Say it with me: Bodum Chambord

So here's the deal: twenty-nine days out of thirty I drink a single cup of coffee. In the morning.

Fresh, strong, black, and very hot. No funny stuff.

I drink it from a big mug, to be truthful, more often than from a cup. It's actually more like two small cups combined to make one large cup, if you want to get all technical.

Occasionally -- you never know when this may occur -- I will indulge in an afternoon cup. Usually on Sunday, especially if one of the girls joins me.

How do I do it?

Well. Down through the years I have owned a number of electric coffeemakers.

I had a Braun; I had a Krups. I had a few "free" Gevalias. I may have even owned a General Electric percolator back during the Carter administration.

My son gave me an early Black & Decker pod thing (oh my soul, such a piece of junk) circa 2004, that never worked a single time, and was replaced thrice by the shysters at B&D before I gave up.

They still have my son's money, earned by mowing lawns.

That was followed by another generic drip maker (or two), then a couple of fancy-schmancy Whirlpools. 

They all broke.

As in, the last several electric coffeemakers that have taken up space on my counter have each had a little surprise for me on one morning or another: they decided they didn't have what it took to actually make a cup of coffee.

You had that one job.

But no. When I put in the water and put in the coffee and pressed the button, nothing happened.

Not even a little goodbye message, like: Nice Try, Sucker. Do Without.

Nothing.

Then came the day about three years ago when it happened for the last time. To me, at least.

No coffee was going to come forth from the sleek and gleaming futuristic Whirlpool computerized programmable ultra-cool coffeemaker sulking in the corner like a spoiled child.

The coffeemaker had been a gift from Audrey. It replaced another identical coffeemaker that had behaved in an identically ridiculous fashion.

You had that ONE job.

So I called Audrey to whine complain report the recidivism of dereliction of duty being perpetrated yet again upon her mother by the subject whiz-bang gift coffeemaker.

"Yeah. I finally bought a French press," she said.

A light went on in my coffee-starved brain. THAT was what I needed: A French press coffeemaker. Just like the one they bring to your table at Ruth's Chris, after your steak dinner, while you linger over crème brûlée.

I don't remember what happened next but I do know that as soon as ever I could -- read, later that day -- I whispered into TG's ear that he needed to make a run over to Bed, Bath and Beyond.

Because online I had isolated the French press I wanted: a cunning little fellow by the name of Bodum Chambord.

The original French press. In stock.

TG gratified my wish immediately -- as is his wont -- and in less than an hour I was holding in my hand the teensy-weensiest Bodum Chambord French press coffeemaker you ever did see.

Coffee cuteness. It's still my favorite. With one heaping scoop of fine-ground dark roast and a splash of just-off-the-boil water, it makes the most charming single cup of fresh, hot, strong, black coffee.

An actual cup. About half a big mugful.

I love it I love it I love it. Slurp. Precious.

But naturally, I was faced with the conundrum of what to do when company arrived, anticipating what they have come to expect of me apres-repast: Copious amounts of fresh, hot, strong, black coffee.

Enough for everyone who drinks coffee to enjoy a cupful with dessert.

So this time, not being in much of a time crunch, I resorted to Amazon.

Where I found a giant Bodum Chambord French press coffeemaker. It makes lots. Enough for everybody.

I love it so much.

Then of course I was faced with another puzzle. What would I make coffee in when there were, say, two people who each wanted a hot, fresh, strong cupful?

Like, on those Sunday afternoons?

Lom eensy-weensy* Bodum Chambord did not make enough for two. Giant Bodum Chambord made way too much.

I needed one that was just right.

And I hate to confess this but for about a year I scratched the itch with this off-brand French press coffeemaker.

I give you my Barenthal L'Art Et La Table French press coffeemaker, bought for ten dollars at TJ Maxx.

No really; I'll give it to you. The mesh plunger is shot and it lets coffee grounds into your cup.

Beyond the pale. Life is too long to tolerate such nonsense as that.

So recently I solved the riddle by purchasing an in-between-size Bodum Chambord French press coffeemaker.

It makes enough for a delightful mugful (mine) and a generous cupful (yours) of hot, fresh, strong, black coffee.

Or three nice cupfuls of the same, in the event you and I should be joined by a (very fortunate) third party.

I now own a sparkly shiny trio of Bodum Chambord French press coffeemakers. They produce varying quantities of heavenly coffee with nary a button or power cord or mother board between them.

Any one of these darlings exceeds all expectations in the coffeemaking category, as it were.

Taken together? Well let's just say I'm living the coffee dream and it's not found at Starbucks.

I think having procured this lot of BCFP coffeemakers qualifies me as a collector.

If any doubt remains, I have my eye on this red one. And there may be more out there in different shapes and sizes that will eventually be granted asylum in my kitchen.

Just don't break the carafe, I say to myself daily when lovingly washing one or the other of the three I already own.

One must have patience with a Bodum beaker. Tres frah-ghee-lay.

But even if I do break one, we're covered. I know how to make pot after pot. So let me know when you'll be here for coffee.

Oh and wear lipstick because you know I'll take your picture.

Uncle Dodie, you don't need to bother with lipstick. You just show up, buddy. That's your job.**

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*Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.

**Johnny Depp as Gilbert Grape in What's Eating Gilbert Grape.

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H a p p y   W e e k

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Comments

[irene]

I can almost smell that wonderful brew.

[Mari]

I must confess to something that will shock you. I don't like coffee! I know - it's just crazy! I just never could learn to like it. Bob and Heather love it an we've gone through a coffee maker or two in our time. I've never heard of a French press, but it sounds like a winner!

[Skunkfeathers]

When my uber cheaper B&D one cup coffee maker imploded two months ago, I reverted to tea. Haven't had a single or married cup of coffee since.

And unlike my coffee maker, I haven't as yet imploded.

[Donna (Texas)]

We also have had every coffee maker under the sun...until...along came, Capressor. Fantastic machine...wonderful coffee...
Your photos are fantastic!! Now I need COFFEE!!Hahaaaaa
hughugs