We handpicked the products and tools linked in this post. If you buy from one of these affiliate links, we may earn a small commission.
Are you on a quest to find the best way to make awesome coffee at home? Look no further–the French press is the answer! With the tips and tricks below, you can make some of the tastiest java you’ve ever had. Let’s get started!
Want to see our latest recipes? Subscribe to our email newsletter to get our latest recipes, fun food facts, food puns, and behind the scenes news about our blog.
About
A French press is made up of three basic components: the carafe, the plunger, and the filters. The carafe holds the grounds and water, while the plunger separates the grounds from the water as it’s pushed down. The coffee flows through the holes in the fine mesh filters, leaving the grounds underneath.
Grinding
One of the most important parts of this process is getting the correct grind. If the grind is too fine, the coffee will be muddy and bitter; if the grind is too coarse, the water won’t be able to extract very much flavor from the beans. Here’s another way to tell if your grind is correct: the plunger should push down with some resistance. If it slips down too easily, the grind is too fine; if it’s hard to push, the grind is too coarse.
The grounds for a French press should be evenly-sized pieces about the size of breadcrumbs, or a little larger than kosher salt. It’s best to start with whole beans and grind them in a burr grinder or in a commercial grinder to make sure that the grounds are a consistent size.
Ratios
A crucial aspect is getting the right ratio of coffee to water. Fortunately, it’s pretty simple! Most people like a 1:10 ratio by weight (1 gram of coffee to 10 grams of water). Feel free to experiment with this ratio based on your tastes and the type of beans you’re using.
How to Make
Warm up the French press carafe by filling it with hot tap water, then letting it sit for a minute.
Dump out the water and add the grounds.
Boil fresh water in a kettle, then let it cool for 60 seconds. Pour half of the hot water over the grounds, making sure to get them all wet.
Let it brew for 1 minute, then pour the rest of the water on top. Gently stir, put the lid on with the plunger up, and let it brew for 3 more minutes.
Slowly but firmly push down the plunger to strain out the grounds.
Immediately pour the coffee into a mug or carafe. If desired, pour it through a filter or a paper towel-lined sieve to remove any sediment.
Add cream, sugar, or desired flavorings, and enjoy!
Pro Tips
- Make sure the grounds are about the size of breadcrumbs.
- Grind the beans fresh each time for optimal flavor, or grind a week’s worth of beans and store in an airtight container at room temperature.
- Store beans in the freezer for long-term storage.
- Use fresh water that hasn’t been sitting in the kettle. “Stale” water won’t give the best-tasting results.
- Pour the brewed coffee out of the French press as soon as it’s done brewing to prevent a bitter taste.
- Remove nearly all the muddiness by pouring it through a paper towel-lined sieve.
Use your brewing skills for these delicious drinks.
- Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte
- Non Alcoholic Irish Coffee
- Salted Caramel Mocha
- Smoked Butterscotch Latte
The pleasure of a 5-star review would be greatly appreciated.
How to Make French Press Coffee
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 9 minutes
- Yield: 16 fl oz 1x
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
Learn the ratio to make the best coffee you’ve ever had with this simple recipe! With these tips and tricks, brewing a hot, tasty cup of French press coffee at home is super easy.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup coffee beans (20g)
- 2 cups water (473 ml)
Instructions
- Heat the French press. Fill the French press with very hot tap water and let it sit for a minute to warm up, then pour out the water.
- Grind the beans until they’re the size of breadcrumbs or kosher salt. Pour the grounds into the French press carafe.
- Boil the water. When it comes to a boil, let it cool for 1 minute.
- Pour half of the water over the grounds. Make sure to saturate all the grounds. Let it brew for 1 minute, then gently stir. Pour the rest of the water on top, put the lid on with the plunger rod up, and let it brew for 3 more minutes.
- Push down the plunger slowly.
- Pour the coffee immediately into a mug or carafe. It will continue to brew if it’s left in the French press with the grounds, making it bitter and muddy.
Notes
- It’s best to use a burr grinder, since it grinds the beans into equally sized pieces. If you don’t have a burr grinder, use a regular grinder and just shake the canister a couple times to mix up the grounds.
- Don’t use re-boiled water that’s been sitting in the kettle; it won’t taste as fresh.
- Be careful not to let the coffee brew too long, because it will make it bitter. Experiment with different brewing times based on your personal preferences and the roast you’re using.
- If you find that there’s a lot of muddy grounds, try stacking a second or third mesh filter in the French press plunger and grinding the beans more evenly. Also, try filtering it through a paper towel-lined sieve to catch the extra sediment.
- Category: Beverages
- Method: Boiled
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: ratio, grind
Alex
This is the best coffee ever!! I like it hot or with ice and some milk or cream.
★★★★★
Emma
Thank you, Alex! I’m so glad that you like the French Press coffee.