Getting Started with a French Press
Short of instant coffee, there is no easier way to get absorbed into the world of coffee, than with the timeless French press or plunger. It is instantly identifiable and can get you a great smooth tasting cup of coffee without any significant investment in additional tools.
Here is my take on how you can get started with brewing in a French Press.
This is a short article on this basic recipe. If you want a more detailed breakdown, check out my longer article here.
Step 1: Preparation
The basic essentials are:
A French press
Ground coffee
Water
Kettle
Cups and tablespoons
Set your kettle to boil while you gather all the items you need. I recommend that once the water is boiled, you preheat the French press, but again, not essential.
Step 2: Adding the coffee
The typical coffee ratio when using the french press is 1:15. That means for every gram of coffee, use 15 grams of water or more specifically for my brew, 20 grams of coffee for 300 grams of water for a single cup of coffee.
If you don't have a scale or accurate measuring devices, you could assume 3 Tablespoons of coffee for every cup (~240 ml) of water. This is not accurate but will do in a pinch.
Note! No two cups are the same, and no two spoonfuls of coffee are the same. If this is the method you are using then try and use the same cup every time and vary the amount of coffee used to achieve your desired taste.
Step 3: Adding the water
Pour approximately half the water into the French press (150 g if you are making a single cup), ensuring that all the grounds are covered in water. Now allow the coffee to “bloom” for 30 seconds, then pour the remaining water into the French press. Put the cover on the French press, but don't plunge. Then comes the most crucial step to this entire process.
Step 4: Wait!
Set a timer for 4 to 5 minutes and leave the coffee alone. Get your breakfast ready, do some morning stretches, catch up on social media. Do anything other than staring at the French press as the timer counts down.
Step 5: The plunge
When the time is up, remove the lid of the French press and gently stir the crust that may have developed at the top of the brew taking care not to disturb the bed of coffee grounds that would have by now settled at the bottom of the French press. Now use a spoon to scoop up the remaining sludge (for want of a better word) that is at the top of the brew and discard that.
Once complete, place the plunger in the French press and push down gently, again so as not to disturb the coffee bed at the bottom and stop the plunger, above the bed of coffee at the bottom.
Step 6: The pour
The final step before enjoying your coffee is to pour the coffee gently into your cup. Take care to pour gently to avoid grounds in your cup.
I hope that you have benefited from this basic tutorial on using the French press. I recommend using this as the base for your coffee adventure and vary quantities and methods as you strive towards the taste that you are uniquely looking for.
The basics of troubleshooting the taste would be that if it is too bitter then extract for a shorter period of time or reduce the amount of coffee used, or if it is too weak or sour, then increase extraction time or agitation to extract more goodness from your beans. Also check out our Guide to Troubleshooting your French Press Brew.
Happy Brewing!