Brazil 8-Cup Coffee Press w/ Polycarbonate Unbreakable Beaker - 1548-01PL  Product Reviews

"I have been using my press for over two years now and have had no problems yet. I have gone through at least 5 glass French presses in the few years before buying this one. I have read many of the reviews and there are a number of them that point out leaking, the bottom coming off, etc. I have not had these problems and I use this press everyday, unless I go out for breakfast (about once every other week). I ALWAYS wash it by hand and have never put it in a dishwasher. I think a dishwasher is probably too hot for the seal and glue (or whatever) that keeps it together at the base. The only thing on mine are some hard water deposits on the outside where the beaker fits into the base. The filter has darkened with the coffee residue but that doesn't bother me since I only use it for coffee. If I overfill it the filter does have to be tilted in which may put some grinds in the coffee. I usually just pour these out immediately before pressing. Generally, there are very few grounds that go around the filter in this case. I live in Albuquerque, NM at 5000 feet elevation and I also let it sit longer than 4 minutes, but that's my preference. Another reviewer mentioned high altitude may need longer brewing - perhaps. Most importantly is to be sure the grind is properly coarse. One great private coffee purveyor here in town always grinds my French press coffee way too fine. Normally French press should be a 9 or 10 grind, and this purveyor grinds it around a 4 or 5. This ends up with way too much silt in the bottom of your cup and can be bitter if brewed too long. The normal recipe is 9 or 10 grind for 4 minutes. This press makes two Starbucks mug-sized cups of coffee per press (about 32 oz)."

"I absolutely love this thing. My mother has a glass press and turned me on to the joy of "real" coffee. I wanted one for the warehouse, so I went with the unbreakable. It hasnt failed me yet. I have made more pots of coffee with it than I ever expected and its still going strong. A QUALITY product! A+"

"I was the kind of person that broke every glass French-press coffee pot I got my hands on in a matter of a few weeks. Then I came across a polycarbonate model that was made in Brazil. It probably would have lasted forever except that the bottom finally began to come apart from the top section. Seems that instead of injection-molding the entire pot, they made a "cylinder" section, and then glued it onto a bottom base section. I began to notice that the pot was leaking, and saw that it was literally coming apart. I can't complain since I only paid about fifteen bucks for it, and it did last nine years. I'm buying a new model now, and it will be one solid piece, injection-molded, so it probably won't be this one. Oh, if you live at an altitude of 4,000 feet above sea level or more, I suggest you brew your coffee for close to five minutes instead of four minutes. Try it and see what you think."

"This coffee press is very user friendly. The glass ones were so fragile I was afraid to put in the dishwasher.With this one you can put both pieces it in the dishwasher and not worry about them. I've owned at least three of the glass ones and they have all broke from just basic use. I can see that it will take alot of abuse to break this one."