy again. Expensive mistake.
This is a super buy. I found similar products for $20.00 more but I can't imagine they would be any better. This one is great. Coffee tastes great, easy to clean. What more can I say!
The flaw with this product is that the coffee cools down very fast. It would be a better design if there was a rubber or rubberized extension on the interior portion of the lid sitting inside the beaker which could be rotated for pouring or for sealing in the heat from the hot coffee (at least for a little longer).
So I was tired of the amount of coffee I was wasting when making a full pot. Then it seemed whenever I would make less I wanted more! With this little item I can make what I want whenever I want and not have to throw out the rest. Great item and easy to use. Just fill with hot water wait a few minutes and press. Make as much as you want or as little.
"I chew coffee beans while gargling 200 F water for four minutes, filtering the coffee by pressing the tongue against the teeth; is this the French press you refer to?" -- M. PythonAN INTRODUCTION TO COFFEE AMBROSIA.It's a quest for flavor. It's all about flavor. You are here searching for the best quality French Press, one that delivers the most flavorful coffee possible. You might be new to French Press and are rightly skeptical about the vulnerability and safety of a glass model. Or, you might be experienced, a Bodum or BonJour refugee exasperated by having to replace your second, or third, or even seventh broken glass beaker. No cuts? Lucky you. Been there.A HEADS UP. I have been making French Press for many years and have owned my Frieling for five years, usually using it daily when not hacking my change-of-pace Technivorm filter-drip machine. Here is what I have learned: if you intend on buying pre-ground, fine-ground, drip-machine coffee, inappropriately fine-ground for French press, or use a cheap whirly-blade grinder producing an uneven, boulders-and-dust grind, then do not buy a top quality Press such as this Frieling...you will not be happy as flavor will suffer and many small grinds will pass through the filter. Do not blame any French press for this. The problem is correctable.You need to either buy quality, freshly roasted coffee beans ground on a COARSE setting at your coffee source, or grind fresh-roasted coffee beans yourself at home (by far the best way) using a quality, conically-shaped burr grinder that grinds coarsely AND produces grounds all of the same size (very few fine grinds are produced) if you want all that rich, deep flavor French press is famed for. This is the TRUTH. At the end of this review I will cover grinder and coffee bean selection issues. To proceed...PROS:1) FRIELING OWNERS HERE ON AMAZON VOTE IT 4.7 STARS, 92% POSITIVE. That is a solid A--hot stuff. Only a select few products on Amazon are rated that highly. So, why all the raves? Here's why:2) FRIELING MAKES FIVE SIZES FOR YOUR DESIRED PORTION SIZE. Frieling's stated sizes are at full capacity, but it is prudent to reduce that maximum capacity by about 2-6 fluid ounces, depending upon the size chosen, to allow space for the plunger and the inevitable rising head of bloom-foam when hot water hits the ground coffee. Accordingly, Frieling makes FIVE sizes to suit your capacity needs: 8 fl/oz, 16 fl/oz, 23 fl/oz, 36 fl/oz, and 44 fl/oz.3) DOUBLE-WALL THERMAL INSULATION. Frieling makes only one model, the Ultimo, in polished or brushed finish. ALL its three main elements are double-wall insulated: the pot, the handle, AND the lid. So far, it is the only brand or model of French Press, with one exception, to possesses ALL three features--the insulated LID in particular. Because moving air cools, the open space between the walls cannot insulate very well, but your house's fiberglass insulation batting fills the space, preventing air circulation, that greatly reduces heat loss to the outside while keeping temperature far more constant inside.But Frieling has taken another approach: instead of using substance to fill the empty space, it uses ZERO material. By pumping the air from the wall space, creating a still, dead space called VACUUM INSULATION where air cannot circulate, leaving no matter in it, no molecules or atoms to agitate and cool, ensuring a very efficient insulation indeed. Such insulation is found in the Frieling's pot. This is the MAIN reason why Frieling makes the best French Press...it's what all the fuss is all about...the Frieling best keeps the correct brewing temperature to give you the best flavors.4) 18/10 STAINLESS, COMMERCIAL-GRADE DURABILITY. Unique to Frieling, this heavy duty French Press is made of Austenitic, type T304L stainless steel, 18/10 (18% chromium, 10% nickel: best quality) heavy gauge stainless steel. This quality, special alloy is food-safe and lead-free, meant for commercial use in hotel room-service and dining rooms, for fine-cuisine restaurants, for caterers, and is sold to specialty, high-end hotel/restaurant supply houses (still Frieling's primary business). It will never shatter or injure you. Survives dishwasher hell, and comes out looking like new. The Frieling was once under the radar. It is now available to the public at better coffee-ware or kitchen-ware stores, and is available here on Amazon, far from its industrial roots.5) ITS FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION. Discipline and restraint, with utility in mind, results in the Frieling's handsome, elegant, and understated lines. Appearance has been given a slight nod. It's all business. Even its high polish is not there to WOW at, but to make it easier to clean. There are no false touches present; only the authentic remains. The entire achievement makes it presentable for casual entertaining, even for more formal occasions. A matching sugar and creamer, with spoon, is available.6) THE INSULATED POT has a double-walled, insulated body, lid, and handle for ONE reason only: to maintain the Specialty Coffee Association of America's recommended steeping temperature of 195-205 degrees F throughout the ENTIRE brewing or "steeping," period. This is critically important because only at that temperature range will the ground coffee particles fully release their complete flavor potential. The cylindrical shape makes a very small footprint on the table or counter-top.Shopper's note: Confusing an insulated Press with an insulated carafe is a very common blunder. ANY brand of thermal insulated French Press is specifically designed as a brewer, NOT as a thermal carafe or thermos, so brewed coffee MUST be poured into cups IMMEDIATELY after the four minute brewing period or the continued steeping will produce, even if over a minute, an over-extracted, bitter, and insipid cup! For leftover coffee, use a pre-heated thermal carafe or thermos, with a screw-on sealed lid, specifically designed to store hot coffee, and to keep it hot, after it is brewed. Actually, it is best not to store coffee. Consume coffee within 10-15 minutes for the best flavor. For more coffee simply brew more coffee for the best flavor.7) THE POT'S SPOUT is drip-less due to its lipped design. The spout is small enough to lose minimal heat, but large enough for a quick, steep-stopping pour. Not a stray drop on the tablecloth yet after four years of daily use.8) THE INSULATED LID is entirely unique. It is, with one exception, the only INSULATED lid for a French Press to be found by any manufacturer. Heat rises, and as far as heat is concerned, the pot functions as a chimney, focusing heat above, and its opening is where most heat is lost. This lid caps the heat with its tight fit and insulation. The lid's underside dome shape helps assist in that, like a domed teakettle. The overall lid design is critical if you care to brew at the proper 195-205 degree F temperature. THIS WAS THE FINAL KICKER IN MY DECISION TO CHOOSE THE FRIELING, along with the other goodies.9) THE INSULATED HANDLE is crafted of hollow, extruded stainless, all of a piece, to keep it cool, as well as to keep it lightweight so as not to unsteady the pot. The handle's vertical upright is ovoid in cross-section to provide comfort for the gripping fingers. A secure niche for the thumb is provided with its horizontal thumb rest and thumb-block. An often overlooked feature in cup or French Press design, because if the thumb rests on on a horizontal support, especially if that support is provided with a means of blocking the thumb from slipping off, one's grip is then very secure indeed. Take a look at the photo of the handle on this site, you'll see it. The long, vertical provides plenty of clearance for the fingers, and is angled inward toward the bottom to secure the fingers, also to provide good leverage when pouring.10) THE PLUNGER, when pushed down, results in a dynamic turbulence that agitates the water and grounds to intensify flavors...this is the heart of the Press, and what makes French Press what it is. It also separates the grounds from the coffee, so it is fitted to precise specifications to minimize stray grounds coming through the filter or from between the pot's inner walls and the periphery of the plunger, and thence into the cup. The unit is entirely crafted from 18/10 stainless steel (the best grade)...no plastic parts to retain stale tastes whatsoever. Easy to dissemble for cleaning and spare parts are always available. Remember, with ANY French Press you will have stray grounds, especially if you buy canned coffee because it is always ground too fine for French Press, or if you use anything but a burr grinder. Even so, tiny grounds sneak in...French Pressists never sip that last sip: don't blame the Frieling Press, or a Bodum, or a BonJour.11) REPLACEMENT PARTS AND EXCHANGES FOR VALID PROBLEMS ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE. My online and telephone experience with Frieling USA has been excellent. They will replace any product or part you feel is defective. Also, down the line, parts such as the filter screen. cross plate, spiral plate of the plunger assembly, or the plunger rod, are available at very reasonable prices.12) FRIELING KEEPS GOOD COMPANY. Beside Amazon, the finest, most prestigious online coffee gear retailers carry it: cateringplanet, wholelattelove, seattlecoffeegear, clivecoffee, terroircoffee, williams-sonoma, espressozone, shop.illy, chriscoffee, liquidplanet, roaste, crateandbarrel, coffee.become, coffeebydesign, coffeeart, veniacoffee, greentreecoffee, blacksmithcoffee, wayfair, etc.13) USEFUL FOR MAKING "OPEN POT" COFFEE. You can also use this for "OPEN POT" brewing, the simple, "connoisseur's method," also called "Cowboy Coffee. Read more ›
I've been doing about a week's of research to decide which French Press to buy. I went to the store and looked at both the Bodum and this model, and decided on this model because there is a very easy-to-use lever at the top that closes the filter basket off from the coffee, when you're done pressing/steeping. While the coffee still gets cold within an half-hour or so, I don't feel bad or nervous that the grounds in the water are going to make the second cup of coffee less delicious than the first fresh cup. The Bodum model did not offer the lever/switch option. It's too bad Bonjour does not offer a photo of this lever mechanism, because in my opinion it's tha mechanism that makes this pot superior. There is also a second filter at the spout, another feature that I do not believe is part of the Bodum model.One more superiour feature is the pot handle. The handle on this pot is much nicer to hold than the Bodum equivalent (the Bodum one was hard plastic, kind of skinny; this one is a thicker, easier to grab, and nicer to hold in the hand, which might be helpful before that first cup in the morning.FYI: I checked, and Bodum replacement beakers fit into this carafe holder, if you happen to break your container.Also: Don't be cheap and get the plastic/non-breakable polycarbonate beaker -- plastic might impart a taste to your coffee. If you're going to this much effort to buy a French press, get the glass beaker.SIZE: After much discussion, even though 95 percent of the time I'm the only coffee drinker in the house, this seemed to be the best compromise in size. This "8-cup" brewer holds about two large morning mugs worth -- you can make a single portion for one easily, but this has the capacity to make two American-sized morning servings. If you got a set of coffee cups and saucers with your dishware set, this hold about 6 cups of 6-oz size cups of coffee -- the perfect size for after-dinner entertaining, if you have guests over for dinner.The 3-cup brewer was basically for a single person only, and would never be useful for even a couple.12-cups -- that's a big size that you might use for entertaining only. It's a little big to wield for daily use.IN GENERAL ABOUT FRENCH PRESSES: I have lived in a ton of old-fashioned apartments in San Francisco, where sinks did not have a garbage disposal. If you do live in a place where you can easily rinse out the French press pot grains down the drain, I would not recommend buying a French Press -- too much work to clean out the drain! But if you have an easy way to dump grinds out when you're done, a French Press is elegant, space efficient and delicious.If you live in an old city with no garbage disposal in the kitchen, I would recommend a moka pot or a neopolitan-style coffee pot (stove-top espresso pot) instead, where it's just an easy basket of grounds to dump, if you want a European style coffee that's better tasting than drip-style or instant.
This press makes the best coffee we've ever had. We have been using it for about 6 years (same carafe) and have since given our drip coffee maker away; there's just no comparison to the quality of the coffee. The previous reviewer did not realize the carafe can easily be removed by loosening the screws in the handle. I take our carafe out a few times a year to give it a good cleaning. If it should break, I've seen replacements on Amazon. Get the proper grind (preferably grind the coffee right before you brew it) of a quality coffee (our favorites are 8 o'clock and caribou) and follow the directions. Four minutes later you have great coffee.
After exhausting research, I decided upon this French press (it is a long term relationship commitment, you know). The glass is sturdy (I am a klutz and will break something if in any way possible). I like the twisting mechanism to keep your second cup from over brewing. The "8" cup is approx 32 ounces; so I guess that would make a "cup" actually a half cup (4 oz)? Easy to clean, with a little extra attention to the sieve with it's open/close properties.The copper isn't 100% copper. More of copper plated ??? It still looks/feels nice, but does scratch easily. Beware.The inside of the copper cap is lined in plastic. BonJour's web page does note using BPA free materials. I still am not sure if this extends to the cap lining, or just that their plastic beaker is BPA free. Then again, it's the domed part of the lid and not in direct contact with the brewing coffee.Overall, happy with the purchase.
I wanted to try a French Press coffee maker, mostly because I am the only one in the house who drinks coffee and I only drink two American-sized cups a day. I have a small drip machine, but the coffee it makes is kind of not bad, but not great either. I chose the LaCafetiere Verona 3-Cup press mostly because I thought it looked cute, and it was the size I wanted. A 3-cup press will make 3 4-ounce cups, or 2 6-ounce cups. I place two tablespoons of ground coffee in the press, and add twelve ounces of not quite boiling water. I stir it up with a plastic spoon, place the lid with the filter on top and let it brew for four minutes, then plunge the filter very slowly. This makes an exceptionally rich, delicious cup of coffee. In the meantime, I heat about half a cup of whole milk in a Pyrex measuring cup in the microwave, then use an Aerolatte frother to foam it up in the mug. Then I pour in the coffee. I like to top it up with a sprinkle of cinnamon, or Penzey's cake spice. It's just the best cup of coffee I ever had. The press cleans up nice, seems sturdy enough, and the filter keeps the grounds out (with some practice). The plunger is smooth and the handle of the press feels comfortable to a small hand. I look forward to many mornings of delicious coffee.
This only makes 3 "cups" of coffee if you are drinking 4oz. cups of coffee. This holds only 12ounces of liquid. If you only drink a single 12oz cup of coffee at a time you should be fine with this.
The La Cafetiere Verona Coffee Press is sturdy, the heavy handle and lid seems more secure than the metal.The price is moderate and is a good buy. If you like strong coffee, rich with the bean oils, a coffee press is the maker for you.
I received this as a gift from my boss. I've been using it for two months now. It's a nice simple stainless steel and glass french-press with two matching cups. They're cute, but small. It makes plenty of coffee or tea for me and the filter doesn't leave behind any grounds or leaves.The quality is just fine, given the price. The cup handles aren't the most comfortable, but I have a favorite mug, anyway.It's pretty easy to clean, as the filter bits can be unscrewed. Might be a little narrow for someone with larger hands than mine, which I can see would make cleaning awkward.
product as described,haven't used it yet, is for a gift, arrived exactly on time, (within time frame) thank you =)
The Primula french press is not made of glass and stainless steel; it is made of plastic. This product is marketed with false advertising.