The perfect cup of coffee...

[Prudence]

I don't even have to click on the link to know that Matterhorn Fan is talking about. Yes, it is perfect. Perfect, perfect, perfect, how did I live without this perfect.

Add the electric kettle and it's a whole new world of tea.

Which reminds me that I need to send Ryan out for more. I'm out of all my favorites.

[Matterhorn Fan]

Prudence--they have something new on the website (I haven't been into the store in too long): http://store.teavana.com/easyteasteeper.html

It says the filter comes out for cleaning, but it's not very stylish, is it? And apparently it's only "easy," not "perfect." (eep! and it doesn't fit on their mugs. I wouldn't use their mugs, but still. That seems odd).


I have a Revere-ware kettle on my stove. It's the small size, so it heats pretty fast, and I like to hear a teakettle whistle.

[Prudence]

Weird. Well, it looks like a teacup and all, I guess. I don't think I'll be trading in my perfect tea maker.

I like the electric kettle because if the auto shut off. With actual tea kettles Ryan tends to put them on to boil and wander off. (sigh.)

[Matterhorn Fan]

I wander off, too. But when it's ready it screams at me to come back. The system works for me.

I have a Hot Shot, but I don't use it that much. I don't like giving up the counter space for it.

[tracilicious]

That's cool, MF. This is what I saw before. Pretty sleek.

[Prudence]

Originally Posted by Matterhorn Fan

I wander off, too. But when it's ready it screams at me to come back. The system works for me.

Well, you probably don't wander off and put on noise cancellation headphones turned up to the max.

[Drince88]

Originally Posted by tracilicious

That's cool, MF. This is what I saw before. Pretty sleek.

I REALLY want that! But sleek doesn't begin to describe it!

[Matterhorn Fan]

That's pretty cool. Is "press" just part of the name (because it's mimicing a French press?), or does it actually press the tea? Tea doesn't need to be pressed; it just needs to be taken out of the water. Hmmm.

Well, I'm not messing with perfection. And Prudence--I don't have noise cancelling headphones, so no problems there.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Bumpin da thread to give my first french press coffee report.

Went to Ikea today and picked up one of their cheapie models. Then we stopped over at Peet's and got a 1/2 pound of their limited "Las Hermanas" coffee to christen it. I told the guy at the counter that I just bought a french press and he proceeded to give me a refresher course in how to use it. Also ground some beans to different levels of courseness to show me just about where the grind should be (pencil shavings, as he put it). It was very helpful.

Upon arriving at home, I gave the first batch a shot and am now drinking a damn good cup of coffee. I agree with Erica that Peet's recommended ration of coffee to water might be a tad strong. I went with it because I really like strong coffee but I'm halfway through this cup and am feeling a bit too jittery. I'll definitely go with Erica's suggested ratio next time. Still, it is absolutely the best cup of coffee I've ever made at home and is exactly what I was hoping for when starting this thread.

So thanks again for all your input. I really appreciate everyone's help!

(hmm, I wonder if this is what speed feels like)

[lashbear]

I'm so excited by this thread that I'm off for a bracing cup of International Roast.


*Blech*

BTW: In Aussieland we call a french press a "Plunger" - I've used one for years - the queens in the Mardi Gras Workshop put me onto it.

I like to use a home grinder for the beans, for the flavour is truly much better. I also find that the flavour is heightened by adding a shot of Galliano