more coffee - come in, french press users!

redshoegirl

OK, so after reading all of the glowing reviews below, I really want to get one now! I'm looking at the Bodum Chambord - figure I can't go wrong with a classic, eh?

But what size should I get? Ben doesn't drink coffee, so most of the time I'm only making it for me unless someone visits. HOWEVER - I only have mugs, not coffee glasses so a "cup" to me is actually two cups (I don't know if I explained that right - when I fill up my drip machine pot with water, I fill it to just over the 4 cup line, and that gives me about 2 mugs of coffee).

So do I need the 4 cup or the 8 cup size? I think the 12 cup would probably be too large for my everyday needs, but the 4 might be too small for when I make it for other people as well. Do they still work OK if you only fill them part way (which is what would happen most of the time with the 8 cup), or are they one of those things that work better if used to capacity?

elaineNgene

We have the 8 cup Bodum Chambord, and to capacity, is enough for 3 large cups for 3 people, 1 serving each.  In a household of 4 people, I end up having to make an extra pot, or the last person to wake up is a**ed out :P  I have used it just to make 2 servings (2/3 full) and it's fine, but I'd rather just make a full one and drink more yummy goodness, but that's just me .

I think the 4 cup would be too small, and the 12 cup would be too large for everyday use, and too hard to guestimate when not using to full capacity.  If you have guests, a 12 cup would be useful, or even having 2 8 cups is still practical.  I still keep a drip coffee maker for parties, since it's convenient.

Oh, and it seems to me that coffee presses makers, don't really use an 8oz cup, but more a 6oz cup.  The 4 cup line is 2 cups for me as well.

eacerna

Yep, you can't go wrong with Bodum :-). DH bought a cheapo one for our 1st french press and the glass broke so I got him the Bodum. I got the biggest size. Is it the 12 cup? DH is the only one who drinks coffee. During the week, I make coffee for him before we go to work. I only make enough to fill his coffee mug to take to work. I only fill the french press with water half way and only add 2 teaspoonful of ground coffee. During weekends, he drinks more so I fill the french press with water to the max mark and put more ground coffee:-). We don't think the 12 cup is too big since you can always vary the amount of coffee and water that you put. For you, between the 4 and 8 cup, I would get the 8 cup.

Btw, for the grinder, we always grind the coffee beans to "coarse". When we used to have a drip machine, we would grind the beans to "fine".

kaesha

I had a Bodum 4 cup French Press in Japan, and LOVED it.

MrsIH

Lisa, did you get one? We have the 12 cup and also an 8 cup but it didn't make enough coffee in the AM when we wanted 2 to-go mugs and 2 coffee cups to drink at home (prior to me being pg anyway).  Now we use the 12 cup but you don't have to fill it all the way to the top (like PP mentioned).  If you do get one I hope you enjoy it, the coffee is super hot when you pour it and it tastes great.

redshoegirl

MrsIH:

Lisa, did you get one?

Not yet - I'm trying to see if I can find it locally so I can avoid shipping charges (but I think I'll end up ordering it online).