Test Drive: The STC Pro

Test Drive: The STC Pro -

The STC Pro applies specialty standards to the traditional brewing method of the cezve/ibrik.

BY VASILEIA FANARIOTI
SPECIAL TO BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE

From the editor: Continuing our series on the cezve/ibrik, we feature a high-caliber brewer called the STC Pro, which aims to revolutionize this ancient method.

Photos courtesy of Vasileia Fanarioti

Despite its modern-day association with Turkey, ibrik/cezve coffee is also very popular in many other countries, including Croatia, Armenia, Bosnia, Greece, Egypt, Israel, Palestine, Syria, Macedonia, and Cyprus. 

The cezve/ibrik dates back to the late 16th century, before equipment like the espresso machine or the French press existed. Therefore, it’s only natural that the method relies on decoction, as filtration was not yet common. The problem with decoction is that it can easily lead to over-extraction if there is no control over brewing variables, such as brew ratio, temperature regulation, and brewing time.

With a few centuries of history on its side, it’s easy to understand how the habits of adding sugar and spices in order to mask the over-extraction have developed. After all, it took us a long time to get to know coffee the way we do now.

Fortunately for us, there is a lot of innovation going into perfecting the art of brewing with an ibrik/cezve, and the new STC Pro is leading the charge.

The STC Pro comes with detailed instructions of how to make high-quality coffee.

Ergonomic and Functional Craftsmanship

Released in 2021, the STC Pro is the latest model of the ibrik/cezve pot from New Orleans-based company Specialty Turkish Coffee, founded by 2013 World Cezve/Ibrik Champion Turgay Yildizli.

The first thing I noticed about the STC Pro was its curvy handle, which is ergonomically designed for comfort during pouring. It felt good in my hand and I could see how it would make pouring easier.

What’s more, there is a spout on both sides of the pot, so it can be used by both right- and left-handed people. This feature allowed me to pour two cups of coffee at the same time—something I imagine would be quite useful during rush hour in a coffee shop.

Designed for Control and Consistency

I tested the STC Pro with three different coffees—a pre-ground commodity-grade coffee, a pre-ground specialty-grade coffee, and a freshly ground specialty-grade coffee—for a more rounded review of the product.

I was happy to find that I got very consistent results with all three coffees. The STC Pro produced a rich and flavorful brew with each coffee, without any hint of over-extraction.

The pot is made from 1.5 mm copper, which seems to be a great level of thickness for high-heat conductivity. My coffee was evenly heated every time I used the pot, leading to consistent brews. 

I also did not feel the need to agitate during brewing, as the dome-shaped bottom of the pot ensured that the coffee grounds were evenly saturated. The pot also has a narrow neck, which I found to be beneficial for observing foam production, an important sign that it’s time to remove the pot from heat.

The STC Pro comes with a few additional accessories to help users make the most of their brew.

Additional Brewing Accessories

In addition to the STC Pro pot, Specialty Turkish Coffee offers multifunctional coffee brewing stands, a funnel, and a stirring paddle of their own design, alongside some other accessories that make brewing with the STC Pro even easier.

My favorites were the micro butane burner and their very own Stand X. I found that using the micro burner allowed for greater control over the brewing process, as I could regulate the heat more easily. This is a much better option than a hot plate or the sand method, in my opinion, as both of those can lead to inconsistencies in heat. 

The Stand X is a very sturdy base that can be used both indoors and outdoors. Its function goes beyond brewing with the STC Pro, as it can also be used as a kettle stand or a pourover stand. 

The STC Pro is a thoughtful product by Specialty Turkish Coffee.

Summing Up

The STC Pro is a great option for those who are looking for an easy-to-use, durable, and consistent ibrik/cezve pot. Specialty Turkish Coffee has thought of everything with their latest release, from the ergonomic and functional design to the high-quality materials used in manufacturing. 

It’s great to see a company innovating in the ibrik/cezve space and apply specialty-coffee standards to a traditional brewing method. I would recommend the STC Pro to anyone looking for a great cup of ibrik/cezve coffee.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vasileia Fanarioti (she/her) is a freelance copywriter and editor with a primary focus on the coffee niche. She has also been a volunteer copywriter for the I’M NOT A BARISTA NPO, providing content to help educate people about baristas and their work. You can follow her adventures at thewanderingbean.net.

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Barista Warrior French Press Review 2022: Pros, Cons & Verdict

Barista Warrior French Press Review 2022: Pros, Cons & Verdict -

Our Final Verdict

We give the Barista Warrior French press a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars.

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Build Quality

Coffee Quality

Price

Ease of Use

Cleaning

Barista Warrior French Press – At a Glance:

Here at Coffee Affection, we’ve seen a lot of French presses. From simple plastic models to elegant glass presses, there are hundreds of products on the market. So whether you’re the proud owner of a stash of French presses or just looking to dip a toe into this coffee brewing method, you need to know: is the Barista Warrior French press worth your time?

To find out, we tested the Barista Warrior French press alongside some of the company’s other products, the gooseneck kettle and the reusable pour-over filter.

What were the results? In short, we very much enjoyed brewing with the Barista Warrior French press. It’s solidly built, produces exceptionally clear, tasty coffee, and is easy to clean. And the built-in thermometer is a fun bonus feature that lets you have more control over your brew. Keep reading as we dive into our detailed review!

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A Quick Look

Pros

• Minimalist, sturdy design
• Built-in thermometer
• Double-wall insulation keeps coffee warm while brewing
• Reasonably easy to clean
• Excellent tight-fitting filter
• Tasty, silt-free coffee
• Very well-priced

Cons

• Not dishwasher-safe
• Needs to be prewarmed
• Don’t get to watch coffee brew

Standout Features

The Barista Warrior French press has a few truly excellent design features that help it stand out from the crowded field. The durable-yet-stylish design means this press is equally at home on a camping trip or in a high-end kitchen. The built-in thermometer ensures that you serve your coffee at the ideal temperature. And the exceptionally snug-fitting filter attached to the plunger ensures that you can brew unusually clear, flavorful French press coffee free of the silt you’ll find in lesser models.

The Barista Warrior French press has a stainless steel lid, filter, and plunger with a built-in thermometer.

Overall Design

This French press has a sturdy overall design, with an opaque grey body (also available in silver), a thick handle, and a generous spout. It’s a minimal design that could be displayed in almost any kitchen but would look equally at home on more rugged adventures. The interior is brushed stainless steel, and the steel lid and plunger fit snugly for better filtration. There are also two filters.

Though you don’t get to watch your coffee brew, this French press’ double-wall design allows for better insulation, preventing your coffee from cooling as it steeps. The caveat here is that you’ll need to prewarm the press. Barista Warrior recommends filling the press with hot water (around 200 F) and then discarding it before adding coffee grounds.

Brewing with the Barista Warrior French press is simple and quick.

Ease of Use

If you’ve ever used a French press before, you’ll immediately understand this one. There aren’t any tricks! Once you’ve prewarmed your press, add coarsely ground coffee and top with hot (not boiling) water. Give the grounds and water a stir, rest the plunger and lid on top, and wait 4 minutes.

At this point, Barista Warrior recommends removing the lid, spooning off any foam that has risen to the top, and then replacing the lid for another 5 minutes of steeping. This isn’t strictly necessary, and we found that it cooled our coffee a bit more than we’d like. But either way, after about 9 minutes of brewing, our coffee was ready for plunging and pouring.

Waiting for the coffee to brew.

Coffee Quality

This is always the key part of any coffee maker review: was the coffee good? We were impressed at how clear this coffee was. It was much less silty than the coffee brewed by many of our other French presses. If you like clear, complex cups of coffee, we can’t recommend this model enough.

The coffee brews clear, complex, and unusually silt-free.

Ease of Cleaning

Cleaning is never the highlight of a coffee brewing experience, but luckily, Barista Warrior makes this step as painless as possible. The brewer’s smooth interior and exterior make a quick rinse easy and effective. As with any French press, cleaning the plunger and filter is a little trickier, but nothing a bottle brush or sponge can’t handle. Unfortunately, this brewer isn’t dishwasher safe.

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Other Barista Warrior Products

We also got the chance to test out two other Barista Warrior products: the gooseneck kettle and the reusable filter. Here’s what we thought:

Gooseneck Kettle

Though not strictly necessary for French press brewing, gooseneck kettles give you a lot more control over any manual brewing process. The Barista Warrior kettle has an elegant ripple design and long, thin spout. The built-in thermometer lets you bring your water to the perfect brewing temperature (Barista Warrior recommends staying between 195 and 205 F). And the stainless steel body means the kettle boils incredibly quickly.

The only thing we didn’t like about this kettle was that the handle got a bit hot during the boiling process. It’s made of plastic, so you don’t need a potholder and it won’t burn you. But it still got hotter than we’d like.

Reusable Pour-Over Filter

Barista Warrior also sells a reusable gold-tone filter suitable for Chemex and Hario V-60 pour-over brewing. We tested it in a Chemex. It was somewhat small in our 8-cup Chemex, meaning you probably won’t be using it to brew full pots of coffee. But the design is effective and attractive, and most importantly, the coffee came out smooth, complex, and clear. That’s impressive for a metal filter! We also liked the rubber lip and found the filter easy to insert, remove, and rinse clean. Plus, this filter is dishwasher-safe!

The Verdict

The bottom line is that we loved brewing with the Barista Warrior French press. It features thoughtful design elements like double-wall insulation, a built-in thermometer, and a sturdy, comfortable handle. The coffee brews clear and tasty, and the press is reasonably easy to clean. Whether you’re a French press pro or newbie, there’s a lot to love about this nicely designed, well-priced coffee maker.

And if you’re on the market for a gooseneck kettle or a reusable pour-over filter, Barista Warrior’s offerings warrant a closer look. The gooseneck kettle also features a built-in thermometer, brews quickly, and offers excellent water flow control. The gold-tone filter is a great option if you’re tired of buying paper filters or want a more eco-friendly brewing method. Why not give them a try?