A Nice French Press For A Very Good Price

Drinking coffee is a daily thing with me. I seldom go without. My favorite way to prepare coffee is with a French Press. It makes even cheap coffee taste a lot better!

Pantry Masters has a nice little French Press that I think is perfect for someone who has never used one before to give them a try. This would be a smart addition to anyone's coffee making routine.

The French Press is made really well. The 34 ounce glass carafe fits very well in the stainless steel frame. It is snug and does not wiggle around. The handle is a little difficult for me to hang on to, but that is because of my arthritis. I like the stainless steel top that fits snuggle on and the double filter press inside. When the coffee is brewed you end up with 32 ounces of great coffee.

The plunger has a great snug fit inside the carafe, so you know as you press the coffee grounds down, it keeps all the grounds at the bottom and not in your cup of coffee. The plunger moves up and down smoothly and easily.

The extra fine stainless steel mesh filter really filters the full flavor of the coffee from the grounds giving you a wonderful cup of coffee.  You can replace the filters as needed. I like that the whole plunger section comes apart for easy cleaning. The whole thing base with handle, glass carafe and plunger with filter, is dishwasher safe or can be washed by hand.

This is a nice French Press at a very good price!

You can purchase your own Pantry Master French Press HERE!

The reviewer has been compensated with receiving the product free in order to bring you an honest review. All opinions are those of the reviewer.

Beautifully Brewed Italian-Style Coffee At Home

As a serious coffee lover, I am always up to trying new things, or newer versions of old things when it comes to brewing the coffee.

This product is no exception to that!

The Minos Moka Pot Espresso Maker is a fabulous way to get really good Italian-style coffee! This is not going to brew your ordinary coffee. This is going to brew a really good cup of artisan-style coffee that you will absolutely love!

The coffee pot that comes in 3 and 6 cup size, (mine is the 6 cup size), is made from stainless steel and has a silicone handle, yet it has the same look that the original Moka Pot had when it was created in 1933. It's a classic design, which I love! With the Minos Moka Pot, you get switchable, multi-colored handles that come in yellow, blue and pink. That makes it fun and you can use the one that best fits your decor or your mood. Really good thing is this pot can be used on a glass, electric, or gas stove top. By the way, the pot is really small. You can see it is only about 7" tall in the picture. You are only brewing espresso, which is not served in mega cups.

Clear directions on how to use the Moka Pot comes with it, so there is no guessing. I have found that the perfect setting for using this on my stove is between 4 and 5. I sit it on the edge of the burner and let it do its thing. It usually takes a good 6 minutes or so before the coffee starts to come up into the top part. From there, it only takes a couple minutes to finish. I remove it just before the last little bit is done. You'll know by the sounds and how fast it is going too. It will take some practice to get used to this style of brewing, but you'll be glad you learned to brew it this way!

A fine grind of espresso coffee is best for this pot. You DON'T want to use a coarse grind at all! Fill the coffee powder box to the rim and make sure it's packed down lightly. Italian-style coffee is always served with cream and sweetener, a;though you don't have to if you just want a strong cup of coffee, and you need to know this is a strong, bold way to have your coffee. Believe me, there will be a major caffeine kick from it.

The pot is easy to clean, just rinse it out well and let it dry upside down on a rack. Do not wash it in the dishwasher!

If you love coffee, you will want one of these, trust me! if you like coffee, once you try one of these, you will love coffee! I am thrilled to have this and will enjoy it for a long time to come.

You can purchase the Minos Moka Pot Espresso Maker HERE!

This reviewer received the product free or at a discounted price in order to bring you an honest review. No other form of compensation was given. All opinions are those of the reviewer.

So Easy To Blew Tea With The Willow & Everett Teapot

When I get stressed out or don't feel good physically one thing I turn to, to help me feel better is a good cup of hot tea. Tea has a way of calming you down and helping you relax and many can be very good for you as well.

Willow & Everett has a Glass Teapot Tea Infuser with Warmer and Built-in Strainer that makes the process of brewing tea really nice.

The teapot is made of glass, including the handle, and it loos so nice sitting on my counter. It is not large, holding only 5 cups, but that's a good thing. Tea should not be brewed in large batches anyway and it does not take long to brew a pot of tea.

The teapot comes with everything you need to brew a nice cup of tea except the tea. Because this tea kettle is all glass, brewing up a custom cup of tea has never been easier. Simply fill with water, remove the lid and stainless steel infuser and pop it in the microwave to boil your water. This teapot eliminates the need to boil water separately and lets you do everything right in one teapot!

Once the water has boiled simply replace the infuser filled with the right amount of tea and place the cover back on. You can also place the really nifty warmer over the pot to keep the tea warm while and after it brews. The warmer has a zipper on it, making it easy to get on and off the teapot.

I have really enjoyed using this teapot. The handle does get a little warm but not so much that you can't hold it to pour. The infuser has an amazing fine mesh that helps keep even the tiniest bits of loose tea from getting into the pot and into your cup.

This really is a nice teapot and I highly recommend it to you for yourself and it would make a wonderful gift for any tea lover!

You can purchase the Willow & Everett has a Glass Teapot Tea Infuser with Warmer and Built-in Strainer HERE!

This reviewer received the product free or at a discounted price in order to bring you an honest review. No other form of compensation was given. All opinions are those of the reviewer.

Get The Best Flavor From Your Pour Over Brew That You Can

When you love coffee as much as I do, you love to try all kinds of ways to brew it and drink it. Well I have one more fun piece to add to my paraphernalia of coffee supplies!

Willow & Everett has developed a really nice Gooseneck Coffee Maker Pot. This was developed to help you brew coffee using a cone over the cup filter. One of the things that is a negative about those filters is not being able to get the water right where you want it over the grounds. Using this coffee pot, you can get the water right where you want it easily.

In a sense, this is a small kettle for hating water on the stove. It is made of stainless steel and it has been polished to give it a beautiful shine. It really looks nice sitting on the stove or counter. The pot has a BPA free plastic coated handle and lid knob that keep your hands from getting burned. The stainless steel heats up really nicely and you do need to be careful. The nice thing though is it stays hot for a while.

What is really nice is the gooseneck spout to this pot. This actually is the most important part of the pot. When you brew coffee or tea using the pour over method, it is important to pour the water slowly and precisely to reach all the grounds or leaves. Doing that helps you get the best brew and the most flavor. Traditional pots pour too quickly and you can miss a lot of the flavor. With the gooseneck spout, you can take your time and get the fullest flavor from you beverage and enjoy it that much more. With the price of coffee these days, I'd say this is a very good thing!

I have been enjoying this pot a lot and it really looks lovely sitting in my home. If you love brewing coffee with the pour over method, you should consider this Gooseneck Coffee Maker Pot! It would make a nice gift too!

You can purchase the Willow & Everett Gooseneck Coffee Maker Pot HERE!

This reviewer received the product free or at a discounted price in order to bring you an honest review. No other form of compensation was given. All opinions are those of the reviewer.

KitchenAid Precision Press Coffee Maker

Giveaway Hosted By: My Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Life

If there is one thing you all know, I love coffee! This is a fabulous giveaway and would a great addition in your home or a wonderful gift for one of your loved ones!

ABOUT the KitchenAid® Precision Press Coffee Maker

Integrated Scale and Timer: To weigh coffee grounds and water independently in one carafe for precise ratio and brew time.

Dual Wall, Stainless Steel Construction: Retains heat, ensuring proper extraction and optimal flavor.
Additional Features: Soft Grip Handle Comfortable and easy to use. Sleek Profile Streamlined design reduces countertop clutter. Cordless Design

My Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Life and a group of great bloggers have joined together to share this fantastic giveaway with you!

One very lucky reader will win a KitchenAid® Precision Press Coffee Maker. Enter for your chance to win on the Rafflecopter below and make sure to read the rules before you enter.

KitchenAid® Precision Press Coffee Maker Giveaway Rules: Open to US only. Winners will be chosen at random through Random.org. Giveaway ends October 29, 2015 at 11:59pm ET. Winner will be notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. My Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Life is responsible for prize fulfillment. Must be 18 years or older to enter. Only one entrant per household. Void where prohibited. Entering this giveaway means you agree to terms above. Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: This blog and any participating blogs did not receive compensation for the published material in this post. No purchase required to enter this giveaway. Odds of winning are determined by the number of valid entries received. This giveaway is not administered, sponsored, endorsed by, or associated with Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest or other social media outlet. Disclaimer is posted in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Coffee House Coffee Without the Coffee House

Most anyone who meets me for the first time very quickly realizes how much I love coffee. They will see me with a travel mug in my hand pretty much everywhere. My husband has teased me from time-to-time that the mugs are an extension of my arms. He's kind of right.

Coffee, in my opinion is good made in several ways, but my favorite and to me the most flavorful kind in made with a French Press. It's bolder, richer, more flavorful, and a lot more good things! So when I got the chance to try out the French Press Travel Mug from MIRA Brands I was excited!

The travel mug is made of stainless steel with a high quality insulation, and double walled. You can pour boiling water inside and you will not feel the heat on the outside, except right at the top near the lid. And even there it is only slightly warm. It will also keep cold drinks nice and cold for some time too. I honestly have not tested how long it will stay hot or cold because I drink the contents before I can figure it out.

The Mug holds 12 ounces of water, but when you add the grounds to the mug and then the water only about 11 ounces actually fit. It didn't come with instructions, but the general rule is 1-2 tbsp of coffee per 6 ounces of water. I tried the 2 tbsp the first time and liked it well enough to continue using that measurement. When I pour in the hot water I let it brew for 5 minutes and keep the lid of the mug on without depressing the plunger to keep it hot while it brews. After 5 minutes, I slowly depress the plunger till it can't go any farther, just as I would my full-size French Press.

I do have a few small complaints about the mug. One is that if I want to add cream or sugar it's not easy. I have to pour it in through the small opening I drink from. From there I can't stir it very well since the only thing that fits in the opening would be a small stir stick or straw.

The other complaint is that the drink hole opening does not seal shut. It does snap open so it doesn't flap around while you are drinking from it, but I do wish that it would seal shut to keep the heat in a little longer.

The bottom of the mug has a nice silicone base that keeps it from slipping around wherever you set it. It can be washed by hand in the sink or all parts can be washed in the dishwasher.

Overall I like the mug and will be using it on the go and in the house (I have tendency of leaving my mugs around and then forgetting about them to find them later cold).

You can purchase your own MIRA Brands French Press Mug HERE!

The reviewer has been compensated with receiving the product free in order to bring you an honest review. All opinions are those of the reviewer.

One Happy Coffee Drinker At Our House

I may have mentioned once or twice or fifty times before how much I love coffee. I really do. I love the smell. I love the flavor. I love the variety. I even love the way it feels in my mouth. Some of my friends even call me a coffee snob and I take no offense at that!

For me having good equipment in my home to brew my coffee is important. You don't get to drink good coffee without having good equipment to brew it. It just does not work!

Recently Francois et Mimi sent me a 50oz Glass French Press to try out and I was thrilled. To me, one of the best ways to brew coffee is with a French Press. It is more gentle on the grounds. You don't over-brew or burn the grounds which happens with some drip coffee makers and percolators. I can't think of anything that is worse than burned coffee. YUCK!

The French Press is wonderful. The size is perfect for making several cups at a time, so it works when you have company, but it is not so big that you can't make one cup at a time. The Micro-Mesh filter is so fine that you can brew even a fairy fine grind of coffee and not worry about grounds floating around in your cup. The edge of the filter has a tight fit with a great gasket to keep the movement smooth up and down inside the Press, but not so tight that it is hard to operate (I've dealt with a few of those).

The lid is fantastic. It's attractive, but is made to function well. It tightly fits on the glass to keep the heat of the water in while the coffee brews. The inside of the lid has a ceramic/enamel coating making the heat retention even better. Lots of presses with just metal lids lose a lot of the heat out through the metal itself, decreasing the quality of the brew.

I just love how easy it is to have a cup of coffee in no time. I heat my water in my electric kettle and then let it sit after boiling for about 5 minutes. It makes the water temperature perfect and then it's just of mater of being patient for the coffee to brew.

So how do you make coffee in a French Press? Well it's pretty simple.
1. Use 4 tbsp of ground coffee for each 16 oz. water
2. Place the coffee in and even level on the bottom of the glass container.
3. Slowly pour the hot water over the gerunds making sure to not leave dry pockets of grounds. (It is important no to use too hot of water! 195° is best.)
4. Cover the Press and let stand for 1 minute.
5. Uncover the press and lightly stir the coffee to ensure all the grounds are going down to the bottom and to ensure you have no dry pockets.
6. Replace the lid and let brew for about 5 minutes.
7. After 5 minutes, slowly depress the mesh filter ensuring that it moves evenly down the sides of the glass, until it reaches as far as it will go.
8. Pour yourself a wonderful cup of coffee and enjoy!

Cleaning the press is super easy. Just scrape out the grounds and toss them in your compost pile. The press can be hand washed or put in the dishwasher. The mess rinses clean very easily. I haven't had any grounds stick in it.

This is one of the best ways, if not the best, to enjoy coffee and Francois et Mimi has a fantastic French Press to help. Oh and if you are a tea drinker, it works well with loose leaf tea as well as coffee!

You can purchase your own Francois et Mimi 50 oz. Glass French Press HERE!

We received samples of the products for the purpose of review. No other compensation was given. All opinions expressed here are those of the author.