How to Make Coffee in a French Press

French press pots(or cafetiere) are among the most popular type of coffee makers in the world. They’re one of the first ‘gourmet’ type pots that most people find. You’ll find them for sale at Starbucks and many specialty coffee shops, as well as online and in department stores. A French press is a simple enough device. It consists of a narrow glass carafe with a metal plunger. Making coffee in a French press is simply a matter of pouring nearly boiling water into the carafe along with ground coffee. After it has brewed in the pot for three minutes to extract the flavor of the beans, you push the plunger down to the bottom of the pot, and pour off the brew. The coffee made with a French press is rich and flavorful, many experts say, because none of the essential oils are trapped in the filter.

How To Use a French Press

As simple as the process sounds, there are a few tricks and a few caveats to keep in mind when making coffee in a French press. Like any other method, there are ways to mess up and make horribly undrinkable coffee. Once you get the hang of this little ritual, though, you’ll be drinking the kind of coffee that has made the French press the choice of coffee lovers all over the world.

1. Start with a clean press.

Seriously. The oils that make coffee so wonderfully tasteful also cling to everything that it touches. Just rinsing your French press out with water after you use it isn’t enough. You really do have to wash it with soap and water to get make sure that today’s coffee remnants won’t spoil tomorrow’s coffee.

2. Put water in the pot to boil.

Just as the bubbles start coming to the top, turn off the heat beneath it. If you’re really finicky or just want to learn to get the timing right, you can use a candy thermometer to find when the water is at just about 195 degrees. That’s the optimal temperature for extracting the most flavor from your coffee beans, no matter what method of coffee brewing you use. You’re going to let it come down from the boil for just about 1 minute. Which is just long enough to…

3. Grind your coffee and dump it in the bottom of the French press.

Use a burr grinder and set it to deliver a coarse grind. The coffee should actually be a little more coarse than you’d use for a drip coffee pot. Anything finer than that will poke through your filter and end up in your coffee. Use enough coffee!! To get the best flavor, you should start with a full, rounded tablespoon of ground coffee for each 4 ounces of water. Adjust up or down for stronger or weaker coffee.

4. Pour the water into the French press and put the cover on.

Don’t press the plunger yet. Let the coffee steep in the hot water for one minute.

5. Remove the lid

Using a NON-METAL spoon, stir the water and coffee grounds slowly to get the coffee swirling through the water.

6. Replace the lid on the French press and wait for two more minutes.

7. Take a deep breath and get ready to press the plunger.

You really do need to take the deep breath. It will remind you to take your time with this part of the process. It’s tempting to force the plunger down, but that way lies lousy coffee. Instead, press the plunger down slo-o-o-wly, with even, steady pressure until you’ve pushed all the grounds to the bottom of the pot.

8. Pour the coffee immediately.

Do not let the coffee sit in the French press for a second cup. Do not wait a few minutes before pouring your coffee. As long as the beans and water are in contact, the coffee will keep brewing and you’ll end up with bitter coffee. If you’re not going to drink all the coffee at once, pour the remainder into a vacuum pot to stay hot till you’re ready for it.

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Comments

  1. Megs says

    2 cups of water (hot) to 3 level’ish’ tablespoons makes a wicked cup of french press coffee that most tastes approve. If I want a stronger cup I’ll add 4 T or let it brew a good 5 minutes. I use an imported Italian roast, add a dash of salt to course ground beans (because my Gramma says so) and if I want to get crazy… I dash some nutmeg and cinnamon… try it : )

  2. Della says

    Thanks, fellow coffee drinkers for tips and pointers.I’ve drank press coffee before but have never made my own. Just used my table-top stainless steel French press for the first time. Pretty good tasting coffee. Used Kona coffee beans,wonderful, full-bodied taste. But next time will heat the water more. I like HOT coffee!

  3. Austin Miller says

    Fanny, on first glance, it sounds like your grind may be too fine which precludes the liquid from passing easily through the grounds. If this doesn’t work, perhaps your screen is plugged. The screen (and pot) should be completely cleaned each and every time to mitigate bitterness.

  4. fanny says

    fellow french press addict here and I need some assistance. occasionally my plunger will simply not want to move. can’t seem to get to the common denominator. any help appreciated. thanks.

  5. Cay Jazz says

    A French press is a great way to make loose-leaf tea as well. Use the press instead of a teapot. Caution: best to use a separate press for tea as some flavored coffees can contaminate the plunger and your tea will wind up tasting like coffee. One thing that no one addresses is how much water the coffee grounds absorb. I haven’t figured it out or measured but if you put in 16oz of water, you will not have 16oz of coffee. Also, instructions say that when making iced tea, make a strong cup of tea and pour over ice. Usually they suggest putting the amount of tea you’d use for 2 cups in one cup of water and pouring over ice. French press coffee is so robust, you can just make it the way you normally would and pour over ice and it tastes great! On occasion, I’ve been sweetening my coffee with maple sugar and it is yummy! Have you noticed that the Caffeine buzz is way extreme! Love it!
    I use a stainless steel press, I got sic of the glass ones breaking and clean-up is a snap. I have read not to wash the pot or plunger with soap and water, but just to rinse them with plain hot water. I did this and what an oily nasty mess! I find that washing the pot and plunger with soap and water and rinsing thoroughly is the way to go; there’s no soapy taste. Good to be able to talk about coffee.

  6. Debi says

    Greetings, coffee lovers! Thanks for the instructions. I had to look it up for a review since I have been doing the brew thing for years now for convenience and time limits. This is the best way to brew (French press) that is. Oh, Jason I do enjoy talking about coffee also. I’ve tried several brands and blends, and I always come back to “COLUMBIAN”. I get the beans and grind fresh. I have found that Eight O’Clock gas the absolute best flavor and aroma. A little sugar or stevia and half and half and mua! “Se Magnifique!”

  7. Jason says

    Hi all. It’s nice to find a place to talk about coffee. When I talk about it in my circles they give me a funny look. I get the old coffee is coffee. That’s what I deal with. Any way I am a Starbucks guy, but I’m looking for others for my press can you recommend your favorite brand.

  8. Michael says

    Hey Brenda, the water/bean ratio for a press isn’t the same as for a perc.
    For a press: 1 rounded tablespoon per 4oz.
    Electric Perc: 1 tbsp per 8oz.

    You can adjust more or less for taste. I personally don’t round the scoops, I level them because I enjoy slightly weaker coffee. I just drink for the taste.

  9. Brenda says

    I am confused too. I do not want to sound like an idiot so…

    The general rule is one tablespoon for 4 ounces of water but I measured and I would have to put like 6 tablespoons for the equivalent of 4 cups (in a regular coffee maker) and when I make coffee in a coffee maker for myself I use just one tablespoon for 4 cups of water… If I follow the correct instructions in my french press I would have to use a lot of coffee and my question is: would that taste right? Will it be too strong?

    I do not know anymore… that’s why I stopped using my press cause I just couldn’t figure the coffee water ratio.

    Okay, this morning I prepared my coffee in the press and used what I normally use for my coffee maker and the coffee was weak hahahaha. So I guess the process is not the same that is why you have to use that much coffee…

  10. Mallee says

    I’ve never really been a huge fan of coffee if it wasn’t from Starbucks or a coffee shop. After using a French Press, I’ll never go back to anything different! It’s so smooth and mmm, amazing!

  11. Liam says

    mm good coffee… if its too fine, nothing wrong with a little bean in your brew either, drink more, its good.

  12. Liam says

    Susan, I’ve also taken a liking to Kicking Horse Coffee. I’m on my third can of the ‘Three Sisters’ blend, thinking about branching out to another blend. Which one(s) would you recommend?

  13. Susan says

    MMMMMmmmm French press coffee really is lovely. I recommend you try (if you want some really nice roasts) Kicking Horse Coffee (roasted in Golden BC) – and OsoNegro (Black Bear) (roasted in Nelson BC) . . . I was in Nelson visiting my son a week ago and you could not find a bad cup of coffee anywhere! I’m sure you can find either on-line and I have seen Kicking Horse Coffee in Health Food Stores and some supermarkets. It’s pricey – but YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. If you try it – let me know how you like it.

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