A cafetiere, which is more commonly known as a French press, is a prized possession of any coffee enthusiast. French presses allow their users to boil ground coffee beans directly into the water, filter the beans by pushing them down to the bottom of the equipment and then pour the drink directly from the pot itself. The best thing about a French press is, since the grounded beans can be boiled without using a filter, the final concoction is thicker and more flavoursome than what we get after using an automatic coffeemaker. This way the beans can exert more essential oils that otherwise would have remained contained within them.

Types of French Press

Truthfully, it is not possible to classify French presses based on their designs. It is better to focus on the materials they are made from for that purpose. The four basic materials used for making a French press are glass, metal and plastic. Each of these has their own advantages and disadvantages. Let us take a clearer look at them.

Glass: A cafetiere made from glass is easy to handle and clean. They are also scratch and stain resistant and can hold on to the “new” look for longer. However, some French presses are made with thin glass which makes them unsuitable for many automatic dishwashers. Their fragility also requires some experienced handling since otherwise a single drop would mean a new replacement. Glass French presses are preferred because of their classic looks. Read more