How to Brew French Press Coffee
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.
Servings: 1 drink
Calories: 10kcal
Ingredients
- 2 cups tap water for heating the French press
- ½ cup coffee beans
- 2 cups cold filtered water
Instructions
- Bring the tap water to a boil, then pour it into the French press and let it preheat while you grind the beans.
- Decide what size of batch you want to make, then measure the appropriate amount of ingredients using a kitchen scale. (See this handy ratio chart.)
- Pour the beans into a conical burr grinder and grind on a coarse setting. The grounds should be the size of panko breadcrumbs.
- Pour the water into a gooseneck kettle and heat it to 195-200°F (91-93°C). If you don't have a temperature-controlled kettle, let it come to a full boil, then let it cool for 1 minute. Discard the preheating water from the French press as you wait.
- Dump the grounds into the preheated cafetiere, then place on the kitchen scale and tare it. Pour a little of the hot water over the grounds, stir, and let it stand for 30 seconds. The ideal amount for blooming is twice the weight of coffee (i.e. 80g of water for 40g beans).
- Pour the remaining hot water into the French press and stir to combine. Put the lid on top with the plunger up and set a timer for 4 minutes.
- Slowly push the plunger down to filter the grounds from the coffee. The plunger should descend with a little resistance, but not too much.
- 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. Pour it through a filter or a paper towel-lined sieve to remove additional muddiness.
Notes
- Grind the beans fresh before each brew. Use a coarse grind that is about the size of panko breadcrumbs.
- Use a conical burr grinder, since it crushes the beans into equally sized pieces. If you don't have a burr grinder, use a regular grinder and shake the canister a couple times while it grinds 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 ratios and 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 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.
Nutrition
Serving: 16oz | Calories: 10kcal | Sodium: 24mg | Calcium: 14mg
