A French press is a special compact device that can be used both for brewing coffee at home and tea. We advise you to purchase different devices for their preparation in order to avoid the appearance of a specific taste. The design is simple, it consists of a flask, a filter, a piston, a lid, a body, and a handle. Thanks to the presence of a French press, either a budget or an expensive model, coffee is brewed much easier than in a Turk.
Let's consider in detail: how to properly prepare classic black coffee and aperitifs with milk, what advantages and disadvantages a French press has for coffee and loose-leaf tea. At the end there are useful tips that will be of interest to real gourmets.
What is
A French press for tea and coffee preparation resembles a teapot in appearance. Consists of a glass flask, filter, squeezing piston. In America it is more often used for coffee, and in Russia a French press is used for tea. The French has the same diameter for all glass flasks. It just varies in volume. Accordingly, the higher it is, the more liquid will enter. A glass flask allows you to observe the process - this makes brewing coffee in a French press or drinking tea an interesting procedure.
The flask is placed in a housing. It can be made of plastic or metal. There is also a cover into which the piston is inserted. It gently moves up and down and serves as a wringing device. At its base there is a mesh filter, a steel part, and a spring. All this is fastened together with a bolt.
Before you make your favorite drink in a French jacket, you should pour the tea leaves and pour boiling water over it. After a few minutes, you will need to squeeze out the sediment with a piston. He lowers the tea leaves down, and the aromatic liquid rises up.
The French press for tea has a number of advantages, these are:
- convenience of design;
- ease of use;
- compactness.
Brewing coffee or tea in a French press takes a little time. You can adjust the strength of the drink. The tea and coffee press fully reveals the aroma of any drink. Its taste will be pure, without foreign tastes or odors. For example, coffee prepared in this way is not thick, has no bitterness or sourness.
Rating of the best models
As you already understand, the model range of French presses differs only in design, manufacturing materials and the integrity of the manufacturer.
To simplify the choice, we have compiled our own small rating of manufacturers whose products we have already evaluated in practice. As always, we warn you about the complete subjectivity of the approach. It is based only on our own impression at the “like-dislike” level.
1 place. Bodum
The Danish brand is represented by a whole constellation of French presses of different sizes and designs. Colored lids, comfortable handles that do not heat up, durable borosilicate glass and metal filters. The dishes last a long time, and cost quite a lot of money - from 2.5 thousand rubles.
2nd place. Bialetti
Coffee lovers know this name very well from geyser coffee makers. Bialetti French presses are distinguished by decent build quality and production. A definite plus is the comfortable and durable handles. Even a liter coffee pot, full to the brim, is not scary to lift with such handles. The price starts from 2.6-2.8 rubles.
3rd place. Hario
The Japanese brand specializes in making tableware, and pour-overs have brought it worldwide fame. French presses made in Japan are durable, stylish in design and reliable in construction. Comfortable handles and stands, strong lids, metal mesh filter. The biggest drawback is the high price. A miniature press of 240 ml will cost from 1.5-2 thousand rubles.
4th place. Tescoma
Chinese cookware brand has a good reputation. French presses cannot boast of a variety of designs, but they are practical. Comfortable handles, good piston stroke. The downside is that they need to be dried after use, otherwise they can quickly rust. Cost – from 1.5 thousand rubles.
5th place. Taller
Chinese products have a traditionally affordable price. Among the minuses, we note that the design of the handle and lid is not always successful. In many models they are metal and heat up quickly. But the price from 600 rubles is very attractive.
Kinds
Vessels made of glass will look great in any room. There will also be an opportunity to observe the brewing and pressing process itself. When choosing this option, it is better to choose a model made of durable borosilicate glass. It is also necessary to take into account the quality of workmanship and the material of the base for attaching the flask.
Products with a plastic body are popular; this is due not only to quality, but also to price. Among them you can find very budget options.
- French press Taller TR-2317 Elfie (0.8 l);
- French press Vitax Stafford VX-3015 (0.35 l);
- French press Taller TR-32327 Aaron (0.6 l).
Stainless steel jugs do not look as aesthetically pleasing as glass ones, but they have a number of advantages. They retain heat better (about 4 times longer than glass), double walls contribute to this, and they are also more durable. This choice will be an ideal option for travel. On any trip, you will still be able to enjoy your favorite coffee and not be afraid that your favorite brewing press will break.
The most popular models with a stainless case according to buyers:
- French press Mallony Alito 950150 (0.6 l);
- French press Rondell Akzent RDS-938 (1 l);
- French press WALMER George (0.6 l).
Ceramic models are presented in incredibly beautiful designs. There are a huge number of options here in both color and style. Ceramic vessels also preserve the pure taste of drinks without imparting additional flavors. They are easy to clean and are not as fragile as glass products.
Today, the online store offers models of French presses for every taste. Inexpensive and expensive. Beautiful and functional.
In addition to the material from which the dishes are made, the devices may differ in functionality. The classic version of the French press 100 years ago was used exclusively for making coffee. Today, most models are universal, that is, suitable for brewing and other hot drinks. Customer reviews and advice allowed us to create a rating of quality products. The TOP popular models for making coffee are as follows:
For coffee
French press Mallony Alito 950150 (0.6 l)
In first place is a model priced at 500 rubles.
Here you can brew coffee, tea, cocoa, and herbal infusions. The press model allows you to use raw materials of any grinding and size (leaves or granules). The flask material is borosilicate glass, the body is stainless steel. How to use the device is described in detail in the attached instructions.
French press Mallony Alito 950150 (0.6 l)
Advantages:
- Elegant;
- Comfortable;
- Fine sieve.
Flaws:
- The whole mechanism unwinds, and over time you have to tighten it.
French press for coffee, 1000ml. KENG-5380017
The second place is occupied by the ENS model. The approximate price is 953 rubles. made of glass and stainless steel, also includes silicone material. The volume of the vessel is 1000 ml. A universal type of coffee press for home use.
French press for coffee, 1000ml. KENG-5380017
Advantages:
- Large volume;
- Beautiful.
Flaws:
- Not very comfortable handle;
- Suitable for brewing coffee only.
French press for coffee, 800ml. Article: KENG-5380103
Third place is again taken by ENS with the model KENG-5380103. The flask is made of glass, the base is made of silver stainless steel, the bottom is made of silicone. Holds 800 ml of liquid.
French press for coffee, 800ml. Article: KENG-5380103
Advantages:
- Convenient to wash;
- Compact.
Flaws:
- Small volume;
- Fragile.
French press Gotoff 350 ml
Fourth place. The price of the model ranges from 350 to 420 rubles.
It is preferable to brew only ground coffee in the coffee pot. Also suitable for brewing black tea. It is not possible to prepare green tea in this model. Before pouring the finished coffee, a metal mesh filter is lowered onto a rod running through the middle of the vessel, which separates the coffee from the grounds. Made of glass and plastic.
Characteristics:
- Volume: 350 ml;
- Handle material: plastic;
- Cover material: plastic;
- Height: 13.5 cm;
- The color is transparent.
French press Gotoff 350 ml
Advantages:
- Comfortable;
- Low cost.
Flaws:
- Small;
- Made of short-lived plastic, the appearance quickly deteriorates.
French press Mallony Olimpia 950093 (1000 ml)
Fifth place. Average price 469-563 rub.
Using a coffee press, you can easily and quickly prepare aromatic tea or coffee. Equipped with a comfortable, durable handle. A stainless steel filter plunger ensures uniform water circulation. Here you can brew coffee of any grind, leaf, granulated or bagged tea. The attached instructions will tell you how to brew the aromatic drink. The spout on the side of the flask will provide convenient drainage of water. The cup holder is made of metal. The glass flask is not covered by the warranty.
French press Mallony Olimpia 950093 (1000 ml)
Advantages:
- Large volume;
- Comfortable in using;
- Easy to clean;
- Made from quality materials.
Flaws:
- The handle gets hot;
- Fastenings become loose;
- Thin glass.
French press Taller TR-32327 Aaron (0.6 l)
The approximate cost of the Aaron press is 570 rubles. Description: the flask is made of heat-resistant glass, resistant to temperature changes. The body is made of safe food-grade plastic, the press and filter are made of high-quality food-grade steel. Filter thickness – 0.3 mm; flasks – 2 mm. Supplied complete with measuring spoon. Manufacturer's recommendations: do not use abrasive products when washing.
French press Taller TR-32327 Aaron (0.6 l)
Advantages:
- Beautiful appearance;
- Comfortable;
- Made from high quality materials.
Flaws:
- Small volume.
For tea
French press Rondell Akzent RDS-938 (1000 ml)
1 place. Approximate price - 1290 rubles.
Using this device, you can quickly prepare a whole liter of aromatic tea, herbal infusion or other drink based on fruits or berries. Made of stainless steel, heat-resistant glass and bakelite with SoftTouch coating.
French press Rondell Akzent RDS-938 (1000 ml
Advantages:
- Large volume;
- Heat resistant handle.
Flaws:
- When washing, the flask falls out.
French press WALMER George (0.6 l)
Second place.
The minimum price is 650 rubles. Available in three colors. The height of the object is 16 cm. The base material is stainless steel. The cup holder reliably protects the glass part of the jug from damage. Stylish and unusual colors will make this model a perfect addition to any modern kitchen design. The “black anthracite” color will fit perfectly into the “minimalism” or “high-tech” styles.
French press WALMER George (0.6 l)
Advantages:
- Quality materials;
- Beautiful design;
- Low cost.
Flaws:
- Fragile;
- Inconvenient to wash.
French press Taller TR-2317 (800ml)
In third place is the company ELFI with a device priced at 770 rubles. Made from borosilicate glass and plastic. Can be washed in the dishwasher. With a lid locking function to prevent liquid from leaking out of the container. The piston mechanism slides smoothly inside the container. Suitable for preparing various drinks.
French press Taller TR-2317 (800ml)
Advantages:
- Stylish;
- Comfortable;
- Easy to clean, nothing gets stuck in small parts;
- The handle does not heat up.
Flaws:
- Small volume.
French press Bodum Caffetiera 1918 (1000 ml)
In fourth place is the famous manufacturer Bodum.
The average price of the device is 3820 rubles. Made of plastic and stainless steel with a measuring scale. Available in three colors. The height of the item is 24 cm. A measuring spoon is supplied.
This is exactly what the first coffee presses looked like 100 years ago; the model is their classic representative. In addition to the traditional design, all the latest technologies are present here, thanks to which the press will become an indispensable assistant in the kitchen and a complement to the modern interior. The vessel is made of borosilicate heat-resistant glass, equipped with a heat-resistant handle.
French press Bodum Caffetiera 1918 (1000 ml)
Advantages:
- Quality materials;
- Reliable, comfortable handle, does not heat up;
- Large volume;
- Beautiful, stylish.
Flaws:
- High price.
French press Vitax Stafford VX-3015 (350 ml)
5th place.
The approximate cost is 330-350 rubles. Made of heat-resistant heat-resistant glass and black plastic. The plunger and sieve are made of high quality food steel. Dishwasher safe. The ideal design of the spout will allow you to pour liquid conveniently. Equipped with the latest Vitax movement.
- Width - 8 cm;
- Length - 10.5 cm;
- Height - 18.5 cm;
- Weight - 0.21 kg.
French press Vitax Stafford VX-3015 (350 ml)
Advantages:
- Low cost;
- Beautiful.
Flaws:
- Small volume.
Differences
French is a device that allows you to easily prepare your favorite drink. It has its pros and cons, it differs from brewing with a coffee pot, teapot, or Turk. The brew with the press does not fall into the cup, but remains in the flask.
Press and teapot
The main difference between a teapot is that it can only be used for making tea. The advantage is that it can be used to prepare both drinks. They turn out rich, aromatic, and brew in a matter of minutes.
Presses for tea and coffee
There is no particular difference between coffee and tea presses. Outwardly they are very similar. They have a handle, a flask, and a piston. The only difference is in the material of manufacture and the filter. Small volume products are suitable for coffee; for tea, you can use 750 ml or more.
Cold coffee
Wondering how to make coffee special in a universal device? We tell you how to do it correctly.
- Add ground grains at the rate of 1 tbsp. spoon for 200 ml.
- Pour in cold water and mix thoroughly.
- Place in the refrigerator for 12 hours.
- Take it out, insert the piston, squeeze out the grounds.
You should understand: the drink is brewed for a long time, therefore it turns out rich and bitter. Add spices, milk, cream, ice cubes.
Is it possible to cook your favorite elite varieties in a French press? Certainly! Having gained experience, you will get the best coffee to enjoy with a unique bouquet of flavor and aromatic properties. Adjust the degree of grinding and the duration of infusion. Our article is a guide to action in order to gain an understanding over time of how to choose the optimal parameters according to your preferences.
Step-by-step instruction
Let's take a step-by-step look at how to use the teapot, revealing the taste qualities of the selected blend.
- Rinse the device with hot water.
- Add ground coffee - 1.5 tbsp. spoons (about 25 grams of coffee).
- Slowly pour in water - 1/3 of 200 ml.
- Stir, wait 1 minute for the tea leaves to infuse.
- Pour in the remaining water, cover with a lid, raising the filter to a level so that it does not touch the surface.
- Leave for 3-4 minutes – the coffee will brew.
- Lower the plunger slowly without splashing the contents.
- Pour into cups without squeezing out every last drop.
Try to keep in mind how many servings you need. It is allowed to store the drink, but be sure to pour it into a separate container.
