If you want the ultimate rich coffee flavor in your cup of coffee, there are alternatives to using a drip coffee machine.
The French press coffee maker is an awfully simple way to brew great coffee. It makes a clean, rich-tasting coffee, with minimal skill. So, how do you start brewing coffee with a french press? Read on to find out.
In this article, we cover:
- How to brew coffee with French Press, the right way
- How does a French Press work?
- Frequently asked questions about the French Press
How to brew coffee with French Press, the right way
The French Press offers a simple and fuss-free way to brew a satisfying cup of coffee. It is a great way to brew good coffee for more than one person at a time. Its simple preparation only requires you to put ground coffee beans and boiling water into the French Press apparatus, immerse them in hot water, then press the plunger which functions as a filter.
This method of brewing gives you a little more control over the water temperature and the way coffee is brewed. It is perfect for 3-4 people, can be cleaned easily and is usually dishwasher safe.
Here’s a simple recipe to start with.
Simple French Press Recipe
Most folks would start with this simple recipe:
- Grind 15g coffee beans to a medium grind size. Add to a French press.
- Pour 250g water off the boil. Pour fast to ensure that all the coffee is wet.
- Wait for 4 minutes
- Use a spoon, give it a quick stir.
- Plunge slower and gentle.
- Pour and enjoy.
There’s non’t need to rush, the final timing can be between 6 to 8 minutes so if you forgot about it at step 3, there’s no need to worry.
If you like a stronger coffee, consider using a finer grind size without changing the brew time. Conversely, if you prefer a weaker cup, adjust the grind size for something coarser.
James Hoffman’s French Press Recipe
This is an alternative recipe from the James Hoffman. It produces a surprisingly clean cup. Coffee lovers should try this recipe at least once. This is best for lighter roast coffees. If you’re brewing with dark roasted coffee, use the Simple French Press Recipe instead.
- Grind coffee beans to a medium grind size.
- To 30g of coffee, add 500g filtered water.
- (Hoffman says not to worry about the temperature, boiling water is good)
- Let it sit for 4 minutes.
- Use a spoon to stir the crust, let the big pieces sink down and then scoop up foam and remaining coffee bits off the top.
- Wait for another 5-8 minutes.
- Plunge to just underneath the surface so that you don’t disturb the sediments
- Pour gently and enjoy.
How does a French Press work?
The French Press allows you to brew your coffee by immersion. Basically, the coffee grounds are immersed in hot water where the coffee is extracted.
A French press uses a metal sieve to filter the coffee by pressing the coffee grounds into the bottom of the brew pot, when the brew is ready. Traditionally, this method produces a strong, full-bodied coffee that could oftentimes be muddy as some of the fines do end up in the final cup.
Frequently asked questions
This depends on your preference. Personally, I would start with a ratio of 1 part coffee to 17 parts water and adjust according to how strong and flavorful I want my coffee to be.
Traditionally, most coffee drinkers would brew medium to dark roast coffee in their French Press.
However, the French Press is quite versatile. You can adjust the grind size, brew ratio and water temperature for lighter roast coffees. This is especially useful since the preference for lighter roast coffees has increased in recent years.
An advantage the French Press has over the pourover methods is that you don’t lose as much coffee oil to the paper filter. This could result in a coffee with a wider range of flavors, comparatively.
Yes, you should. Any coffee that’s left in the French press would continue to brew and extract. If you want a consistent tasting experience, pour all the coffee into a serving jug.
That said, when you’re pouring coffee out of the French Press, you may want to leave a little behind. This could prevent you from pouring additional coffee sediments into your cup.
It is normal to find some coffee grounds or finds in your coffee when you’re brewing with the French Press.
Most coffee drinkers would agree that you should not let coffee sit in a French Press for more than 5 minutes.
However, this really depends on the type of coffee that you’re brewing, the recipe or technique you’re using and how strong or concentrated you like your coffee.
In general, coffee lovers who prefer a stronger coffee with a thicker body would probably tell you that the longer you let it sit, the more robust the flavour of your coffee will be.
If you had read the previous section, you’ll now know that the answer to this question is “yes” and “no.”
The real question here is: how long would you be leaving the coffee in the French Press?
If you’re stepping out for an errand, it is advisable to decant the coffee into a cup that retains heat well so that the coffee doesn’t cool too fast, or just transfer it into a thermos flask so that you can enjoy it on the go.
Leaving coffee in a French Press for more than an hour is usually a bad idea unless you’re doing a cold brew.
Hot coffee left in a French press for more than an hour usually results in an overly extracted coffee that tends to taste awfully bitter and flat. And no, reheating it doesn’t help one bit.
If you’re looking to cold brew your coffee in a French press, refer to our cold brew coffee recipes for more details.
Yes, you can. You may need to adjust your recipe according to how strong or weak you like your final cup.
The French Press is highly versatile. You can brew Chinese teas, fruit teas, herbal teas with it. Some even brew soup in it 😅!
And the list doesn’t end there. You could even froth milk using the French Press!
Before you go…
I hope our French Press guide has given you applicable recipes for you to start brewing some delicious coffee. If you’re exploring ways to brew coffee at home, refer to our vault of coffee brewing guides here. Also, if you’re looking to support local coffee roasters, here’s a list of Specialty Coffee Roasters in Singapore.
