Secura 304 French Press
review
Brewing Beyond Barriers
My Awakening with the Secura French Press Coffee Maker
By: James Butler Revised by: Mark Cambell Last updated: Jan 29, 2024
For years I'd treated my glass and wood French presses like old friends, familiar yet imperfect. Their shortcomings went unnoticed until the Secura arrived.
This unassuming stainless cylinder shattered my preconceptions about what a French press could be.
From the first steep, I tasted notes never revealed by my standard presses. The double-wall vacuum insulation protected flavors for hours, keeping my bold roast fresh long after my old presses had faded.
The Secura's simplicity belied its profound capacity to elevate coffee. Its sturdy stainless construction promised longevity. Its sliding steel filter contained grounds with mechanical precision. And its electro-polished finish acted as a frictionless canvas for creating my perfect cup.
The Secura awakened me to possibilities I'd never considered. I'd placed artificial limits around what a french press "should" be - limits the Secura shatters through diligent engineering and material simplicity.
Once I climbed past my prejudices, a whole new world of brewing awaited me. Temperature retention is a barrier the Secura obliterates, allowing coffee's true potential to flourish.
So, I bid farewell to my old companions, now viewed through new eyes. The Secura has transformed my view of French pressing itself, demolishing preconceptions to create space for exponential growth.
Its minimalist form belies a maximalist capacity to cultivate depth from every bean. Like waking from a dream into a revelation of what always was, but I couldn't see.
Pros:
• Double-wall vacuum insulation keeps coffee hot for hours
• Sturdy 304 stainless steel construction will last for years
• Simple sliding steel filter ensures grounds are contained while releasing full flavor
• Electro-polished finish glides through cleanup easily
• Affordable price
Cons:
• The utilitarian stainless steel design may not appeal to some who prefer the aesthetic of wood or glass
• Lack of a see-through carafe means you cannot visually monitor the steeping process
• Some may miss the traditional charm of a wooden handle