Customer Reviews

Bodum Brazil 3 cup French Press Coffee Maker, 12 oz, Black

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(24)

 

 

First off, make sure you notice in the writing above that while this is called a 3 cup press, it does not make 3 US cups. It makes 1.5 US cups. This is a sip or two more than will fit in most of my mugs and hence is exactly the amount of coffee I want since my husband can't stand coffee. If you were wanting this to make a mug each for two people though, you won't be happy with this little guy and need to look at the bigger models.

Other than that, this is pretty straight foward device. It's very easy to use and a snap to clean. And the coffee it produces is excellent; after using it for two years, I now have problems when company comes over and I want to use my big autodrip coffee maker because so much of the richness of my beans get lost with the drip method.

The only thing that keeps me from rating this product a full five stars is that I have problems with the filters after about eight months to a year. The press currently in my kitchen is actually the second one I have had because the last one became unusable when the filter simply stopped being willing to stay in place. Now I am having this problem with the replacement. It is possible that my problem is due to the fact that the filters get warped and could be solved by simply buying new filters, but since the filters are $4 plus shipping and a complete replacement costs $11, it makes as much sense to me simply to replace the whole unit and have a backup in case I drop it and shatter the glass (which has happened in the last year!). But, really, I shouldn't complain too much about this because $11 a year is a small price to pay to make perfect coffee.

I think you have to be an idiot to not read the directions and complain when you pay the price afterwards. This little machine couldn't be simpler, which suits me as I practice the simple living lifestyle.

Making coffee is a snap. You heat some water, pour an 1/8 cup of coffee (I use Folgers Gourmet Supreme, no fancy grind), pour the not-quite-boiling water into the beaker, gently place the plunger on top but do not press, let it stew for 4 minutes, then plunge slowly as the directions clearly state. I never have a problem with grounds, but I do notice some sediment at the bottom of my cup resembling fine sand. It doesn't hurt.

To call this a three-cup coffee maker is a stretch, unless these are European standards. I usually get one 8-oz serving of coffee out of one batch, which I enjoy after dinner with real half-and-half, not "Coffee-Mate®" artificial creamer.

Don't buy a $40 12-cup electric coffee maker for one or two cups of coffee; reclaim your kitchen counter as well as your inner French girl and go back to basics with this little guy or its bigger brother. If you have common sense you won't regret it.

So I have every size bodum, both in glass and polycarbonate. They are indispensible in my kitchen, getting daily use. I have to say this one is my least favorite.
positive: it's unbreakable.
negative: it's not as pretty as the chambord (cheap and plasticy), the plunger doesn't come apart, and the mesh in the plunger isn't replaceable. The size is really only workable for one.
While in theory the single piece plunger seems a positive, in practice it just doesn't work as efficiently as the three piece chambord's. The last few times I've used it, I've had an unpleasant faceful of coffee squirted at me because the seal is too tight and the nylon mesh gets deposits over time that occludes the holes. This makes it esssentially useless over time, since you can't replace the mesh. Even vinegar rinses don't help with this, since the deposits have an oily component from the bean.
As for the Chambord-- it's beautiful, breaks easily, but at least replacement carafes and mesh strainers are available for an overhaul after a year or two of use. Bonus: It will never scald you.
I also recommend not getting anything smaller than the 4-cup or 8-cup. Before getting the 4-cup, I constantly used to try to eak out 2 cups of tea out of this by filling to the very top. No good. you get a better plunge when there's room at the top, and less overflow potential as the grounds/leaves swell.
(BTW, I use these for tea and coffee interchangeably, and have found that the nylon mesh retains flavors unlike the metal strainer of the chambord.) Bottom line, I think the Chambord is the way to go.

I did a lot of research before I bought this item so I realized that the cups it referred to were not our typical US cups. I am pleased that they offer this small model, it is perfect for one coffee drinker. It makes a nice sized mug of coffee for one person.
Aside from the size issues, which I understand are confusing. It makes the most incredible coffee, simple & good. It brings coffee to a new level! It is rich & creamy (I use about 1/2 the creamer now!) & it is more full bodied than even the best drip coffee! I don't know if I will ever use my Mr Coffee again. It takes a little work to clean it but it isn't anything to complain about.

I plan on buying a larger model when I need to entertain more than myself but for now this is ideal for just me! The price is great too!

A lot of my travel takes me to places where good coffee just isn't found (particulary a lot of former British colonies...). This little device is the solution. As easy to use and clean as almost any french press, although the filter screen does not unscrew from the plunger rod. In a perfect world you wouldn't brew coffee in plastic/polycarbonate, but this carafe stands up to the banging around of travel, and you don't have to worry about finding broken glass shards when you open your suitcase upon arrival. Should be great for camping, too.

Rather than drinking the regular Maxwell House, I bring my own blend of coffee, use the hot water from work and make my own in about 2 minutes. It makes just the right amount.

Unless you are used to French press, you may think the coffee is murky, but a little smudge in the bottom of my mug doesn't scare me.

I've used coffee presses for years. They are practically idiot-proof. Reviewer "HW" is pressing the plunger down too fast and may not have stirred after adding the hot water to the grounds, that's all.

But the fun part is that they are utterly durable and reliable, and in this size, even portable. We have two at home and I have one at work. Each makes one perfectly sized mugful at a time.

The only time I have managed to break anything on a coffee press is when I put the glass in the dishwasher and it clonked up against something. Even then, Bodum often offers replacement glass.

Presses are even usable to steep tea (don't use the same press for both, but at this price, you can get a pair).

This is a great little gadget for making a cup of coffee. I often like a cup or two throughout the day, but don't want to make a big pot in the coffemaker in the AM and have it sit for hours, nor do I want to make one cup in the whole pot. I was a little hesitant after reading the first two diametrically opposed reviews but decided to go with the experienced traveler. I am so glad I did!

This couldn't be easier to operate, and as the instructions say, just use the weight of your hand to slowly press the plunger down after the coffee has brewed. It descends very easily. And, again following the instructions, use HOT but NOT BOILING water.

I grind my own beans, and like a pretty strong cup of coffee so I use more than the suggested amount of coffee. You can experiment until you get what you want.

The instructions consider "a cup" to be 4 ounces; which seems indeed to be the case, as this "3 Cup" press makes one 11 ounce mug (my favorite) for me. Enjoyed with half-and-half, of course!

I picked up one of these from a trash pile in college (American college students tend to throw away a lot of perfectly good stuff at the end of the year) and had it for two years until I accidentally whacked it against a wall. During that time it performed quite well. I used to take out the metal plunger and heat water in the microwave in the glass/plastic body. The plastic seemed to hold up all right.

A great quality french press that made Bodum famous. Simple, easy to clean and quick! Ideal for the times when you need a nice cup of fresh brew coffee but couldn't find a coffee maker nearby.