|
Cleans easily. Looks good with dainty tea cups or everyday mug. Love it. Brews a great cup of tea. Keeps it hot long enough for me to finish the pot.
That's the only thing keeping it from a five star rating. I love this tea maker but don't put the lid in the dishwasher. Water can get into it.
These Freiling pieces are very stylish. Now I have completed my set of Freiling with this Tea Maker. The quality of the stainless is unparalleled. I bought All Clad stainless serving trays (sold as a pair, one round, one rectangular, raised edges, with handles) to use with my Freiling set. Next I bought the French Press coffee maker as a gift for my husband. This is a quality product, very well made.
I started with a Freiling sugar bowl (actually two, one for sugar and one for artificial sweetener) and the creamer. The high polish of this stainless is beautiful. I don't think you can find a nicer Tea Maker. He loves it. The Freiling is beautiful for everyday and fabulous when we have company. The design is beautiful and as to functionality, also very well constructed.
I was hooked.
This limits your selection to only the Frieling, Bodum Double wall, and the insulated cups from Planetary Design. This is what is wrong with brewing cups.you need to remove the coffee grains at the end of the brew cycle not leave them in what your going to drink, even if there are filters like the Planetary Designs cups.I might cost twice as much up front for the Frieling as compared to the one your looking at buying but you will never buy another french press if you buy this one. So you need a vacuum to keep the water at brewing temp for the time required. The later I have not used.When you look at the price of the Bodum it turns out to be more than it's stainless steel competitor.break the glass and you will spend over $35 to replace it and you will need to order it on line since I have not found the Bodum Double wall or parts for same at any store, including some distributors in Manhattan.
DO NOT BUY A NON-VACCUM product. They had great service and stock all parts.but they will replace anything that breaks if your nice to them for free. They usually show up above in sponsored links.My Bodum filters have not lasted a year. Here is where the shear mass and vacuum of the Frieling shine. I have had the other two brands and they do not compare and actually cost more in the long run.
The time and temperature are critical for clean full flavor and to prevent off flavors and bitterness. First of all the only part that will fail at some point is the filter screen and I have my doubts with how well designed it is compared to the Bodum. You need to brew coffee at 190 degrees for 4 minutes. NOTE: THIS REVIEW APPLIES TO ALL FRIELING MODELS:THE BOTTOM LINE IS BUY THIS POT AND HEED THE WISDOM SHARED BY MANY OTHERS WHO FINALLY CHOOSE FRIELING FOR THE BEST PRESS.
On the positive side is that the Frieling, once preheated, stores that heat in the mass of the metal and will keep the temperature right where needed.One reviewer say no parts are available for the Frieling. You could park you car on the pot and it might not get damaged.no exageration. The non-insulated pots loose about 40 degrees during brew time (using an infrared themal imaging gun). This is just wrong. If you don't you will find you spend the same amount on other presses in two years if you are a daily brewer.It is no wonder that this product is used in the high end restaurant and hotel business where longevity of the investment is critical to being profitable.All of this and then you will find that this pot is truly elegant.
IF YOU HAVE THE TIME TO READ ON THEN HOPEFULLY YOU WILL BE CONVINCED.If you have been on a journey like I have to find a good french coffee press then your journey is at an end with any of the Frieling models. I was able to sell them used here on Amazon for a surprising price which eventually paid for my new Frieling. I have replaced the glass from accidents about every two years. It will stay hot for at least 30 minutes but you do not want to brew longer than 4 minutes. I bought my 17oz unit from Clive.
The Frieling must be preheated with hot water, tap is fine, so that it does not absorb the heat of the brewing water. So if you have to move it out of the brewing container within about 4 minutes then you just need something insulated well enough to stay at 190 for that period of time. To get 190 degree water first bring it to a boil and then leave it for 30 seconds, drain the Frieling and put coffee and the boiled water in it for 4 minutes. Well the only argument to support that is that the glass, although normally preheated, does not require preheating.
Preheat the press with hot water while getting coffee ground and heating water. Just clean them up good.This is a vacuum thermos grade pot (other double wall stainless are not vacuum unless stated). www.clivecoffee.com. This holds true for the Bodum Double as well but not significantly.
This means hot water.not boiling water and it must stay hot at close to 190 for 4 minutes. So why buy glass when stainless ruggedness is less.
This tea maker is good looking and convenient, but I was disappointed that it doesn't keep tea warm despite the claim that it will do that.
|
