Bonjour French Press Is the Only Thing I Enjoy About Early Mornings
Written: May 19 '02
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Polycarbonate is nearly indestructible. Easy to use.
Cons: Stains easily. Not insulated.
The Bottom Line: Does justice to the gourmet tea leaves I buy at the Middle Eastern deli. Helps make mornings more bearable for this non-morning person.
|
|
|
| colleenmf's Full Review: Bonjour Black Toujours Unbreakable Carafe French P... |
Last year I broke my glass tea press and was very disappointed. I really enjoy my pot of tea in the morning made with loose tea and not bags. A tea press was perfect for this but I sure didn’t want another glass one. Besides, I’m not much of a morning person and glass, mornings, and I don’t mix very well.
I searched the cooking.com site and found the Bonjour Toujour French Press Coffee Maker, featuring and unbreakable carafe. I ordered it the same day. After ten months of use, I give this a definite thumbs up.
The Press
The Bonjour Toujour French Press Coffee Maker consists of three parts. There is a one liter (just over one quart – 33.7 ounces) carafe, with a pouring spout, made of clear polycarbonate. With normal use this should not ever break. There is a plastic handle/holder that the carafe sits in. There is a lid/plunger to press the grinds out of the beverage. The carafe is big enough to make three large mugs of coffee or tea.
How to Use It
To make coffee or tea, place the lose grind or leaves in the carafe. Fill the carafe with boiling water. Stir. Place the lid on the carafe but do not press the plunger just yet. When the beverage reaches the desired strength (3 - 4 minutes) gently press the plunger all the way down to move all the grinds or leaves to the bottom. Pour and serve.
How to Clean It
Although the manufacturer recommends hand washing, all the components are top rack dishwasher safe. Getting the carafe out of the handle/base is a little tricky. Slide the handle around to the spout and gently tug the handle off over the spout. Lift the carafe out of the holder. I usually just wash the parts with warm soapy water but I have run it through the dishwasher a few times. To remove the coffee and tea stains I use Oxiclean. Make a solution and let the parts soak for 10 or 15 minutes.
Advantages
The Bonjour Toujour French Press Coffee Maker makes the perfect cup of tea. If my mom is visiting, she too, enjoys “real” tea but doesn’t like it as dark as I do. That’s fine. We press the plunger when the tea is the color she likes then pull the plunger back up so I can have a stronger cup.
The polycarbonate carafe really takes a lot of wear and tear. I use this four or five times a week and after 10 months it has no scratches or clouding on the clear carafe. I am not the gentlest of people and have a tendency to shove things into the dishwasher and into the cabinets. This is much handier than the glass press I broke.
Drawbacks
I can think of but a few minor drawbacks. Getting the handle/holder off of the carafe can be tricky. I had to figure it out for myself as the pamphlet that came with the press does not explain that at all. Also, the plastic parts tend to stain easily and the stains are not removed with normal washing. I need Oxiclean to get the stains off. The carafe is not insulated so, if I want to enjoy three cups of tea over the course of an entire morning, I do have to reheat the second and third cup.
Summary
If you enjoy your coffee or tea made by the French press method, I heartily recommend the Bonjour Toujour French Press Coffee Maker. It is large, sturdy, and easy to maintain. It comes with a small pamphlet that includes directions for use, care instructions, a limited warranty, and contact information for the manufacturer. And being a good French press, the pamphlet is printed in French as well as English.
By the way, my Bonjour Toujour French Press Coffee Maker is white not black. It is this exact model and if you look Epinions has links to both the black and white ones at Cooking.com. Why? I don’t know. What difference does the color make when it comes to making coffee or tea?
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
colleenmf
|
 - Top 500 |
|
Member: Colleen Farley
Location: Lubbock, TX
Reviews written: 146
Trusted by: 147 members
About Me:
Happily married, mostly retired, and addicted to the internet.
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.