How the French Press works

French press is an immersion brew method, meaning coffee grounds are fully immersed in water and then strained using a metal filter. Metal filters allow oils and undissolved coffee particles to pass into the cup.

You will need

 

How to brew coffee with a French Press

  1. Preheat your press by adding a small amount of hot water and swilling it around it is warm to the touch. Discard the water.
  2. Weigh/measure your coffee and grind medium-coarse. The amount will depend mainly on the size of your French Press and how much coffee you want to make. As a standard ratio, you can use 30 g (6 tbsp) of coffee to 12 fl oz (350 ml) water. * Tip: Using a scale will give you much greater control and consistency.
  3. Heat the water until it is almost boiling. (Recommended temperature 195–205 °F).
  4. Add your coffee grounds to the preheated French Press, then add the correct ratio of hot water.
  5. Give a quick stir to ensure that the coffee grounds are properly immersed in water.
  6. Place the lid on top and set your timer for 4 minutes.
  7. After 4 minutes, slowly press the plunger down all the way. *Tip: If there is too much resistance when you plunge, then your grounds are too fine. Not enough resistance means they are too coarse.
  8. Serve & enjoy!

Want to download our FREE Complete Guide to Coffee Brewing Methods?