Hi all,
Who here uses one to make their cup of tea instead of the traditional teapot/infuser?
If so, if the cafetiere is washed properly, does it impair the taste of the tea?
Regards,
Oh, you're referring to a French Press! I had to look your term up because it isn't in familiar use here in the US.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cafetiere
They're typically used for making coffee. Because the spent tea isn't removed, just pressed against the bottom, unless you decant the steeped liquid fairly quickly, you're apt to continue to extract the tea, although much less so than if you let it sit in a teapot.
Would depend on the volume, I suppose. My French Presses are larger - 4 and 8 cups, meant for use with company. Popular single-serving French Press mugs might not be too bad, but the shape isn't the pot bellied teapot shape meant to induce swirling upon addition of hot water at steep initiation.
My two pence.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cafetiere
They're typically used for making coffee. Because the spent tea isn't removed, just pressed against the bottom, unless you decant the steeped liquid fairly quickly, you're apt to continue to extract the tea, although much less so than if you let it sit in a teapot.
Would depend on the volume, I suppose. My French Presses are larger - 4 and 8 cups, meant for use with company. Popular single-serving French Press mugs might not be too bad, but the shape isn't the pot bellied teapot shape meant to induce swirling upon addition of hot water at steep initiation.
My two pence.
Mar 31st, '09, 15:57
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What an interesting question
and even more interesting responses
Cafetiere is french for Coffe and Tea maker but though I have owned several over the last 40 years I have only ever used them for coffee!
Perhaps one of our French members can tell us how they are intended to be used with tea leaves, but the admirable suggestion to have the leaves on top seems 'out of the box', good maybe, but perhaps a little tricky and or messy!
I would guess that it was aimed at brewing western style, and if my memory recalls family tea time back in the late 1950's, I can see how it would work pretty well.
We always put the tea in the pot to the formula 1 tea caddy spoon for each cup with one extra 'for the pot'. Boiling water was added to ensure 1 cup each, and perhaps a bit extra. The tea was brewed for 5 minutes then poured into the teacups. {Milk and sugar were added according to personal preferences, before the war mother had sugar but after 10 years of wartime rationing she preferred it without}
The pot was then refilled - by the time the first person was ready for a second cup, a refill from the refilled pot was usually strong enough, and even if subsequent drinkers were 5 or 10 minutes later than the first thirsty gulper it never seemed to oversteep (probably because the leaves were by now spent).
A cafetiere used in this fashion (with the leaves placed conventionally below the press) would likely work well
Probably only really well with a black tea that was not designed for multiple steeping, but possibly with other teas if the measures adopted are for western style brewing!
and even more interesting responses
Cafetiere is french for Coffe and Tea maker but though I have owned several over the last 40 years I have only ever used them for coffee!
Perhaps one of our French members can tell us how they are intended to be used with tea leaves, but the admirable suggestion to have the leaves on top seems 'out of the box', good maybe, but perhaps a little tricky and or messy!
I would guess that it was aimed at brewing western style, and if my memory recalls family tea time back in the late 1950's, I can see how it would work pretty well.
We always put the tea in the pot to the formula 1 tea caddy spoon for each cup with one extra 'for the pot'. Boiling water was added to ensure 1 cup each, and perhaps a bit extra. The tea was brewed for 5 minutes then poured into the teacups. {Milk and sugar were added according to personal preferences, before the war mother had sugar but after 10 years of wartime rationing she preferred it without}
The pot was then refilled - by the time the first person was ready for a second cup, a refill from the refilled pot was usually strong enough, and even if subsequent drinkers were 5 or 10 minutes later than the first thirsty gulper it never seemed to oversteep (probably because the leaves were by now spent).
A cafetiere used in this fashion (with the leaves placed conventionally below the press) would likely work well
Probably only really well with a black tea that was not designed for multiple steeping, but possibly with other teas if the measures adopted are for western style brewing!
Why wouldn't you go out and get yourself a teapot? Even a porcelain one, low cost, will be better than a French press. I use a French press for coffee all the time. There is a residual smell that is left in them unless you clean it very, very, meticulously. Yes, you can use it, but, you will not get a good cup of tea out of it compared to a normal teapot for less money. Guaranteed. But, maybe it's not that important to you and that's okay. Some tea is better than no tea!m12 shakes wrote:Thanks for all the replies...much appreciated
Looks like I'l be making my tea in my Cafetiere, hopefully the coffee taste from the filters won't transfer over.
Or try an infuser basket.
I find the large ones don't pinch my leaves if only brewing a single.
I think it would be less messy than pulling the plunger with leaf on top....
Forlife make baskets and tea pots but you really only need the basket 8$ and a cup!
I find the large ones don't pinch my leaves if only brewing a single.
I think it would be less messy than pulling the plunger with leaf on top....
Forlife make baskets and tea pots but you really only need the basket 8$ and a cup!
“Take some more tea,” the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly.
“I’ve had nothing yet,” Alice replied in an offended tone: “so I ca’n’t take more.”
“You mean you ca’n’t take less,” said the Hatter: “it’s very easy to take more than nothing.”
“I’ve had nothing yet,” Alice replied in an offended tone: “so I ca’n’t take more.”
“You mean you ca’n’t take less,” said the Hatter: “it’s very easy to take more than nothing.”
Apr 2nd, '09, 13:35
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Location: Back in the TeaCave atop Mt. Fuji
I never drink coffee, but in my early tea days I bought several different styles out of desperation for something to brew with. I use them mainly for large batches of iced tea, brewing a concentrate in the press.
I never plunge, but use ithe plunger as a screen at the top as I pour.
In the words of Tenuki, not ideal but works in a pinch.
I never plunge, but use ithe plunger as a screen at the top as I pour.
In the words of Tenuki, not ideal but works in a pinch.
blah blah blah SENCHA blah blah blah!!!