The French Press: Going Back to the Basics

Bon Jour, Coffee Lovers and Friends! My first post is going to be about my main love, the french press. I can't believe it took me so long to discover this simple elegant coffee maker. It was not until I was 21 working at Starbucks my junior year of college till I knew and respected the quality of a French Press. 
At Starbucks as a Barista I had to participate in coffee tastings and we had to check off and taste all the coffees Starbucks offers so we could make suggestions to customers. 
When I tell people about the French Press, people get scared at first. "Oh, well that is fancy." or "That looks complicated." Well do not fear my friends it is simpler than the drip coffee maker. I am also here to walk you step by step through the process and with pictures to help guide you. 
First a brief history lesson on the French Press. No body knows exactly when the french press was invented or if it even is French! In the 1850's people use to boil water with coffee grinds in it and then strain the coffee. Either the French or the Italians thought of an ingenious idea of putting a cheese cloth that you could press down on the pot of boiling coffee water and Voila! the French Press. The first patented French Press was by an Italian Attillo Calimani in 1929. The French Press was then additionally patented by Faliero Bondanini, this version is the one we use today. The device was further popularized across Europe by a British company by the name of Household Articles Ltd., and most notably, the Danish tableware and kitchenware company, Bodum.
Some places you can find a French Press is Starbucks, Target, Walmart, Publix, Amazon etc. If you are in the market make sure you get an 8 cup, 32 ounce. 
Ok enough of this 7th Grade Middle School History Class, Let's Make Some Coffee!
Step 1: Grind or get Pre-Ground Coffee! It is fresher when it is whole beans. I have Santa's White Christmas from Barnie's, which is perfect for the Holidays. It has a nice medium flavor with hints of Coconut, Vanilla and Caramel. It is a Holiday Classic. 

Step 2: Heat up 32 ounces (4 cups) or 16 ounces (2 cups)of water. 

Step 3: Measure out 2 Tablespoons for each 6 ounces of water. So if you are brewing two cups put 4 tablespoons in the bottom of your French Press. 

Step 4: Add hot water to your coffee grounds in your French Press. 
Step 5: Wait 5 minutes to let your coffee soak in the water. 

Step 6: Plunge! Make sure the plunger has reached the bottom so you do not have any coffee grounds in your Cup O' Joe. 

Step 7: Pour it into a mug of your choice. Use Cream, Whip Cream, Syrups, Sugar to top off your Coffee. Enjoy your nice French Press Cup of Coffee and curl up to a nice book or person you love. 

I hope you guys enjoyed this first Coffee Seminar! Next week we will go over the Pour Over and hopefully in the next few weeks I will be interviewing the Owner of Hattie's Coffee and Beanery of of Dale Mabry Highway for some in sight into his unique roasting method!

2 Corinthians 2:15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 

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