Customer Reviews

BonJour French Press Maximus Insulated 8-Cup with Flavor Lock Brewing

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

 

 

I researched many different brands of French press coffee makers & decided on this one for two reasons: 1) the double glass insulation & 2) the flavor lock system. The double glass insulation keeps coffee warmer longer than a single glass maker. Also, the steel frame helps prevent glass breakage. Although most French press makers are made of break resistant glass, several reviews I read on many different sites indicated glass breakage was a common issue. The flavor lock system appears to be available only with the BonJour brand. When you're done making the coffee you simply twist the knob on the top, which stops the brewing process. This means the last cup tastes as good as the first cup. Coffee from a French press is much better than from a drip coffee maker. French press coffee is smooth & not bitter. Although this French press is marketed as an "8 cup" maker, that is based on a European measurement using 4 ounce cups. This press is 32 ounces. We have been using this French press everyday for the last month, sometimes twice a day, & we are very pleased with it.

I have had a classic Chamboard for over 10 years.. And just bought two different models of the new double walled press pots.. This is my review / comparison of the Bodum Chamboard, Bodum Rhone (ribbed glass pot), and the stainless steel Frieling (below)
ADDED THIS SAME REVIEW under all 3 pots in amazon ..

DOUBLE WALL:
At this time I cant say if the double walls really make the brew taste better (by keeping the brew temp higher during the brew minutes).. I will add an update if I ever figure it out.. I tend to brew at slightly cooler temperature anyway (tried 180F to 205F).. And people even do cold brews, so keeping the temp high for the 4 min. brew cycle is probably a personal subjective taste thing (not a right / wrong thing).. For people whom coffee temperatrue is a priority, I dont think you will be happy even with an insulated pot (it does indeed cool off a bit even with preheating). I am not sensitive about having the second cup piping hot.. But I have noticed the double wall pots keep the coffee definitely warm enough for my second cup..

YERBE MATE:
I am a big green tea, Yerbe Mate, and coffee drinker.. The press pots are fantastic for making Yerbe Mate (actually makes it similar to the traditional brewing method). Many people use a regular coffee maker, but Mate needs 170F water.. But my comments for this review are about coffee performance..

FLAVOR LOCK:
The flavor lock is useless IMHO, but possibly I am wrong (Many bonjour models have tghis feature; the rhone and maximus does).. Here is why: I estimate these 8 cup versions actually make 3 cups.. I make two cups at a time, and when I pour my second cup later, about half the coffee for this cup is stored "below" the flavor lock still brewing (but it then pours thru the "lock" into my cup).. The only reservation I hold out for this gimmick to actually work is for people who fill the pot all the way (so maybe water pressure on both sides helps keep the over brewed coffee below the lock).. Or. Perhaps the flavor lock works by holding back the coffee about a second, so the over brewed coffee pours last.. In any case if you pour out all the liquid into the last cup, you will get every drop of over brewed coffee.. And the flavor lock system adds stuff to clean (I would have preferred less to clean).

BODUM CHAMBOARD:
I have had this pot over 10 years.. Maybe I have been lucky to not break it.. I have always liked the pot. I am hoping I will like the double wall pots I bought even more..

FRIELING:
It is beautiful, heavy (no glass / all stainless steel), shiny, almost a work of art (materials and workmanship quality is high.. except for.. see below).. Timeless (simple) design.. I hate to , but I returned this item (hard to believe all the great reviews on this pot).. Lots complained about grounds in the pot.. And I got grounds in my cup too.. Th filter plunger would stick at the top.. Long story short, I found it slightly oblong at the top.. Combined with the filter design (the mechanics will not allow the filter edge to follow the slight oblong curve).. I think everyone knows you cant fill a press pot too full, or the grounds will float in where the spout flares out.. The oblong nature of this pot looked like I needed to leave water 3" from the top, because the oblong shape extended the flare of the spout down maybe another inch.. It does have a tendency to spurt liquid out when you plunge.. I only used it once, but Im confident it can be controlled (for me it would have been a pain when washing it, because I put water in and plunge hard to clean the filter).. I don't know where mine was manufactured.. There was an obvious stainless steel taste, even after washing it 3 times.. I found the same with stainless steel water bottles, and the smell and taste went away gradually (I was wondering if I simply got used to the taste, but now I taste it again, so it does go away).. We got rid of plastic, and there are no known problems with stainless steel on health (unless one is sensitive to nickel).. Or if the taste is some manufacturing chemical rather than the steel itself.. The glass pots have no detectable smell or taste..

BONJOUR RHONE (RIBBED):
Love this pot / gave it 5 stars / nothing is perfect reasoning (complaints below).. These look much better in person than the picture suggests.. They are elegant, simple timeless design.. The glass feels better made and more rugged than other double wall glass I have seen (but probably still very fragile).. The manufacturing quality is high.. But the shinny top lid is a little tarnished (cant tell if its stainless, or that plastic coated with something that looks like metal).. Don't really care because it doesn't touch my coffee. The flavor lock gimmick is not functional IMHO, and adds stuff to clean.. Without the plunger, these look like those old fashioned plastic water pitchers (but these will very likely break if you drop ice cubes down).. The little filter in the top cap is non functional because the coffee routes under it when you pour.. Again, more non functions gadgetry adding more stuff to clean).. However, the main plunger filter is much finer than my 10yo chamboard (and I think the finer filter makes the coffee taste better).. Some reviewers complained of grounds in the coffee.. Maybe I got a good one.. The filter engages all the way around immediately below the spout flare out (unlike the Frieling).. No grounds whatsoever (and I am picky).. The "easy" perfect fitting filter screen has a down side; the cap can come off wghen pouring and bang the metal rod into the delicate glass (happened to me; I fely lucky it didnt break). I don't like the knob on top.. Its pointy, so you have to grasp it carefully to plunge (or it will hurt your hand).. And you cant get a grip on the knob to tighten the filter enough to engage the flavor lock mechanism (although you can engage it to the lock position because that tries to tighten it).. Its still a pain to try to turn the knob to engage the lock.. I love this pot so much, I am going to try and find a new top knob, and maybe replace the top with wood (mesquite is beautiful and very water resistant)..

I bought the bonjour maximus too, but am returning it (I only wanted to try the flavor lock, which came unannounced in the rhone pot).. I expect it to be similar to the chamboard version..

BONJOUR MAXIMUS:
Gave it 4 starts because of the possible breakage of the metal frame on the glass (but this was enough for me to send it back).. If you have the opportunity to handle it before you buy, get one where the glass moves in the frame.. I wanted a new double wall pot the same design as my 10 year old plus chamboard, but there is a problem.. Both the bodum chamboard, and bonjour maximus (similar pots) are double wall pots in a metal frame.. The problem is that the glass is locked into the frame so tight I feel like the glass may break if I try to turn it. I strongly feel eggshell thin and delicate glass should not have metal clamped down on it.. I feel confident these bodum and bonjour double wall designs will break eventually due to this stress.. The bonjour has the flavor lock gimmick.. The handle is slightly rubberized (feels nice, but may not hold up over time)..

bobbler

I'm the kind of person who does extensive research before buying products...and I spent at least 4 hours researching french presses to determine which would be the best buy. This coffee press was the winner and even after using it many times, I am still so glad that I ended up with this one! Spend the extra money and get a double-walled press...it's worth it! I really like how this model has a flavor lock system and a filter for the spout, which keeps even more coffee grounds from getting into your mug. Overall, I was extremely happy with this purchase!

Works fine until you break the glass. Bonjour does not provide replacements for insulated carafes, hence 1 star. Also, I found the insulation not very effective.

I purchased this because of the attraction of the insulation feature. It will keep the coffee hot/warm but for a very short period of time. If you want a second cup an hour or two later you still have to nuke it to get it hot. Also, I find it very cumbersome to clean. The filter system does not unscrew easily for me and sometimes it results in just the knob coming unscrewed instead of the screening and it's parts. I have always had a simple Bodum French Press which seems much quicker and easier to clean. Also, I do not find the Flavor Lock feature to really be worth the extra money. I also don't like the inability of removing the glass insert from the metal holder. It seems like a lot of pressure on the glass. I am returning to my simpler Bodum French press since the quality of the coffee it makes is about the same as the BonJour but with less time spent cleaning up. It may mean a little more "stuff" in the bottom of my cup but I can live with that.

Makes great coffee, but the glass is so cheap and thin it breaks at the slightest provocation,
and the company that makes it: bonjourcoffeeproducts does not make a replacement carafe, which
means $80 down the drain.

Now, when I bought this back in october of 2009, and up until recently, no replacements were
available, but today I received this email from Bonjour:

Dear Jonathan,

We are sorry you are having a problem with a BonJour French Press. The Lifetime Limited Warranty guarantees your French Press to be free from defects in materials and workmanship under normal household use for the lifetime of the cookware. Meyer Corporation promises the original purchaser to replace any defective part or item during the guarantee period.

Additionally, this warranty does not cover damage caused by accident, misuse, abuse, commercial use or incidental or consequential damages.

Please mail the remain pieces of the French Press to:

Meyer Corporation
Consumer Relations
2005 Meyer Way
Fairfield, CA 94533

Be sure to include a short note inside the box explaining the problem with your cookware, along with your name, address, and a daytime phone number.

We recommend choosing a shipping service that provides a tracking number or proof of delivery service that allows you to track the status of your shipment to us. We are not responsible for shipments not received at our facility.

Please note that if the item is out of production, one of similar value will be substituted.

Thank you for allowing us to be of service to you.

Rachelle Canites
Senior Consumer Relations Representative

I sent the body and plunger back priority mail, $9 today,
will be worth it if I finally get my replacement after
waiting 8 months.