How to French Press Coffee

Pros:

• One of the biggest advantages a French press has is that it lets you make a cup of coffee to your exact taste. The longer the ground coffee beans seep, the greater the extraction and robust flavor.
• There’s no filter to soak up the coffee’s oils or create off flavors. There’s also no denying the convenience of the tool, which is smaller and easier to care for than an electric coffee maker or an espresso machine. Using a French press is easy and intuitive. Just add the grounds and hot water, let it seep, press the mesh plunger down and pour.
• French presses also happen to be one of the most affordable coffee-making accessories. You can also use your French press to cold brew coffee with minimal mess. But the best part is that making coffee with a French press only takes four minutes total.

Cons:

• You’ll be limited by the size of the French press you purchase, unless you opt to buy multiple French presses that can accommodate different quantities. The standard size is about four cups; however, you can find large French presses in up to 12 cups.
• If you’re a fan of both coffee and espresso drinks, your French press won’t be able to make lattes or cappuccinos. You’ll need an espresso machine or an AeroPress for that.

When selecting which French press to buy, there are a few qualities to look out for. First, you want a French press that has a removable mesh filter. (It should unscrew from the metal rod attached to the lid.) Having a fully removable filter means you will be able to properly clean it after making French press coffee. Cleaning the filter after each use prolongs its effectiveness. Change out the filter for a new one when needed.

French presses come in several materials, ranging from plastic or glass to stainless steel. In general, glass or steel is preferable to plastic, as these options will hold up better over time. Look for an option that has an exterior metal holder that will protect your table or counter surface from heat.

When using a French press, the bean-to-coffee ratio might be the most important part of the whole process. You’ll need 7 grams or about 1 tablespoon of coffee per 8 oz cup of water. For an 8-cup French press, that means a 1/2 cup or 56 grams of coffee.

To make sure you’re getting the best results, follow these few simple rules on how to French press coffee.

• Always start with freshly roasted, whole coffee beans.
• Get the grind right. For a French press, the grind should be coarse. You want it to be about the size of breadcrumbs. Use your coffee grinder just before you brew for the best-tasting coffee.
• Preheat your French press by filling it with very hot water while you’re waiting for your coffee-making water to boil. This will help the French press maintain its temperature while brewing and give you better-tasting coffee.
• Perfect the ratio of coffee and water in a French press. Use a scale to measure the beans. For precise brewing, baristas like to use a digital scale to measure the coffee to the gram.
• The ideal water temperature should be just off boiling or 205 degrees Fahrenheit when you pour it in your French press. To approximate this temperature without a thermometer, allow your water to boil, then cool, for a minute before using it.
• Let your coffee bloom. For the best-tasting coffee, you want to let your coffee “bloom” — the process of slowly releasing some of the gas inside the bean that develops as a result of the roasting process. To do so in your French press, slowly pour a little bit of hot water over the grounds until they are all damp but not totally submerged. Allow them to sit for 20 seconds before pouring the rest of the water in.

Here's how to make French press coffee in 5 easy steps:

• Step 1: Set your water to boil and preheat your French press.
• Step 2: Measure and grind your coffee. (For an 8-cup French press, you’ll need a 1/2 cup or 56 grams of coffee.)
• Step 3: Once your water is boiling, remove from the heat and allow to cool for a minute. Dump out the hot water preheating your French press and add the coffee grinds.
• Step 4: Without filling the French press, pour some of the just-boiled water into the press until all the grinds are damp (you’ll be maybe 1/3 of the way up) to let the coffee bloom. Start your timer.
• Step 5: After 20 seconds, stir well with a wooden spoon and add the rest of the water. Let your coffee brew for four more minutes before pressing and serving.

One of the most important things about understanding how to French press coffee correctly is knowing what to do when things go wrong. If your coffee tastes "off," check the following to make sure you’ve prepared it properly.

Coffee with an overly bitter flavor:

• Check your timing. Did you let your coffee steep for longer than four minutes, or let the rest of the coffee sit in your French press after you poured the first cup? Your coffee may be over-extracted. Next time, be diligent about pouring the coffee into a carafe when your 4-minute timer goes off and see if that solves the problem.

Coffee with a weak, watery flavor:

• Check your bean-to-coffee ratio. Did you use enough coffee? If that’s not the problem and you measured correctly, consider using a darker roast coffee in the future. It’s also possible you prefer an extra-strong brew; you can experiment with adding a little extra coffee, a tablespoon at a time, until you find your sweet spot.

Coffee with an “off” flavor:

• Check the cleanliness of your French press. Lingering coffee oils from past brews, as well as soap or descaler that’s not properly rinsed out, can create off flavors in your French press.

Too many grinds in the coffee:

• While a tiny bit of coffee grinds in a French press coffee are totally normal, if you’re getting a mouth full of grinds, check to make sure you’ve screwed in your filter properly, and that you’re pouring through the correct part of the lid. Still too many grinds? Try double straining your coffee through a small mesh strainer into your mug.