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How to Use a French Press to Brew Coffee

how to use a french press to brew coffee
Learn how to make delicious french press coffee using this simple guide. It's easier than you think! And we'll show you how!

It’s no secret that coffee is a popular beverage. Millions of people drink it every day, and few would deny the delicious taste or the pleasant aroma. What many don’t know, however, is how to make french press coffee at home in an easy way.

That’s why we’re going to teach you how to use a French press! We’ll start by outlining what you need for your brew before getting into the specifics of using this type of coffee maker.

Once you’ve got everything together, all that’s left is pushing down on the plunger! So without any further ado, let’s begin our tutorial!

If you’re more of a video-watcher, here’s a video on how to make french press coffee. Note: Everyone has their own way to do it, so the steps may be a little different than ours.

What is a French Press?

Before we get started, you should know exactly what a French press is. This type of coffee maker goes by many names, such as a cafetière, coffee plunger, or coffee press.

It consists of three main parts: the beaker, the lid, and the plunger. The mesh filter is attached to the plunger so that it captures all of your grounds when the press is pushed down.

French Presses have been used for brewing coffee since the mid-1800s. They work by using a manual system to push down coffee grounds to the bottom of the pot, while also trapping them so they don’t escape into your beverage.

Although cafetières are still popular today, automatic drip machines have become more common in recent years. However, this doesn’t mean that you should ignore using a French press. Cafetières still brew some of the best tasting coffee available, and can be used with relative ease in your own home!

What are the benefits of using a french press?

There are a number of benefits to using a French press for your coffee. First and foremost, the final product is delicious! You’ll use coarse grounds and enough hot water so that it steeps and fully absorbs all of its flavors and oils.

Another benefit is how quickly you can finish the process – just minutes from start to finish! It’s also much easier to clean than other types of coffee makers.

how to make french press coffee with bodum brazil model
how to make french press coffee with bodum brazil model

Where can I buy a french press?

If you don’t already own one, you’re in luck! They can be found at nearly any department or home goods store – both online and off. Amazon is also a good place to look for one of these coffee makers since they come in nearly every style imaginable.

Some of the most french press coffee maker manufacturers are:

  • Espro Stainless Steel.
  • Frieling USA Stainless Steel.
  • Coffee Gator French Press.
  • Espro P3.
  • SterlingPro Double Wall.
  • GROSCHE Madrid.
  • SterlingPro Glass.
  • Bodum CHAMBORD.

No matter which you decide to go with, you’ll be making delicious coffee in no time!

What do I need before brewing?

Now that you’re familiar with what a French press is and how to use one, let’s take a look at the most important thing: your ingredients.

You can’t make a decent cup of coffee without any Before you begin brewing your french press coffee, there are 5 items you need to have in your possession:

  • Freshly ground coffee – either coarse or medium grind will work well. Don’t let it get too fine or else the filter on your french press may get clogged.
  • Enough water for your french press (usually 1 cup of ground coffee per 6 ounces of boiled water)
  • A french press
  • A timer, if you have one. This is useful so that you know how long to let your coffee steep for.
  • A spoon or measuring cup (for stirring).

What types of coffee are best for making french press coffee?

Now that you have some knowledge of what a French press is, as well as the ingredients you’ll need to make your coffee, let’s talk about the type of beans you should use.

Brewing your french press with freshly ground whole bean coffee will give you the most flavor and aroma possible!

Because the beans are directly exposed to the hot water, they release their true flavors and oils. This leads to a tasty cup of java that will keep you coming back for more!

When shopping for the right beans, most French press coffee lovers prefer a medium roast or a dark roast. The French press brew method reduces the perceived bitterness that some people object to with dark roasted beans.

How do I brew french press coffee?

We’re glad you asked. Here are our seven steps to brewing french press coffee:

Step 1: Gather your ingredients

The first thing you need to do is gather your ingredients. While you can use ground coffee for this type of coffee maker, it won’t taste as good as grinding it fresh beforehand.

You’ll also need water. If the tap water in your home doesn’t taste too great, try boiling some and letting it cool. You can also use water that’s filtered or bottled to avoid any tastes.

What you need

  • 8 cup french press brewer
  • Grinder
  • 56 grams (8 tablespoons) of fresh coffee
  • Hot water just off the boil (about 205°F)
  • Wooden spoon or coffee paddle
  • Scale
  • Timer
  • Mug

Now, the type of coffee beans you use is also critical. It’s best to choose a dark roast (like French Roast) with high caffeine content because you’ll need less coffee for each cup. The taste will be a little stronger because of how dark these beans are, but this is a good thing.

Curious about high-caffeine coffee? Be sure to read our recent blog post!

Step 2: Grind your coffee beans

You’ll need to grind the coffee beans before you brew your french press coffee. The best way to do this is by using a burr grinder.

This will result in a more consistent size for your ground coffee, which is vital for making a great drink. There are also electric burr grinders you can use, but if you don’t have one, you can try using a mortar and pestle instead.

We prefer to take the whole beans and get them down to a medium-coarse grind. Now, that’s just a matter of personal preference, but we find that this produces a drink with more flavor.

Why?

We find that coarse ground coffee has a more even extraction, but this is a little controversial among the coffee community.

If you prefer a finer grind, there’s nothing wrong with that! It might take a few tests to find what works best for you.

Step 3: Get your French Press Coffee Maker ready.

Now it’s time to get your French Press ready.

Warm up the empty French Press by rinsing it with boiling water. This maintains a consistent temperature throughout brewing for optimum extraction.

If you’re in a hurry, you can also heat up the Press by pouring some water into it and microwaving it for 30 seconds.

Now that your French Press is warm, discard the hot water inside. You can use this to preheat your mug or other drinking vessels so the drink stays warmer longer when it’s done.

Step 4: Add the ground coffee and water

Now it’s time to add the ground coffee and water.

Now, the perfect french press ratio of coffee to water is a bit subjective. But here are our suggestions for getting a good, flavorful coffee from your French Press.

If you want a lighter coffee, use fewer coffee grounds and more water. If you want a stronger coffee, use more coffee grounds and less water.

Measure out 56g (about 8 Tablespoons) of coffee and grind it as coarse as breadcrumbs.

For a small French press, around 16-18g of ground coffee should be enough for eight fl oz of water. If you have a larger model, just add more coffee until you’ve filled up about two cups’ worth.

You’ll find that the perfect coffee to water ratio is elusive, and this is just a guide. So think of these as loose guidelines instead of hard rules.

You’ll have to experiment to get the perfect cup of coffee for your liking.

Step 5: Stir the mixture thoroughly

To make sure all the grounds are wet, use a spoon to stir the coffee mixture thoroughly. After that, just place the lid on top of your French Press and let it steep until it’s done brewing!

Step 6: Push down on the plunger

After 4-6 minutes, you should be ready to press down on the plunger and finish your coffee. This will separate the grounds from the coffee and let you enjoy a delicious drink in just a few minutes!

Step 7: Pour yourself a cup of Joe.

And voilà, that’s how easy it is to make great coffee at home using a French press!

So there you have it, folks. Using a French press is simple and doesn’t require any special tools either. If you follow these steps, the only thing left will be to enjoy your drink!

Now that you know everything about making french press coffee, you’ll need something to brew, right?

Do you need some coffee to go with this guide?

You’re a badass. And you need coffee that reflects your badassery.

We know you love to drink coffee, but we also know that there are some pretty crappy coffees out there. That’s why we only roast the best beans from around the world and ship them right to your door so that you can enjoy a fresh cup of Joe every morning.

Whether you use a french press or kick it old school with a drip coffee maker, we’ve got the perfect roast for you to make the perfect cup of delicious coffee at home.

We have a fantastic selection of flavors for all tastes – from our classic Red White & Brewed blend to our more exotic flavors like Whiskey Business or our M.O.A.B (Mother of All Brews)!

Our roasts are available in whole bean or ground form, so it’s easy for anyone to brew up their favorite flavor at home with ease. Plus, if you order today, we’ll even throw in free shipping on any order over $100! What could be better than that?

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