You do want a coarse grind for a french press coffee maker. The key is letting the coffee steep long enough to make a strong brew.

We recommend grounding your beans right before you brew your first pot using the grinder that is included with this gift set.

As a general rule, if you are at a higher altitude, then you need to add time because boiling water is cooler. I have good results with a 5 minute steep time. (Note that I am at 5000ft, so 5 minutes may be too long for you, at a normal altitude try closer to 4 minutes) Be sure to use a timer, and compare different times to find the optimal brew.

You can make good tasting coffee with finer grounds, but they may clog the filter, or if they are too fine, they might pass through it altogether, giving you a rather gritty pot of coffee.

Here is how we recommend making cold brew coffee

~ Grind 2/3 cup of coffee beans and place in the 34oz KONA French press.

~ Add 3 cups of room-temperature water.

~ Stir the grinds into the water.

~ Place the French press plunger on top and store in the fridge for 12 hours.

~ Carefully press down on the plunger to push all the grounds to the bottom.

~ Voila, cold brew is yours.

We've worked hard to ensure that the sizes we offer will work for many different shapes and sizes of customers from all over the world. We offer products that come in a range of shapes, including Unisex and Women's' styles in a full range of typical U.S. style sizes (small through 4XL). Each product is different, so make sure to check the sizing guide in each page, as some products may be very fitted. As we introduce new products, we'll add even more information about product fits and sizes.

Let the carafe cool first; otherwise, the metal parts are very hot to touch. After you remove the press from the carafe, clasp on to the bottom metal piece of the rod (opposite end from the black knob) with your right hand while spinning the plunger disk to its left or away from yourself. If the metal is too small or slippery to grasp, try using a rubber dish-washing glove or something similar to get a good grip. Don't hold & unscrew from the rubber knob. Here is a short video of my demonstration http://www.amazon.com/gp/review/R2JK4AK22B7IMK I rinse off the grinds before washing. Sometimes I merely rinse with water and rub the oils off by hand and set it on the counter to dry before putting it all back together, and sometimes I use the dishwasher. I put the filter pieces in my dishwasher's flatware container and put the lid on the top rack. Remember the rod moves up and down, so don't place it where the rod will drop down and interfere with your dishwasher's blades. I also wash the carafe in the top of the dishwasher or simply rinse with water and air dry. Just remember the coffee leaves oils behind, so you don't want to just water rinse all the time.

You guys are forgetting the biggest point here. You do not leave coffee in the press like that, it will continue brewing and will turn nasty. When is done brewing, pour it all directly into a Thermos, pre-warmed, of course. It will stay hot for well over 6 hours. Mine has stayed hot for like 12.

You need room for the coffee and the press filter, so 3.5 cups is what I usually get. You get 3 "clean" 8oz cups- after that it can get a bit "muddy" depending on your grind (coarse is better), how long you let it settle (patience grasshopper) and if you pour it all out slowly at one go (going back to the upright position between pours muddies it). The press is 34 oz. so therefore, roughly between 3 to 4 cups.

Mineral oil is a natural by-product of petroleum. It’s created when petroleum is distilled to become gasoline (yep, the stuff you put in the ol’ gas tank). It’s the same stuff as “petroleum jelly,” which has been a mainstay in U.S. homes for many years by way of creams and lotions, as well as Vaseline and baby oil.

Mineral oil is a natural by-product of petroleum. It’s created when petroleum is distilled to become gasoline (yep, the stuff you put in the ol’ gas tank). It’s the same stuff as “petroleum jelly,” which has been a mainstay in U.S. homes for many years by way of creams and lotions, as well as Vaseline and baby oil.