I have gone on many, many times about my quest for the perfect coffeemaker. I’ve gone through several since I started blogging. Each time I griped about this coffeemaker or that, someone would tell me to get a French press and I would politely decline.
A French press? How can I possibly achieve that hot, delicious fresh-brewed cup of joe without a coffeemaker? Pour water in, press it down, voila! Great coffee? Nooo… surely they must be mistaken. In case you hadn’t noticed, I can be quite stubborn.
So how, you might ask, did I end up not only purchasing, but loving my new French press? A desire for better aesthetics in my kitchen. Hey, all things can’t be noble. Sometimes you just want things to look pretty.
GFI and I have identical kitchens since she lives directly above me. We have them set up similarly, too, because we’re dorks like that and we took cues about what worked and what didn’t in each other’s space. For example, we both have our microwaves on top of the refrigerator to save space and we both have tiny lamps scattered around the kitchen for more ambient lighting because we hate the overhead fluorescents. My issue was that GFI’s kitchen always seemed so much cleaner and brighter to me. Same amount of lamps (two small IKEA colored numbers), pretty much the same amount of stuff on the counter… what gives?
The difference? GFI no longer had her coffeemaker on the counter. I, on the other hand, still had my big black Mr. Coffee (which doesn’t make very good coffee anyway and chirps annoyingly). She sang the praises of the coffee press, insisting it produced the most delicious coffee and insisted I go buy one with the Starbucks giftcard she got me for Christmas.
So, for once, I actually did what I was told. I caved in and bought a French press gift set the very next morning on holiday clearance and it was the best thing I ever did. Coffee-wise, anyway.
It’s easy, it takes no time (4 minutes!), little energy, it’s quiet (which ideal first thing in the morning), I get just the right amount of coffee and the flavor is beyond compare. It’s almost creamy the way it foams and creates this rich froth on the top. I also have to heavily endorse my new favorite Starbucks blend, Sumatra Extra Bold (press grind). It makes the most delicious cup, in my opinion, though I have an arsenal of coffee in my cabinet to try. You can use an all-purpose grind, though so far I’ve found the press grind to make the very best brew.
So to everyone who has ever recommended I get a French press, I owe you an apology. You spoke the gospel and I, too brainwashed by Mr. Coffee, turned the other cheek. I don’t know why we allegedly don’t like the French, but for the coffee press alone I’d have to declare vive la France!
I can’t drink too much coffee anymore (sob) but when I do splurge, it’s always with a French Press. The husband doesn’t drink… coffee, so I just need enough for one, maybe two cups. And it’s always so fresh and hot when you use boiling water! Four minutes later, it’s just hot enough to sip and feel go down.
Welcome to the French Press club.
And yours is pretty! Mine is functional, but I want a more oganic-line one. Someday!
That gift set from Starbucks was only $34.95! (It’s still the same price.) And it came with a cute little sterling hourglass 4-minute timer and a small bag of press-grind Sumatra. That was all less than the press by itself. Totally worth it!
Incidentally, I just saw this gift set at Starbucks today! It’s pretty darn tempting, I admit…
well crap. maybe I should just cave as well. I keep getting the same advice about a french press. My husband doesn’t drink coffee anyway. No need to waste all of that precious counter space….
Emily’s recent blog entry: A Few Things
You know, it made a surprising difference. That black coffeemaker was like a blackhole in my kitchen, sucking in any light and taking up space. Since i removed it, I have more light in my kitchen and more counter space to stack with other crap.
Have had a french press for three years now after several of the same trials you have been through. My favorite Starbucks is the Italian Roast Extra Bold. You are a made woman now.
Yeah, I really like it. I won’t give it up. In the future, you don’t have to come up with the most bizarre rendition of your name I’ve seen yet… it’s not like I don’t know who you are. You’re not fooling anyone.
I can’t see what is being typed in the name line. Sorry.
Really? Oh, that’s good to know. Is it yellow and are you using Internet Explorer? If that’s the case, I need to update the stylesheet. It’s a Google toolbar issue, I believe. Thanks for letting me know.
Let me know if it’s improved at all. I can’t seem to recreate the issue, but these adjustments I’ve made should help.
Works great now. Thanks.
Yay, good. Thanks!
You must have put the french press hex on me. I just knocked mine into the sink and it’s dead. Fortunately I had a back-up travel size. Good day!
I’m inspired! I’ve been wondering what to get my sister for her birthday, and now I kind of want to get one of these for her coffee-loving self!
Annie’s recent blog entry: One Week Anniversary