A while back I had the pleasure of using a French press coffee maker for the first time. I was skeptical at first and it took a while to brew, but it was love at first sip. While I still have a standard coffee maker just in case guests come over, my kitchen will never be without a French press again. If you’ve never had the pleasure of sipping a cup of French press coffee, you’re missing out. Here’s why:

Easy to Brew

Brewing coffee in a French press may take longer, but it’s very easy to do. And it’s mostly a hands-off process. Here’s how it works:

• Heat water to a boil in a tea kettle or small pot.
• Grind the beans to a coarse grind and place in the press.
• Fill the press with the boiled water.
• Pull the plunger up, and let the coffee steep for 4-5 minutes.
• Push the plunger down and wait 2-3 minutes while the sediment settles.
• Pour and enjoy!

It’s that simple. Sure, it takes a bit longer, but the rich flavor it produces makes it well worth the wait.

A Richer, Smoother Cup of Coffee

You’ve never had coffee until you’ve had French press coffee. The flavor is richer, bolder and smoother than a standard drip brew. That’s because the coffee doesn’t pass through a paper filter before it reaches your cup. Filters catch the coffee grounds, but they also catch the oils that give coffee its full-bodied flavor.

Most brew methods pass water through the grounds quickly, which means you get a quick cup of coffee, but you also miss out on a lot of the flavor. Why? Take tea, for instance. If all you do is dip the teabag in hot water, you’re not really giving the leaves a chance to steep in the water and release all of its flavor. That’s why tea makers recommend steeping for 5-10 minutes, depending on the tea. With a French press, the coffee grounds seep in the water for 4-5 minutes, so you get complete extraction of flavor and saturation of the grounds.

Water temperature also plays an integral role in the quality of your coffee. And the French press excels here too. Because you heat the water separately, you have complete control over the water temperature.

Simply put, the French press brews a smoother, richer cup of coffee because it doesn’t use a filter, the grounds are completely saturated, and you can ensure the water is the optimal temperature for brewing.

Easy to Clean

A good quality French press has few (or no) plastic or rubber parts, which means it’s very easy to clean and won’t hang onto odors. Most presses can be disassembled and washed in the dishwasher, or you can hand wash quickly and easily. No more having to fill the coffee pot with vinegar and running it two or three times just to clean it.

With a French press, you can clean your coffee pot after each use for a better-tasting cup of coffee every time.