There are french presses - and there are french presses.

[Mister Moo]

We all like them but we like some better than others.

I had a smallish glass Bodum model with a heavy brown plastic handle for about 20-years - loved it. Brewed like a charm. Light, well-made. Easy to clean. Nice cork jobbie to sit it on. Good screen with a good seal. Then Mrs. Moo put it in the microwave and melted the handle, effectively totaling the little guy. Like they say, "don't miss your water 'til the well run dry." It has been hard to replace.

The best I have now, thanks to advice from B'waveDave, is the Bodum Columbia, a thermal stainless 48-oz model. It is a great brewer, great quality, easy to clean, attractive on the counter - all parts fit right and move smoothly. Built like a tank - a brewer for a lifetime I'd think.

I also have a 28-oz. thermal stainless Bonjour that, although durable enough for boat, bike and travel, is a flimsy, misfitted piece of crap with a third rate screen whose raw edges snag on everything. It's a pain to clean the screen, the molded lid and even the inside of the pot (it has two seams that attract coffee oils) and, except for keeping one around for camping, etc., I'd pitch it. I bought it when I didn't suspect there were differences between presses.

What's your press choice? I seem to be a Bodum man, particularly favoring the Columbia models.

[leasingthisspace]

My wife got me my first press from s*%%^ks and even though it is only one travel cup size I like it. The best one I have was also a gift from her I am not sure who made it but it makes like at least 6 cups or so and that one it great. When at home I still use the little one most of the time though.

[muziq]

I'm also using the Columbia exclusively these days for coffee, and quite a bit for tea as well. I bought a nice German or Austrian press about 7 years ago but it's now on duty at the office for the occasional afternoon shot of Earl Grey--has no name printed on it anywhere, and I can't find another one or I'd stock it as back-up to the Columbia at home. But I agree that the Columnbia is a great press, user-friendly except for viewing your brewing grinds and having a side view of your bloom as the hot water hits the grinds. A window would destroy its aesthetics, though. Meh. The coffee I brewed this morning with it is mighty, mighty tasty.

[dunng]

Bodum Chambord 3Cup - I have two in rotaion and a spare glass ready to go!

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by muziq

... except for viewing your brewing grinds and having a side view of your bloom as the hot water hits the grinds. A window would destroy its aesthetics, though.

Yeah, that.

The pot Mrs. Moo melted was clear, of course. I miss the glass view but, in trade, I don't miss the opportunity for breakage. The Columbia has been doing extra duty since I started testing the BBQ roaster. Pounds of coffee are piling up and it has to go somewhere - lately, to borrow a basketball term, there is a lot of the full pot press. It's all good from the Columbia.

[mhortsch]

Funny, I just shattered my 8-cup Bodum Chamboard beaker yesterday. Set it in the sink, tips over and broke.

Had to use my 48-oz press only half full today. But no worries, I got on amazon to order a new beaker, signed up for a trial version of amazon prime and got free shipping upgrade. Beaker will arive today. And I've aleady cancelled my prime trial (if anyone needs to order something and needs it soon, give it a shot!)

I've thought about using an insulated press, but my coffee goes straight to my Nissan Thermos, no need for one. Unless my beaker breaks again...

[DMK]

I started pressing with a nice Bodum, ( I think an 8 cupper ) but it to met a fatefull end of breakage... Replaced it with a series of.... IKEA presses.
They aren't as well made as the Bodum, but for the price when the screen gets ratty, I replace the whole thing... and the wifey uses the pot for tea.

[jkim05]

I've been picking up Bodum presses from the salvation army for like 3 bucks. It's quite fascinating to see brand new presses with the paperwork still inside clearly never having been used. Maybe people don't know what they are?

[skibumdc]

Originally Posted by jkim05

I've been picking up Bodum presses from the salvation army for like 3 bucks. It's quite fascinating to see brand new presses with the paperwork still inside clearly never having been used. Maybe people don't know what they are?

The result of wedding and housewarming registries. People register for it thinking it would be nice to have.....then find they don't have the room to store it and would never use it anyways.
Might as well get a tax write-off for it...and off it goes to Salvation Army or Goodwill.

[aldukes]

I have 3 Chambord's. A 3-cup on my desk at the office another one at home and the HUGE 12-cup at home. The 12-cup only come out when there are people over.

I like the Chambord because its impossible to knock over- very important to me. See this post.

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by jkim05

I've been picking up Bodum presses from the salvation army for like 3 bucks.

Dag. You have a higher class of thrift store than I do. All I ever see are wasted $3.00 Mr. Coffees.

[Fumioso]

For Xmas last year my wife gave me a stainless steel Frieling french press. Simple design, makes a great smooth cup and it's a cinch to clean. A great press, even though the missus still complains about the grit at the bottom of the cup. I've always assumed this is inevitable in a french press and just don't drink the dregs.

[gvarsity]

Planetary design 32oz and 20oz Stainless double walled presses. They rock. Great design, styling and indestructible.

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by Fumioso

For Xmas last year my wife gave me a stainless steel Frieling french press. Simple design, makes a great smooth cup and it's a cinch to clean. A great press, even though the missus still complains about the grit at the bottom of the cup. I've always assumed this is inevitable in a french press and just don't drink the dregs.

Hi ya, Fumes. I am on the verge of changing out the burrs on my grinder since the requisite 500-600 pound limit has been (long?) passed. One of the signs for change was a lot of sludge in the bottom of the press cup. I seem to recall, 300 or 400 pounds ago, there was much less sludge in the cup - but memory can be selective, esp. mine.

For the sake of science I will photo a couple of cup bottoms before and after the burrset changeout. It will be interesting to see how much, if any any, difference this really makes. It will also serve as a basis for comparison to other grinders results.

The gear will be Mazzer Mini and Bodum Columbia (48-oz).

[Syekick]

I'm started out with the glass bodum. But after fumble fingering my way through 3 glass beakers in about 90 days I bought the stainless steel columbia. I even managed to knock it off the counter and ding the bottom! So glass is out for me.

I also own one of the plastic Bonjour models. That's the one I had with me the past week while traveling. I also use it while camping. Plastic is good. No big dislikes of it. I agree with Mister Cowpie that the screen could be a lot better.