Sales Rank: 333


Features:

Brews 32 ounces of coffee; retains beans' oils for rich, complex flavor

Sturdy, chrome-plated brass frame; easy-to-clean glass carafe

Stainless-steel press mechanism; replacement parts available

Turn lid to close spout; not for stovetop use

All parts are dishwasher-safe

Average Rating:
Rating: - Looks great, but...
This coffee press looks great on your table. It's elegant, and you don't have the spewing, sputtering sounds of a coffee maker.

However, using it requires more work than your usual coffee maker. You must boil water in a separate pot, put coffee in the press, let coffee sit, then press the mesh filter to push the grounds down to the bottom of the pot. The coffee always remains in contact with the grounds, which results in a strong cup of coffee (especially if you don't drink it all right away).

Cleaning the press is also difficult. You can't let coffee sit in the press. In order to really clean it, you must take apart the filter, which has several parts to it. I don't use my press anymore because the metal parts continue to retain some odor from previous use. Soaking it for several days helps, but who has the time for that?

Bottom line: buy this for looks only. If you're looking for something that's easy to use and care for, buy a regular coffee maker.

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Rating: - The Full Experience
I just got this one (Bodum Chambord 8-cup) yesterday and am very happy with the results. My first cup was with four scoops (included with press) of coarsely ground Starbucks Yukon Blend and about 14 oz of water for a four-minute steep. The result was a hair on the strong side, but without a doubt the most robust, flavorful cup of coffee I have ever had, with no harshness at all. Some sediment in the bottom of the cup from a minimal amount of coffee bean dust that got through the mesh plunger, but nothing too bothersome. Cleanup is no more difficult than with a drip coffee maker, and no more fumbling with paper filters. Not sure about the other models, but the glass carafe on this one is large enough to accommodate a hand and sponge, which makes it easy to clean. For entertaining, I would get the 12-cup version. Product seems well made, and plunger action is smooth and easy.

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Rating: - Consistently Excellent Coffee
Having just moved, my husband and I were recently deprived of our favorite coffee chain (which doesn't serve our area). All the local coffee houses have so far produced either inconsistent results, or their coffee was consistently of poor quality.

We purchased this unit as an experiment, because we heard good things about french presses. We have been extremely satisfied with the results. This little unit makes consistently excellent coffee, with an incredibly good flavor. We follow the same guidelines as those on the other reviews here: coarsely ground coffee, cooled-for-a-few-seconds-after-boiling water, and the coffee is served immediately after pressing it.

The only reason that I gave this product 4 stars is the usual: this does *not* make 8 cups of coffee by American standards. It makes enough for 1 large mug and 1 smaller mug of coffee. That is just barely enough for us, and it's excellent stuff, so I'm satisfied, but it's only 8 cups by European standards. We'll shortly be upgrading to the stainless steel larger version of this press.