French Press coffee offers a full and rich body compared to a lot of other manual brewers and is one of the simplest brewing methods. It is a full immersion process which means that total amount of coffee is in constant contact with the total amount of water for the full brew time. Similar to the Chemex, the french press comes in a variety of sizes allowing you to brew greater amounts. However, the body and mouthfeel will be completely different.
In this tutorial we used the 6-cup Yama Glass French Press. It holds up to 30 oz of water. We recommend beginning with a 1:16 ratio and may need to adjust the recipe depending on the size of your French Press. We recommend experimenting with the 1:16 ratio, 1:15 or 1:17 can taste great as well, depending on the coffee, grinder, and your preference.
HOW TO USE A FRENCH PRESS IN 7 STEPS
- Preheat the brewer by rinsing the french press with hot water.
- Grind 50 grams of coffee at a medium course grindand dump into the bottom of the french press.
- Pour 800 grams of hot water (195-205 degrees) into the french press and stir.
- Wait 45 seconds then give the coffee grounds another stir.
- Put the lid on top to keep in the heat and let it sit for 2 minutes
- Stir the grounds to break the crust. Press down on the French press to separate the delicious coffee and grounds. The plunging process should take 20 seconds.
- Carefully pour out all of the coffee into a decanter or directly into several mugs. Make sure you pour everything out as to not over extract the coffee. The french press itself isn’t best as a serving device.
COMMON FAQS ABOUT USING A FRENCH PRESS
What is the ratio of coffee to water in a French Press?
We recommend beginning with a 1:16 ratio. You may need to adjust the recipe depending on the size of your French Press. You can also experiment with other ratios, such as 1:15 or 1:17. The overall taste will depend on the brand of coffee, grinder, and your preference.
What temperature should water for a French Press be?
The perfect temperature for French Press coffee is around 195-205 degrees Fahrenheit, which is just below boiling. We recommend heating the water in a kettle, then taking off the heat for about 1 full minute before making the coffee.
