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Coffee Gator French Press Review (An Ideal Choice for A Portable French Press)

There are loads of great options out there when it comes to choosing a french press. The typical design is usually based on borosilicate glass as this is non-porous so doesn’t absorb stains or odors.

The issue with glass is that it breaks. Even with a good warranty, this doesn’t stop accidental damage from occurring and can be dangerous if you have young children or pets running around.

Coffee Gator has solved this issue by producing a stainless steel french press. It’s very tough and can handle being dropped and is also insulated so keeps your coffee hot. It’s a great option for chaotic households or as a travel companion and it has loads of other great design features that add to its usefulness.

The Coffee Gator French Press Coffee Maker

Coffee Gator French Press Coffee Maker- Insulated, Stainless Steel Manual Coffee Maker
  • Insulated
  • Double Screen Filter
  • Extremely Durable
  • Comes With A Free Coffee Canister

Price & Reviews On Amazon

Pros

Durability

Unlike glass models, the stainless steel coffee maker can handle bumps and bruises. This coffee maker is built to last and is not only tough enough to withstand knocks but it’s also rust-proof. Due to its fully stainless steel construction, it’s naturally BPA-free and hygienic. It’s professional-grade by design and will last you a long time, even if it joins you on your travels.

Insulated

The double walls of this insulated French press prevent the heat from escaping as you tend to get with a glass carafe. It will keep your coffee hot for 30 minutes to an hour longer than a standard model does and this works even better if you preheat it with boiling water. It has a cool-touch handle so you don’t have to worry about it getting too hot to touch.

Double Filtered

The mesh filter is spring-loaded to ensure that it encompasses the full diameter of the cafetiere to deliver a complete filtration system. This removes virtually all the sediment from the brewing coffee. It’s a stainless steel filter so also rust-proof, durable, and easy to clean.

Color Options

A nice touch that Coffee Gator has added is the option of different colors for this french press. It comes in brushed silver, grey, and pink. There was an orange option a while back but it’s currently unavailable.

Alongside the french press, you also get a free mini canister to store enough coffee beans or coffee grounds for two batches, so this is perfect if you’re using it at work or on a camping or hiking trip.

Color Options of The Coffee Gator French Press

Makes Four Cups

If you have more than one coffee lover to satisfy then this is a brewing method that works great. It can brew up to 34-ounces of coffee in a single batch (that’s 966 ml) so can give you four, 8-ounce cups of java.

Cons

Resistance When Pressing Plunger

Because the plunger fits so securely, some people find that it hits some resistance when they’re pressing it down. This isn’t an issue for everyone and may just be that some of the mesh filters fit a little more snugly than others. The mesh part can be removed and is replaceable if it’s causing too much of an issue.

It’s worth noting that this extra resistance is a result of how well the French Press filters sediment. It’s a bit of a trade-off. Less sediment for more resistance.

Not As Insulated As A Thermos

Although this french press is insulated, it’s just the double layer of the main body wall, not the lid as well. This stops heat excessively escaping and will add an extra hour of warmth to your brewed coffee but it’s not sealed like a thermos so won’t keep your coffee scalding hot and after an hour the coffee will have cooled down.

Also, if there’s less in the jug then it will cool faster. It’s not for use on a stovetop so it’s a good idea to pre-heat the jug with hot water to help keep your coffee warm as long as possible.

Not Dishwasher Safe

Due to the design of this french press, it is not suitable for cleaning in a dishwasher. If you do clean it this way, then the exterior coating will start to peel off, especially around the spout and handle. For best results, hand wash it with mild dish soap and rinse well before use.

It’s Not Transparent

One major plus to a glass French Press is that you can see exactly how much coffee is still inside. With the Coffee Gator being made of stainless steel, while being super robust, you can’t just look at it and know how much Java is lurking inside. Luckily this doesn’t pose too much of an issue as you can tell how full it is by just feeling the weight of it, so you do know how much is left as you pour.

How To Use It

Coffee

Some Coffee Beans In A Bowl

Use the freshest coffee you can get your hands on if possible sourced from a local roaster. Whole beans are always better than pre-ground as coffee loses some flavor and aroma as soon as it’s ground up. Light or dark roast, single-origin, or blend come down to your individual taste preferences and if you’re not sure, get a sample pack and try them out!

Grind Size

A french press needs coffee ground to a very coarse consistency. Use a burr grinder to get an even grind or make sure the coffee you’re using is ground coarse for a french press.

Water

For the best coffee, you need to use water that tastes good. If you don’t like drinking tap water then don’t use it to brew your coffee. Use filtered water and you’ll be amazed at the difference.

The other thing to consider with the water is the temperature of it. Water needs to be between 195-205F to brew the best-tasting coffee. If it’s too hot, the coffee will be burnt and bitter, and too cold will lead to it being under-extracted.

Method

Add 50g of coarsely ground coffee to your coffee gator french press. Place the jug on a set of weighing scales and tare it to zero. Get your hot water ready (195-205F) and have a timer to hand.

To start with we need to allow the coffee to bloom so pour on just enough water to wet the grounds and start the timer. The blooming stage is where coffee lets off excess carbon dioxide gas so it should bubble and move around.

After 30 seconds top it up with the rest of the water to 34 ounces or 966g. Keep the timer running as you do this and give the mixture a stir to ensure the coffee is fully submerged.

After 4 minutes have passed, gently yet firmly press the plunger down to trap all the sediment at the bottom of the jug.

Enjoy

Serve your cup of coffee and sit back and enjoy. You can always adjust the amount of coffee you add to suits your taste so if you find it too weak add a bit more next time or if it’s too strong then reduce the coffee grounds.

A Fresh Cup of French Press Coffee

Other Uses

Cold Brew

The Coffee Gator isn’t just for hot coffee, it can be a brilliant device for making cold brew coffee as well. Simply add your coffee and cold water and leave it for 12 hours or more to brew. Once it’s ready, press the plunger and transfer the coffee to an airtight container for storage.

Milk Frother

You can use a french press as a milk frother if you don’t have a barista on hand at home to steam your milk. It won’t create the thick microfoam that a steam wand does but it will aerate the liquid and increase the volume. Simply press the plunger up and down vigorously for around 45 seconds and use the milk to top up espresso to make a latte or cappuccino-type drink.

Brewing Tea

It’s not just coffee drinkers that can benefit from a french press, those of us who are mad about tea can also enjoy this product. You can use your Coffee Gator to brew loose leaf tea or herbal blends.

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Final Thoughts

The Coffee Gator is one of the best french press options for durability and practicality. It can stand up to a fair amount of knocks and bumps and is the perfect travel companion. It makes truly delicious coffee and it’s big enough so there’s plenty to go around. It keeps your coffee lovely and hot for up to an hour and is easy to keep clean.

The added touches like the various color options and the mini canister make this a really nice buy or a perfect gift for someone special.

Related Reading

How To Make Coffee While Camping (Our 10 Favorite Methods)

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