Although we work all day in tiny, lifeless gray cubicles, there's no reason we need to tolerate that nasty brown swill called office coffee. Anyone can easily make rich, great tasting office coffee with some know-how and a few simple supplies.

A standard eight-cup press pot holds 32 ounces/950ml of water and makes 2-3 standard US mugs of coffee. The Bodum

Chambord brand is one of the most popular.

Make sure to use coarse ground coffee. Standard grind for an automatic drip coffee maker is too fine. It will cause "sludge" in your coffee and may clog the plunger screen when you try to push it down.

A burr grinder will give you better results than a whirly blade grinder. Consistent grind size is important. If you don't have a burr grinder, ask your local barista to grind the beans for you.

Don't let it brew too long - after 4 minutes the coffee may begin to get bitter.

Be prepared for other cubicle coworkers to stop by whenever you brew. Ask them to contribute to the coffee fund so you don't have to bear the total cost of beans.

you are forced to use a microwave to heat your water, put a chopstick in the container before putting it in the microwave. This will prevent the water from becoming super heated. Turn off the microwave when you start to see bubbles collecting/creating around the chopstick.

Glass press pots lose heat quickly so don't let it sit around too long.

Heat can be retained during steeping by filling the press pot with hot water then emptying it right before you start (preheating), and by insulating the press pot during steeping.

If you're not going to drink it right away, pour the coffee into a thermal carafe or thermos to keep it hot and stop the brewing process. This will allow you to enjoy hot, great tasting coffee throughout the morning.

Stainless Steel French Presses are available. These presses are typically a bit more expensive than their glass counterparts, but are much less likely to break. Many metal presses offer double-wall insulation to help keep the coffee warm for up to 2 hours.

Do not stir with a metal spoon if you have a glass carafe French press. The carafe may break.

If the plunger screen gets stuck while pushing down, your coffee grounds are probably too fine. Be very careful not to force it -- hot coffee may shoot out the top or the carafe may break.

Keep your press pot and filter screen clean. Coffee oils can build up and go rancid over time, making your brew taste bitter.

Some offices forbid the use of electric appliances. If you rely on an electric kettle to heat your water, be careful and only use it in the employee lunchroom.

Do not use boiling water in your coffee as this makes the coffee bitter. Let the water sit for a few moments after boiling.

Avoid pulling the plunger screen back up once you begin pushing down, as this can cause coffee grounds to escape back into the drinkable top section.

Studies have shown that coffee made from a french press can raise cholesterol levels. Persons with high cholesterol levels should avoid this method of brewing coffee or, as an additional step, filter it through a paper filter.

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