What is a coffee press and how does it work to brew coffee?

A coffee press is a device used to brew coffee by steeping coarsely ground coffee beans in hot water. It consists of a cylindrical glass or metal container with a plunger and a mesh filter. To brew coffee, hot water is poured over the coffee grounds in the container, and after a few minutes of steeping, the plunger is pressed down to separate the grounds from the brewed coffee.