And it can brew (a very fine) coffee as well…..

Via Boing Boing, came across this funny self potrait snap of an artist/blogger on the lid of a freedomFrench press coffee pot (also called the press pot).

One reader has added links to several similar photos on Flickr. I particularly liked this one.

For all caffeine lovers out there, you have not tasted great coffee unless you have had it from a press-pot. A cheap version of the pot is available from Bodum for between 10 to 20 dollars. It is easy to prepare - just boil the water, add it to coarsely (but evenly) ground coffee in the pot, mix, brew for about 4 minutes and then press down the coffee grounds with the plunger-strainer. The two important parameters are temperature of the water (it should not be boiling hot – just below that) and good mixing (I usually do a mixing step in the middle of the 4 minute brew period).
You can also really improve the taste by using recently roasted beans and grinding it fresh (just as the water is about to boil). I usually order my beans from CoffeeMaria. They roast the beans only after receiving your order and ship them within 24 hours. UPS ground delivery is free for orders of 2lbs and over. I would strongly recommend the Ethiopian Yirgacheffe and India Mysore Nuggets, roasted to full city. I also use this relatively cheap burr-mill grinder from Cusinart that works out pretty well for me (on the left). If you wish to be fancy, you can get this Macap grinder for about $400(on the right) !

(Do not go for the really cheap blade grinders)

Overall it is worth the initial investments and cheaper in the long run than spending 2-3$ on a latte from the fancy coffee place twice a day !

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