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Imported.
Item 785023
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REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
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Reviewed by 12 customers
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Comments about GSI Java Press Coffee Maker - 50 oz.:
First, let me say that I've used GSI presses for years. We still use the older model of the smaller version almost every day, but we had to trade in the (older) large version when the handle broke off.
REI was great - gave us a discount on the new 50-oz model, which looks more rugged (and certainly larger).
Unfortunately, within three presses, my wife noticed that the plunger was off kilter - by about 20 degrees. It's a real bear to extract, once the plunger's in all the way.
I imagine we'll take it back this weekend. Not sure that we'll be replacing it with another GSI.
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Comments about GSI Java Press Coffee Maker - 50 oz.:
A french press is really a very simple device so there _shouldn't_ be much to review. That said, it works...it presses the coffee grounds down to the bottom and leaves fairly particulate free liquid behind. It makes a lot of coffee so by necessity it is bulky...with some mildly creative packing you can make use of the dead space.
Two observations/gripes:
1) If it is cold out the "seals" (think piston rings) seem to constrict and not provide the necessary seal...or even make contact with the sides of the press (à la the Space Shuttle Challenger o-ring blow by problem). The problem is easy enough to solve, be sure to leave the seal/filter mechanism perched on the press so the heat from the water warms up the seals and lets them expand...a little outward prying may be necessary.
2) The filter portion of the press is held together with small phillips head screws that need to be taken out to clean/replace the filter. They rarely need replacing so that isn't a big deal and I'm sure there are those that would argue that you don't need to clean the filter either. Maybe I'm just picky but I like my food prep equipment clean and all the crevices in the filter mechanism beg for a simpler, tool free, disassembly scheme.
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Comments about GSI Java Press Coffee Maker - 50 oz.:
I have gone through two of these. The connection between the shaft and the filter broke on the first one, on the second one it has bent, but not broken (yet) and the handle broke off.
In addition, the filter lets too many grounds past leaving you with about an inch of coffee in each cup that is unusable unless you are looking for an additional source of fiber in your diet.
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Comments about GSI Java Press Coffee Maker - 50 oz.:
Got this product in May of 2011 I believe, mostly wanted to use it for music festivals and car camping. Ended up taking it backpacking as well and just hanging it on my bag, because it's super light. I'm a big coffee drinker and this thing got a lot of use, even just at my house when I felt like pressing an awesomely large amount of coffee.
I usually keep it in my Eurovan so it's ready to use when I'm gone, and when I pulled it out the other day, the handle was snapped off. Bummer. All the other presses REI sells seem to be really cheap actual components for the press itself, but this one was sturdy and worked wonderfully. Heading to REI today to return it and start playing around with all the other ones to see if there is anything better.
GSI makes good products. I would recommend this to anyone looking to make lots of coffee while car camping, just be careful that you don't break the handle.
Pros
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Comments about GSI Java Press Coffee Maker - 50 oz.:
I bought this for an upcoming group camping trip. I wanted something other than instant coffee, and hoped to find something to brew coffee in. I stopped in the store and after talking with the sales help there (he raved all about it), I came home with this. We tried it this weekend on our trip and I have mixed feelings about it.
The good:
-It makes enough coffee for 3-4 mugs at a time.
-I can brew my flavored hazelnut coffee in it.
-surprised that it only had one or two grounds floating around in each cup.
The bad:
-this might be a skill that is learned (or maybe I need a cup of coffee before making coffee), but I managed two mornings in a row to get ALOT of coffee grounds on the wrong side of the filter while trying to get the lid on which resulted in a search to find water to rinse it, which in turn watered down my coffee and cooled it off.
-it seemed to take a really long time just to make coffee. The instructions on the box say to put in your grounds, stir, wait 4 minutes, then start slowly pressing down the plunger. If the plunger meets resistance, pull up and start again. It seemed to take 10 minutes to get the plunger down every time we brewed. We didn't have problems with alot grounds (I guess the two are related). But still, a loonng wait for a cup of coffee. Maybe it loosens up with use? But then, will that allow more coffee grounds thru?
The ugly:
-The handle snapped off while rinsing it.
It will be going back, most likely replaced with a different product.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about GSI Java Press Coffee Maker - 50 oz.:
Easy to use and coffee is great. You need to use more grounds than the directions state to get the best flavor.
Pros
Cons
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Comments about GSI Java Press Coffee Maker - 50 oz.:
im gonna use it for coffee and tea press. i like the size its the perfect size but the handle isnt as durable as it appears. its too bendy.
Pros
Cons
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Comments about GSI Java Press Coffee Maker - 50 oz.:
This thing makes great coffee but the handle broke on it the very first time that I washed it. As I was drying the thing with a dish towel, the handle snapped right off and I did not even use any force.
I returned my coffee press and will not get another one unti GSI designs something more durable and less flimsy. The same thing happend to the handle on my GSI coffee grinder too.
GSI needs to sell more durable products. This is very disappointing since I have one of their older models of coffee presses. GSI appeas to have a quality problem with their products in regards to durability. A handle should not break off that easily.
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Comments about GSI Java Press Coffee Maker - 50 oz.:
Like many other users, the handle broke halfway into a Grand Canyon float trip. I was still able to brew coffee afterwards because the neoprene sock let me do a two-handed pour. Will be returning to REI soon.
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Comments about GSI Java Press Coffee Maker - 50 oz.:
This French press makes the grade for brewing great group coffee, fast. Recently purchased along with the MSR Reactor Stove, which boils almost enough water in 3 minutes flat to fill this press to the max fill line. I agree with other reviewers' comments re: the fact that the plunger gasket seems like it isn't as well sealed as you would like it, and therefore folks end up with more coffee grounds in their cups than they do coffee. But I've found there are a couple of key tricks that really make a difference in the end result. 1st - You need to be using coarse ground coffee. Pre-ground bags of coffee are generally ground for drip coffee makers and are ground too fine for the French press, and smaller grounds will sneak through the press. 2nd - So long as you are careful about turning the spout to the closed position when you depress the plunger, AND you make sure to go slowly and don't force it, my press maintains a good seal and keeps the grounds away from the java (even in cold weather). Voila - you end up with 4+ cups of delicious, grounds-free coffee. Use a long-handled camp spoon to get rid of the spent grounds, give the press a quick rinse, and you are ready to brew another pot. I've used the standard perc pot for years, and am excited to have this hassle-free option for group coffee while front country camping/boating/etc. It's just so much easier, and really does make delicious coffee if you pay attention to what you're doing.
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