Perhaps one of the easiest brewing methods loved by coffee connoisseurs is the French press method. Why do they love it? Here are a few reasons:
- The equipment is generally inexpensive compared to auto drip machines. You can of course, get quite fancy with some of your pieces but the standard French press that we carry does the job perfectly.
- The French press brewing method is full immersion, meaning that the water is fully immersed with the ground coffee, which extracts more flavor from the beans.
- No paper filters are required.
- It's a pretty easy method to use, some would even call it "fool-proof".
- Produces a full-bodied cup of coffee.
Ready to give it a try? Here is the equipment you'll need:
- French Press
- 40 grams of coffee that has been freshly ground for coarse. Need a grinder? Try this one.
- 700+ milliliters of water
- a kettle
- a scale
- a plastic or wooden spoon
If you don't have a kettle, you can heat water on the stove. No scale? No problem, just use the coffee scoop that is included in the Bodum presses we sell.
Brewing
We use 1 part coffee to 18 parts water (or a 1:18 ratio) for French Press coffee. You should definitely experiment with this method to find the strength of coffee you prefer, but a 1 to 18 ratio is a great way to start.
Step 1- Bring water to a near boil. Add a good splash to the French press and swirl it around to heat it up. Discard the water in the press.
Step 2- Add 40 grams of freshly ground coffee to your French press. If you don't have a scale, this is equivalent to just under 1.5 ounces or 3.2 tablespoons.
Step 3- Start a timer for 2 minutes and then begin adding water over the top of the grounds, about 100 grams or 4 ounces. Pick up the press and swirl or use your spoon and stir to ensure that all of the coffee is saturated.
Step 4- Add hot water to the top and place the lid on, without plunging.
Step 5- When the timer reaches 4 minutes total, gently and slowly push the plunger to the bottom.
Step 6- Pour and enjoy!
If not drinking all of your coffee right away, remove it from the French press to prevent oversaturation and bitterness.
Finally, when cleaning out your French Press, don't dump the grinds down your sink! This can clog your sink and nobody has time for that. Instead, consider adding them to your compost pile or work into your garden soil for a lovely fertilizer that adds nitrogen to your soil and repels some pests.