Top critical review
2.0 out of 5 starsGreat workmanship, poor idea.
Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2020
First off, the product is well executed and packaged. The brew pours into a cup without dripping. The glass part is protected by the plastic outer shell - so far, so good. However the bad part is rooted in the idea of combining a French press and a travel mug in one device. As a result, during the brewing stage, unlike in traditional French press, the cap has to be left off, lending the brew to cool by evaporation through the mesh of the plunger. My coffee to comes out noticeably colder than from a traditional unit. Instructions suggest adding creamer to the bottle and the sediment was pushed down by the plunger - but I am wondering how to stir it? And how to stir in the sugar? It is hardly possible with the plunger in - so the whole idea of a travel mug goes out of the window here. And speaking of that plunger, the designers apparently got overzealous about not letting any sediment through it and installed a rubber gasket on it. The whole idea of the French press is for the brew to be in contact with just glass and metal - not with some rubber, however the vendor convinces us that it is safe. That same rubber seal is pretty tight and inserting the plunger into the unit filled with hot water may easily result in a splash, exactly like one of the users reported here. It happened to me too, though it was just water I used to rinse the unit, but I can clearly see how an unsuspected user can get scalded. Finally, the idea of the unit to double as a travel mug results in the need for a plunger rod holder, which is made of plastic with unknown food safety rating - the brew comes in contact with it. Al that was enough for me to return the unit for a refund.
