Customer Reviews

Bodum Columbia 32-Ounce Thermal Tea Press, Stainless Steel

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a marvelous piece of work, when it works. My first one is perfect. But three later ones, purchesed a year or less later, are all defective: the whole top, including tea strainer and strainer cover, is removeable. I mean the whole top that covers the entire top of the pot, not just the cover for the strainer. When it is correctly manufactured, the underside of the top of the pot has three ball-bearing-like protrusions that keep the top snug on the pot. And, when twisted clockwise, the top locks into place and cannot fall off. On the later pots, this top is loose, does not lock into place, and falls off when the pot is tilted, releasing hot water all over one's hand. There is obviously a manufactruing defect in the leter manufacturing runs of this pot!

Otherwise, my firtst, good one, is fabulous. The best.

Mark B Anstendig

I bought this teapot about 4-1/2 years ago. I go through alternating phases of preferring coffee and tea so I haven't used it daily that long but it is that old. The last few weeks we've been big into tea. It started with bagged stuff (MarketSpice Teabags, box of 24 (Market Spice Tea)) but we then ordered a bunch of loose leaf tea direct from marketspice. Since then we have been putting this tea pot to use at least once a day. I know that's an aside but that tea is extraordinary.

At 32 oz this teapot comfortably makes 4 mugs. The insulation is pretty good too. Don't expect Thermos-level performance (the walls are insulated but the entire pot is not sealed) but your tea will stay hot for a good while. Exactly how long depends on all kinds of variables of course but as a ballpark expect your tea won't go from "hot" to "warm" for somewhere in the 30-60 minute range (the 2 hour claim in the description is predictably exaggerated). Unless you like your tea piping hot it is about right for you and somebody else to have a couple of cups with a chat or game. If you want your tea to stay hot half the day you're probably better off using a Thermos or similar sealed container. You may be able to improve the time somewhat with a cover on the spout but I haven't tried this since the performance matches my habits well.

Even after 4 years the plunger seal still keeps the leaf from bittering the rest of the pot. There's room for maybe 3 teaspoons or so of loose tea in the sealed part of the tea reservoir, or enough for what most would consider medium strength to 4 mugs (not brewed individually, but in a teapot you need proportionately less tea as you brew more at a time). If you like a stronger tea there is plenty of room in the cylinder where the tea fits for steeping but the additional tea will prevent the plunger from depressing fully and you will not be able to stop the tea from continuing to brew using the plunger. It is not difficult to remove the cylinder that holds the tea if you wanted to go that route but it would make a mess if you tried to do so at a table instead of at the sink.

The stainless steel finish on this teapot is a magnet for prints and water spots. Plan on it showing water spots after every washing until it is polished. I can't count this as a con since it's par for the course with a stainless steel finish, but be advised. I do have to give credit for the handle being sturdy enough that you don't need to touch the tea pot to pour, so if you wanted it to look pristine for company you could clean it up and as long as you were careful about only picking it up by the handle and only pressing the plunger handle to stop brewing it would stay looking very nice. If I had it to do over again I would see if I could get it in a brushed finish but again I can't count this as a con since it is sold specifically as a stainless steel finish. I've heard of methods to change a stainless finish to a brushed finish (people do this to the backs of ipods, for instance) so I may try that. If I do I will update with the method and result.

All in all we really love this teapot. It's not the sort of item to wear out but if ours disappeared somehow I would either buy another or something very, very similar. It stores well, it's solid, doesn't absorb flavors, keeps tea hot for a reasonable amount of time, and the plunger to stop the tea from continuing to brew actually works pretty well. And charm aside, the superior flavor and better price of loose tea pays for the teapot very quickly. Get this teapot and a nice electric kettle such as Oster 5965 Stainless-Steel 1-1/2-Liter Electric Water Kettle and you will be in very good shape.