How to Make French Press Coffee

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The French coffee press is a very simple concept.  Coffee grounds and hot water are placed in the carafe.  Depending on how strong you like your coffee, you wait anywhere from three to seven minutes, then push the plunger down, which forces the brewed coffee through a filter and leaves the grounds at the bottom of the carafe.

The plunger on the press has a very fine nylon or wire mesh filter, but even so more sediment comes through than with a drip brew coffee.  Pressing the plunger down slowly reduces the amount of grounds that come through the filter.  Nylon filters can be used with a smaller grind, whereas the metal or wire mesh filters really need a uniform, coarse grind.

Coffee from the French press is thicker and stronger than drip brewed coffee, but many people prefer that taste.  The brewing water in the press remains in direct contact with the coffee grounds, so the coffee contains more of the essential oils and flavor of the beans.  The coffee should be served as soon as possible, so that over-extraction doesn’t cause a bitter taste.  Be aware that the coffee may appear to be ‘muddy’ because of the small amounts of grounds that slip through the filter.

Any brand or kind of coffee can be used in the French press, but it needs to be a consistent, coarse grind.  Smaller ground coffee will seep through the filter.  The use of a burr mill is recommended because this mill gives a more consistent grind than the whirling blade mills.  It is important to use beans that were ground at least two or three days earlier.  This allows for the release of the Co2, which will cause brown suds at the top of the press if not released.

The key to a great cup of coffee is to measure the coffee and water accurately each time you make coffee.  Usually a tablespoon of coffee to 4 oz. of water is a good rule of thumb.  Of course, adjust to personal taste.   

Carafes are made in a variety of different sizes, from 16 oz. to 48 oz. The French coffee press carafe is generally made out of glass, and replacements are readily available over the internet. Cleaning the coffee press is easy using hot, sudsy water or the dishwasher to remove the oils from the coffee.

French press coffee is very popular with many people due to the many variables that available.  Any type of coffee can be used, it can be brewed as strong (or not strong) as the consumer likes, and it is small and easily portable for those who travel.