French Press or Press Pot Serving All Your Daily Coffee Needs

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Have you ever been in Starbucks or Coffee Bean and noticed those cylindrical pots with a press and wondered what they were? Well it turns out they're known as a French press or press pot. A French press is a coffee brewing device popularized by you guessed it - the French! Its operation is simple and it produces much stronger coffee than other coffee brewing devices.

It consists of a narrow cylindrical jug usually made of glass, or plastic, which is equipped with a lid and a plunger which fits tightly in the cylinder. It uses a fine wire or nylon mesh to act as its brewing filter. Coffee is brewed by placing the coffee and water together, leaving to brew for a few minutes, then depressing the plunger to separate the coffee at the bottom of the jug. Because the coffee grounds are in direct contact with the brewing water, coffee brewed with the French press captures more of the coffee's flavour and essential oils, which would typically become trapped in a traditional drip brew machine's paper filters.

Some people wonder - well why a French press? Coffee fanatics and connoisseurs maintain that this coffee is the best way to experience the daily grind. This coffee is a very simple and cost effective way to achieve an extremely rich and robust cup of freshly brewed joe -without the hassle of paper filters.

There are some things to keep in mind when using a French press. While any coffee will technically work in one, some coffees are more desirable and delicious than others. Some coffee drinkers prefer dark roast coffee with a full body and medium to low acidity. A coarse grind works best for the press pot. This will ensure that the mesh screen will filter the coffee grounds and separate the liquid from the unwanted sediments.

One thing to remember that may be unsettling is sediment. With a French press there is more sediment in your cup so you never want to take the last sip - which may be frustrating for some coffee drinkers. Although this is a concern, it is minor compared to the benefits of one of these coffee makers. If you're looking for a robust, dark, rich cup of coffee - a French press may be just what you're looking for!