A common notion exists that brewing French Press is an easy process. It’s a misleading assumption. Without due care and sheer willingness to bring out the most exquisite French press, chances are you’ll end up with an overly bitter and silty cup of coffee. It’s an injustice to the long heritage known and associated with coffee. However, in our expertise and shared goal to help you brew the best coffee, we provide you with a detailed guide on how to make an awesome and tantalizing French Press.
What’s needed?
- 1/2 pound (8 ounces) of coffee beans, freshly but preferably coarsely ground
- 8 cups of water, heated to 200 degrees Fahrenheit
- French press coffee maker
- Coffee filter
- Timer
How to Make French Press Coffee at Home
Step One: Heat the Water
The most important part of making a great cup of French Press coffee is to use hot water. Bring your water to a boil and then let it sit for about 30 seconds before pouring. This will help ensure that your water is at the correct temperature when you brew your coffee.
Step Two: Grind Your Coffee Beans
Next, you will need to grind your coffee beans. You want to use a medium grind for French Press coffee. If you use too fine of a grind, your coffee will be over-extracted and taste bitter. If you use too coarse of a grind, your coffee will be under-extracted and taste weak.
Step Three: Put the Coffee in the French Press
Once you have ground your coffee, it’s time to put it in the French Press. Add your coffee grounds to the French Press and then pour in just enough water to wet all of the grounds. Give it a quick stir and then let it sit for 30 seconds.
Step Four: Add the Rest of the Water
After 30 seconds have passed, add the rest of the water to the French Press. Be sure not to fill it all the way to the top, or you will have problems when you try to press the plunger down.
Step Five: Press the Plunger Down
Now it’s time to press the plunger down. Slowly press the plunger down until it is all the way at the bottom of the French Press. You may need to use a little bit of force, but be careful not to break the glass.
Step Six: Pour and Enjoy
Your coffee is now ready to be poured and enjoyed. Be sure to pour it into a cup that has been pre-warmed so that your coffee stays hot. If you want, you can add milk or sugar to your coffee. Enjoy!
Coffee tip 1
Whenever your coffee is ready after the French Press, it’s highly advisable to remove it from the coffee press maker as it’s still in contact with the ground beans. If the contact stretches for longer than necessary, it leads to over-extraction, making the coffee bitter. That’s not a route anyone wishes to go. Coffee is a beverage known to be consumed to perfection!
How to use a French Press Maker
For a flavorful and full-bodied coffee, the French press is the ultimate choice. The French press consists of a cylindrical glass carafe and a plunger with a mesh filter. The mesh filter allows the coffee grounds to steep in the hot water and then traps them at the bottom of the carafe when you press down on the plunger. This method brews coffee that has more body than drip coffee, but it can also be more bitter if you are not careful.
How does the French Press work?
The machine works by immersing ground coffee in hot water and then filtering it through a mesh screen. This process is also known as full immersion brewing, and it extracts more oils and flavors from the coffee beans than other methods, such as drip brewing.
Pros and Cons of using a French Press
Pros:
- French Press coffee is full-bodied and has more flavor than drip coffee. French Press extracts more sediment and oils than any other coffee brewing method. This explains its mouthy and creamy feel. Therefore, if you want to experience the true coffee taste; go for a French Press.
- The French Press is easy to use and does not require any special skills or knowledge. All you need is to follow the above procedure.
- You can control the brewing time, which allows you to make weaker or stronger coffee depending on your preference. Find the concentration that best appeals to your taste buds.
- French Press coffee makers are relatively inexpensive. Visit your local stores and find the best deal on a durable French press machine.
Cons:
- French Press coffee can be more bitter than drip coffee if you are not careful. Again, we’ve provided a strong foundation to avoid such pitfalls. Embrace the art of the French Press to avoid wasting valuable time and resources.
- French Press coffee makers are not as portable as other types of coffee makers.
- It can be difficult to clean a French Press properly. Remember to disassemble all the parts and dry them properly.
French Press Coffee to Water Ratio
The best coffee-to-water ratio is subjective. The above chart isn’t definitive. The decision on how you want to enjoy your coffee solely depends on you; calculated as the ratio of dissolved coffee to water.
A strong recipe is best for adding sugar, milk, or any other condiments. On the other hand, a mild coffee recipe brings out the pureness of black coffee.
Note
While most people prefer filtered water, it’s not a necessity. French Press machines aren’t particularly sensitive to the minerals in unfiltered water unlike the espresso and single-serve pod machines.
A Summary: Making French Press Coffee
French press coffee is made by adding ground coffee to a carafe or pot, adding hot water, stirring, and then allowing the mixture to steep for several minutes. After the desired brewing time has elapsed, the plunger is pushed down to filter the grounds out of the liquid. The resulting coffee is then poured into cups and enjoyed.
We all love French Press
Don’t we? In 5 minutes, you can get this creamy and mouthy type of coffee. Interpret the time provided as a balance between over-extraction and getting an undercooked flavor. If you need a more robust coffee, steep it for more than 5 minutes. The vice versa also holds.
Coffee tip 2
The coffee flavor and freshness improve when one uses whole beans. Therefore, go for whole-bean coffee over pre-ground coffee.
Brewing French press coffee is a simple process, but there are a few things to keep in mind in order to make the best cup of coffee possible. Use these tips and you’ll be on your way to becoming a French press coffee expert in no time!