How to brew coffee in a French press
A French press is one of the simplest ways to get rich, full-bodied coffee at home without any electronics. Five minutes of time and a little practice — and the result will be no worse than in a café.
What you will need
A French press, a kettle, a coffee spoon and a timer (your phone will do). The coffee needs a coarse grind — roughly like sea salt. Too fine a grind will pass through the mesh and settle as sediment at the bottom of the cup.
Proportions
1:15
In simple terms: 2 tablespoons of coffee per 300 ml of water (a standard small French press). Prefer it stronger — add another half tablespoon, rather than leaving it longer in the press.
Step by step: how to brew
- Boil the water and let it sit for about 30 seconds — boiling water is too hot and makes the coffee bitter.
- Put the coffee into the carafe — 2 tablespoons per 300 ml of water.
- Pour in a third of the water and let it sit for 30 seconds — the coffee will “bloom” and swell a little, this is normal.
- Add the rest of the water and put the lid on — don’t press the plunger down straight away.
- Let it steep for exactly 4 minutes — any longer and it will turn bitter.
- Slowly and smoothly push the plunger all the way down, without any sudden movements.
- Immediately pour the coffee into a cup — if you leave it on the grounds in the French press, it will keep extracting and become bitter.
Common mistakes
Too fine a grind. Fine coffee passes through the mesh — you’ll get a lot of sediment in the cup and an unpleasant texture.
Pressing the plunger too quickly. A fast push lifts the grounds back into the coffee and can splash hot water over the edge.
Leaving the coffee in the French press after brewing. The grounds at the bottom continue to contact the water even after the plunger is pressed — the coffee should be poured out straight away.
Boiling water straight from the kettle. Give the water 30 seconds to cool after boiling — this way the coffee will open up more gently.
A French press doesn’t forgive haste, but it doesn’t require barista skills either. Stick to the time and proportions — and a delicious cup at home will become a habit, not an event.
