Bodum COLUMBIA Thermal French Press Review

by Jonathan Clark December 01, 2021

The French press is a method of brewing that was originally designed by an Italian, despite having French in the name.

It's a popular piece of equipment to have in the kitchen and as far as coffee brewing goes, the french press minimizes the amount of flavor that it loses, in comparison to other methods.

We took a look at the Bodum Columbia Thermal French Press to see how it performed and whether it's a solid choice to have when it comes to french press coffee brewing.

Bodum Columbia Thermal French Press - Pros and Cons

So what are the pros and cons of this thermal coffee maker?

Pros:

Stylish carafe design featuring double wall stainless steel.
Provides a rich and aromatic french press coffee every time.
Easy to clean and maintain.
A fuss-free way of making coffee.
Comes out Matt and Shiny exteriors.
Four different sizes to choose from to cater to different households.

Cons:

Has a fast cool-down rate, which isn't the best as a thermal product.
Some plastic materials on the, otherwise, stainless steel carafe make it feel a little cheaper than other french presses.
A few customers found that some coffee grinds escape through the filter.

Bodum Columbia Thermal French Press Review

There are many methods to brewing coffee, so if you're already familiar with the French press method, then this is a review that'll likely be useful for you to read up on.

As far as brewing methods go, the French press is one of the easier ones, so it may be helpful for novices of french press coffee making, to digest this review too.

If you prefer a different brewing method, then it might be best to check out one of our other reviews as we've covered other coffee-making equipment and tools that may be more suited to you.

Who Might Like the Bodum Columbia Thermal French Press

Those who want a simple way of brewing french press coffee.
Customers that don't want to lose too much intensity in flavor.
Homeowners looking for a stylish, stainless steel kitchen appliance.
Suitable for households of up to four coffee drinkers.

Who Might Not Like the Bodum Columbia Thermal French Press

Coffee enthusiasts who enjoy more complex brewing methods.
Those looking for more serving sizes.
Coffee drinkers who like their coffee hot at all times.

Flaws But Not Dealbreakers

One of the problems with this stainless steel french press is that it cools down fairly quickly despite the double wall construction.

This isn't probably the ideal solution for everyone but if you're sharing the contents with four people, then you won't need to worry about this. It would only be an issue if you're the only person drinking the coffee.

Even though for the most part it's made out of durable material, there are some plastic bits that some customers may not like. However, this isn't something that impacts the quality of the insulated carafe overall.

Key Features

The Bodum Columbia certainly leads in its performance.

The brew it provides when it comes to the coffee is certainly top-quality, even if it does cool down a lot quicker than some would prefer.

It takes a lot less time than other brewing methods, making it a great choice for those who want something straight forward and that's not going to cause a lot of fuss.

Product Construction and Specs

The Bodum Columbia coffee maker is equipped with a 3-part stainless steel, mesh, and silicone plunger. This 3-part filter does a good job at making sure it filters out the majority of the coffee grinds you put in it.

Finer grounds though will escape through the filter, so it's important to use more coarse coffee grounds with this product.

The manufacturers promote that this thermal French press coffee maker can keep coffee hot for around two hours - much longer than a glass carafe.

However, it's important to use the coffee before in order to preserve the taste and overall satisfaction when it comes to drinking it.

Design

The Bodum French press is a durable product with double-wall stainless steel construction. It provides good heat retention and the silicone and mesh plunger prevents scratching. The safety lid contains the liquid and prevents spillage.

The French press is also dishwasher safe, making it easy to clean without having to do it by hand.

Serving Size

The standard 17oz French press serves four cups of coffee.

If you're looking for a smaller or bigger serving, then fortunately the product does come in different sizes. This helps cater to those with a smaller household or for bigger ones.

The serving sizes are 12oz, 17oz, 34oz, 51oz, and all the products are available in matt or silver colors.

Material

The benefit of this product is that it's made out of stainless steel material. This is a very durable material and as a kitchen appliance, it's a product that's likely going to last for a long time.

When you're spending anywhere between $50-$132 depending on the size you choose, you want it to be a worthwhile investment and we feel that's the case with this product.

Size/Dimension Options

Product dimensions are as follows:

17oz:

6.25 x 4 x 5.25 inches
1.32 lbs
4 cups of coffee or tea, 4 oz each

34oz:

8.7 x 6.9 x 5.3 inches
1.92 lbs
8 cups of coffee or tea, 4 oz each

51oz:

8.58 x 8.35 x 6.38 inches
2.35 lbs
12 cups of coffee or tea, 4 oz each

Warranty

All Bodum products carry a limited one-year warranty on any manufacturer defects. Any glass is not covered by the warranty.

Proof of purchase is needed in order to verify the warranty coverage and any returns must be made within 30 days. However, these products have to be unused.

How it Works

The Bodum French press is easy to use and it's why it's such a popular brewing method of choice.

Here's a step-by-step run-through of how to use the product.

Add your coarsely-ground coffee into the press.
Pour 95-degree-celsius water into the press, fill halfway then stir.
Pour in the remaining coffee and leave the coffee to steep for three to four minutes.
Distribute hot coffee into your favorite cup and enjoy!

How to Care / Maintenance / Clean?

As the Bodum French thermal press is dishwasher safe, you can put the whole product into the dishwasher for easy cleaning.

It's a good idea to remove anything that isn't permanently on the French press coffee maker so that it provides ample cleaning throughout.

Make sure you wipe it down properly to ensure no build-up of water marks or rusting occurs.

>> How to Clean Your Coffee Maker

How Does the French Press Coffee Maker Compare to Others?

When choosing the best french press, we like to compare similar products on the market and see how each coffee press performs.

Our overall star rating for the Bodum is a 4.5 out of 5. We would have gone for the full five stars if it was able to keep the brewed coffee hotter for longer and if it allowed finer grounds of coffee too.

Frieling French Press Pot

Whilst the Bodum is similar to the Frieling French Press Pot, there are a few differences that are worth considering when shopping for a new French Press.

The Bodum comes with some plastic on the lid, whereas the Frieling is completely plastic-free. There are some customers that wouldn't be bothered by this but others that are conscious of the environment and how much plastic they have in their home.

They both provide the same amount of heat when it comes to keeping the coffee warm, with the two-hour mark being the optimum time to enjoy your coffee.

Espro P3 French Press

The Espro P3 French Press is a little more capable of delivering a smooth taste to your morning coffee.

The bucket-shaped double filter means you can use finer coffee ground for when you're brewing in comparison to the Bodum which suggests coarse grounds.

The Espro guarantees your coffee will taste just as good after an hour, rather than the Bodum which has been said to go slightly bitter if left for too long in the press.

KONA French Press

Whilst the Bodum might be a popular choice for a French press coffee maker, not everyone can afford it. The KONA French Press offers affordability and might be better suited to those on a budget.

The filter fits tightly so that grounds won't slip through the edges and the plastic cap has a secondary filter to help catch any escaping coffee grounds right at the spout.

Bodum Columbia Thermal French Press Owner Reviews and Feedback

The general issue when it comes to the Bodum is that the coffee doesn't remain hot for an extended amount of time. Even after an hour has surpassed, the definition of what is described as hot and what is warm can vary from person to person. For some, it stays hot until the two-hour mark and for others, it goes warm by that point.

There's the other issue of some coffee grinds escaping through the filter, so it might be necessary to replace the filter regularly to avoid this.

The odd review has mentioned the color of the French press isn't as accurate as it appears, so this is something to keep in mind.

Despite the nuances above, this coffee pot scores very well for most users and certainly delivers a flavorful and delicious cup of joe.

Bodum Columbia Thermal French Press FAQs

We've scoured the internet for a few of the most commonly asked questions when it comes to the Bodum Thermal French Press.

What is so special about Bodum?

The Bodum brand is one that's been in existence for a long time and as such, it's had the time and experience to develop high-quality products.

Most people prefer the Bodum brand to others because it's reputable and it produces a lot of products that stand the test of time when it comes to quality and value for money.

Do French press filters need to be replaced?

For French press filters, they will need replacing every so often in order to keep the flavor fresh and to also protect the coffee from escaping coffee grounds. It's suggested that you replace the filter screens at least one or two times a year. O

f course, this depends on the condition of the filter upon visual appearance and closer inspection.