**French Press Design History:**
– Mayer & Delforges patented a forerunner of the French press in 1852.
– Marcel-Pierre Paquet dit Jolbert filed a patent in 1924.
– Milanese designers Giulio Moneta and Attilio Calimani patented a coffee press in 1928.
– Faliero Bondanini patented his version in 1958.
– Popularized by companies like Melior-Martin, La Cafetiere, and Bodum.
**French Press Operation:**
– Brew coffee by placing grounds in the beaker and adding hot water.
– French press works best with coarsely ground coffee.
– Finer grounds can cause bitterness and seepage.
– Optimal brewing time is around four minutes.
– Slow plunging maximizes oil and flavonoid extraction.
**French Press Variations:**
– Portable versions for travelers exist, made of plastic.
– Stainless steel and insulated presses keep coffee hot.
– Reverse French press traps grounds after brewing.
– American press pushes a basket through the water.
– All-in-one French press with a 12-volt heating element.
**French Press Other Uses:**
– French press can brew loose tea like a tea infuser.
– Can strain broth from shellfish or other ingredients.
– Not suitable for Indian Chai or Chinese tea due to brewing methods.
– Tea may become bitter if left in the press after preparation.
– Separate press used for tea and coffee to avoid flavor contamination.
**Further Reading on French Press:**
– Studies on the effects of cafetiere and filtered coffee on health.
– History of the Cafetiere and its evolution.
– Research on cafestol extraction from different coffee brew mechanisms.
A French press, also known as a cafetière, cafetière à piston, caffettiera a stantuffo, press pot, coffee press, or coffee plunger, is a coffee brewing device, although it can also be used for other tasks. The earliest known device was patented in 1852 in France by Jacques-Victor Delforge and Henri-Otto Mayer.
