Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Do like the French do...Press

If you can believe this, about five years ago, I actually had a part-time job at Williams-Sonoma.

I find this VERY hard to believe, considering I just learned how to make a salad.

I’ve never really had a passion for cooking, so anything to do with the kitchen never really interest me.

Anyway, the job started out as a seasonal one, which ended up transpiring into a permanent one that I really ended up enjoying. I learned a lot and developed a respect for those who do enjoy cooking.

I remember my first week on the job, when a customer asked me if we carried pastry forks. I looked at her like she had three heads, because I had no idea what the hell she was talking about. So like an idiot, I brought her over to where the cupcake molds were located. She looked at me as if “I” had three heads and laughed. I laughed too and simply told her that I was a novice at all this, and that she was going to have to educate me on what a “pastry fork” was.

We eventually found what she was looking for…and I learned something new.

Now, because I have a passion for coffee, what I really enjoyed about the store, were all the fabulous coffee machines and gadgets that went along with making a good cup of java.

One day, I saw this weird looking “thing” sitting amongst the coffee paraphernalia. It looked like a chemistry beaker with a handle on it, and had a silver lid with a little black ball sitting on top. I learned that it was called a French Press and it was used for making a cup of coffee by hand.

(my ears perked up!)

One of the other sales associates explained to me how it worked and I ended up purchasing one.

Well…can I just tell you…it was the BEST damn cup of coffee I ever had in my life. In fact, I got rid of my electric coffee maker and have used only a French Press, since. It takes a little more time, but to me, it’s well worth it. My first cup of coffee in the morning is the most important. The press makes two “good size” cups, which for me, ends up being one “good size” mug.

It’s easy. You just boil some water in a kettle. And while that’s happening, you throw about three tablespoons of coarsely ground coffee into the beaker. When the water is ready, pour it into the beaker and replaced the lid. Let it steep for 4-5 minutes. When ready, you simply take the little black ball on top and slowly lower the screen press down into the beaker. There’s a round screen at the base of the handle press, which forces the grounds to the bottom of the beaker, allowing the coffee to flow through.

Viola! You have the most awesome cup of coffee know to man.

Since I live in a studio apartment and space is very precious, the great thing about a French Press, is that it requires no counter space and can be stored in a kitchen cabinet.

So, if you’re like me, and have an obsession for coffee…try a French Press.

You’ll just die!

Well… not actually die, but you’ll feel like you did and went to France.

“Oui…oui…M’dames et Monsieur's.”