In addition to your french press and coffee, you'll a coffee grinder, filtered water, a kettle, and a timer (I use my phone). You may also want a thermal flask for the leftover coffee. More on this later.
Once you've got everything, it's time to brew some coffee using a french press!
Here's the first thing you need to do:
2.Boil The Water
As already mentioned, the quality of your ingredients will hugely influence the final taste of your drink. The coffee beans are the primary concern, but it's worth noting that water is the main ingredient in coffee.
If you want to use mineral water, that’s great. At the very least, though, you should filter the tap water. This is why anyone without a filtering tap should invest in a filter jug, which is readily available.
boiling water using 34floz coffee kettle
Coffee Gator Pour-Over 34floz Coffee Kettle (Link)
For the best results, you should aim for water that is just under boiling. Around the 200-degree F mark is roughly perfect as it’ll allow you to start enjoying your coffee right away. A thermometer will enable you to test the heat of the water. Alternatively, if you want to use a kettle, let the water sit for two minutes after it has boiled.
The volume of water needed is naturally a crucial factor too. For a 17-oz French Press device, around 12 oz will suffice. On a separate note, you may wish to gently heat your mug and the beaker for a minute too. This will help your finished coffee stay hotter for longer.
3. Grind The Coffee Beans
Using instant coffee granules would somewhat defeat the point of using the French Press method, so it’s almost certain that you’ll be using coffee beans. However, you won’t be putting them whole, or you’ll be left with nothing short of a disaster. The grinding of your coffee beans is crucial.
whole coffee bean in electric griner
Electric Coffee Bean Grinder by Grocery Art (Link)
French Press coffee requires coarse ingredients, so the choice of a grinding mill is key. Opting for a grinder commonly used for spices simply won't do. You'll see far better results when the blades are built to create that even breadcrumb-like texture.
freshly ground coffee in electric grinder
Some people mistake grinding their beans and storing them to save time. Unfortunately, only the freshly ground beans will bring that intense flavor you crave. Thankfully, it only takes a minute to complete this task. So, why not do it while the water is heating up?
Once you've gained the right consistency, transfer the desired amount of the newly formed powder to the bottom of the French Press beaker.
ground coffee in french press
Bodum Chambord French Press Coffee Maker, 1 Liter, 34 Ounce (Link)
As a general rule of thumb, opting for 12 parts water to 1 part coffee is a good option.
4. Create a Coffee Bloom
Instead of pouring all the water onto the grounds at once, you should instead pour a small amount of water on the grounds.
pouring water into french press
This small deviation in the coffee brewing process is known as coffee blooming.
So, just pour enough water to saturate all the coffee grounds and set a timer for 1 minute.
coffee blooming for 1 minute
After the minute is up, pour more water (not all of it) into the french press and gently stir using a wooden spoon or paddle.
Stirring coffee in French press
This is to ensure that all of the coffee is touched by the water rather than having some bits stuck to the bottom of the beaker.
Let this coffee infuse for between 30 and 60 seconds before moving to step five.
5. Let the Coffee Steep
Fill the beaker with the rest of the water, as desired. Then quickly place the lid on top so that any potential heat loss is minimized.
coffee infusion
Do not press down on the plunger just yet because you want to let the coffee steep for 4 minutes. This is a fundamental stage of the French press brewing process because it will extract the flavor profile from the beans and give that smooth, rich taste.
The key is to avoid over or under-extracting during the steeping process. To be safe, steep for at least 3-4 minutes to avoid weak, watery coffee. On the flip side, you should also avoid going over 10 minutes because it could make your coffee too bitter.
6. Press & Serve!
Once this time has finished, it’s imperative that you serve the coffee quickly. Otherwise, it will keep brewing to ruin the taste. Use the plunger to push down on the coffee beans. If you need to use a lot of pressure, the coffee is still too fine. The coffee is overly coarse if there is no resistance as you push.
pressing coffee with french press
You should have the perfect blend when the press moves with a little pressure.
pouring coffee with french press
All you need to do now is pour your coffee, add cream and sugar (or drink it black), and enjoy!
black coffee from french press
7. Transfer the Leftover Coffee
The last thing you want to do is let the coffee remain in the French Press as it will continue to brew. This will result in an extremely bitter-tasting coffee, rendering it virtually undrinkable.
So, if you have any leftover coffee that you’d like to keep, transfer it to a thermal flask. This way, it can stay warm throughout the day. Alternatively, if you wish to turn this into an iced coffee for later, simply transfer the coffee to a sealable pot and leave it in the fridge until it’s needed.
What to Expect
Even with the right equipment and technique, getting the right blend for your tastes may take a little trial and error. This may mean adding more coffee for a stronger flavor or fewer coffee beans for a less intense final drink.
Another option is to change the brewing time. Reduce it for a weaker coffee or increase it for a stronger one. Either way, staying within the 3-5 minute bracket is essential. Anything outside of this will spell disaster.
A French Press can ultimately enhance your daily coffee drinking experiences. You’ll gain the delightful tastes and full caffeine boost associated with the local coffee bar without encountering the costs or time consumption. Perhaps nothing will if that doesn’t encourage you to invest in a quality French Press.
I hope this helps you learn how to use a french press and if you liked it, please share this with your friends so they can start enjoying better coffee too 🙂
