Bought a Bodum
I just bought a Bodum coffee press. I must say it makes the best coffee I have ever made at home. I noticed that Bodum sells replacement mesh filters on their site but it doesn't have any information on how often you are supposed to change them. Does anyone have any suggestions on that? Also, somebody at worked told me, after I bought the press, that making coffee in it was bad for your health. It was explained to me that there is more coffee oil in the coffee and it could raise my cholesterol. Is that true?
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10 Comments:
"there is more coffee oil in the coffee and it could raise my cholesterol."
Sounds like baloney to me.
As for when to change the filter, I think you should change it if/when it appears to be wearing out and the little holes are letting more grounds through. I don't imagine this is something that will be happening any time soon, you're more likely to break the glass vessel before you wear out the filter. I've had mine for years with no filter issues.
simon at 11:39AM on 12/02/08
I have heard that also..since there is no filter to trap the fat in coffee that french press coffee may raise your LDL by 8-10%. I think it's a bunch of hooey myself, still love my french press and my cholesterol is very low.
deetroitMI at 11:59AM on 12/02/08
Unlikely that coffee would raise your LDL as it is a plant-based food, and any fat it contains is unprocessed - trans fatty acids from partial hydrogenation and saturated fatty acids from conventionally-raised dairy are the primary culprits in raising LDL.
Coffee likely contains primarily omega-6 fatty acids (most legumes do), which is present in the typical American diet in a much higher concentration than is healthful, but the small amount of oil in coffee relative to hundreds of other dietary sources is unlikely to have an impact.
producestories at 12:17PM on 12/02/08
There was some mention a while back about "unfiltered" coffee which is what you're enjoying from your Bodum. As far as what you believe, that can be tough. I googled "unfiltered coffee health risks" and came up with a zillion links but here's the rub: Who pays for the study must be taken into consideration. Finding an unbiased source is akin to finding a needle in a haystack but it can be done.
therealchiffonade at 2:19PM on 12/02/08
Years ago I started using a percolator, when drip coffee was the only way to go, because my grandma's coffee tasted so much better than everyone elses. At that time, I read that same study about unfiltered coffee being higher in cholesterol.
I now have a Bodum french press and have had it for 15 years. I have never changed the filter, it still looks great. I have low cholesterol and I use Cafe Bustelo espresso. Mmmmmmmm.
You can find it online if you want to try it at javacabana.com. I push it all the time and it's really cheap!
carolrsfMISSESTEXAS at 2:43PM on 12/02/08
I agree that it is unlikely that you will ever have to change the filter. To answer your question though, the filter part simply unscrews from the pole thingy (at least it does on my little one, I doubt the big ones are any different.) Just grip the pole and twist the entire metal/plastic contraption clockwise. Its a good idea to do this once in a while anyways to get your Bodum really clean, especially if you like to switch up the types of coffee you make in it.
Embackus at 2:51PM on 12/02/08
The only filters I've ever had to replace on french presses were the ones we used in our restaurant. And only then because we would chuck the tops into a soaking bin and the filter would sometimes get poked by silverware. The ones at home have lasted almost a decade. Oh, wait, 5 years ago, I had to buy a new french press because the glass shattered on the old one (I think my sister or my cousin dropped it).
As for the cholesterol issue, I'm an avid coffee and espresso drinker and I am what my insurance company lables as super-preferred. I figured all the red wine & dark chocolate & collard greens must be doing their jobs.
wookie at 6:31PM on 12/02/08
I'm really glad that you put this thread up -- my roommate just bought me a little Bodum as an early Christmas present, and I've been kind of hesitant to use it because I've never had a French press before. I didn't even know the filter was an issue! But now I know it's not, haha. Also, if coffee and espresso caused high cholesterol -- I'd be dead. =)
kfarrel3 at 11:59PM on 12/02/08
If what your colleague said is still on your mind, ask him or her for their source; perhaps there really is a well-documented study that confirms this (but it sounds really, really improbable). Even if this were true, however, it would only be an issue if your cholesterol level is.
@wookie: If you ever smash the glass of your current French press, you can get replacements from Bodum (they've got a shop on west 14th Street, and I'm sure you can order from all sorts of places online)
mongoose at 3:05AM on 12/03/08
Also as far as cholesterol goes...the studies cited in linking dietary cholesterol to blood serum cholesterol, and blood serum cholesterol to heart disease are extremely specious. A few dieticians I have spoken to lately expect that mainstream medicine will make an about-face about this issue relatively soon, like they were forced to do with the "all fat is bad" position of years ago. Statistically, 50% of people who suffer from heart disease have higher than average cholesterol, and 50% have lower than average cholesterol. Obviously it can't hurt to reduce your dietary cholesterol, but that's some food for thought when it comes to worrying about relatively small amounts, like in your morning coffee.
producestories at 9:23AM on 12/03/08