Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
love it but, September 14, 2008
First, I used to only make coffee this way until my husband broke the beaker - accidents do happen. Years later I've come back because 1. I'm tired of tossing the bottom of the pot; and 2. we are trying to limit our exposure to plastic.
I don't remember my original one having a plastic strainer on the lid (note: the old milk frother I have from bodum does not have this strainer in the lid) but the new ones do. In the picture, its the black band between the lid edge and the first metal band - you can see it better on the 48oz. To make matters worse its #7 type plastic - thats the type with Bisphenol-A (BPA). The strainer doesn't touch the hot water and probably acts a sheild to limit hot splashes if the plunger goes down too fast but my wonderful hot coffee does pass thru it to get to my coffee cup, and steam from the hot water does condense on the lid and drip back down. I'm trying to remove the strainer until then I use it lidless (disassemble the plunger and the lid can come off. I just need to take extra caution when making coffee - looks a little naked too. And since I don't keep a cup in the pot (don't know why anyone would do that - talk about the bottom of the pot) I don't need it heat retaining ability. I wonder if the chrome part is really chrome....
for those who are frustrated with getting the coffee grinds out of the filter - give it a twist to loosen (hold knob in one hand and filter in the other and twist) - its easy to rinse the coffee grids out then
amazon should only list the size by ounces - it would cause less confusion since 32oz is 32oz which is 4 measure cups (8oz/cup); which is 8 coffee cups (4oz/cup - big espresso cups I guess). but it also makes it easier to figure how much coffee to add (1 scoop per 4oz). would be nice if Bodum put the oz measure on the beaker.
the resulting coffee is still great - far better than any coffee maker can make.
(btw. I did look at the stainless steel french press - the plunger is plastic.)
post comment: I was able to remove the plastic strainer from the cap lid - needed to remove the filters and the post, then remove the button on the top (snip off the underside and it comes out) and then wedge off the plastic strainer - its like a liner that has the same shape of the cap. the 48oz top is being stuborn I think because its too big for my hand to hold so I end up press down on it. For my smaller presses, I now have the top sans plastic. Also, for reviewers that wanted to press the coffee down all the way down - the lid is what keeps the filter up - you could try extending the rod or use without the cap. I aked a friend who still has hers from years ago (years!) and it doesn't have the plastic liner - even Amazon's 12oz picture is without it. I guess Bodum thought it was an improvement - and it probably does help against accidental splashes. Now I have to figure how to fix the chocolatier.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
1 Bodum "cup" = 4oz = 1/2 US Cup/Mug, February 10, 2009
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.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS, people., November 22, 2009
People amaze me. SO many of the negative reviews of this product have to do with confusion over the serving size and have nothing to do with the quality of the coffee. If you read the instructions or do a little research before choosing what size to buy, you will clearly see that in "coffee" terms, a "cup" is considered 4 oz, not 8 oz. So if you need a larger size, buy a larger size. Don't blame the coffee maker because you can't do math. Also, don't give a glass item a negative review because you dropped it and broke it. You knew it was glass when you bought it--just be careful.
Now that that's out of the way, let's actually address the coffee. The Bodum makes a great, robust, full bodied cup of coffee. Pansies need not apply. Aside from a $600 espresso maker, for the true coffee lover, this is probably the best at-home coffee experience you can get. Before you decide on using a French press--any French press, you should realize that there are benefits and drawbacks--just as there are to any method of brewing. Yes, you will have some sludge in your cup. It's unavoidable. If that offends your delicate sensibilities, perhaps the French press is not for you. However, if you are looking for a REAL cup of coffee--bold, strong, flavorful--this is probably the best method of brewing. The press method of making coffee is all about freshness and flavor. Coffee beans have natural oils that contain a lot of the flavor. Paper filters in drip coffee makers take away this flavorful component, but give you have a cleaner cup of coffee. You have to choose which is more important to you. If you want to TASTE your coffee, give the Bodum French press a try. It's definately a little more work to heat your water separately and brew this way, especially if you are grinding fresh when you drink, but the the extra flavor is well worth the effort in my opinion.
Also, don't overlook the importance of the beans. If you don't have fresh, good quality beans it doesn't really matter what brewing method you use. For the best overall experience, I recommend fresh beans that you grind at home with a conical burr grinder on COARSE setting, and brew immediately in the bodum in the appropriate size of your choice. And READ THE INSTRUCTIONS of how much coffee to use. It's not a mystery, people. Use one scoop (included) for each 4 oz of water. Measure your water in ounces before heating to make sure you have the right proportions.
As a note, I purchased the 8-cup model that is sold with a warming "coat" included, which is a great addition. The coffee tends to cool down very quickly since the glass is thin and there is no built-in heating element or insulation. The box I purchased advertised that the coat is apparently free, so if you can find it for the same price with the warming coat included, I would highly recommend it.
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