Great brewer for anyone who loves press pot coffee but wants small quantities.
Positive Product Points
It makes very good coffee in small quantities. Very little wasted beans or coffee. Plastic construction is durable if not attractive, and can be microwaved.
Negative Product Points
Like any press pot, you get a little sludge in the cup.
Detailed Commentary
In a household with one coffee drinker, just about any brewer other than espresso makes more coffee than one person can drink. Whether you buy your fresh beans or roast them yourself, it's a shame (not to mention expensive) to waste good coffee. A little french press may be just the answer.
The basic black Bodum press has many excellent attributes. This particular press is all plastic (except for the glass pot itself), which is nice for day-to-day use, because it's durable and can be heated in the microwave. It can also go directly into the dishwasher without worry about rust. Another nice thing is that it only takes 15 grams of coffee to make a decent pot, from which you'll get two standard (6 oz) cups. My whole bean consumption fell dramatically when I bought this pot.
The big negative about this particular pot is common to all press pots - some sludge in the cup. Of course it helps to use an excellent grinder, but even with that a little grit is inevitable. I own several brands of small press pots, however, and they are not created equal in the regard - the Bodum is the best made of the ones I own, and leaves the least sediment. The only other potential negative about this unit is that some people may prefer metal construction of the frame.
All in all, the little Bodum press pot is a nice brewer for the single coffee drinker that doesn't want to bother with espresso every day.
Buying Experience
Purchased by mail from Starbucks - no problems. These press pots are available in many places on the web and around town.
