How to Make the Perfect French Press Coffee

French Press 

The French press in the most affordable and simple coffee maker for a tasty cup of coffee in the morning. The French press, also known as a cafetiere or coffee press, is a cylinder-shaped beaker with a plunger (typically glass, but occasionally plastic or steel). The plunger’s piston is composed of mesh, which allows liquid to pass through but not the bigger coffee grinds.

What kind of coffee does a french press make?

French press produces a creamy-bodied coffee when done right

What equipment do I need to have?

One of our best selling at home coffee makers here at Quest Coffee Roasters, and the one most people are familiar with, is the Bodum 3 cup and 8 cup Plunger (French Press).

THe most important thing you will need is a plunger. They come in many sizes, however, the 3, 4, 8 and 12 cup sizes are the most popular. 

The other things you will need is good quality coffee beans and hot water. 

French press Difficulty level 

⅖ 

How long will the french press take to brew?

Once you add the hot water, you need to let the coffee brew for only 4 minutes before you are ready to plunge. One thumb rule you can follow is if the coffee is ground a bit coarser, it is best to allow 1-2 minutes extra brewing time

What coffee to use 

Using good quality coffee is essential to get a creamy-bodied coffee from your french press. 

Quest Coffee Roasters sells and delivers a range of roasts, from light to dark, through our online store. You may also order beans whole or ground for your Bialetti Stovetop. 

• Compare Quest Coffee roasted beans by attributes
• View all Quest Coffee roasted beans on offer

When selecting a grind size, your objective is to extract the right amount of flavour from your coffee.

How to use my french press

Steps 

1.  Place the plunger on a dry, flat, non-slip surface. Hold the handle firmly, then pull the plunger unit straight up and out of the pot.

2.  For each cup (4 oz), put 1 rounded tablespoon or 1 Bodum scoop of coarse ground coffee into the pot. 

3.  Pour hot (not boiling) water into the pot. Leave a minimum of 2,5 cm/1 inch of space at the top. Stir the brew with a plastic spoon. 

4.  Place the plunger unit on top of the pot. Turn the lid to close off the pour spout opening. Let the coffee brew for at least 4 min before pressing down.

5.  Hold the handle firmly with the spout turned away from you, then using just the weight of your hand, apply slight pressure on top of the knob to lower the plunger straight down into the pot. Lowering the plunger slowly with minimal pressure produces best results.

If the filter clogs or it becomes difficult to push down the plunger you should remove the plunger from the pot, stir the brew and then slowly plunge again. 

6.  Turn the lid to open the pour spout and then pour coffee.

Cleaning 

To clean, unscrew the filter assembly and clean the plunger unit after each use. All parts are dishwasher safe.

Tips and Hints 

1. Use only coarse ground coffee. Fine grind can clog the filter and create high pressure. Place the plunger on a heat proof, non-slip surface.
2. Use a 1:15 ratio for coffee to water as a thumb rule.
3. Metal spoons can scratch or chip the glass beaker and cause breakage.
4. Using excessive force can cause scalding liquid to shoot out of the pot.
5. Keep children away while using. Hot water is a hazard to small children!

FAQs

Q. Why does my french press coffee taste bitter? 

A. The simplest reason for this is that you may be letting the coffee brew for more than the required 4 minutes.

Q. Why can’t we use boiling water?

A. Boiling water will scorch the coffee and cause bitterness. So it is ideal to use water just under boiling temperature. 

Q. How should I decant?

A. Once the coffee has brewed it is best to decant the whole contents into another container, or throw away the coffee grind and put it back in. This avoids the coffee continuing to brew and give a nasty bitter taste.