How to brew a french press properly: a coarse grind, 1:15, four minutes of steeping, skim the crust and press slowly. With the method that makes sediment and bitterness almost disappear.
In short
- Grind coarse, 1:15, steep for four minutes.
- After four minutes stir the crust and skim off the foam, then wait another four minutes.
- Push the plunger only to just above the grounds and decant immediately.
The french press is the simplest method for full, heavy coffee. It has no paper filter, so oils and fine particles stay in the drink. That gives body, but also the familiar sediment. Both can be controlled.
The recipe for a one litre press
- Rinse the carafe with hot water and empty it.
- Grind 60 grams of coffee coarse, roughly like coarse sea salt. Coffee that is too fine is the most common reason for bitterness and mud in the cup.
- Pour on 900 grams of water at 94 degrees, wet everything, rest the lid on loosely and leave the plunger up.
- After four minutes break the crust on the surface with a spoon and stir. The coffee sinks.
- Skim off the foam and the floating particles with two spoons.
- Wait another four to five minutes. During that time the fines settle on the bottom.
- Guide the plunger down slowly, but only to just above the grounds. Do not press all the way to the bottom.
- Decant into a second carafe or into cups straight away. Coffee left standing on the grounds keeps extracting and turns bitter.
Why long steeping times work
In a french press the grind is coarse and the coffee floats freely in the water. Extraction runs more slowly than in a pour over, because no fresh water flows in. That is why eight minutes of total time is not a mistake here but necessary. Over extraction in a french press almost never comes from the time, it comes from grinding too fine and from letting the coffee stand on the grounds.
Variations
- Stronger: 1:12, so 75 grams to 900 grams of water. Do not grind finer, use more coffee.
- Cleaner: Pour the finished coffee through a paper filter. Most of the body survives and the sediment disappears.
- Cold: The french press works well for cold brew, see the separate guide.
Cleaning
Coffee oils settle in the mesh and go rancid. Unscrew the filter assembly after every use and rinse it hot, and once a week soak it with a little baking soda.
Common questions
How long should french press coffee steep?
Four minutes until you stir, then another four to five minutes so the grounds settle. Eight to nine minutes in total.
Why is my french press bitter?
Ground too fine, water too hot, or the coffee stood on the grounds too long after pressing. Grind coarse and decant immediately.
Which grind size for a french press?
Coarse, roughly like coarse sea salt. Anything finer slips through the metal mesh and makes mud.
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