If you’re looking for a straightforward and rewarding way to brew coffee, the French Press is an excellent choice. Known for its rich flavor and ease of use, this method is perfect for entertaining a group or enjoying a peaceful coffee moment solo. Let’s dive into a step-by-step guide to mastering the French Press.
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Step 1: Measure Your Coffee and Water
The first step is determining the coffee-to-water ratio. A standard guideline is a 1:20 ratio—one part coffee to 20 parts water. For example, if your French Press holds 600 grams of water, divide that by 20, and you’ll need 30 grams of coffee for your brew.
Step 2: Grind Your Coffee
For the French Press, use a coarse to medium grind. This grind size is similar to what you’d use for a V60, batch brew, or a paper filter. Too fine a grind might result in a sludgy brew, while too coarse could lead to under-extraction.
Step 3: Prepare Your French Press
Remove the plunger and place the ground coffee into the French Press. Set the French Press on a scale and tare it to zero for accurate water measurement.
Step 4: Heat Your Water
Heat your water to 90°C (194°F) for optimal brewing. If you’re using a standard kettle, let the water cool slightly after boiling to avoid scorching the coffee.
Step 5: Start Brewing
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Begin by blooming the coffee. Pour 100 grams of water over the grounds, ensuring all are evenly wet. Blooming (the initial wetting of coffee grounds) allows gases to escape and promotes even extraction.
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Stir gently to ensure the grounds are fully saturated.
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After 30 seconds, add the remaining water, filling up to your desired total (600 grams in our example). Avoid further stirring or agitation after this point.
Step 6: Brew Time
Allow the coffee to brew undisturbed for four minutes. This steady steeping process ensures the rich, full flavors develop.
Step 7: Plunge and Decant
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After four minutes, place the plunger on top of the French Press and press down slowly. Apply gentle, even pressure to avoid agitating the grounds, which can introduce bitterness.
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Once the plunger is fully pressed, decant the brewed coffee into another container. This step prevents over-extraction, which can negatively affect the flavor.
Step 8: Pour and Enjoy
Serve your freshly brewed French Press coffee and savor its bold, rich flavors. This method is versatile, allowing you to explore various coffee beans and blends. Today, for instance, we brewed using the Champion Blend, but single-origin beans are also excellent for discovering unique flavors.
Bonus Tips
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For this recipe, we used the Espro P3, a French Press with a double filter for a cleaner cup. However, any French Press will work well.
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Experiment with different beans to find your favorite flavor profiles. From blends to single-origin coffee, the possibilities are endless.
The French Press is a fantastic brewing method for both beginners and seasoned coffee lovers. We’d love to hear your experiences and tips! Share your French Press recipe or suggestions in the comments below.
