French, er... Freedom Press.... My FIRST

I think you are in luck, Blooth as I understand it uses the Freedom Press (he won't use the other one) and I'm sure that he will share his expertise. The other person who uses one daily is Maria from http://www.sweetmarias.com who tells all the tricks if you click on FP on the web site. Basics are to use a burr grinder to insure an even result of a grind that is coarse enough not to get past the screen, and, make sure you don't take that last drink no matter how good it is! Regards

Bodum is fine. I currently use BonJour, 8 cup, and no, it's not made in France. I use 37.5 grams of coarse ground beans, ground in a 13 year old Zassenhaus hand grinder. If I were buying a grinder today it wouldn't be German, but it would be a hand grinder. As for this bottom of the cup thing that so many people keep harping on, that's both interesting and amusing. It sounds as though these people are getting a heaping tablespoon of powdered coffee in their mouths with that last sip. Of course, there's some sediment in EVERY mug of coffee from my Freedom Press, but it's negligible and who cares?

Many years ago when my father was at my apartment, I made him some for about the umpteenth time and as I walked into the kitchen and he was finishing it up, he said in his very quiet but critical way, "this coffee has sediment in it."

I NEVER KNEW THE LITTLE BIT OF POWDERY STUFF AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CUP WAS SUCH A BIG DEAL WITH COFFEE DRINKERS!!!

I guess you could always pour it out through a paper filter. The BonJour Freedom Press has upgraded their design to include a fine screen that you pour the coffee through, but invariably a bit of sediment DOES get through. If it's really that big a deal, then figure it out. I'm sure each coffee drinker out there has enough ingenuity to figure out something they can do to alleviate it.

As for me, . . .

I drink it, with gusto!!!! :dunno: :dunno:

Just call me Nicolette. Don't ask, don't tell. :duh:

I have a question about french presses as well.

What do you do with the grounds in the bottom of the press? What the easiest way of getting them out?

I don't know if I want them going down the drain all the time and my wife (who is the one who uses it) isn't too conscientious about throwing them onto the compost pile.

Thanks,

You have "regular garbage," right? That's where I put mine, although down the drain won't hurt. As for getting them out, if there's soft garbage in there, just tamp it down on top of that and it will fall out, or hit it gently with the heel of your hand.

Bloofington said:

You have "regular garbage," right? ....

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Yeah we do...

It's just that she leave quite a bit of liquid (just below the filter screen) in the press and she just dumps it in the sink.

Thanks,

Drain off the liquid into the sink, grounds in the garbage.

I dump the entire thing into the compost pile, a little water never hurts it, afterall it gets rained on ! , I have the best compost, it is full of cafine ! gets me Jazzed early in the morning ! hahaha Enjoy, Vince

Well, it IS early in the morning and you sound quite jazzed, Sir. :mrgreen: Coincidentally, I was just upstairs getting the mugs, grinder, press and coffee ready for tomorrow's first pot of the day. Well, later today's first pot of the day. The one I'm going to have after I go to bed about 5 a.m. and then wake up tomorrow. :duh: :dunno: :duh:

I will only use the freedom press. its the best method for the money and arguably the best process of all.

Dump the grinds in your GARDEN or on your lawn. the soil will be improved and your plants will love it.

I was once working out of state, and I came to have a favorite resturant where near where I was living at that time. They had the best iced tea!! I finally asked what the secret was, and found out that they used Lipton, and made it in a french press.

I have a press, but I dont use it too much. I need to get a good grinder.... the one I have now either grinds very fine (which is OK for a conventional coffee machine, like the Bunn I use daily) or inconsistently if I try to leave it coarse. I have tried making tea in it, but I havent spent enough time working on it to get the proportions right. Maybe I should look up that resturant, and contact them to find out how much tea and water to use, and how long to let it brew.

As far as the sediment is concerned, I get a small amount occassionally even with a paper filter in my bunn. It doesnt bother me all that much. Running your coffee that was brewed in a french press through a paper filter would almost defeat the purpose of using that type of machine to begin with. I would get a screen filter for my bunn if I saw one that would fit. I have seen cone shaped screen filters, but not ones for the basket shaped filters like my bunn uses.

If I was on a bigger budget though I would be getting an espresso machine! That would be really nice

Yeah, an espresso machine! :thumbsup:

Not the $29.99 kind that breaks after two months, either.

I do realize the sediment that comes with the use of the Freedom Press, but I drink it down, mud and all. The Freedom Press is the best method I've personally used. The fullness of the flavor seems unmatched to me. I've used percolators and I've had that which is made in a drip maker. I'll stick with the press, unless of course I'm making some specialty like espresso, capuccino, etc. :mrgreen:

We do have a discussion somewhere around here about grinders. If it's not on this page, it shouldn't be too far away. I personally am still using a small Zassenhaus hand grinder that a friend bought for me almost 14 years ago. It has very precise settings for any type of maker.

And the grounds are definitely good for the garden, too.

Bloofington said:

Not the $29.99 kind that breaks after two months, either.

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My mom got one of those from wal-mart. We havent used it enough to break it, because it functioned in such a frustratingly poor manner to begin with. I think the cheapest one I would buy would prolly cost $500+ But I havent got around to getting one yet. I really do want one though, especially since where I live now is a long way from the nearest startbucks (or any equivalent coffee shop).

Ohhhh, you don't have to pay five hundred bucks, although I will admit that a good one that will last can cost a lot. Give me a couple of days to come up with some information. I'll try to post links by Tuesday afternoon, evening perhaps.

MarkG, check out this link. By the way, I am NOT trying to point you to the Impressa S9.

:rotflmao: :rotflmao: :cryinlaugh:

http://www.greenmountaincoffee.com/navC ... ersStorage

A must-read from one of the best coffee web sites around.

http://www.coffeegeek.com/opinions/mark ... 07-20-2004

Bloofington said:

I am NOT trying to point you to the Impressa S9.

:rotflmao: :rotflmao: :cryinlaugh:

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I didnt want a full auto machine anyway. Although I suppose they are consistent, and convienant, I like the little bit of work that goes into making a cappucino. I was somewhat dissapointed when Starbucks went to full automatic machines awhile back. Thanks for the links. When I was looking at espresso machines awhile back, I was thinking that I would like to get this one:

http://www.aabreecoffee.com/Francis/fra_x1.cfm

I see the price has went up in the last year or so too

I make my espresso on the stove top with a pot that is about 50 years old, never failed to make a great cup of Espresso, as far as capachino , BLECH >>> who wants warm cream in real coffee !!!!
hahahahahahahah
Enjoy, Vince