by The ultimate French press method that will make you look so chic!
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I was recently chatting with one of my co-workers who does not care much about coffee. He mentioned that his daughter was very much into it, and “she even grinds her coffee beans and uses a French press.” That resonated with me: for most people, the French press seems so complicated and sophisticated.
Do you want to know a secret?
The truth is that it is effortless to use and requires no skills! The French press could be part of your daily morning coffee routine while make you look like a pro! Follow those five easy steps to enjoy a full-bodied brew at home!
On top of that, the French press is probably one of the most accessible ways to make great coffee, and the best part is you don’t need filters! Between $15.00 and $40.00, depending on the size, the French press is inexpensive.
This article will help you to get great and consistent results with this affordable coffee brewer.
What is a French press, and who invented it?
The French press is a manual coffee brewer. It consists of a cylindrical glass pot and a plunger that produces a full-bodied aromatic coffee.
According to a story dating back to the 1850s, a Frenchman was on his walk, preparing a coffee pot on an open fire. He was boiling his water when he realized he had omitted to put coffee. Once added, the coffee grounds rose to the surface of the boiling pot. He wanted to save the only portion of coffee he had with him. He bought a piece of metal screen from a passing-by Italian merchant. Fitting the net over the boiling pot, he used a stick to press the screen down, together with the coffee grounds. The outcome turned out to be the best coffee both men had ever tasted.
An accident led to a new coffee brewing method.
Despite its name, the French press as we know it today was in fact invented and patented by Italians.
What do you need for making a French press?
- A French press, obviously,
- A kettle,
- A kitchen scale, but you can use, of course, a coffee scale
- A wooden or plastic spoon,
- A timer,
- Fresh filtered water,
- Fresh coffee beans,
- A burr grinder (but if you don’t own a coffee grinder, the French press is one method that gets you great results with fresh pre-ground coffee).
A note before we dive into the steps of making a delicious French press coffee
One of the significant advantages of the French press is that it comes in all kinds of sizes. You can brew enough for your whole family, but if all you want is a single cup for yourself, some smaller models allow you to do that with the same results. This article will describe the process using a regular 1l (8 cups) Bodum French press, but you can adjust the quantity as you prefer.
The most famous French press is the Bodum Chambord – an iconic looking made in four different sizes: 3, 4, 8, and 12 cups. They generally have glass beakers with a stainless steel base and handle. But now they are designed with plastic lid and handle in different colors.
Over the years, I tried different recipes, but I found that James Hoffmann’s method gets me the best results, and I use the same ratio that he recommends: 30g-33g (about 1 1/8 oz) of coffee for 500g (17oz) of water, which is roughly a 1:15 ratio.
You can use the same proportions depending on the quantity you want to get; everything that follows will be the same, regardless of the amount you use.
Five easy steps to follow: The ultimate French press method!
Step 1: Boil your water.
Use fresh filtered water. As with every other coffee method, if your water doesn’t taste good, your coffee won’t taste good. My kettle has a “French press” setting that is just short of boiling. If your kettle does not let you adjust the temperature, you can let your water boil and slightly cool down. I tried both and did not notice any difference in taste.
The recommended coffee press water temperature is 195-205 degrees F.
Personal note: Boil some extra water to warm up your cup.
Step 2: Measure and grind your coffee.
I use a regular scale when I make a French press. It may sound like overkill, but it only adds a few seconds to the process. I pour 30g of fresh coffee beans into a cup and put them in the grinder. If you use pre-ground coffee, you will use the same amount.
I will sound like a broken record: use the freshest coffee you can find. If you use pre-ground coffee, do not let it sit for too long. This brewing method rewards fresh coffee; if you do not believe me, try for yourself.
You probably heard that you need a coarse coffee ground for a French press. The grind size is not as crucial as the evenness of your coffee grounds. The last thing you want is a mixture of chunks of coffee beans and fine particles that would create a sludge in your cup. You want a burr grinder; a blade grinder would result in an uneven mess that will alter your coffee quality.
I use a medium-to-coarse setting, similar to the size you would get from a pre-ground bag of coffee from the store. You can experiment with various grind sizes and decide how it affects your coffee’s taste and texture.
Ensure the French press’s plunger is removed, grind your coffee, and dump it into the glass cylinder.
Step 3: Pour your hot water into the French press.
Put the French press with the coffee grounds on your scale, reset it. Once your water is hot, you can start pouring hot water, making sure you soak all the coffee grounds. There is no particular pouring technique; go slowly, making sure you do not leave dry coffee grounds exposed. Once you reach 500g, stop pouring. Use some leftover water from your kettle to preheat your favorite coffee cup or mug.
If your coffee is fresh, your coffee will make a beautiful bubbly foam called “blooming.” Blooming will be more pronounced with very freshly roasted coffee. It is the reaction caused by the release of CO2 from the coffee grounds once it comes in contact with the hot water. That is my favorite part of the process.
Step 4: Stir and wait.
With a wooden or plastic spoon, stir your coffee. You do not leave a “crust” on the top of your liquid. You can use a metal spoon but be very careful not to hit your brewer’s glass body with it.
Now comes the most crucial step of the process: put your timer to 5 minutes and do absolutely nothing with your coffee during that time. Keep on your morning routine activities, or you can marvel at the coffee particles that deposit on the bottom of the vessel.
This is the controversial part. I often saw French press user guides recommending the stir AFTER the brewing time. James Hoffmann’s method seems contrarian in this regard. For many years, I used to let the coffee grounds on top and stir after several minutes, and I must say I never really enjoyed my coffee brewed that way. I always found it a bit too harsh. When I tried this method, I finally started to appreciate coffee brewed with that method. I find the result much smoother, and more delicate, less bitter.
Step 5: To plunge or not to plunge, that’s the question!
When your timer rings, put the plunger on the pot and press it until it reaches the surface of the coffee. Do not press it all the way, you do not want to disturb your coffee.
Discard the hot water from your cup and pour your coffee, keeping the plunger in place, as a strainer; enjoy! Savor your fancy sophistication, while in reality, all you did was grind some beans, pour hot water, and wait. 🙂
This is the other controversial part about this method; until recently, I always pressed the plunger all the way. The jury is still out for me as to whether my coffee is better when NOT pushing all the way. I have great results using it that way, but I can’t say whether I pick up a significant improvement in taste when I keep the plunger up. Maybe you want to do your own experiment and do what works best for you.
If you keep your pot for a long time, I would recommend decanting your coffee into a thermal carafe so it stops brewing.
Note for cleaning: Use hot soapy water and rinse well, then let it dry.
The bottom line
The French press may sound fancy to many, but in reality, it is one of the most approachable and affordable coffee methods out there. It produces excellent results to let you appreciate tasty fresh coffee beans. The routine is barely more involved than starting a drip coffee pot. It only takes you a few minutes for results far superior to what you would get from a Keurig pot or a regular drip coffee. It is easy to enjoy every day, and all your friends will find you so sophisticated!
Enjoy your epic French press cup of coffee!
Sources:
Kumstova K., European Coffee Trip – March 21, 2018 – The history of French Press – https://europeancoffeetrip.com/the-history-of-french-press/
James Hoffmann – Oct 2, 2016 – The Ultimate French Press Technique – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st571DYYTR8&feature=youtu.be
On a recent trip to Astoria, OR, at boutique hotel we stayed had French presses in the room and fancy digital tea kettles…I didn’t have a scale, but I think I made a pretty mean cup of coffee following your guide. Sat on our balcony and watched the ships in my robe. Thanks!