How to Brew a French Press
The French Press is an ideal brew method for those looking to get a full, bold extraction. Great for those mornings that require an extra kick. The French press is one of the easiest brew methods to learn and master and is one the most common coffee brewing devices. Plus, it is affordable. So, let’s dive in and learn more about how to brew a fantastic cup of coffee with it.
How Does a French Press Work?
A french press is an immersion coffee brewing device. The french press produces a rich and creamy cup by allowing the oils and superfine coffee particles through its metal filter and into your cup of coffee. Ground coffee and hot water is added to the french press, and when the coffee is brewed and ready to pour, the plunger is pushed down, trapping the ground coffee at the bottom of the carafe, allowing the brewed coffee to be easily poured into your cup.
Water Coffee Ratio for French Press
We recommend a water-to-coffee ratio of 16:1 to 13:1 depending on the coffee and your preference. This means 16 grams of water for every gram of coffee. To calculate how much coffee you need, weigh the amount of water you want to brew and divide that by 16. That will give you the amount of coffee to grind. If you are looking for a strong, bold cup of coffee start with the 13:1 ratio.
Coffee Grind Size for French Press
Because the metal filter allows superfine coffee particles to pass into your cup, you’ll want to grind your coffee coarse to reduce the amount of sediment in your cup. This grind consistency should be similar to coarse sea salt.
Use our grind guide to learn more about coffee grinding.
French Press Coffee Recipe
Water coffee ratio: 16:1
Water: 600g
Coffee: 38g
Grind: Coarse (sea salt)
Warm the french press with hot water.
Grind 40 grams of coffee, coarsely
Pour out the preheat water from the french press.
Add the coarse ground coffee.
Slowly add 200g water just off boil.
Stir gently in 4-6 circles.
Add the remaining 400g of water
Allow to sit undisturbed for 4 minutes.
Slowly press the plunger.
If the plunger is hard to press, use a coarser grind. If the final cup is water and bitter, use a finer grind.
