Can I add a paper filter?

We think you can, and have heard of people doing it, though we don't currently sell paper filters for the press.  Try it yourself:  cut a paper filter into a circle and pinch it between the lower and upper filters.  Since paper absorbs the aromatic oils that most of us love in a french-press-style coffee, expect the tastes to vary with and without paper installed.

Why is there a double filter? Why must it come apart for cleaning?

The double filter allows for staged filtering - a slightly coarser filter in the lower (basket-shaped) filter separates the majority of the grinds from the dissolved solids.  The upper (disk-shaped) filter completes the job, with a much finer mesh than in any other press.  The result is the ultra-clean coffee, with cleanliness of a vacuum-brewer and the ease-of-operation of a french-press!

What goes inside the filter?

Nothing!  The coffee grinds begin free floating in water, figure 1, and end up below the filter separate from the dissolved solids, figure 3.  The filter, 2a/b comes apart for cleaning, and is closed without anything inside it before being used to filter the grinds.  Its shape is the way it is for a different reason:  it allows the lower filter, 2a, to punch beneath the floating coffee and filter from the bottom like a vacuum brewer, while the upper filter finishes the job.

How does the espro™ press work?

The espro™ press functions similarly to a french press:  grounds are placed into the vessel along with water at the desired temperature. After brewing, the empty filter assembly is fitted over top and pushed down to separate the grounds from the dissolved solids.  The difference between it and every other french press ever made in the market is that the filtration reaches down below the floating grounds to enable filtration from the bottom - almost like a vacuum brewer.  This allows for a much finer filtration than ever before, leading to what we believe is the cleanest cup of tabletop coffee available.  

when can I get an espro™ press?

The espro™ press is now in full production. There are a number of retailers in Canada, the US, Australia, Asia, and Europe. We received a lot of positive response at Coffee Fest Seattle 2010 and SCAA 2010 & 2011, so we are really looking forward to seeing what you think.

Also, we have already given a few presses away to our Twitter followers. You can follow us here.