Simple Way to Fresh Coffee (Bodum Kenya Coffee Maker)

Member Name: suehome

Product:	Bodum Kenya Coffee Maker
Date:	19/10/08 (426 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Simple. fexible and iconic coffee maker

Disadvantages: Still needs cleaning...........

Despite these days of kitchen wizardry, makeovers and gadgets galore nothing is more enticing than the heady smell of freshly brewed coffee or freshly baked bread. Many coffee lovers swear on the fact that the humble cafetiere is the best method to brew coffee, since it preserves the delicate flavours from the oils, giving a smooth, rich bodied flavour.

*History & Design

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, but first patented by Attilio Calimani in 1931. Today one statistic suggests that over 63 million of these simple devices are in use world wide. If you type in cafetiere and search on the net many sites contain similar references and text to some of the content below, including a long winded fable about an Italian shepherd, should you be interested.

The early 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. Today's cafetiere is usually a narrow heat proof glass body with either a metal cage holder or a more simple plastic one. These parts are simple, easily cleaned and individually replaceable. Cafetiere (the French for coffee pot) has become the established description in Britain but 'French Press', or 'Coffee Plunger' is used in other parts of the world.

Using a simple brewing method you can make great tasting coffee requiring very little skill. Coffee is brewed by placing the coffee and water together, leaving to brew for a few minutes, then depressing the plunger to trap the coffee grinds at the bottom of the jug.

Since the coffee grounds remain in direct contact with the brewing water and the grounds are filtered from the water via a mesh instead of a paper filter, coffee brewed with a cafetiere captures more of the coffee's flavour and essential oils, which would have become trapped in a traditional drip brew machine's paper filter. Cafetiere pressed coffee is usually stronger and thicker and has more sediment than drip-brewed coffee. As the used grounds remain in the drink after brewing, cafetiere pressed coffee should be served immediately so as to not become bitter from over-extraction. Contents in a typical 8-cup cafetiere is considered expired after 20 minutes
Coffee for use in a French press should be of a consistent, coarse grind. A cafetiere is also more portable and self contained than other coffee makers.

*Brewing the Perfect Cup

I have owned a standard Bodum 8 cup plastic cover model for many years. Although less attractive than the fancy stainless steel jacketed model the function and performance is exactly the same.

1. For each mugful add one tablespoon of fresh ground coffee. Be sure to keep the coffee grounds in the fridge once opened to avoid losing those lovely aromatics....

2. Pour hot water (just below boiling point, to avoid losing the more volatile aromas and flavours) into the cafetiere and stir gently.

3. Rest for 30 seconds then gently plunge the filter to the bottom of the cylinder.

4. Pour, relax, sit back and enjoy.

My current particular model has a red plastic outer and handle with a black plastic lid. The plunger is all stainless steel and these models are often found on offer around £9.99. Although Bodum branded products may seem pricier than other options on the shelf, you can always buy spare parts if you need to. However this is rarely necessary since you can cannabalise from parts that you already own or just clean up the metal parts.

I would agree that calling it 8 cup is a tad optimistic, the reality is 4 decent mugs of coffee or just two if you half fill the cafetiere and adjust the coffee grounds accordingly.

*Caring for the Device

Should you notice bubbles and grounds escaping past the plunger as you push it down then I suggest examine it and clean it, since this escaping sediment can just ruin that perfect cup of coffee. For a quick and effortless way to clean the plunger just simply immerse it in vinegar and leave to soak a few minutes. Rinse thoroughly and the sparkling clean plunger is ready for duty again with no residues that impair its performance.


Automatic coffeemakers may be quick and convenient, but nothing beats the cafetiere for flavour intensity, as well as style. By allowing the ground coffee to mingle with the water, it creates a stronger, thicker and more piquant cup of coffee, retaining essential oils and sediments that would otherwise get caught up in a drip coffeemaker's filter.

The simplicity of these basic cafetieres and ease of maintenance will always keep them as my preferred choice..................Enjoy


Thanks for reading.

Posted on Dooyoo and Ciao under the same author.

Summary: Aroma and flavour rich coffee from a budget device

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