I have had a classic Chamboard for over 10 years..And just bought two different models of the new double walled press pots..This is my review / comparison of the Bodum Chamboard, Bodum Rhone (ribbed glass pot), and the stainless steel Frieling (below)
ADDED THIS SAME REVIEW under all 3 pots in amazon ..DOUBLE WALL:
At this time I cant say if the double walls really make the brew taste better (by keeping the brew temp higher during the brew minutes)..I will add an update if I ever figure it out..I tend to brew at slightly cooler temperature anyway (tried 180F to 205F)..And people even do cold brews, so keeping the temp high for the 4 min. brew cycle is probably a personal subjective taste thing (not a right / wrong thing)..For people whom coffee temperatrue is a priority, I dont think you will be happy even with an insulated pot (it does indeed cool off a bit even with preheating).I am not sensitive about having the second cup piping hot.. But I have noticed the double wall pots keep the coffee definitely warm enough for my second cup..
YERBE MATE:
I am a big green tea, Yerbe Mate, and coffee drinker..The press pots are fantastic for making Yerbe Mate (actually makes it similar to the traditional brewing method).Many people use a regular coffee maker, but Mate needs 170F water..But my comments for this review are about coffee performance.. FLAVOR LOCK:
The flavor lock is useless IMHO, but possibly I am wrong (Many bonjour models have tghis feature; the rhone and maximus does)..Here is why: I estimate these 8 cup versions actually make 3 cups..I make two cups at a time, and when I pour my second cup later, about half the coffee for this cup is stored "below" the flavor lock still brewing (but it then pours thru the "lock" into my cup)..The only reservation I hold out for this gimmick to actually work is for people who fill the pot all the way (so maybe water pressure on both sides helps keep the over brewed coffee below the lock).. Or. Perhaps the flavor lock works by holding back the coffee about a second, so the over brewed coffee pours last..In any case if you pour out all the liquid into the last cup, you will get every drop of over brewed coffee..And the flavor lock system adds stuff to clean (I would have preferred less to clean). BODUM CHAMBOARD:
I have had this pot over 10 years..Maybe I have been lucky to not break it..I have always liked the pot.I am hoping I will like the double wall pots I bought even more..FRIELING:
It is beautiful, heavy (no glass / all stainless steel), shiny, almost a work of art (materials and workmanship quality is high.. except for.. see below)..Timeless (simple) design..I hate to , but I returned this item (hard to believe all the great reviews on this pot)..Lots complained about grounds in the pot..And I got grounds in my cup too..Th filter plunger would stick at the top.. Long story short, I found it slightly oblong at the top..Combined with the filter design (the mechanics will not allow the filter edge to follow the slight oblong curve)..I think everyone knows you cant fill a press pot too full, or the grounds will float in where the spout flares out..The oblong nature of this pot looked like I needed to leave water 3" from the top, because the oblong shape extended the flare of the spout down maybe another inch..It does have a tendency to spurt liquid out when you plunge..I only used it once, but Im confident it can be controlled (for me it would have been a pain when washing it, because I put water in and plunge hard to clean the filter)..I don't know where mine was manufactured.. There was an obvious stainless steel taste, even after washing it 3 times..I found the same with stainless steel water bottles, and the smell and taste went away gradually (I was wondering if I simply got used to the taste, but now I taste it again, so it does go away)..We got rid of plastic, and there are no known problems with stainless steel on health (unless one is sensitive to nickel).. Or if the taste is some manufacturing chemical rather than the steel itself..The glass pots have no detectable smell or taste..
BONJOUR RHONE (RIBBED):
Love this pot / gave it 5 stars / nothing is perfect reasoning (complaints below)..These look much better in person than the picture suggests..They are elegant, simple timeless design..The glass feels better made and more rugged than other double wall glass I have seen (but probably still very fragile)..The manufacturing quality is high..But the shinny top lid is a little tarnished (cant tell if its stainless, or that plastic coated with something that looks like metal)..Don't really care because it doesn't touch my coffee.The flavor lock gimmick is not functional IMHO, and adds stuff to clean..Without the plunger, these look like those old fashioned plastic water pitchers (but these will very likely break if you drop ice cubes down)..The little filter in the top cap is non functional because the coffee routes under it when you pour..Again, more non functions gadgetry adding more stuff to clean)..However, the main plunger filter is much finer than my 10yo chamboard (and I think the finer filter makes the coffee taste better)..Some reviewers complained of grounds in the coffee..Maybe I got a good one..The filter engages all the way around immediately below the spout flare out (unlike the Frieling)..No grounds whatsoever (and I am picky)..The "easy" perfect fitting filter screen has a down side; the cap can come off wghen pouring and bang the metal rod into the delicate glass (happened to me; I fely lucky it didnt break). I don't like the knob on top.. Its pointy, so you have to grasp it carefully to plunge (or it will hurt your hand)..And you cant get a grip on the knob to tighten the filter enough to engage the flavor lock mechanism (although you can engage it to the lock position because that tries to tighten it)..Its still a pain to try to turn the knob to engage the lock..I love this pot so much, I am going to try and find a new top knob, and maybe replace the top with wood (mesquite is beautiful and very water resistant)..
I bought the bonjour maximus too, but am returning it (I only wanted to try the flavor lock, which came unannounced in the rhone pot)..I expect it to be similar to the chamboard version..BONJOUR MAXIMUS:
I wanted a new double wall pot the same design as my 10 year old plus chamboard, but there is a problem..Both the bodum chamboard, and bonjour maximus (similar pots) are double wall pots in a metal frame..The problem is that the glass is locked into the frame so tight I feel like the glass may break if I try to turn it. I strongly feel eggshell thin and delicate glass should not have metal clamped down on it.. I feel confident these bodum and bonjour double wall designs will break eventually due to this stress..The bonjour has the flavor lock gimmick..The handle is slightly rubberized (feels nice, but may not hold up over time)..
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BonJour 8 Cup Rhone Ribbed French Press, Double Wall GlassProduct Description: Enjoy cup after cup of rich, flavorful coffee with this Rhone double wall glass French press.Crafted using borosilicate glass, this press is durable and heat resistant.The double wall glass carafe provides effective insulation and helps keep coffee hot longer.It features Bonjours patented flavor lock system, which controls the brewing process.8 cup capacity.
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I bought this for my wife who is a coffee aficionado.No one is more picky when it comes to her morning joe.She tried the French Press at our daughters and had to have one.She is pleased.When she is pleased, everybody is pleased.The coffeemaker is pure quality.
