Lowest New Price: USD $34.95
Features :
- Gift set includes classic Chambord French press and two 12-ounce Pavina double-walled glasses
- Press brews 32 ounces of coffee; retains beans' oils for rich, complex flavor
- Sturdy, chrome-plated brass frame; stainless-steel press mechanism; easy-to-clean glass carafe
- Award-winning glasses made of 2 layers of durable borosilicate glass--keeps drinks insulated
- Glasses are dishwasher- and microwave-safe; all parts of French press are dishwasher-safe
Bodum's French press makes it easy: coffee, water, wait, enjoy. Simply measure out one rounded tablespoon of coarsely ground coffee per 4-ounce cup, pour in the hot water, wait a few minutes for it to brew, and slowly press down the plunger. Next comes the best part, as you get to enjoy a cup of rich and aromatic coffee. Because of its 8-cup capacity and elegant design, this French press is great for dinner parties, where you can now brew your guests' coffee right at the table. Bodum has been in the coffee business for decades, and the company continues to produce stylish, affordable, and reliable products.
Customer Reviews
French Press A Success (2010-05-29)
This coffee maker is the first of its kind I have tried and I find that it produced the best coffee at home I've ever had. I have had electric percolators and the coffee tasted terrible; coffee pots with folded paper filters inside strainers that rest on top of glass pots that then require that the hot coffee be transfered to a karaffe to keep it that way...I've had espresso stove top makers, where the coffee boils into a chamber when it is ready, and the coffee tasted burnt. I've made Greek coffee in a Ibrik, only to have the coffee boil over on the stove, so I've had it with those ways.
My husband and I find that we drink less coffee with our 8-cup press, and that is very good for us. And we enjoy the coffee we make. It is more ceremonial. A great start to the day.
The bonus of receiving two pavina thermal glasses is super. I like drinking cold wine from mine. Feels elegant. I save them for special occasions.
First French Press - better to be lucky than good (2010-05-15)
With dozens of reviews in place, some from those with years of experience with a variety of French presses, there probably isn't much to add...
However, as a first time owner, here are a few tidbits that might push fellow newbies over the edge:
- It's easy to use - Really! ;) Put in the ground beans, add water, stir for 10 seconds, wait for 4 minutes, plunge, pour, done.
- You'd really have to try to screw it up - I was a bit worried with all the talk of scalding hot liquid squirting everywhere. Yes, it's certainly possible... if you get all gorilla like with the plunger. But if you just press down reasonable, the plunger slides easily & readily, the air escapes, and all is well. No fuss.
- The coffee really is better - day to day, and in the rush of hectic mornings, we're all k-cups. On the weekend, when we have more time and want -better- coffee, we use the french press. I actually look forward to the whole ritual.
- The included cups really work - Yes, you need to be a bit careful if you stir with a metal spoon, but wow do they make a difference in keeping the coffee warm. Without adding cream there's still steam coming off the coffee 10 minutes after pouring it into the cups. That makes a big difference in enjoying the coffee without having to rush (or drinking it lukewarm). By the way, this is probably obvious, but if you like to 'lighten' your coffee, consider using cream or half 'n half vs. milk; because you need so much less, you don't dilute the flavor as much, the extra fat content complements the coffee -and- your coffee will stay warmer longer because of the lower volume of cold liquid infused with the coffee; win, win and win
- Clean up isn't that bad - I pretty much just rinse the filter (without unscrewing it)/plunger and vessel in hot water for a minute or two, then leave it to air dry; no problems thus far.
If you're a doubter like I was, I strongly encourage you to give it a shot; I think you'll be as pleasantly surprised as we've been!
fragile glasses (2010-04-23)
I purchased this to give as a gift, but it arrived with broken glasses. It's no surprise considering how thin the glass is.
Amazon replaced them right away and I was able to give the gift on time.
Bodum is the leading name in French presses, which is why I bought it. I wanted to give the recipient something they'd recognize. If it had been for me, I would have bought another Pinzon. The Pinzon has lasted a 3 years and aside from missing the plastic strainer* at the spout which doesn't really serve a purpose, it is every bit as good as the Chambord.
* More about the strainer. The slits are big enough to let all but the biggest coffee particles through. But considering you just forced the coffee through a fine metal mesh, I really don't know what they're expecting to catch.
1 Bodum "cup" = 4oz = 1/2 US Cup/Mug; Pavina 12oz Glass = 1 US Mug (2010-04-22)
3-cup = 12oz = 1 1/2 US Cups/Mugs
4-cup = 16oz = 2 US Cups/Mugs
8-cup = 32oz = 4 US Cups/Mugs
12-cup = 48oz = 6 US Cups/Mugs
The Chambord is the original Bodum French Press Coffee Maker. Its classic styling is attractive yet practical enough to be used daily and brought to the kitchen and dining table enabling one to drink French Press coffee the way it was meant to be - fresh and hot.
The newer versions have an extra plastic sleeve/neck that fits inside the glass (under the chromed lid) that can be adjusted between 2 settings: slit - for a smoother safer pour, and closed: to help prevent hot liquid shooting out when plunger is accidentally plunged too quickly and with too much force. A very thoughtful safety feature.
The classic ball-shaped knob is also an important safety feature as it enables a good grip when pulling the plunger back out for washing. Other more 'modern" and decorative presses (both in and outside of the Bodum line) have different-shaped knobs that do not serve their function. Those require a finger to be inserted into the spout and upward pressure exerted onto the snug lid. Awkward at best, and quite simply dangerous as inappropriate force can break the glass spout at this weak spot.
Taste: the absence of paper filters enable the natural oils and a small amount of coffee silt to be present in the coffee. This results if a more fragrant and fuller tasting coffee.
Cons with all traditional non-insulated French Press Coffees:
1) Coffee gets cold quickly, so you should only make as much as you will drink immediately.
2) The small amount of coffee silt settles as sediment/sludge in the bottom of your mug and the Press-pot. The larger the pot/batch the more sediment there is.
3) The Bodum 'cup" is actually 4oz and the consumer needs to be aware of the actual capacity/capability of the Press-pot. [See table above]. In addition, there is small amount of liquid left in the bottom of the Press-pot even when the plunger is fully depressed. Again this amount is larger the larger the pot/batch.
I have all the sizes and find that I use the first three sizes the most frequently. The 12oz at work and if I am drinking alone, the 16oz for guests - each gets their own individual 16oz pot if they usually have more than 1 mug of coffee. And on weekends the 32oz pot for breakfast for 2. I rarely use the 48oz unless a large number of people want coffee after dinner.
Bodum Pavina Thermal Glasses 12-oz = 1 US Mug plus a sip or two
These thermal glasses are fine and there is a genuine seal on the blown glass. Lesser imitations have a telltale pin-sized hole one the bottom that eventually leak and break the vacuum seal. After owning and using the glasses for over a year, the seal has yet to break after repeated use.
These glasses do have a 12-oz capacity but that is only when liquid is filled up to the very brim on the glass. In reality, there is only 8 - 10 oz or so of coffee that you would put in it for everyday use. That translates into a sip or two more than a regular US Mug.
The main CON to these glasses is that while you may not burn your fingers because of the design, it is all to possible to burn your lips. Drink with caution
Overall highly recommended both for personal use and as a lovely gift.
Perfectly adequate, if not spectacular (2010-04-16)
Grounds go in, coffee comes out: this french press is quite functional and results in a reasonably good cup of coffee. The filter isn't perfect, and I sometimes end up with a bit of sediment at the bottom of the cup, but that's nothing unexpected for a press in this price range. It can also be a bit finicky about exactly how you put the lid on -- the inner ring tends to catch on the lip of the cylinder -- but with a little fiddling it goes on fine.
The included cups were quite nice. I drink my coffee from a mug, but I use them regularly for cold drinks. They are comfortable to hold and maintain the drink's temperature well.
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