Word Wednesday ~ French Press

~ Classic, smooth & rich - what's the scoop on this cafe standard? ~ 

What is it? A full-immersion brew method that produces a full bodied cup of coffee. Coffee grounds steep in water and are strained out through a mesh metal filter, leaving most of the natural oils from the coffee in the brew and giving your coffee a rich, heavy body. 

Where did it come from? ​Your first guess might be France, but the classic brew method's origins are argued for by its namesake country and, not surprisingly, by Italy as well. The first patent was claimed in 1929 by a Milanese designer named Attilio Callimani, but the true details of the press pot's invention are muddled. Serious Eats has more info, and coffeetimes.com relates an anecdotal 'fairy tale' that happily marries the two claims to creation. 

How do I use it? Simple! We'll let Chicago cafe Cup & Spoon help you there:  

​What's your favorite coffee to brew via French Press? Tell us below! 

~ Join the Conversation ~