Last Updated on 30/07/2022 by Miki
Table of contents
Are you looking for a way to try a different kind of coffee? Look no further than the French Press. With a relatively cheap price tag, French Press coffee doesn’t require much equipment to make at home. Coffee beans, water, a grinder, a wooden spoon, and a French Press are all that is needed to make the perfect cup. Read on to find out more about how to make French Press coffee.
What Are The Pros & Cons of French Press Coffee?
A French press is undoubtedly one of the easiest methods to make delicious coffee at home. The pros of the French press are that it is inexpensive and it doesn’t take much space in the kitchen. Furthermore, it is easy to adjust how many cups you want to make depending on your need. On the other hand, the cons are that the coffee beans have to be ground precisely for the French press and you really need to know how to use them properly. Otherwise, it wouldn’t taste as good as it should. No worries! You will get all the tips for making the best French press coffee at home here 🙂
Who Invented French Press?
The French press is also known as cafetiere, coffee press, press pot, or coffee plunger. Naturally, you may think that it must have been invented by a French person as the name implies. The common understanding is that it is either French or Italian who invented it. Interestingly, this story reminds me of the origin of a flat white since it is either Australian or New Zealander.
Why Is French Press Coffee Better?
The brewing method of the French press involves immersion which allows steeping and makes full-bodied coffee. You can get saturation of the ground coffee and the oils completely whereas it’s not true for a drip coffee machine due to the difference in the brewing process. A French press can make flavoursome coffee for this reason.
What Is The Best Brand Of French Press?
A French Press is one of the best ways to make a simple, flavorful coffee, and letting it steep in the carafe for a few minutes can really let it develop in flavour, aroma, and colour. These coffee makers are glass pitchers with a plunger and filter on top that removes all the grinds from the drink. The question is which one to buy. Let me share my top 3 picks for French Press coffee:
This post may contain affiliate links. If you use these links to purchase something, I may earn a commission without any extra cost to you. I would appreciate it if you do so to keep this blog going!
Bodum Chambord French Press Coffee Maker
Bodum is a Portuguese brand and it is highly recommendable. In fact, this classic model is Amazon’s choice and it’s got almost 13,000 ratings with 4.6/5 stars. It shows its popularity. Impressively, there are some great options like glass or shatterproof SAN carafe, 6 colours, and 4 sizes to choose from. It is most likely that you will find your favourite among them.
Muller French Press Stainless Steel Coffee Maker
Designed in Austria, Muller has been making functional and affordable kitchen products. The body of this French press is double-wall insulated so that you can enjoy your hot coffee longer. In fact, this model is 30% thicker and 20% heavier than other standard stainless or glass French presses. This means that you will certainly have the assurance of its durability. There are over 20,000 ratings with 4.8/5 stars on Amazon, which proves a lot of happy buyers.
Cafe Du Chateau French Press Coffee Maker
Cafe Du Chateau is an expert in making French press and cold brew coffee makers. This elegant design stands out and the 4-level filtration system ensures that no undesirable grounds will be seen in your coffee. To make it even better, all the parts are conveniently dishwasher safe. The best thing? It comes with a lifetime guarantee! What more could you ask for?
Best Coffee For French Press
One of the tips to make delicious French press coffee is to select darker roasted coffee beans. It goes without saying that the beans should be of high quality and freshly roasted. I have written a detailed post on the best coffee for French Press that you may want to read. You will also learn what grind is best for French Press.
Water & Coffee Ratio for French Press
Here is a handy water and coffee ratio table for the French press. If you would like to make a larger amount, you can simply double or triple it. For instance, serving 8 cups will require double the coffee and water of 4 cups, and 12 cups will be triple of 4 cups. Please note that the ratio in the table is between medium and strong coffee. You can always adjust the amount of coffee and water to see how you like. I hope it helps!
How To Make French Press Coffee
Here is the simple step-by-step guide to how to make French press coffee at home 🙂
What you’ll need:
- A French press
- A Grinder
- 1/2 cup (32 gm) of whole coffee beans
- 4 cups of water
- A wooden spoon
Method:
- Prepare the water to boil. Meanwhile, grind the beans to a coarse grind.
- Transfer the ground coffee to the bottom of the French press.
- Once the water starts to boil, remove it from the heat immediately and wait till the water temperature drops to 195 degrees Fahrenheit or 90-92 degrees Celsius. (It should take around 45-50 seconds.)
- Pour the hot water carefully into the French press just enough to wet the ground coffee evenly. Allow it to sit for 1 minute. Gently stir it with a wooden spoon.
- Pour the remaining water over the coffee to make sure it is dispersed evenly. Cover with a lid and wait for another 3 minutes.
- Slowly press the plunger down to the bottom. Serve immediately.
Tips:
- Choose darker roasted whole coffee beans.
- Use a burr grinder to grind the beans. (Check this one out!)
- Warm the French press with hot water for 30 seconds before adding the ground coffee. (You will need extra water for doing it,) This will maximise beautiful flavour.
- Do not leave the coffee in the French press too long as this will cause bitterness. Transfer the coffee into a thermal coffee pot if you want to drink it later.
How To Make Cold Brew Coffee In A French Press
In case you are wondering if you can make cold brew coffee in a French press, here is an easy guide for you.
What You’ll Need:
- A French press
- 1 cup of coarsely ground coffee
- 4 cups of cold water
- A wooden spoon
Method:
- Put the coarse grounds into the bottom of the French press.
- Carefully pour the cold water over the grounds so that they are evenly saturated
- Gently stir the grounds with a wooden spoon to ensure all of them are fully soaked.
- Allow it to stand for at least 12 hours up to 15 hours at room temperature.
- Slowly push the plunger down and serve as desired.
Notes:
- Keep in mind that this is a concentrated foam and you will want to add some water or milk when you are ready to drink.
- It is recommended that you strain the cold brew coffee before you store it in the fridge for later use.
Easy Way To Clean French Press
Just like any other coffee maker, you will need to clean your French press regularly to last it longer. Although most models should be dishwasher safe, it is good to know how to clean them manually just in case. You may want to do the deeper cleaning fortnightly.
Easy Guide To Everyday Cleaning
- Allow the French press to cool after making the coffee.
- Discard the grounds into a garbage bag. Do not dispose of them in your sink to avoid clogging.
- Add a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid to the carafe and pour some water.
- Move the plunger up and down until you see bubbles.
- Discard the soapy water and rinse. Repeat on the plunger.
- Wash the plunger and the carafe thoroughly with a soft sponge and rinse perfectly.
Easy Guide To Deeper Cleaning
- Complete the daily cleaning procedure.
- Disassemble the plunger so that you can clean individual components.
- Mix the appropriate amount of baking soda with enough water to make a paste.
- Clean all the pieces one by one with the paste and a soft sponge.
- Rinse entirely and dry well before reassembling.
French Press Coffee FAQ
Is the French press better than drip?
It is obvious that A French press is better for some people because they prefer to drink coffee that has a stronger taste. Additionally, the French press is easier to clean and because of the stainless steel container, it is easier to maintain a fresh taste. It also does not require any paper filters. If you are more into a weaker-tasting coffee, then a drip may be more your thing. If you mainly drink coffee at home, then a french press is probably ideal for you.
How do you stop sludge in a French press?
First of all, what is sludge? Sludge is a substance that can form at the bottom of your cup or pot when coffee grounds are strained. How do you stop it from happening? All one needs to do is use the proper grind size of their coffee beans, use very hot water, and ensure they do not continue to stir the pot once the coffee is already poured.
How long should I let my coffee steep in a French press?
It can depend on the coffee you use. For instance, Bulletproof coffee is best steeped for 3 minutes and 30 seconds, while more traditional brewed coffee is steeped for approximately 4 minutes.
Final Thought
It is absolutely amazing that a simple coffee maker like the French press can make delicious full-bodied coffee. It is perfect for a beginner who has just started to explore their homemade coffee as it is easy to use and affordable. On the other hand, it can satisfy a coffee connoisseur who wants to control the brewing method precisely. To sum it up, it is definitely worth trying French press coffee at home.
