Bodum
Brazil French Press
- Bottom Line
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A simplistic, well-received option that's been in production since the 1980s.
- Pros
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Classic French press design requires no paper filters or disposable materials. Constructed with BPA-free materials and high-quality borosilicate glass. Brews up to 32 ounces of coffee. Dishwasher-safe and easy to clean.
- Cons
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Certain pouring angles will introduce grounds into the brew.
About the product
Is the Bodum Brazil worth it?
The Bodum Brazil French Press is a step forward from the classic French press design that Bodum itself popularized. With the same glass carafe and steel mesh filter as traditional Bodum models, the Brazil uses fixed plastic components for its handle and foot, creating a more streamlined and modern silhouette.
The BestReviews Testing Lab put the Bodum Brazil through a thorough testing regimen. We found its performance compared well to other glass French presses with a couple of quirks due to its plastic parts. It delivers what’s best described as the traditional French press experience.
What is the Bodum Brazil French Press?
Product Specifications:
Weight: 1 lb | Capacity: 34 oz | Dimensions: 6.3” W x 8.62” H x 4.21” D | Material: Borosilicate glass, plastic and stainless steel | Dishwasher-safe: Yes
The Bodum Brazil French Press is a 34-ounce model made of heat-resistant borosilicate glass with a BPA-free plastic handle, foot and lid, which are permanently attached to the glass. It stands 8.6 inches tall from the base to the top of the lid and 6.3 inches wide, including the handle, with a diameter of 4.21 inches for the glass body. It can hold about four 8-ounce cups or two 16-ounce cups of coffee. Bodum recommends a four-minute brewing time.
Pros
- Strong, classic French press coffee: When using the Bodum Brazil, we obtained what can be considered the classic French press brew: strong, fragrant, opaque full-bodied coffee with some fine sediment in suspension.
- Stable design: The Bodum Brazil was very stable while pouring, mixing and pressing due to its permanently attached plastic handle and foot.
- Good heat retention: The temperature of our test coffee batch dropped from 200 degrees to 162 degrees in half an hour and 140 degrees after an hour, within the range of drinkable coffee temperatures.
- Affordable cost: The Bodum Brazil was the least expensive of all the French press models we tested, costing less than $30 at most stores.
Cons
- Sediment: Coffee brewed in the Bodum Brazil left a thick layer of sediment at the bottom of cups. This is normal for traditional French presses but other tested models left less sediment.
- Lid doesn’t seal: The plastic lid of the Bodum Brazil has a notch that keeps it positioned with its pouring vent at the carafe’s spout. While convenient, this doesn’t actually prevent spills and makes it impossible to turn the lid away from the spout to retain heat as in other traditional Bodum French press models.
- Cleaning issues: Like most French presses, cleaning can be messy and often involves a tool like a spatula to get out all the used grounds. In addition, we were concerned moisture may infiltrate into the seams between the glass and plastic parts.
Who is it for?
The Bodum Brazil French press seems ideally priced and constructed for first-time French press drinkers who may be curious about the richer brew produced by French presses but don’t want to spend too much money or time.
How we tested
We tested the Bodum Brazil French Press with a recipe consisting of 200-degree water and 8 grams of medium-ground supermarket coffee per 1 ounce of water. After unboxing and quick rinsing, we brewed several cups of coffee according to our recipe and Bodum’s instructions, noting stability, ease of pressing and any friction points. We also took the temperature of the brew at 30-minute intervals with an instant-read thermometer. We tasted the coffee produced from the Bodum Brazil, evaluating body, flavor, acidity, bitterness and sediment. Finally we ran the Bodum Brazil through the dishwasher at least twice to evaluate any wear, damage or off flavors.
Price and where to buy
The Bodum Brazil French Press retails for $27.50 but is available for as low as $19.99 from Amazon.
How to use the Bodum Brazil French Press
- First, remove the lid and filter plunger from the carafe.
- Place ground coffee into the glass carafe according to your preferred recipe.
- Pour hot water into the carafe according to your recipe. Mix the water and grounds with a spoon.
- Replace the lid and filter, aligning the notch in the lid with the handle. Let it stand for four minutes to brew.
- After four minutes, gently but firmly press the filter plunger down.
- Pour coffee for serving and enjoy.
How does it compare to other French press coffee machines we tested?
The Bodum Brazil French Press was simpler and more basic than other French presses we tested. Unlike other models, it lacked any insulation, depending on its borosilicate glass and plastic parts to keep the brewed coffee warm. It was the only model we tested made of glass, allowing us to see the coffee during and after brewing. It was one of two tested models with significant plastic construction, but its silhouette was more contemporary than some of the other presses. It also produced the most traditional French press brew, with the most sediment in suspension.
Is the Bodum Brazil French Press worth it?
The Bodum Brazil French Press wasn’t a spectacular or particularly innovative performer in our tests, but it produced classic French press coffee simply, directly and at a reasonable cost. We think it lives up to its promise and is a good choice for a French press on a budget.