Help me avoid overbrewing

December 4, 2006 4:42 PM

Within the last year, I read about a particular problem with a model or line of tea presses. Now, I can't find which model or line was the problem one, and I'm afraid I'll end up buying that one.

The reviews said that the model or line (maybe one of the many from Bodum) failed to stop steeping the tea after the plunger was pushed down, because it didn't seal perfectly. Others from the same company avoided this problem.

I thought I read the bad reviews on Amazon.com, but I've been looking and I can't find them. Someone had even done a test, where he brewed the tea, plunged the plunger, poured out some of the tea, waited, poured out some more, then taste-tested to see whether the second pour was over-brewed. It was with one model or line, and it wasn't with the other. (This matters because it's our habit to brew a pot, then pour and drink it one cup at time over the course of a morning, and we like a pot that lets us put off dealing with the leaves.)

Does anyone know which is the bad model or line? Or have a tea press model that you like, that's still available for purchase, and that you can definitively say doesn't keep brewing after the plunger is depressed?

posted by daisyace to Food & Drink (5 answers total)

This isn't exactly an answer, but we have a Bodum Assam. It seems to work pretty well (and it seems to not steep too much more, but I've never really tried). That having been said, it's important that you don't fill it too high.
posted by JMOZ at 7:49 PM on December 4, 2006

I have a Bodum Assam too, but only bought it last night. So far, it seems good - I've been using at all day - but I only I fill it with as much water as I need. I noticed on the Bodum website that it said the design prevented overbrewing, so was surprised to see a little hole in the plunger which means that once plunged, the leaves aren't 100% isolated from the tea. Obviously the hole has to be there otherwise the plunger would not depress fully, so I'm not sure what kind of design would enable complete separation of tea from water whilst keeping it in the pot.
Honestly - and I don't mean this to sound trite - but I reckon it's probably going to be easier to change your behavior to making fresh pots than it is to find a pot which matches your habit.
posted by forallmankind at 9:57 PM on December 4, 2006

I had an assam press long ago and found it too big. That is, the tea was cold by the time I got around to drinking it all. So I guess if you want to stick with a press, then forallmankind's suggestion makes sense.

Another option would be to buy something like this or this.

I have a couple of items from the For Life series of teapots/mugs so I can make a cup or 2 at a time and am really pleased with them -- good tea, sturdy product, great design; I am planning to get a pot from Bee House - because I want a larger pot and because I love the design (great colors too).

. . . and I guess following from my own little teapot fetish, I could say to you: Hey! Go for it! Get the Assam and get a For Life or Bee House pot too! Live it up. It might not be practical. I might be self-indulgent -- but their are worse vices in life.
posted by nnk at 7:46 AM on December 5, 2006

Oy! "there"

just can't seem to proof-read enough.
posted by nnk at 7:48 AM on December 5, 2006

. . . and yes. You could put off dealing with the leaves with either the Bee House or For Life pots -- just pull out the tea leaf basket and set it aside -- and either brand has larger pots if that's what you want.
posted by nnk at 7:50 AM on December 5, 2006