Dug out my old french press from 2012 last weekend

I found my old Bodum french press buried in the back of a cabinet and decided to brew with it after 6 years of using pour-over setups. The coffee came out way muddier and weaker than I remembered, even with the same beans and grind size I use now. Did I just forget how to use one properly or do french presses actually degrade over time?

3 comments

3 Comments

janarivera25d ago

The grind on those old french press screens can get clogged up over time if you didn't clean it perfectly, which makes the brew muddier and weaker by restricting flow. A good soak in hot water with baking soda usually clears out the gunk and brings back normal performance, so it's probably not the press itself wearing out. Try that before blaming your method.

the_joseph24d ago

Just read something similar about how mineral buildup in the mesh can make the coffee taste dull and weak over time. Totally agree with @janarivera that a good baking soda soak does the trick to bring back the flow.

lopez.quinn24d ago

Ugh that is so frustrating when your old gear lets you down like that. I had to toss my old press last year after it started making coffee that tasted like wet cardboard no matter how much I scrubbed it.