Coffee Press

My coffee maker took a dump on us during the last blizzard. Well, we can't go without coffee, so luckily we had a french press that was given to us by my father-in-law because he had two. We never used it before but we were willing to do anything for a cup of coffee.

We got it out, dusted it off (well really we washed it lol) and made coffee in it. WOW! It was incredible. I will not be buying another coffee maker. In fact, I might purchase a second french press in case I crack this one, we are very good at breaking things in our cast iron enameled sink.

There are many names for this contraption, we call it the French Press but its also commonly known as Press Pot, Coffee Plunger, Cafetière, Bodum, and Coffee Press. I decided to look them up and here is some things I learned about them.


http://www.frenchcoffeepress.net/

History of the Cafetiere Cafetieres are probably the most commonly used method of brewing coffee. Many coffee lovers swear on the fact that the cafetiere is the best method, as it preserves the delicate flavours in the oils, giving a smooth, rich bodied coffee. The exact history and origin of the cafetiere is not clear. Both the French and the Italians lay claims to its invention. What is known is that the first cafetieres appeared in France in the 1850s. These coffee pots were made of metal and fitted with a metal screen attached to a rod. The metal screen would be plunged down, using the rod, forcing the coffee grounds to the bottom of the pot. One story of how the cafetiere was invented involves an old man from Provence. The story goes that the old man used to go for a walk up a hill everyday to get some peace and quiet from his nagging wife. No matter how bad the weather was, blistering heat or driving rain, the old man would make the journey. As he sought to escape his wife for as long a period as possible he would take with him a small amount of food, some firewood and his favourite old coffee pot. When he reached the top of the hill he would take an extended rest, taking time out to light a fire, eat his food and brew some coffee. Now coffee back then was typically strong, bitter and tasted dreadful. It would be made by adding water and coffee grounds to a pot and then placing the pot on an open fire or stove until the water boiled. Little did they know back then that boiling water destroys the oil in coffee, from which coffee gains its flavour. One day the old man was making his coffee as he always did. But this time he forgot to add his coffee grounds to his coffee pot. It was not until the water started boiling away in the pot that the old man realised his mistake. He quickly removed the pot from the flames and added in his coffee grounds. Of course the old man did not know that making his coffee this way would result in the coffee grounds floating to the top. Made the usual way, the coffee grounds would have sunk to the bottom of the pot by the time the water had boiled. The old man took one look at his coffee and thought, "I can't drink this!" As if by chance, as the old man contemplated going without his coffee (he had only brought enough water and coffee grounds for one pot), an Italian travelling merchant appeared on the horizon. Among the many goods the merchant was carrying was a metal screen. The old man saw this screen and quickly hit upon an idea. He swiftly brought a section of this screen from the merchant and carefully fitted it over his coffee pot. Using a stick which lay nearby, he plunged the metal screen down to the bottom of the pot, thus trapping the coffee grounds. He then took a sip from his pot and immediately a big smile broke out across his face. The merchant, keen to find out why the old man was smiling, asked if he could try some of his coffee. After taking a big gulp from the pot, the merchant gave the old man a knowing look. This was the best coffee either of them had ever tasted! The story goes on to say that after trying this fantastic coffee, the two men decided to open a small factory manufacturing their new invention: a coffee pot with a fitted plunger. Their cafetiere made them both a small fortune. Stories aside, we know that the first registered patent for a cafetiere was lodged in 1929 by a Milanese man called Attilio Calimani. Over the years, Attilio refined his 'apparatus for the preparation of infusions of coffee' to quicken the filtration of the coffee. The next significant step in the history of the cafetiere came in 1958, when another Italian, Faliero Bondanini, was granted a patent for his version of the cafetiere. Bondanini's version became very popular in France, and by the early 1960s it was seen as a must have item for every French home. It was around this time that a British company, Household Articles Ltd, realised the potential for the cafetiere and introduced their version, the 'Classic', to the UK. Drawing on the French influences on this coffee maker, they marketed it as 'La Cafetiere' (The Coffee Pot). This is where the generic term 'cafetiere' for French-press or 'plunge-filter' coffee maker comes from.

Here is a yummy recipe I found.
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977966279&grpId=3659174697244981

Spiced Coffee Popsicles

December 28, 2009 07:17 PM EST

Icy, spicy, sweet, caffeine-filled and creamy – this variation on a Vietnamese favorite is a fantastic coffee treat for sweltering afternoons in summer. Try it as a mid-afternoon energy boost, a barbecue dessert or a frozen alternative to your daily cuppa Joe.
Ingredients:
* 2 cups water
* 1/3 cup freshly ground espresso coffee
* 2/3 cups sweetened condensed milk (less than one 14-oz. can)
* 3 whole cardamom pods
* 3 whole cloves
* 1 cinnamon stick
Preparation:
1. Brew the coffee in a French press for about ten minutes. It should be very strong when it’s done brewing.
2. Combine the sweetened condensed milk and the spices in a heat-safe bowl large enough to hold about 3 cups of liquid.
3. While stirring, slowly add the coffee. Mix well.
4. Cover with aluminum foil or plastic wrap, and refrigerate until cold.
5. Remove the spices and any remaining coffee grounds with a fine strainer.
6. Pour the chilled mixture into Popsicle molds, and then freeze for several hours. Serve within a week.
Makes about 8 popsicles.

I have recipes that call for extra strong coffee and now I know how I will get it!

Here is a link to some more recipes using coffee.
http://blackjava-coffee.com/cook-with-coffee/


Now, I have an empty space on my counter where my old coffee maker used to sit..what new kitchen contraption do I want to put there!!!!???!!!