How to Use a French Press to Make Coffee at Home

Total Time: 10 minutes
Skill Level: Beginner

Making coffee with a French press can be a lovely ritual, requiring a bit of manual labor and yielding a robust, well-rounded cup of joe. It’s also an accessible way to make coffee, as French presses are wallet-friendly and widely available. As if that weren’t already enough, French presses look cute on the kitchen counter and don’t take up too much space. One small caveat: it can be deceptively tricky to master the French press. Even though it’s a straightforward process, there are a few key factors to keep in mind to make a balanced, crave-worthy cup of coffee. Here, we’re breaking down how to use a French press to make a cup of coffee that you’ll look forward to each morning.

For the best results, opt for coarsely ground coffee when using a French press. Pre-ground coffee is typically too fine for this purpose, so it’s better to buy whole coffee beans and grind them yourself. The beans should be evenly ground and about as coarse as kosher salt grains. (Some coffee grinders have a coarse setting to help you achieve the perfect texture for a French press, but if yours doesn’t, you can do it by eye.)
The ratio of coffee to water is important here for a not-too-dark, not-too-light brew. A standard ratio is 1:15, which would mean 1 gram of coffee grounds for every 15 grams (or milliliters) of water. Feel free to play around with this ratio, however! Depending on your palate and the type of coffee you’re using, another ratio might have better results. We recommend using a kitchen scale to measure the coffee and water accurately.
Water temperature is important when making coffee! If the water is too hot, it’ll scorch the coffee grounds and give them a bitter taste. If the water is too cold, it won’t extract the full flavor of the coffee. The ideal water temperature for a French press is somewhere between 195 and 205 degrees. Water boils at 212 degrees, so the perfect temperature is just beneath the boiling point. If you’re seeking accuracy, some electric kettles have helpful temperature settings.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

French press
Kitchen scale
Kettle
Stirring spoon
Timer
Mug

Materials

Coarsely ground coffee

Instructions

Heat the Water

Boil water and allow it to cool slightly, until it reaches somewhere between 195 and 205 degrees.
Measure the Coffee

Using a kitchen scale, weigh out the desired amount of coffee. For a standard 34-ounce French press, weigh out 65 grams of coarse coffee grounds and add it to the bottom of the French press.
Pour Water and Steep

Pour 1 liter of hot water over the coffee grounds, and stir briefly with a long spoon to combine. Place the lid on the French press without pressing down on the plunger, and set a timer for 4 minutes.
Press Down the Plunger

When the timer goes off, slowly and firmly press down on the plunger to separate the coffee grounds from the liquid.
Serve the Coffee

Pour the coffee into a mug and enjoy!

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