How we love our French press! It’s pure elegance and simplicity, and because of its equally generous and forgiving nature, you can’t really go wrong with a French press and its promise of a fantastic cup of your favourite coffee within minutes.
The French press, or cafetière, is made up of different elements. First, the coffee pot itself is usually made of glass or stainless steel, though some can be made of ceramic or plastic. The pot also comes in different sizes, so whether you’re enjoying your first cup of the day by yourself, or are pouring coffee for your guests after dinner, there’s a French press sized to suit.
The plunger is an all-important piece of the French press puzzle, because having spooned in your ground coffee and added hot water, the mesh of the plunger is what stands between you and a cup of perfectly brewed coffee by preventing ground particles from hanging around in the hot liquid.
How to French press coffee
This handy step-by-step guide covers how to make coffee in a French press that tastes perfect every time.
Firstly, put the kettle on to boil your water, and choose your favourite single origin or coffee blend. It all starts here, and if you are using your own coffee grinder, making sure that your coffee is ground to the perfect consistency is important. If the grind is too fine, particles will escape through the mesh of the plunger into the coffee, whilst if the grind is too coarse the extraction may be compromised. Choosing a ready-ground French press coffee from an expert supplier like Cafe Du Monde ensures that your French press will be happy, and so will you.
How much coffee to use in your French press?
Spoon in two tablespoons of coffee to every 225 ml of water into your pot, equating to around 65g of coffee for every litre. The coffee to water ratio for French press is around one part coffee to 15 parts water.
French Press Pro Tip #1: Let your water boil, and then leave it for 30 seconds or so to cool a little before pouring onto the grounds. This ensures that the precious aromatics within your coffee remain intact.
French Press Pro Tip #2: Pour a small amount of hot water onto the grounds, adding just enough water to cover the grounds and leaving it to bubble and ‘bloom’ for a minute. This process releases gases that you don’t want inside your brewed coffee, and prepares the coffee grounds for a more even and full extraction.
Once the coffee has ‘bloomed’, add the rest of the water and stir well with a long handled-spoon to help with good overall extraction. Cover with the lid, though without plunging yet. This is when your coffee brews.
How long does it take to brew coffee in a French press?
Most French press coffee lovers agree that leaving your coffee to brew for three and a half minutes does the trick. Set a timer so you’re not guessing, and when the brewing time is done, skim off any foam that has risen to the top, and then plunge! Do this slowly and evenly, and enjoy the anticipation, because as soon as the plunger reaches the bottom of the pot, your coffee is ready to pour.
French Press Pro Tip #3: After making french press coffee, decant any coffee you’re not drinking immediately into another pot to prevent over-extraction, which obviously affects the taste. You’ve come this far, and will want to preserve your precious brew.
Make sure to look after your French press by cleaning the pot and the plunger thoroughly after it’s been used. Follow these simple steps and your French press will reward you with years of delicious service, and many a fine cup of coffee along the way.
REASONS TO JOIN CAFÉ DU MONDE
LEGACY AND REPUTATION
We have over 30 years experience, so you'll be working with the leading experts.
QUALITY
We want you to serve the best, so only the best from Café Du Monde will do.
OPERATIONAL CONSULTANCY
We will make sure you have the most suitable products for you and your needs.
PASSION
We live and breath our industry and want to share this passion with you.
TRAINING
We will take you through everything you need, from an introduction to coffee, to cleaning and maintenance.
BOOK AN APPOINTMENT TO MEET OR CALL
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