A French press is a coffee maker that has a small reservoir that holds boiling water. The water is usually filtered to remove sediment, but it may also contain finely ground coffee, sugar, or milk. A French press makes instant coffee by separating the ground coffee from the liquid through a simple press. Water temperature must be in order to maximize taste extraction, typically around 200 F. Any higher (water boils to 212 F) and your coffee will taste burned.
A French press coffee maker consists of two main parts: the basin and the grinder. The basin is where you fill the reservoir with hot water. The coffee grounds are placed in the mesh filter and put into the reservoir. The mesh filter traps the oils and sediment from the beans. The reservoir is kept on top of the basin. When the water in the basin begins to boil, the coffee begins to brew.
A traditional French press coffee maker has a glass carafe. In modern designs, some also have a stainless steel carafe. The coffee is placed into the carafe, which has a built-in filter basket. The basket traps particles and oils from the beans so they don’t boil over or seep out into the rest of the drink. The basket also traps any dissolved solids that are stuck to the mesh filter.
Many modern day French presses are dishwasher safe. This means you can simply throw them into the dishwasher and go about your business while the best french press coffee maker sits on the counter. If you use a mesh filter, it should not be necessary to clean this type of coffee maker often. However, you should periodically run the dishwasher to remove built up grime and use a mild detergent to disinfect the exterior and interior of the unit.
Unlike the drip coffeemaker, you do not need a separate water tank to operate a French coffee press. The reservoir is located inside the French coffee maker, and the water used is heated by the heating element within the French coffee maker. The mesh filter collects the oils and sediment from the hot water. To use the machine, all you need to do is fill the reservoir with the desired amount of water and turn on the power button.
Unlike other single-cup coffee brewers, most French presses will not create overly intense flavors or lose their strength over time. They do not lose flavor because the temperature fluctuates. Because of this feature, single-cup French presses make a wonderful beverage for any time of the day. You can enjoy a delicious cup of piping hot cappuccino in the morning, or warm tea for a soothing latte in the evening. Because of their adjustable heat retention, they are a great choice if you are in the mood for a strong cup of tea, but prefer not to brew the tea.
A French coffee maker will typically come with two different methods of use: a burr-type design in which the water is shot through the mesh filter to the bottom of the pot; and a paddle-type design in which the water is poured into the top of the pot with a large basket containing ground coffee beans. The size of the basket and the size of the coffee beans to determine how many coffee beans are needed to make a perfect cup. If using loose coffee beans, you should always pre-brew your selected blend in a regular coffee maker to achieve the proper strength. This ensures that the coffee beans have been ground to the right consistency for your French press mug.
When using a French coffee maker, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. Typically, it is best to brew one cup at a time so you do not over-brew the mixture. It also is best to brew your mugs using hot water for the first time, and then cool the mug in the refrigerator before making another pot of coffee. As with most things, it is a good idea to follow the manufacturer’s directions for brewing time, temperature, and the number of cups used.