I looked up from my coffee making this morning and realized that I have been using my French press for months now while my single-cup coffee maker has been relegated to the occasional K-cup when I’m feeling lazy, and tea making. Curious!

It seems I have gone from being a non-coffee drinker to a bit of a snob. I actually didn’t start drinking coffee until I was in my 50’s when I discovered lattes. I still don’t drink black coffee – yuck! I’m not even sure how I got into using a French press, but I do know that I prefer the beverage that results from it. I should probably mention that I also grind my own beans now. So, maybe the combination of fresh ground beans and a French press is the magic.

All I know is that when I do that I feel like I get a fresher and smoother tasting latte. Another thing I do that contributes to the smoother taste, I think, is that I add about a quarter teaspoon of baking soda to the grounds in the press. It cuts the acidity and takes away some of the bitterness. I like things sweet and the baking soda caters to that.

Peet’s has a nice tutorial on how to brew with a press. Click on the link for a video and written tips on French pressing. If you’re a coffee drinker who has never tried using a French press, I would highly recommend giving it a go. If you’re not a coffee drinker at all or have never even tried it, well, I’ll leave that choice up to you. Coffee is good medicine when consumed wisely, but too much of even a good thing can be bad. I drink one latte a day with unsweetened vanilla almond milk and Stevia. Sometimes I add some unsweetened cocoa powder to my mug and/or a collagen creamer.

There are endless coffee recipes on the internet and I’m pretty sure that just about anyone could find a way to enjoy it. As for me, I’m really enjoying what comes out of my French press. K-cups don’t even come close. So, I’m afraid my poor coffee maker is now a hot water dispenser for tea, which is not a bad thing. Tea is good stuff too and I drink my fair share of that as well. Did you know that you can even use a French press for loose leaf tea? Another day perhaps. I need to get back to my coffee before it gets cold.

Happy sipping!
😊💕