Grown tired of your standard drip coffee maker? Well, if you haven’t yet, then you are one of the lucky few, for the French Press coffee maker is taking the coffee world by storm. If you’re one of the wise coffee lovers who already own this amazing apparatus, then congratulations. But if you need a little more convincing, then below, I’ve listed the five top reasons why French Press coffee is the Best – hands down.
1. Though it sounds intimidating, using a French Press is surprisingly simple.
In fact, this method has been around longer than your “standard” drip! The main idea is to soak your coffee grounds in water to make the coffee, rather than pouring your water through the grounds. To use a [easyazon_link identifier=”B00DUHACEE” locale=”US” tag=”cafe049-20″]French Press[/easyazon_link], add a few scoops of your favorite coffee to the bottom of your pot. Then pour boiling water (do not heat the water in the pot) over your grounds to the desired level, cap with the plunger, and wait four to six minutes. After the time has passed, press your plunger down all the way to separate the coffee and the grounds. Voila! Perfect coffee that’s even easier to make than from your drip machine.
2. You will get the most robust, purest flavor from your coffee.
The drip method does not allow your coffee grounds to fully develop their flavor as the hot water passes over them. However, with the [easyazon_link identifier=”B00FMJDJ5C” locale=”US” tag=”cafe049-20″]French Press[/easyazon_link], your coffee will steep in the water, similar to brewing tea (bonus: your French Press doubles as a fantastic pot for loose leaf tea!) This allows the natural oils of the coffee bean to open into your coffee, which releases a much stronger, fuller flavor. With a drip machine, these oils get trapped in the paper filter; with a French Press, nothing sticks to the class pot, allowing you to enjoy the richness of these natural oils right in your cup!
In addition, French Press machines are not self-heating. This means you will never have to worry about over-cooked (or even burnt) coffee again. Ever worry if you left the pot on as you speed out the door in the morning? Well never worry again with a French Press!
3. The French Press is much easier to clean than any other machine.
Are you familiar with grimy, gross coffee makers? We’ve all seen them: pots filled with sticky, age-old goo that resembles something between mud and snot. Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but you get the point. Whether it’s from over cooking, sitting out too long, or simply not cleaning properly/regularly, it seems like drip makers get dirty quickly. Once they do, it’s almost impossible to completely clean them. If you’re not running a vinegar solution through your pot on a regular basis (which most people don’t), then eventually you will need to clear out the tubes with chemical cleaners. Or simply throw the machine in the trash.
You could try an espresso machine, but typically they have more parts than your car! Imagine taking apart, soaking, scrubbing, and drying every apparatus each time you want an espresso. Not to mention the steaming arm—while it seems like a great addition, you have to clean this little thing ever time if you want to avoid germ-filled, dried on milk suds.
But with the [easyazon_link identifier=”B00HG190GG” locale=”US” tag=”cafe049-20″]French Press[/easyazon_link], cleaning is as easy as throwing your maker in the dishwasher along with the rest of your dishes. The durable, heat-resistant borosilicate glass and the stainless steel plunger/filter can be hand washed in warm water or added to the dishwasher. And unlike those complicated espresso machines, the French Press has fewer removable parts, making cleanup a breeze on those quick mornings!
4. French Press makers are more environmentally friendly than your standard drip.
As mentioned, you do not need as much soap or other chemicals to clean your [easyazon_link identifier=”B000KEM4TQ” locale=”US” tag=”cafe049-20″]French Press[/easyazon_link]. This prevents these nasty chemicals from being washed down your drain and into waterways. And, perhaps even better for you, it means that there will be no chemical residue in your pot, which could seep into your coffee.
But another eco-friendly bonus to the French Press: no more paper filters! Rather than waste your money (and our trees), the French Press filters are completely made of metal, and with regular cleaning, they only need replaced every few years. Besides, you’ll be love how elegant your counter looks with the addition of this glass beauty.
5. They are incredibly affordable and long-lasting!
Do you remember how much your drip maker cost? Anywhere between $15 and $50, right? I’m willing to bet that it did not last incredibly long either. While you probably got several years out of your machine, you inevitably had to replace it due to damage, misuse, or just boredom. Though drip makers are relatively inexpensive, if you have to replace your maker every few years, then that cost really adds up! Plus, you constantly have to purchase paper filters that are one-time use. Sure, a pack of 100 filters might only cost a few dollars, but if you drink coffee regularly, you could be purchasing thousands of these little paper flops!
And let’s look at espresso machines: these are excellent for the true coffee connoisseur. But a really good [easyazon_link identifier=”B000UVZ2DE” locale=”US” tag=”cafe049-20″]espresso machine[/easyazon_link] can run you upwards of $50 to $100 (the “best” are typically over $200). Not to mention all of those little parts that either get lost or tire from use. Unless you take incredible care of your equipment, the price of maintenance can be incredibly high. Besides, who has time to clean all of those little pieces during your morning rush?
[easyazon_image align=”left” height=”160″ identifier=”B005FFBTOQ” locale=”US” src=”http://coffeemakersparadise.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/41exBeCDcWL.SL160.jpg” tag=”cafe049-20″ width=”160″]But with the French Press, there’s no need to replace parts frequently or purchase one-use filters. With regular cleaning, the plunger filters will only need replaced a few times over the life of your press (which should be several years). And to top it off, the classic [easyazon_link identifier=”B00012D0R2″ locale=”US” tag=”cafe049-20″]Bodum Chambord 4 Cup French Press[/easyazon_link] is only $30!
With such great benefits, it’s hard to see why anyone would pass up the French Press as their standard coffee maker. But beware of the effects of owning and drinking from a French Press: once you do, you will never go back to that outdated drip maker again!
