51 of 59 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Nice, except for plastic filter, January 12, 2010
The Bodum travel coffee press is nice. Only issue with it is that the filter part of the french press is made with plastic and has a silicon gasket that seals between the filter and the inside walls of the mug. I really don't enjoy having plastics steeping/leaching in the hot water I'm about to drink, so this is a deal breaker. Would have been nice if they mentioned this in the description. Since there aren't any other good french press travel mugs out there, I think I'm going to try to make my own filter this is all metal. Bummer.
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20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Pretty Good But Not Perfect, March 16, 2010
Overall, this is a pretty good but not great product. The strengths: it makes pretty good coffee; I haven't experienced the difference between this and a regular press that another reviewer mentions. It goes in the dishwasher, unlike many other mugs. Because it can make as well as carry your coffee, you can go out the door before your coffee is finished brewing. The weaknesses: I had the same difficulty with the strainer unscrewing from the shaft and getting stuck in the bottom of the mug. It's a pain to get it out. More seriously, if you fill it pretty full and seal it up, it leaks. So when your coffee is hot you have to carry it around with the sippy slightly open. Lastly, being stainless steel you can't put it in the microwave. So -- consider these carefully and make the choice that works for you.
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20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not as good as I'd hoped., March 9, 2010
I'd hoped for french press nirvana, but my expectations were a bit too high.
After a number of broken glass beakers in previous presses, I decided what I needed was something I could travel with, plus unbreakable. When this Bodum appeared in my search I thought I'd encountered one of those rare, hop out of the bathtub, run down the street starkers, "eureka!" moments. The reality, when I eventually received the press, was a little less joyous.
Firstly, the silicone seal on the filter is very effective. If you are not careful, it grips the sides of the mug and unscrews from the shaft of the plunger. Easily remedied with a needle nose pliers, but a bit disappointing in something this expensive (it arrived loosely screwed to the shaft, it detached the first time I used it). I recommend other users keep a regular check to make sure the filter is tightly screwed to the shaft.
Second problem. I like to use a lot of coffee, about 2 tablespoons, in very hot water for maximum extraction. I leave that for 15 to 20 minutes before depressing the plunger (this is why I suspect I need not worry that the filter is made of plastic as one other reviewer indicated, the plastic is the least of the unhealthy stuff here) and stopping the brewing. Unfortunately, the thermal efficiency is so good, that the coffee is still un-drinkably hot after all that time.
My second problem (noted above) is not really a fault of press, just an issue of my preference, so I should not mark it down for that. But my third problem, and the major one, is that the coffee that I get at the end of everything, just isn't as good as what I get from the regular press. Perhaps I need to adjust my methods to optimise the brew (I'll report back if it improves in the future) but I have tried several different ways already, varying many of the variables in both directions.
All in all, the 3 stars expresses it best. It's okay. I am not sure a $30 coffee press should be just okay though.
17th March, 2010
Getting closer to the coffee that I know a french press can produce. It takes a bit of work though. Firstly, I use water that isn't boiling hot (I let the boiling water sit for 10 minutes), secondly I used more coffee (2 and a half table spoons) and thirdly I left the cup uncovered for about 10 minutes before adding milk and sugar and depressing the plunger.
I think the two major problems I had before (too hot, taste not great) were remedied. I don't think a french press is really for the person who dislikes finicky procedures. If you like to grab your coffee and go, this is likely to irritate you. Since my purpose was a press that won't break easily and I don't mind the finicky process, it works for me.
Still not worth more than 3 stars though.
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