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How to Use a French Press

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How to Use a French Press to make your morning brew is not that difficult to make. You will have a delicious cup of coffee with just a few simple steps.

A while back, I chucked my drip coffee maker and started using the percolator that once belonged to my mother-in-law, and I never looked back. I love that my morning brew is made in the percolator. Still, there are afternoons when I just want a cup of coffee to give me that pick me up, so the french press gives me the perfect amount of much-needed coffee in a short amount of time. I will share a step-by-step tutorial on how to use a french press with these three simple steps for making delicious coffee.

Pouring a cup of coffee from a French press. The little details of a linen napkin, china cup & saucer on a wood table.
How to Use a French Press is easy using this Le Creuset Stoneware French Press. On a wood table is a china cup & saucer next to the white stoneware French press.

I find that using coffee beans to grind before making my brew is much better because it’s the freshest and much more flavorful coffee, and also find that it will give you that rich cup of coffee; however, that is a matter of opinion. The good news is that you certainly can use ground coffee to make your brew. As coffee enthusiasts, I will share how to make a perfect cup of french press coffee!

This is the primary brewing method for using a French Press.

With just a few simple steps, you have great-tasting coffee. All it takes is part coffee and part water.

  1. boil water
  2. measure out pre-ground coffee beans
  3. Grind Whole Beans
  4. Add ground coffee and then hot water
  5. Place plunger on top, sit for 1 minute
  6. Plunge & wait for 5 minutes
  7. Serve immediately & Enjoy
How to Use a French Press consist on using fresh coffee beans for a good cup of coffee. On a table is a pile of coffee beans with a wooden spoon on top of them with a scoop of beans.

You want to correct your coffee ratio for a delicious cup of coffee!

The best thing about using a french press is that you can have a fresh cup of coffee in no time! Add 18 grams (3 Tbsp) of coarse coffee grounds per (10 oz) 300 ml of water. These measurements are for a 3-cup (12 oz) french press. Adjust to desired taste.

What is the best french press coffee maker for a delicious full-bodied coffee?

It’s a matter of opinion and personal preference; however, The french presses I use are Bodum Chambord & Le Creuset Stoneware, and I love them. You may want to do your own research and get what works for you.

A Le Creuset Stoneware French press with the plunger attachment next to it along with a wooden spoon & coffee beans.

What Is A French Press? 

A French Press is a brewing device for coffee that allows the roasted and ground gourmet coffee to steep directly in the water before the grounds are separated. Coffee grounds are steeped in water for an extended period of time. The French Press uses pressure to force coffee to the bottom with a plunger of an elegant pot after coffee brews, capturing the concentrated flavors. This is coffee in its purest form. The results are deep, dark, and full-flavored.

How to Use a French Press?

  1. Bring about 4 cups of filtered water to a boil.
  2. While waiting for the water to boil, use your coffee grinder to grind coffee beans to a coarse grind. The coffee grounds should be a coarse grind size of kosher salt.
  3. Turn the heat off just as water is about to boil, and move off the burner to sit for about a minute. This will prevent scalding the coffee grounds.
  4. Add your medium-coarse grind coffee into the French Press and slowly pour the hot water into the French press.
  5. Use a wooden spoon (or a metal spoon) to give it a gentle stir; you want to mix the grounds to ensure they are fully submerged in the bottom of the carafe.
  6. Place the coffee plunger on top of the French press on top of the grounds while itโ€™s brewing, so the hot air doesn’t release. Let the coffee brew for 5 minutes (for more robust coffee, let it sit for another minute).
  7. After the 5 minutes of brew time is up, press the plunger down slowly, bringing all the coffee grounds down to the bottom of the French press.
  8. Enjoy great french press coffee black, or try it with your favorite creamer & and sweetener. Enjoy!

Tip: If you find that your coffee is a bit strong, add a little water to help with the taste.

How to Use a French Press is easy to use when you have a Le Creuset Stoneware French Press. Sitting beside it is a china cup & saucer, a metal scoop of coffee beans sitting on a pile of coffee beans, next to it is a antique coffee grinder & a mason jar.

What are the tools needed to make french press coffee?

  • French Press

Your french press needs to be easy to clean and doesn’t break easily, and it is imperative that it also retains heat well.

  • Filtered Water

To have the best coffee, you want to use clean water, so it doesn’t alter the taste of your brew.

  • Coffee Beans or Grounds

Even though the best coffee is a matter of preference, it is best to select a medium to dark roast When choosing your coffee; also, whole bean coffee is best to grind right before you make your cup of brew.

  • Grinder (if using coffee beans)

It’s recommended that you grind your own beans at home because pre-ground coffee may be oxidized; in this case, it has lost its flavor over time. Also, it may have absorbed smells from your kitchen if not stored properly. 

  • Timer

To have good coffee, you will want to time your brew. Letting your coffee steep to long can cause a bitter taste.

  • Kettle

The easiest way to get the water temperature just right, using an electric kettle, will give you the correct temperature needed to make your brew; however, using a stovetop kettle seems almost effortless where all you have to do is pour the hot water into your french press. However, you may want to check the temperature so you don’t burn your coffee grounds.

  • Scoop

The rule of thumb is to use a scale to measure your ground coffee which may sound complicated, but it is a great way to get consistently great-tasting coffee. It also helps you know exactly how much ground coffee to use each time. Although, a coffee scoop or measuring spoon can also be used. To ensure consistency, level the scoop of ground coffee each time to ensure consistency.

How to Use a French Press is easy to use when you have a Le Creuset Stoneware French Press. Sitting beside it is a china cup & saucer, a metal scoop of coffee beans sitting on a pile of coffee beans, next to it is a antique coffee grinder & a mason jar.

What’s the sweet spot for the perfect brew?

The “Golden Ratio” for a great cup of coffee is one to two tablespoons of ground coffee for every six oz of water.

How do I make my coffee stronger?

You can let the brewing process be longer than five minutes or add less water. However, if you let your coffee steep for an extended time, your brew can taste bitter.

What is the best way to store coffee beans to stay fresh longer?

Store your coffee beans in a cool dark place in a seal-tight container such as a mason jar.

A jar flipped over with coffee beans pouring out & a metal scoop with some in it.

Here are some expert tips for great-tasting coffee!

  1. Grind your beans fresh each time for the perfect french press coffee every time!
  2. Use cold filtered water before adding it to your kettle to heat.
  3. Place a paper filter or a mesh filter over your mug to remove some of the muddiness by pouring it through it.
  4. To prevent bitter flavors, for best results, pour the coffee as soon as it is done brewing.
  5. For accurate measurements, use a kitchen scale.
  6. Grind your beans coarse grind in the size of large sand crystals.
  7. Use a thermometer for the perfect temperature.
  8. Using the right amount of coffee for your french press brewing is essential.

You may want to save the last drop.

You will notice the last drop in the bottom of your mug or the bottom of the press, called sludge or silt caused by not grinding your beans coarse enough.

How to Use a French Press is easy to use when you have a Le Creuset Stoneware French Press and Sitting beside it is a china cup & saucer,  a spoon & linen napkin.

How do you stop silt or sludge in a French Press?

Here are some ways to reduce your french press coffee’s sediment while still enjoying its benefits.

  1. Follow the best grinding practices for coarse ground coffee
  2. Skim the end brew surface
  3. Use a coarser grind setting
  4. Pour brew through a paper filter or a mesh

How hot should the water be for a French press?

The perfect temperature for French Press coffee is around 195ยฐF for the ideal temperature; this is just below boiling.

When it comes to a coffee grinder

You have the choice of a burr grinder or a blade grinder. Both types of grinders will work just fine. The only difference between the two is the blade. However, some grinders have settings for the desired consistency, and you can set it to a coarse setting.

What’s the point of French press coffee?

The French Press uses pressure to force coffee to the bottom of an elegant pot after brewing, capturing the concentrated flavors. This is coffee in its purest form, which results in deep, dark, and full-flavored excellent-tasting coffee.

Can I add cold water to the coffee press?

If you want to make a cold brew, you sure can. Add your coarse grounds and water and gently stir until all the grounds are wet. Then plunge the grounds carefully in the press pot and place it in the refrigerator for 14-16 hours. Serve over ice and choice of milk.

Can you use regular pre-ground coffee in a French press?

Generally, a French press is best used with coarsely ground coffee and water just under boiling temperature. Allow three to five minutes of immersion time and have a decent cup of coffee.

What are the Pros & Cons of Using a French Press?

PROS 

  • Easy to use & Assemble
  • Control & Customize the brew by altering the steeping time.
  • It’s Inexpensive
  • Coffee is smooth & rich
  • Makes a strong best cup of coffee

CONS

  • Cleaning can take some time & effort
  • If your coffee is too fine, it can be sludgy

French Press coffee-to-water ratio

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10 Comments

  1. Sounds good. Maybe you could make me some. Lol, only kidding. I usually use instant coffee for the pick me up. But I think I’m going to try doing this, just have to get the “French press”. I will send feedback when I do this. Thank you again for an interesting post. Have a great day ๐Ÿ˜€

  2. I’m not a big coffee drinker, so this feels like it would be the perfect answer for me to have a good cup when I feel like it without having to have a big ugly coffee maker in my house. I’ve purchased several through the years, but always get rid of it because I never use it! lol

  3. This post was so informative, I have a French press, and I agree it makes excellent coffee! Thank you for this wonderful post, I love your photography.

  4. Mmmm I love french press coffee! I discovered it only a few years ago, but what a game changer. I’m from Italy so I’ve always been drinking espresso before then (and never really liked it lol). Thanks for the great tips to make the best coffee ๐Ÿ™‚

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