French Press
Full-bodied, rich, classic
Brew Time
4 min
Difficulty
Beginner
Serves
2–4 cups
Grind Size
Coarse
The French Press is an immersion brewer that produces a full-bodied, rich cup with natural oils intact. It requires no paper filter and no special pouring technique — just coarse grounds, hot water, and patience.
Equipment Needed
- French Press (any size)
- Kettle
- Scale with timer
- Coffee grinder
- Spoon
Step-by-Step Instructions
Preheat the press
Fill the French Press with hot water to preheat it. Discard the water before brewing.
Add coffee
Add 30 g of coarsely ground coffee — it should look like raw sugar or coarse sea salt.
Add water
Pour 500 g of water at 93–96 °C over the grounds. Pour all the water at once in a steady stream.
Steep
Place the lid on with the plunger pulled up. Let the coffee steep for exactly 4 minutes.
Plunge
Press the plunger down slowly and evenly. If it feels too easy, your grind is too coarse; too hard means too fine.
Serve immediately
Pour all the coffee right away. Leaving it in the press will cause over-extraction and bitterness.
Pro Tips
- A coarse, even grind is essential — blade grinders produce too many fines for French Press.
- Serve immediately after plunging to prevent over-extraction.
- For an even cleaner cup, skim the foam and floating grounds off the surface before plunging.
- French Press also makes excellent cold brew — steep coarse grounds in cold water for 12–16 hours.
Try This Method with Fresh Beans
Browse our curated selection of specialty coffees from independent roasters — perfect for your next french press brew.
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