Perfect Your French Press (INeedCoffee.com)

Perfect Your French Press

Coffee fanatics and connoisseurs maintain that French Press coffee is the best way to experience the daily grind. French Press coffee is a very simple way to achieve an extremely rich and robust cup of coffee.

A Note About the Equipment

A French Press coffee maker is also known as a "plunger" or a "press pot". The most popular manufacturer is Bodum. Very recently, Starbucks even released a product that is a travel mug/ french press all-in-one combo. All of these products work the same way, the only difference is the "look" of the container. In addition to the French Press, you will also need a tea kettle for boiling water.

The French Press

Coffee Selection:

While any coffee will work in a French Press, some coffees are more desirable than others. Some coffee drinkers prefer dark roast coffee with a full body and medium to low acidity. For example, you might buy a full city or french roasted bean like Sumatra or Tanzania Peaberry. A coarse grind works best for the French Press. This will ensure that the mesh screen will filter the coffee grounds and separate the liquid from the sediments.

The Process:

Measure two level tablespoons of ground coffee for every six ounces of water, according to Peets Coffee and Tea. Water selection is another topic entirely, but common sense should prevail: the higher quality the water, the better your coffee will taste. Fill the tea kettle cold water and bring the water to a boil. When you pull the water off the flame, it will cool slightly and it will be just a bit under 212 degrees Fahrenheit (that's 100 degrees Celsius at one atmosphere of pressure). Pour the water directly into the French Press over the coffee grounds.

Pour hot water just off a boil on top of the coffee.

Put the French Press lid on the pot, but do not depress the plunger yet. Putting the lid on the French Press will ensure that your coffee will retain heat for the appropriate amount of time. Let the coffee "steep" - i.e. leave it alone - for 3 to 5 minutes. This time window is long enough to extract all the positive flavors from the coffee without any bitter / negative flavors extracted.

Start of 3-4 minute brew. After 3-4 minute, press the plunger down.

The coffee grounds will swell during the steeping time. After the appropriate amount of steeping, gently press the French Press plunger down. The mesh filter will push the coffee grounds to the bottom and separate the liquid from the coffee grounds. Pour the coffee into your favorite mug and enjoy!

Serve the coffee with the plunger down.

For more help on the press pot, check out the Press Pot Tutorial and Troubleshooting French Press Coffee.

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