French coffee press: history, characteristics and tips for use

Lack of a coffee maker is not a reason to switch to an instant drink instead of your favorite freshly brewed one. Buying a French press will not be a serious burden on the budget, but it will allow you to quickly and easily brew coffee at home.

The French press for coffee became known to the world in 1929. Thanks for this should be the Italian designers Attilio Callimani and Giulio Moneta., who not only invented this device, but also immediately patented it. Since a French company became the industrial production of a piston design that allows brewing coffee, the name contains an indication of the country of origin. It happened in 1958.

However, it is still important to add that the first version of the French press was introduced back in 1852... Unfortunately, the device was imperfect and did not stop the thick from falling into the mug. The new version, presented by Milanese designers, had a special mesh instead of a metal plate, which served as a filter. Thanks to the innovation, the liquid and the thick were separated, and therefore the drink turned out the way it should be.

A French press is a glass container with a hermetically sealed lid, handle and piston. The pin of the latter is fixed in such a way that on one side it passes through the cover, and on the other side it is convenient to place a filter made of steel mesh. After filling in the ground coffee, it must be filled with hot water, and then firmly press the piston handle.Thus, all the thick will go down, lingering in the filter, and the finished drink will remain in the flask. The brewing time of the coffee can vary, and the taste and richness of the brew will change depending on it. One of the main advantages of the French press is the ability to fully reveal the aroma of the drink and make the taste pure, free from any impurities. If you follow the instructions, you can guarantee the absence of both bitterness and sourness, if they are not provided for by the type of coffee itself.

There is not much difference between coffee and tea presses. Outwardly, both devices cannot even be distinguished from each other - one and the same flask with a handle and a piston. but presses are made from different materials and also use different filters... In addition, it is customary to choose small designs for a coffee drink, and those with a volume of 750 milliliters or more are suitable for tea.

In general, professionals distinguish several types of French presses. The classic French press is in line with the original design and has some drawbacks. Since the flask only holds a certain number of cups of coffee, if you want to brew another drink, you will have to rinse the entire device, including the filter. In a situation with a large number of people who want to taste the drink, certain problems arise. In addition, sometimes small particles of thickening do get into the liquid. Some firms are trying to improve their models and provide them with additional elements for the convenience of brewing coffee.

• If we consider the rating of French press models for making coffee, then most experts recognize the company's device as the best. Bodum Kenya... Its advantages include high quality, stylish design and the use of ecological materials that do not harm either human health or nature. TalleR presses are doing well. The convenient spout of the flask, made of heat-resistant glass, allows you to pour the drink without leaving any smudges.

• Frenchie of the German company Gipfel they look very modern and fit organically into many kitchen interiors. Most often, the flask is purchased immediately with circles of the same brand. Inexpensive but proven Vitesse French presses are sold complete with mugs. The constructions are made of high quality stainless steel and heat-resistant glass. The advantage of this choice is the ability to wash the press in the dishwasher. Another good manufacturer of presses is Rondell.

• Espro Press Model differs from the classical one by the presence of a double filter. The device, developed by a Canadian company, allows you to drink purer coffee without impurities.

• American Press is a design in which a small chamber, into which coffee is poured, is attached directly to the piston. The cooking technology in this case differs from the usual one. At the bottom of the chamber, where coffee is poured, a slightly moistened paper filter is laid out. The flask is filled with hot water, after which the piston is lowered so that the ground particles are only slightly moistened. After half a minute, the piston is slowly pressed so that after only one minute it reaches the bottom. In general, the drink should be brewed for 3.5 to 4 minutes.

• Finally, there is model Rite Coffee Press, the chamber of which is installed on the bottom of a flask made of ceramic or stainless steel. For convenience, an hourglass is attached to the side of the structure, which acts as a timer.

There are several important factors to consider when choosing a French press. As for the material, there are several options: the flask can be made of glass, ceramic or stainless steel. Glass is used most often heat-resistant, but its resistance is poor. In addition, cheap models often cannot cope with temperature changes. It is recommended when purchasing the kit that contains a spare flask just in case.

Ceramic and steel flasks are more durable, but complicate the cooking process a little, since it is impossible to observe it. Nevertheless, the most delicious drink is the one that is prepared in a French press made of ceramics. If possible, it is better to take a vessel with double walls that retain heat.

When buying, it would be good to inspect the handle of a French press - parts made of bamboo or coated with polymer are considered ideal. In any case, it is important that it does not heat up. The base of the flask must be stable.

Experts do not advise buying cheap models, as they fail very quickly. There is no need to buy too expensive devices - as a rule, their high price is largely due to a proven brand or unusual design. The middle category is just what you should focus on. Operation will be much more convenient if a press is purchased that can be disassembled and easily rinsed, therefore this advantage is important. When studying information about the glass used, you should be guided by Pyrex, which manufactures reliable heat-resistant glass.

To use a French coffee press correctly, it is enough to prepare ground coffee once according to the instructions, and then brew the drink in the same way. To implement the venture, you will need 17 grams of ground coffee, which is equivalent to three heaped teaspoons, as well as 250 milliliters of clean drinking water. In no case should you take tap water. The water must be filtered. Ideally, you should purchase bottled water.

Besides, cooking is impossible without a kettle, a timer, and the French press itself... Experts recommend choosing coarse coffee, which is visually easy to identify by the appearance of individual particles that resemble granulated sugar.

As a rule, 7 grams of coffee is taken per 100 milliliters of water, but depending on the variety, the taste of the drink may vary, and therefore it is recommended to vary the ratio depending on your own feelings. If in doubt, you can simply add coffee either to the level of the lowered filter or to the start of the handle. Before brewing a drink, it is necessary to thoroughly rinse the French press and be sure to dry it, since a sealed vessel tends to retain odors.

In a kettle, the water is brought to a boil, after which it is allowed to wait a couple of minutes until it cools down. The temperature of the liquid used should be in the range from 90 to 95 degrees. In the next step, the ground coffee is poured into the container. Before that, experts recommend heating up the French press, pouring boiling water inside and shaking it slightly. It is advised to do the same with the cup in which the drink will be served.

A French press, which already contains a coffee product, is slowly poured into 100 milliliters of liquid from a freshly boiled kettle. The water should completely hide all the coffee. The drink is mixed with a regular spoon and set aside for about one minute. It is more convenient to keep track of the time using a timer. Next, the rest of the water is carefully added, and the foam should not be damaged. The French press closes and a timer counts for 3 minutes.

Finally, the most important part of cooking takes place - the piston is lowered to the very bottom as accurately as possible... The movements should not be harsh or too strong - it is important that the piston moves smoothly. The finished drink is immediately poured into the prepared mug, so as not to provoke oversaturation of the taste. It is worth mentioning that spices are added to coffee while it is still brewing. Popular varieties include cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, or combinations thereof.

The used French press is rinsed every time the aromatic liquid is prepared. If you postpone this procedure, then a persistent smell may remain inside, which will eventually become very unpleasant. It is important not only to wash the flask, but also the filter, both in the mesh and under it - it is in this difficult zone that grains of ground product often remain. From time to time it is recommended to disassemble the filter and clean all of its parts separately.

How to make coffee in a French press, see the video below.