Using a French Press on Yom Tov

Hi Rabbi, may I use my French press on Yom Tov, or is there an issue of Borer? And if it is permitted, can you please explain why?

Thank you for your question.

The answer:

It is permitted.

The answer explained in-depth:

The Shulchan Aruch in Orach Chaim, laws of Yom Tov, Siman 506, seif 2, says:
 If somebody sifted flour before Yom Tov, and on Yom Tov a small pebble fell inside, then the Rema writes that one should be stringent and not take it out, since this could be an issue of Borer. This is the quote:

שולחן ערוך אורח חיים הלכות יום טוב סימן תקו סעיף ב
 דמותר ליטול הצרור או הקיסם בידו, אבל יש מחמירין ואוסרין

It is permitted to take the small stone or a splinter of wood out by hand, but there are those who are strict and say it is not allowed.

And in Siman 510, it says:

שולחן ערוך אורח חיים הלכות יום טוב סימן תקי
 הבורר קטניות בי"ט בורר כדרכו בחיקו ובתמחוי, (אם רוצה לאכלו בו ביום) (המגיד פ"ג), אבל לא בטבלה ולא בנפה ולא בכברה.

The Shulchan Aruch in Orach Chaim, laws of Yom Tov, Siman 510, says:
 When someone is selecting  Kitniyot on Yom Tov, he may select in his usual way, meaning with his lap or with a plate, if he plans to eat it that same day. But he should not use a sieve, or a sifter.

So the question is, what is the difference between the Halacha of flour and Kitniyot , that by Kitniyot we allow it in a certain manner, whereas flour is totally forbidden?

The Graz (Siman 506, Kuntres Acharon seif 1) explains that the difference is that generally when a person sifts flour, it is done that it should last for a long time, so he sifts a big amount, and so it is considered a proper melacha. Whereas Kitniyot are selected as needed, and therefore it is permitted.

The Chayei Adam, in Klal 82, se’if 3, gives another explanation, that since by legumes he is not doing it in the normal way that one usually does it, that is why it is permitted.

So based on the Graz, for example, peeling potatoes, since people only do it as they need it, it would be permitted to peel them using a potato peeler. And taking a tea bag out of a cup of tea is also something that is done as needed. So according to the Graz, it would be permitted to use a peeler to peel potatoes on Yom Tov, and to take out a tea bag from a cup of tea on Yom Tov.

Although we find in Siman 510, seif 4, as follows:

שולחן ערוך אורח חיים הלכות יום טוב סימן תקי סעיף ד
 אין תולין המשמרת בי"ט לסנן בה שמרים, אבל אם היתה תלויה ועומדת מותר ליתן בה שמרים לסננן;

The Shulchan Aruch in Orach Chaim, laws of Yom Tov, Siman 510, seif 4, says as follows:
 You are not allowed to hang a strainer on Yom Tov in order to filter out the sediment. But if it was already hanging from before Yom Tov, then it is permitted to put the sediment into it and filter it.

According to the Chayei Adam, we need to understand why it is permitted to use the strainer, since that is the normal way that strainers are used, it should be forbidden according to his opinion.

The Biur Halacha in Siman 510, seif 4, explains like this:

ביאור הלכה סימן תקי סעיף ד

מותר ליתן בה שמרים לסננן - אף דהוי מלאכה גמורה דבשבת חייב חטאת ע"ז כדאיתא בש"ס ביום טוב מותר משום דהוי אוכל נפש ואף דלעיל אסור בורר ע"י נפה וכברה התם משום דע"י כלים אלו דרך לעשות לימים הרבה והוי כעין קצירה וטחינה אבל כאן אף שהוא על ידי כלי דרך לעשותה לפי שעה: 

 It is permitted to put the sediment into it in order to filter it, even though this is considered a melacha, which on Shabbos a person would be obligated for. Still, on Yom Tov it is allowed, because it is considered food preparation.

And even though earlier we say that selecting with a sieve is not allowed, that is because using those types of tools is normally done for large amounts, for long-term use, and that is similar to harvesting or grinding.

But here, even though it is being done with a utensil, the normal way is to do it just for immediate use, as needed, and therefore it is permitted.

So based on this, Moreinu HaGaon HaRav Amrom Fried shlit"a writes that even according to the Chayei Adam, it would be permitted to use a potato peeler or remove a tea bag on Yom Tov, since it is done for immediate use for Yom Tov.

The same would apply to using a French press. Since it is done for immediate use, it would be permitted to use on Yom Tov.

Wishing you a Chag Kasher VeSameach.

   Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim Siman 506 seif 2 

  Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim Siman 510 seif 4 

  Graz Siman 506 Kuntres Acharon seif 1 

  Chayei Adam Klal 82 seif 3 

  Biur Halacha Siman 510 seif 4

  Azamroh Lishmecho - Moadim Hilchot Yom Tov Perek 18