The elegant, practical and controversial French Press

We know that many Huma lovers are fans of the French Press . A very old method, yet so modern in the world of coffee. Also known as the plunger or piston coffee maker, its origins continue to cause controversy today. Do you dare to learn its history?

The debate about the origin of the French Press continues, as France and Italy continue to staunchly maintain that the coffee maker originated in their respective territories. The reality is that several theories argue who its creators were.

The first French press wasn't very similar to the one we know today, of course. Mayer and Delforge were the first Frenchmen to patent it, but it was another Frenchman who created it in 1850. It might seem like the coffee maker's name is aptly named, or not? The story of its origin tells that the coffee maker was created accidentally, when the Frenchman, on one of his usual walks on the hill near his home, decided to rest. While making a campfire to prepare some food and drink his coffee, he forgot to add it to the container with water before it boiled. It is mentioned that at that time, coffee was prepared by adding it to water until it reached boiling point; people didn't know that this process diminished the flavor of the drink. Once the Frenchman realized that it had been too late to add the coffee, since some of it had remained on the surface, he began to think about how he could fix it. Had that Frenchman's coffee been ruined for good? The story goes that he noticed an Italian merchant nearby, from whom he bought a metal mesh, which, along with a stick, he used to push the coffee particles down, realizing a good final result.

The French press underwent several changes over time, and thus, several patents were issued. Historical records indicate that the one most similar to the one used today was patented by Italians Attilio Calimani and Giulio Moneta in 1929.

Today we find French presses in different sizes and colors, but , "Good design doesn't have to be expensive," Peter Bodum said. We believe Peter knew the current situation could come. The Bodum company, now world-renowned for its kitchen and coffee products, was the one that began distributing the French press in Denmark. It later purchased the rights and the company from Swiss Faliero Bondanini, who had patented the coffee maker in 1958. It was manufactured and popularized in France under the name Chambord, thus gaining part of its French identity. Legal disputes over the trademark continue to exist between Bodum and 'La Cafetiére,' the name that remained with its original owners.

Many people have helped the French press coffee maker continue to evolve over the years. The French press remains more present than ever when it comes to preparing a delicious cup of coffee. Its ease of use has made many coffee lovers choose it as their favorite method.

If you're ready to start making your Huma coffee in a French press, we've provided the preparation method here . It includes several tips to ensure your coffee is perfect.

If you happened upon this article by chance and find everything you're discovering about the aromatic and wonderful world of coffee interesting, we hope your curiosity continues to grow. What was your favorite part of the French Press story? Leave your thoughts in the comments. Take a screenshot of this article and share it on our Instagram stories using #HumaCulture to let us know you were here and that you're now part of our community of specialty coffee enthusiasts.

Photo credits: Monko Coffee

By: Samantha Jijón Gagliardo - Co-founder of the digital marketing agency Tecnologic Site, based in Ecuador and Peru. Creator of the blog "En Construcción" (Under Construction), writer, and contributor to various media outlets in Latin America.