How to brew French Press
The French Press is the brewing tool of choice for many coffee enthusiasts. It is intuitive, low-maintenance, and incredibly easy to use. If you are looking to make a creamy and full-bodied coffee then this may be the brewer for you.
That said, you need to approach this with precision and attention to detail – the secret to making consistently great coffee. This coffee brewing guide lets you do just that by presenting everything you need to know how to brew with French Press. So, be sure to keep reading!
The French Press is a cylindrical pot with a built-in plunger that comes equipped with a filter screen. Invented in the 19th century, it has since become known all over the globe by many names. Some know it as the Melior, the press pot, or the coffee plunger.
Whatever name you call it, the secret to the French Press’ success lies in the simplicity of its design as it provides a simple way of extracting flavor from your coffee. To be more precise, it does pressing hot water through your coffee grinds. The final result is an earthy and creamy cup of coffee.
As a rule, you will need to use a medium grind for your coffee to achieve the desired consistency. Remember, overly-coarse coffee will clog your press’ filter while an overly-fine grind will lead to mucky coffee.
When brewing, it is vital that you always remember the ratio. This will help you make adjustments to the recipe as you make bigger or smaller batches. For the French Press, we recommend following a 1:15 coffee to water ratio. So, you will need to have 15g of water for every gram of coffee. This will translate to 1 cup of water for every 3 tablespoons of coffee.
In terms of water temperature, we recommend that you use water that is just below the boiling point. The ideal temperature is around 95 degrees Celsius or 195 degrees Fahrenheit. Going over this can lead to over-extraction and a bitter taste in your mouth. Luckily, the solution is simple: just let your water boil then let it rest for a minute so it can cool down. For more precise results, use a kitchen thermometer.
Once you have everything you need, it is time to start brewing.
- Add coffee into the press and make sure that the grounds are level.
- Pour half of your water in a circular motion and ensure that all the grounds are wet. Let the coffee grounds bloom for 30 seconds then stir with a spoon.
- Add the remaining water and press midway until the plunger is resting on the grounds. This is to prevent any temperature loss during the extraction process.
- After 3-4 minutes, slowly push down the plunger and pour the coffee into your mug.
Remember, you need to pour the coffee immediately in order to stop the brewing process. Failure to do so will leave you with a bitter and over-extracted cup of coffee – the very thing you want to avoid.
There you have it, a basic guide explaining how to brew with French Press. Just be sure to thoroughly wash your French Press every time you use it to avoid any bitter aftertastes left behind by old rancid coffee.
