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How to brew French Press

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French Press

Equipment needed: 

  • French Press: Available in various sizes (e.g., 3-cup, 8-cup, 12-cup).

  • Coffee Grinder: A burr grinder is crucial for a consistent, coarse grind.

  • Freshly Roasted Whole Bean Coffee: Medium to dark roasts often excel in a French Press, but experiment with any.

  • Kettle: For heating water. A gooseneck kettle is not essential but can be helpful for precise pouring.

  • Digital Scale with Timer (recommended): For accurate measurements of coffee and water, and to time your steep.

  • Long Spoon or Stirrer: Non-metal is preferred to avoid scratching the carafe.

  • Mug or Server: To enjoy your coffee.

Step 1: Heat Your Water

  • Fill your kettle with filtered water.

  • Heat the water to your desired brewing temperature, typically between 195-205°F (90-96°C). Avoid boiling water, as it can "scorch" the coffee and make it bitter.

Step 2: Preheat the French Press (Optional but Recommended)

  • Pour a small amount of hot water from your kettle into the empty French Press carafe. Swirl it around to warm the glass, then discard the water. This helps maintain the brewing temperature.

Step 3: Measure and Grind Your Coffee

  • Measure your whole bean coffee. A common ratio for French Press is 1:15 to 1:17 coffee-to-water. For a typical 8-cup (34oz/1 liter) French Press, you might use 55-65 grams of coffee.

  • Grind your coffee beans to a coarse consistency, resembling breadcrumbs or coarse sea salt. This is vital to prevent grounds from slipping through the mesh filter and creating a muddy cup.

Step 4: Add Coffee Grounds and Water

  • Pour the freshly ground coffee into the preheated French Press carafe.

  • Place the French Press on your digital scale and tare it to zero.

  • Start your timer.

  • Pour your hot water over the coffee grounds slowly and evenly until you reach your target water weight. Ensure all grounds are saturated.

Step 5: Stir and Steep

  • After pouring all the water, gently stir the coffee and water mixture with your non-metal spoon for about 10-15 seconds. This ensures all grounds are submerged and aids even extraction.

  • Place the lid/plunger assembly on top of the carafe, but do not press down yet. This helps retain heat.

  • Allow the coffee to steep for 4 minutes. This is the widely accepted standard for French Press.

Step 6: Press the Plunger

  • After 4 minutes, slowly and steadily press the plunger straight down. Apply even pressure. It should take about 20-30 seconds to press completely. If it's too hard to press, your grind might be too fine. If too easy, it might be too coarse.

Step 7: Serve Immediately

  • Pour all the brewed coffee from the French Press into your mugs or a serving carafe immediately. Do not let the coffee sit in the French Press after pressing, as it will continue to extract and become bitter due to prolonged contact with the grounds.

Additional tips:

  • Coarse Grind is Key: This is the most crucial factor for a clean French Press. Too fine a grind will lead to sludge and over-extraction.

  • Don't Over-Steep: Sticking to the 4-minute steep time is a great starting point to avoid over-extraction and bitterness.

  • Pour All At Once: After pressing, transfer all coffee to prevent continued extraction and muddy flavors.

  • Clean Thoroughly: Coffee oils can build up. Disassemble the plunger and mesh filter regularly for a deep clean.

Prefer a video? Watch one here

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