A proper cup of (French Press) Coffee

One of my absolute favorite ways to brew coffee is using a French Press. a cylinder with a mesh screen plunger lid attachment. It’s a simple procedure. But how exactly do you do it?

Step 0… Get a good french press. I prefer a glass carafe since plastic tends to scratch and wear out over time.

Here’s how to brew French press coffee:

1. Grind your coffee beans. The ideal grind size for French press coffee is a coarse grind. This will allow the coffee grounds to bloom and release their flavor without making the coffee too strong.
2. Heat the water. The ideal water temperature for French press coffee is 195-205 degrees Fahrenheit. If the water is too hot, it will extract too much flavor from the coffee grounds, making the coffee bitter. If the water is too cold, it will not extract enough flavor from the coffee grounds, making the coffee weak. The best trick I know of is to let the water boil. turn off the heat and then wait for the boiling to stop. The water should not be bubbling when you pour it.
3. Add the coffee grounds to the French press. A good rule of thumb is to use 2 tablespoons of coffee grounds for every 6 ounces of water.
4. Pour the hot water over the coffee grounds. Pour the water slowly and evenly over the coffee grounds, making sure to saturate all of them. Pour in a circular motion, wetting all the grounds. the coffee will bloom as the beans offgas and start to foam a little bit. the is usually no need to stir the grounds at this point provided you wet everything evenly.
5. Let the coffee steep for 4 minutes. This will give the coffee grounds time to extract their flavor. If you let the grounds steep for too long you will over-extract the grounds and the resulting coffee can be slightly biter.
6. Press the plunger down. This will separate the coffee grounds from the coffee. Do this slowly. Depending on your French Press it might take a moment to do correctly.
7. Pour your coffee and enjoy! I prefer my coffee black, but at this point it’s dealer’s choice for add-ins.

Here are a few tips for brewing French press coffee:

• Use a good quality burr grinder to grind your coffee beans.
• Heat the water to the correct temperature.
• Use the correct amount of coffee grounds.
• Let the coffee steep for the correct amount of time.
• Press the plunger down slowly and evenly.
• Pour your coffee and enjoy!

With a little practice, you’ll be able to brew perfect French press coffee every time.