How to Use a French Press
Our French Press method brings out rich, full-bodied flavor every time. Simple steps, perfect ratios, and expert timing guarantee a smooth, café-quality brew at home.
Servings: 11 oz
Equipment
- A French press (glass or stainless carafe with plunger and mesh filter)
- Burr coffee grinder (for best results)
- Digital scale (to measure coffee and water)
- Timer or stopwatch
- Kettle (preferably one with temperature control, or just bring to boil and let cool slightly)
- Spoon or stirring utensil (non-metal if your carafe is glass)
- Mug or serving carafe
Ingredients
- Freshly roasted whole-bean coffee from BrewedWithin (ground coarse just before brewing)
- Filtered or clean water (taste-good water makes better coffee)
- Optionally: pre-heat water for carafe
- Coffee dose and water volume to match your desired yield
Instructions
- Boil water, preheat the French press with hot water then discard, place the press on a scale and tare to zero.
- Measure 24 g coffee for about 400 g water (1:16), grind coarse like coarse salt or breadcrumbs, add grounds and level.
- Heat water to 90 to 96 °C, start the timer as you pour the full water volume to saturate all grounds.
- Steep undisturbed for 4 minutes (up to 4 to 5 for a stronger cup), optionally stir at 30 seconds to break the crust and even extraction.
- Attach the lid and plunge slowly with steady pressure, then immediately pour into cups or a server to prevent over extraction.
- Compost the grounds, rinse carafe, plunger, and mesh thoroughly, and clean regularly to avoid stale oils affecting flavor.
Notes
Recommended Ratio & Settings
- A good starting ratio is about 1 g coffee : 15-17 g water for French press.
- Grind size: coarse (think roughly the texture of coarse sea salt or breadcrumbs)
- Water temperature: ~ 90-96 °C (195-205 °F).
- Brew time: about 4-5 minutes for many setups, though some methods suggest longer steeping for immersion.