Would someone please recommend a good French Press? I'm moving and am seriously downsizing, and the venerable coffee maker is going!
RR
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This is the one I got a few weeks ago to replace the Bodum that began letting too many grounds through.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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Skip the french press, get an Aeropress instead.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...Ck%3Aaeropress

http://aerobie.com/products/aeropress.htm

30 seconds to about the best coffee I've had, and it certainly feels like I've tried probably almost every machine or method out there looking for it. Only thing else that comes close is my Chemex or some insanely expensive machine costing thousands of dollars.

Don't bother with the stainless filters, they kind of defeat the purpose/method of brewing.
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I've been buying these for the last four or more....
They last about a year before the screen starts to break down, but for the price....
http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/60241389/
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All of these look great! Particularly curious about the Aeropress. Looks like that allows one to make a strong coffee. Can a French Press make strong coffee?
:-)
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Yes it can, but it depends what you like.

French Presses yield more bitter coffee that is kind of murky and grainy. Aeropress coffee, being a pseudo-espresso pushed through a filter and then diluted to an americano coffee, is brighter and less muddled, body is a bit thinner though.

Depending on how you dilute, I think the aeropress can actually make a stronger coffee. Pushing that much soggy grind with a French Press tends to blow by the sides of the screen and end up in your cup.:-)
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You can make coffee as strong as you want by increasing your coffee:water ratio no matter your method.
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As well as how long you steep it for... when looking for a French press I try to find one with as many metal parts as possible. Gone through too many plastic pieces breaking on them. Especially the part that screws the screen to the shaft. :-)

I think I need to try the aeropress...
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Go with Chemex. Makes THE BEST pour over/ drip coffee.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8h-0ewcbHko

http://www.chemexcoffeemaker.com/
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That's called over extracting, you start pulling out the tannins in the coffee when it sits in the water for a long period of time. Yields a stronger but bitter, muddled, less flavorful cup when you do that. One of the problems with a french press is that they are prone to it with their long brew times.

I beat the crap out of my aeropress, haven't broken it yet. I did lose the bottom guard and paddle once, but that was my mistake. If you do lose or break parts, replacements are inexpensive, just call Aerobie in California directly and they will ship them out to you.
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Best "heirloom" French presses are made by Alessi; not cheap, but worth it IMO. The next higher quality brand is Melior, which is the classic French made French Press...
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After reading the 'how to' on the Aeropress, have a question...
Directions say 2 scoops coffee with water poured to the number 2 line. Can you use 3 scoops with water poured to the number 3 for more coffee with the same strength and flavor? Same question for the number 4.

RR
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Yep. That's exactly how it works.
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I agree that Aeropress is the way to go. I also really like my chemex for brewing multiple cups.
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I have a couple Aeropresses, love 'em, and one of the things I've learned is how to brew different strengths of coffee by changing coffee amount, water amount, and steeping times. Pretty fun to experiment.
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my Aeropress is ready to pack it in after a few years of use. Coffee grinds eventually wear the walls of the cylinder so the rubber plunger doesn't seal anymore.

Also it's worth it to get the stainless steel filter after all your paper filters run out.
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Ok... If you chose only ONE... Which would it be? Chewed or Aeropress?
If Chemex, which size?
RR
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I use my Chemex more, simply because I brew 24 oz of coffee and put it in my thermos.

I think the aeropress makes a tastier cup though.

For me, I'd choose the chemex for the greater capacity. However, in reality I chose both, because I can :-) In fact I have 2 Chemex brewers and 2 aeropress'.
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I have a couple Aeropresses which I really like. With that said, I have a regular drip maker for work mornings, it has delay brew options so coffee is ready when I get up. The Aeropresses are for slower paced weekend mornings. If you are like me, a drip for weekdays, and the Aeropress for weekend mornings. :-)
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I was looking into getting a plastic french press for travel a couple months ago. I'm glad I didn't end up getting one because I'm thinking the aeropress will be a better option. It'll take up less space in my bag and to hear some of you talk, it makes a better brew. I do enjoy espresso. My mind's made up. Thanks guys.
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