Customer Reviews

BonJour 8-Cup Maximus French Press, Polished Stainless Steel

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I've been doing about a week's of research to decide which French Press to buy. I went to the store and looked at both the Bodum and this model, and decided on this model because there is a very easy-to-use lever at the top that closes the filter basket off from the coffee, when you're done pressing/steeping. While the coffee still gets cold within an half-hour or so, I don't feel bad or nervous that the grounds in the water are going to make the second cup of coffee less delicious than the first fresh cup. The Bodum model did not offer the lever/switch option. It's too bad Bonjour does not offer a photo of this lever mechanism, because in my opinion it's tha mechanism that makes this pot superior.

There is also a second filter at the spout, another feature that I do not believe is part of the Bodum model.

One more superiour feature is the pot handle. The handle on this pot is much nicer to hold than the Bodum equivalent (the Bodum one was hard plastic, kind of skinny; this one is a thicker, easier to grab, and nicer to hold in the hand, which might be helpful before that first cup in the morning.

FYI: I checked, and Bodum replacement beakers fit into this carafe holder, if you happen to break your container.

Also: Don't be cheap and get the plastic/non-breakable polycarbonate beaker -- plastic might impart a taste to your coffee. If you're going to this much effort to buy a French press, get the glass beaker.

SIZE: After much discussion, even though 95 percent of the time I'm the only coffee drinker in the house, this seemed to be the best compromise in size. This "8-cup" brewer holds about two large morning mugs worth -- you can make a single portion for one easily, but this has the capacity to make two American-sized morning servings.

If you got a set of coffee cups and saucers with your dishware set, this hold about 6 cups of 6-oz size cups of coffee -- the perfect size for after-dinner entertaining, if you have guests over for dinner.

The 3-cup brewer was basically for a single person only, and would never be useful for even a couple.

12-cups -- that's a big size that you might use for entertaining only. It's a little big to wield for daily use.

IN GENERAL ABOUT FRENCH PRESSES: I have lived in a ton of old-fashioned apartments in San Francisco, where sinks did not have a garbage disposal. If you do live in a place where you can easily rinse out the French press pot grains down the drain, I would not recommend buying a French Press -- too much work to clean out the drain! But if you have an easy way to dump grinds out when you're done, a French Press is elegant, space efficient and delicious.

If you live in an old city with no garbage disposal in the kitchen, I would recommend a moka pot or a neopolitan-style coffee pot (stove-top espresso pot) instead, where it's just an easy basket of grounds to dump, if you want a European style coffee that's better tasting than drip-style or instant.

I am a big tea drinker. Before I purchased my French Press I used to brew one cup at a time. I tried to get two cups out of one bag so I would put my tea bag in another cup until I was ready to brew again. Since I have the French Press I brew all my tea at one time. If I want two cups I know that they will both taste the same. I can use the left over tea to make iced tea.

I really like it and it is easy to clean.

Easy to use, good quality, simple to clean. Would buy again if replacement was ever needed.

I ordered both a Bodum and this BonJour. I am very pleased with the construction, materials and design of the BonJour. The Bodum is now cheaply made with flimsy material and ceramic rahter than glass for the brewing body. Bodum also uses plastic around the filter screen whereas BonJour is all stainless steel. Lastly, BonJour has an adjustment feature to stop the brewing at will. No such feature with the Bodum. I'll keep and enjoy the BonJour and throw away the Bodum.

This little carafe would be more accurately described as 3 cups rather than eight. Have a vintage, larger BonJour Monet French Press that holds six 8 oz cups to the top of the metal band (or eight 6 oz cups). Don't have a clue how they determined the 8 cup description for this tiny carafe.

Liked the design of the Maximus pour spout filter to minimize coffee grounds in the cup. BonJour carafes and filter screens are more sturdy than Bodum. This is a pretty little French Press. BonJour replacement screens are very hard to find.

Way too small for this household...returned.

After buying this French Press I must say I'm disappointed by BonJour and most likely won't buy their products again. It's my first French Press. I was excited to say the least. But I found a few problem with this particular brand.

1. The metal casing was not very well fitted. The bending of these legs aren't even so the glass doesn't really sit in the middle. Also the metal casing holds the glass very tight. Making it impossible to replace it without either breaking it or take everything apart.

2. The press is very loose. It slides down to the bottom without you pushing it at all.

Eventially I return this and bought a Frieling Stainless Steel French Press. But I also went to Peet's coffee and looked at the Bodum ones. If you really want to get a glass one, get Bodum ones. They are much better made than Bonjour. The press part is also all metal on the Bodum ones. Consider that Bodum ones are the same price as these Bonjour ones, I see no reason anyone would buy this unless Bonjour improve their quality dramatically.

This is my first foray into French Press coffee and I am very much impressed with the BonJour design. Construction is excellent and it is easy to use and clean. I especially love that the mesh on the press extends around the press ring. It creates a good seal and that combined with the extra sieve at the pour spout results in little to NO ground sediment in my cup.

Since I am the only coffee drinker in my household, the feature that allows me to close off the grinds at the bottom to stop the brewing process also works well for me. I can make a couple of cups and have it at my leisure without worrying about over-extraction and bitterness.

I can't wait for my parents to visit over the holidays so that I can educate their coffee tastes a bit.

I was looking forward to receiving this French Press, but should have been forewarned by other reviews: It came broken. It looked to have been packaged improperly. It had lots of air bags, but they were only around two sides of the item. I have returned it, and will try again, as this is the model that I want. I hope the next one will not be packed by the same person!

Rated as a four-- may upgrade or downgrade the rating if I ever get one intact, and get to use it.

Revised review: The second purchase arrived intact. It does live up to my high expectations, and I have upgraded from 4 to 5 stars. Nice product.

I bought this for my husband as a birthday gift, and the item was found at a great price, it arrived intact and I had a great experience with the seller. My husband loved the french press and uses it everyday!!! It is very easy to clean, I highly recommend this item!

I've been making pressed coffee for years now, and this is the best press. I've tried the bodum's and this one. The filtering mechanisms set this above the competition. Unless you like the extra pick me up with grounds and sediment in your coffee, this press makes the cleanest and best tasting coffee. I had it for years, until recently I broke the glass carafe. Time to get a replacement.