How to Make French Press Coffee
Knowing how to make French press coffee is almost day 1 stuff for any coffee fan. However, knowing how to make a perfect cup of coffee using a French press requires practice and more thought than you might expect.
Below, you’ll learn how to make French press coffee. Included are some tips for getting a smoother and better-tasting brew using one of the easiest methods available.
What is a French Press Coffee?
A French press coffee pot goes by many other names. The most popular alternatives are cafetiere and coffee press. It’s an incredibly simple yet effective design for making several cups of standard-strength coffee. That said, many French presses are determined by espresso cup size, so watch out for this.
The French press first came about in the middle of the 19th century, making it one of the oldest methods for brewing a coffee-ground-free cup. The modern design consists of a large chamber with a lid. The lid has a plunger attached to a mesh filter, which traps the grounds in the bottom of the chamber.
Its design works best with coarsely-ground coffee, which has lower permeability than espresso-ground coffee. In turn, it needs a large amount of extraction force, hence the plunger. Using finely ground coffee is possible, but it often results in over-extraction and grounds seeping through the filter.
How to Make French Press Coffee
Not only is the process straightforward, but you only need minimal equipment to brew a cup.
Equipment for French Press Coffee
- A French press
- Coarsely-ground coffee (2 scoops/tablespoons per cup)
- Water
There’s some debate over the best water temperature for French press coffee. Whatever you do, though, don’t use boiling water. It scalds the coffee, resulting in a bitter brew. Generally, it’s accepted that 90-96 degrees C (195-204F) is best, which is just below boiling point.
Unless you’re going to get really technical and use a thermometer, the best way to achieve this is to boil water and leave it to stand for 2-5 minutes.
Also, use the coarsest ground coffee you can find. Buying in-store, make sure it’s ground for a French press. When grinding your own, use the coarsest setting.
Instructions for How to Make French Press Coffee
1. Heat Your Water
Start by heating your water. Whether you use an electric kettle or stovetop kettle, it’s best to just let it boil and then take it off the heat. Leave it to cool for a few minutes to reach the optimum temperature – a thermometer is probably unnecessary.
While you’re waiting for the water to cool, use some to preheat your French press. Pour in a small amount of water, swill it around, and then put the lid on. Leave it to warm up.
2. Measure Out Your Coffee
Pour out the water from your French press and add the ground coffee. It should be 2 scoops per cup. For example, a standard-sized French press holds 32 fluid ounces or 4 servings, so you should use up to 8 tablespoons (half a cup) of coffee.
As mentioned, French presses are based on espresso servings. A 32oz. the pot will make 2-3 standard cups of coffee, whereas a 2-serving pot will make around 1 standard cup. You might want to adjust the amount of coffee you use based on this information.
3. Add the Water
This is a pretty simple step: add your hot water to the pot. Your French press will have a spout – you’ll want to fill to around half an inch below this. Doing so gives you enough room for the filter without water (and coffee grounds) spilling out.
Give it around 30 seconds to bloom, which is the process of the water seeping into the coffee. Then, stir vigorously until the coffee looks like it’s dissolved. This should take between 30 and 60 seconds. Move between a circular and up-and-down motion.
4. Steep the Coffee
In terms of steeping time, the general consensus is that 4 minutes results in the perfect brew. You can go as high as 7 minutes, but this risks over-extraction, which will lead to a bitter cup of coffee. Equally, under-brewing will give you a watery cup.
A good way to tell is by pushing on the plunger slightly. There should be minimal surface resistance when the coffee is properly brewed, as most of it should be dissolved or settled.
While you’re still learning about your French press and chosen coffee, try setting a timer. Plunge when it goes off and see what the result is like. You can then adjust your coffee and brewing times accordingly.
5. Plunge and Pour
Finally, press down on the plunger quite firmly. You’ll feel more resistance the further down it goes – this is the ground coffee building up under the plunger. Push it all the way to the bottom until it won’t go any further. However, be careful, as the pot can flip out from underneath the plunger if you push it too hard!
Pour the coffee into your chosen cup and serve how you want. You can use leftover coffee (not that such a thing ever exists) for iced coffee. If you plan to do this, pour it into a cup to cool rather than leave it in the pot.
Also, you can use a French press for making a cold brew. To do so, use the same amount of coffee but cold water instead. Brew it for 12 hours before plunging and pouring.
Final Thoughts on How to Make French Press Coffee
The beauty of a French press is that there’s very little that can go wrong. As you can see, how to make French press coffee is incredibly simple. However, understanding the nuances of your chosen French press, and how to get the perfect coffee from it, takes observation and practice.
Luckily, a French press is a good option for busy weekday mornings and relaxed weekends alike. It can brew in the background while you do other things and still deliver a tasty and well-made cup of coffee.