The product arrives with all the parts you need including: 4 mesh screens (you use 2 at a time for screening out coffee grounds), 18/10 stainless steel (same material as most utensils), lid with plunger, instructions (brief and not complicated to understand).
GENERAL PROS & CONS OF A FRENCH PRESS (COMPARED TO A AUTOMATIC DRIP COFFEE MAKER)
PROS:
+ Unlimited control of brew process
+ control how strong your brew is
+ control the duration of brew (3 minutes is given in instructions)
+ control the water temperature (195-205 degrees is recommended, with 205 being best...many drip makers don't reach that temperature)
+ Can be used as a pitcher for water or used to steep tea
+ Small footprint & Sleek looking
+ small enough to store in a cabinet or looks nice enough to keep on the counter top if desired
+ Easy to clean with very few parts and it can be cleaned it in the dishwasher
CONS:
- Must be active to brew coffee (whereas with an auto drip maker you put coffee grounds in filter, add water, and it does the rest)
- Probably not as consistent of a brew as an auto drip maker (might vary based on temperature, coffee grounds used, etc.)
- Won't strain as much of the grounds as an auto drip maker (it's recommended to use a coarser grind)
- Coffee will get bitter from over roasting if you leave the grounds in (recommended to serve immediately or store in a thermos)
NEITHER A PRO OR CON (PERSONAL PREFERENCE)
o French press will not remove the coffee oils
o taste preference - your coffee may be more bitter in a french press, which is a natural attribute of most ground coffees
o research has found that those oils contain cholesterol-boosting substances that are normally removed with paper filters
CONCLUSION:
I have really enjoyed using this french press. I will admit I don't make coffee with it every single time (I cheat and use an auto drip maker at times), but I like using this french press most often. There is a slight difference in taste between this and an auto drip maker. It's strictly a personal preference whether you might like it better. Coffee in a french press is a little bolder, because it extracts the full substance of the coffee grounds.
The wire mesh does a good job at removing grinds, better than most french presses in fact. However, if you use a fine coffee grind, you might notice a small amount of very fine grinds at the bottom of your cup. It's a very small amount , so I hardly think it's something to be concerned about if that thought crossed your mind. I have noticed that I can remove some of the coffee oils and very fine coffee grinds by rigging up a medium-sized paper coffee filter to the plunger (easy to do). It's certainly not a requirement though. All-in-all, I have been very pleased with both the look and functionality of this french press by SterlingPro. I hope this review is helpful!
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION (FTC) DISCLAIMER:
I received this product for free. However, the opinions expressed herein were formulated based on my personal use of the product. I welcome any and all feedback and/or product questions!
2 comments:
French Press is getting very trendy lately. It's nice to find a good solid review comparing it with an automatic drip. Thanks for all the great information.
I'm still learning some of the intricacies of using the french press, but it's fairly basic too. I like it! It's strange that I really like consistency in almost everything I do on a daily basis, but I like changing everything related to coffee on a regular basis.
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