The Proper and Incorrect Ways to Use a French Press

Incorrect French press use accounts for 90% of all cases Insane, seeing as how it's one of the most widely used techniques for preparing coffee in the world. If you follow these guidelines, brewing delicious coffee in a French press will be second nature in no time.

By the time we're done teaching you the ins and outs of using a French press, you'll be able to brew coffee that tastes consistently better than what you're currently drinking.

What is the procedure for using a French press?

Surely you're curious as to the nature and operation of a French press. Coffee is brewed using the beaker, base, handle, and plunger of this device. The beaker is the main component, where you'll put your coffee grounds and hot water. Beaker's handle and bottom are permanently fastened to the vessel. These safeguards protect both the user and the surface they set it down on from accidental burns. The filters and plunger are built into the lid. However, they are not overly difficult to put together, and the process as a whole is straightforward.

The coffee grounds are immersed in hot water for several minutes, as opposed to just a few seconds (as is the case with many other brewing methods). drip techniques)

If you want consistently delicious coffee from your French press, you need to know how to take it apart and clean it. You should make this a monthly habit. This is very helpful. Taking it to the sink and rinsing it off isn't the whole story.

French Press Optimisation

If you use a low-quality press pot, your coffee won't taste very good. When faced with a choice, it's tempting to go with the cheapest option. But will it really be worth it when you have to replace it in 6–9 months?

Between 4 and 8 cups is the typical capacity for a press pot. Just keep in mind that a "cup" refers to a much smaller container than a regular coffee mug. For many businesses, a regular cup is defined as merely 4 ounces.

Options range from compact to expansive, from metal to electric, and everywhere in between.

• Choose a mini French press if you plan on using it with just one other person on a regular basis, like a spouse or close friend. Presses with 3, 4, or 5 cups are the most common.
• Extra-large French presses can make anywhere from 8 to 12 cups of coffee at once, making them ideal for catering to large coffee groups.
• When compared to glass, metal french presses are more long-lasting and appear to retain heat better. Pick one if you stay warm indoors and enjoy the cold outdoors
• A lazy person's electric french press. These appliances do everything from brewing the coffee to keeping the finished product warm. (Though it is highly recommended that you decant the coffee once it's done.) )

You've probably seen advertisements for the Bodum Chambord, a recognizable looking product available in three sizes (3, 8, and 12 cups). Glass beakers with a steel stand and grip are a common feature. An unbreakable beaker is included with both of the smaller options.

French Presses made of other materials are recommended (1) by Perfect Daily Grind.

If you're looking for a quality coffee press, check out our comprehensive review of the top-rated French press coffee makers right here instead.

Now we'll get into the tutorial part of this guide, but if you'd rather learn visually (while being entertained), watch our resident brewing expert, Steven Holm, demonstrate how to brew the best French press coffee you've ever had:

Some of these exceptional coffee-brewing channels are worth subscribing to.

Instructions for Making French Press Coffee

Two approaches are described by Steven in his brewing manual. We'll refer to them as "the standard procedure" and "the enhanced procedure." Listed here is the standard procedure we'll be following.

First, get your press hot

Your first step is to heat up your French press. For any coffee brewing technique, this is a crucial first step.

You need only fill the press with hot water, swill it around until the water is merely warm to the touch, and then dispose of it in an eco-friendly manner. In addition to ensuring that your coffee is served at an optimal temperature, heating your French press beforehand will allow it to retain heat for an extended period.

Method 2: Weigh or measure your coffee grounds

The amount of coffee you want to make and the size of your coffee press will determine how much coffee you need to make. Make sure you used freshly ground beans by grinding them in a good burr grinder for a coffee press. For the standard approach, a medium-coarse grind is best, while for the advanced bonus steps, a medium grind is recommended (see the frequently asked questions for more details).

If you have any questions about the instructions, please refer to the table below. It's recommended that you use a scale rather than a spoon to measure your grinds. Also, a video explanation of WHY:

Third, weigh or measure water and inspect its temperature.

Once again, the table below will help you determine the ideal coffee-to-water ratio for coffee presses, but the base ratio you should aim for is 1:15. This ratio equates to 15 parts water to 1 part coffee.

Do what works best for you to get the water hot. The ideal water temperature for a coffee press is between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit, so use a thermometer or a kettle with a temperature control if you have one.

In the fourth step, pour hot water over the coffee grounds.

After heating a French press, pour hot water over coffee grounds in the correct proportions. The next step is to use a spoon to give the coffee a quick stir to evenly distribute the water and coffee grounds.

Fifth, cover it up and set a timer.

Keeping the lid on while the coffee brews helps insulate the press. First, you wait, then you play a waiting game with a timer. The recommended steep time for a coffee press is 4 minutes, though this can be modified to taste. Below, in the Frequently Asked Questions section, we address this very issue.

Sixth, gradually depress the plunger.

It's time to press the plunger down slowly now that enough time has passed. Don't stop pressing until the coffee has been fully extracted; otherwise, it will taste bitter.

Seventh, pour the coffee into a decanter.

Since the coffee's flavor improves the longer it steeps with the grounds, decanting it before serving is highly recommended.

Bitter, over-extracted coffee is not what you're going for.

Eighth, Dig In and Relish the Fruits of Your Labors

You did it Happiness and relief, because the coffee is ready  

Concluding Remarks

This concludes our crash course on making coffee with a French press. If done properly, the resulting coffee will be delicious. Here is a comprehensive rundown of all the different ways to brew coffee.

FAQs

How much water should you use for a French press? Exactly how much water should be added to your coffee.

Unfortunately, there is no "one-size-fits-all" proportion that can be applied universally. There is a wide range of individual preferences because there are so many different ways that coffee can be prepared (from the roasting method to the beans themselves). that can completely alter the flavor of each cup of coffee Therefore, begin with a ratio and modify it based on how it tastes.

Check out this handy French Press ratio chart!

To begin, select the desired quantity of coffee in fluid ounces by clicking the corresponding red number. Type in Your Number Here" You can always check the table we provided above if you have any questions:

Then, select the desired coffee strength by clicking the corresponding red number. The strength scale goes from 1 to 7.

• One means powerful (think big, bold, and thick).
• A score of 7 indicates that the coffee is not very strong.

As an illustration, if I have a three-cup coffee maker and I want a strong brew, I would put in ten ounces of water. If I enter 1 for the desired coffee strength, the calculator will tell me to use 10 parts water to 1 part coffee. How much water and coffee should be added, in both standard and metric measurements, can be easily determined by using a calculator. Cool

PRESS SIZE DESIRED
STRENGTH BREWED COFFEE FROM GROUND BEANS WATER 3 Cup Low to Moderate

Strong

Amount: 4 tsp (22 g) 5 tsp (30 g)

6 Tbsp/35g

12oz / 350ml 4 Cup Weak to Moderate

Strong

5 TBSP (31 g) 7 TBSP (42 g)

8 Tbsp/50g

17oz / 500ml 6 Cup  Medium Mild

Strong

7 TB (44 g) 10 TB (59 g)

12 Tbsp/71g

24oz / 700ml 8 Cup  Gentle to Moderate

Strong

10-63 grams 14-84 grams

17 Tbsp/101g

34oz – 1000ml 12 Cup (51 oz ) Subtle to Moderate

Strong

16 TB 16 TB (94g) 126g

25 Tbsp/151g

51 oz / 1500ml

How many cups of coffee can I make with my French press? (Size of a French Newspaper)

Whoever came up with the 'cup' system for the french press clearly wasn't drinking enough coffee when they came up with it.

The following is a table showing how many 9-ounce cups of brewed coffee you can expect to get from various coffee press sizes.

• What does 1 cup of coffee equal in a 3 cup press?
• Approximately 3 cups of coffee is needed for an 8-cup coffee press. 4 cups
• Exactly how many cups of coffee does a 12 cup press hold? 3 cups

How coarse should coffee beans be ground to use a French Press?

The simple answer is that it should be set somewhere between a coarse grind and a medium-coarse grind. Just can't put a mental picture on that Here is a chart showing the various grind sizes that can be achieved with a high-quality burr coffee grinder.

Pre-ground "plunger" coffee purchased from a store is typically extremely finely ground. WTF Why is the grind size for a press pot coffee debate so heated?

When using a coffee press, the general rule of thumb is that finer grounds produce a stronger brew. Coarser grounds result in waterier coffee. Still, it's not a good idea to veer too far in either direction. There won't be much caffeine in that if it's too coarse. Too fine, and the over-extraction will cause it to taste bitter.

It's important to keep in mind that freshly ground beans added to brewing coffee taste best.

French Press Coffee Steeping Time

All we have to do is add some boiling water, stir it around, and wait for it to cool down, as described above. After that, we add the rest of the water, give it another stir, and wait.

The "ideal" amount of time to brew coffee in a coffee press for an average-strength cup is between three and four minutes.