Bodum Columbia Thermal 48-Ounce Stainless-Steel Coffee Press

The best practices for this press are the following: For a fine cup o' joe, grind fresh beans to a coarse consistency, add 2 to 2 1/2 tablespoons of coffee for every 6 ounces of water, add boiling hot water and let the grounds brew for about four to six minutes, depending on how strong you like your coffee before hitting the plunger on top to stop the brewing method.

Tea brews in basically the same manner, but add 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons of loose tea leaves for every 6 ounces of water, add boiling hot water for black & oolong teas and almost boiling (170 degrees) for green, herbal and white teas, let the grounds brew for about four to seven minutes, depending on how strong you like your tea, too much longer and you will get a bitter cup of tea, press the plunger and voila... a lovely spot o' tea!

I highly recommend this product! It is crafted of the best quality, is esthetically pleasing to look at & use and will last a lifetime!


I'm hooked!   February 25, 2004
 7 out of 7 found this review helpful

I bought my Bodum coffee press before Christmas and quickly became "hooked" on the great flavor of the pressed coffee. The pot is very sturdy and cleans up great. I use it every day now.

I would definitely suggest this pot to any coffee lover.


nice design, great for guests   February 6, 2004
 10 out of 10 found this review helpful

I own both the 8- and 12-cup presses, and recommend them highly. They're durable, easy to clean, heat-retentive and easy to use when serving. A few hints: do follow the mfg.'s suggestion and use each vessel either for coffee or tea, so there's no transfer of coffee oils to your other brews. Also, it helps to retain heat if you keep the lid turned so that the spout is closed between servings. I also find that a spritz of vinegar before a thorough washing keeps you quality coffee/tea tasting its best. Having tried all sorts of other steeping devices, I can say that this Bodum is a winner, and worth the money.


Fantastic   January 8, 2004
 38 out of 38 found this review helpful

I have tried several types of brewing methods (drip & vacuum), but this coffee press is my absolute favorite. I am able to make hot and robust coffee. Since you control the brew time, water temperature, coarseness of the grounds, & amount of water, you can make your coffee to suit your tastes.

It took me a few pots to tinker with the variables mentioned above, but it was well worth it. It is a little more trouble than a drip machine, but I got much smoother yet richer coffee with this method.

The pot is sleek and easy to clean. It does a decent job of keeping coffee hot, although a lot of heat seems to escape through the top once you press the coffee grounds down. Also, it makes 12 FOUR ounce cups. Most drip machines are measured in SIX ounce cups, so choose your pot size with care. Occassionally a tiny amount of grounds get through the filter (common with this brew method), but for the most part I have been happy with the filter.

I would definitely purchase this product again!