HOW TO USE A FRENCH PRESS COFFEE MAKER

Do you know how to use a French press coffee maker? It’s one of the world’s most popular coffee brewing methods, but 90% of people use the French press wrong! 

Making great coffee using French press is simple if you follow a few rules. I’ll show you how to use a French press the right way so you can enjoy consistently delicious coffee. I’ll even toss in a few extra tips I’ve gathered through years of experience.

How To Make Coffee In A French Press

Although there are different ways to make coffee, not every method and brewer would produce good-tasting coffee. You’re going to have a hard time making great coffee with a low-quality press pot. If you don’t already own one, check out our picks for the best French press coffee makers.

French press brewing requires a slightly coarser grind than drip coffee, so most pre-ground coffee will be too fine. That’s why I recommend grinding your own using one of the best coffee grinders for French press coffee. You can perfectly dial in the grind size, and freshly ground coffee is way more flavorful.

Here’s how to make the best coffee using a French press, complete with step-by-step photos. Follow this recipe to coffee glory.

Step 1: Preheat your Press

Preheat your French press by adding some hot water to the press. Swirl it around until it is warm to the touch, and then discard the water. You can do the same thing to pre-heat your serving cups.

This is an important step in all coffee brew methods. Preheating your brewing equipment stops your brew temperature from fluctuating.

Step 2: Weigh your coffee Beans

Use a coffee scale to weigh the correct amount of coffee for your desired coffee-to-water ratio and French press size. Consult the chart below for guidance.

For a typical 8-cup French press, weigh 84 grams of coffee beans. 

Grind them to a medium-coarse size using a burr grinder. If you don’t have a scale or grinder, use 14 tablespoons of pre-ground coffee.

Step 3: Heat And Add The Water

Heat water using a kettle or saucepan. The recommended water temperature for coffee press brewing is 195-205 degrees F (1). 

If you don’t have a thermometer or variable temperature kettle, a good way to estimate this range is to bring your water to a boil, take it off the heat, and let it sit for 30 seconds.

Set your French press with ground coffee on the scale and tare it to zero. Add water all in one pour until you hit the correct water-to-coffee ratio, again referring to the chart below. For my 8-cup French press, that’s 1000 g (34 oz) of water.

Take your spoon and give your coffee a stir to ensure that all the coffee grounds are immersed in water.

Step 4: Put The Lid On And Start Timing

Place the lid on the French press, which will help keep the heat inside as your coffee brews. Make sure the filter doesn’t touch the surface of the coffee.

Set your timer, and then play the waiting game! The standard coffee press steep time is 4 minutes, but you can adjust this to suit your preferences.

Step 5: Slowly Press The Plunger Down

Once enough time has passed, slowly press the plunger down. If there is too much resistance when you plunge, your grounds are too fine. Not enough resistance and they are too coarse.

Step 6: Serve Or Decant Coffee

Pour the French press brew into your preheated serving mugs immediately. Add milk, cream, or sugar to your taste, and enjoy!

Even after you’ve pushed the plunger down to finish your brew, remember that the coffee grounds are still in hot water being extracted. To avoid over-extracted, bitter coffee, any coffee that you aren’t serving right away should be decanted into a separate carafe. Choose a thermal carafe if you want the coffee to stay hot.

French Press Coffee Ratio

There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ French press coffee ratio, given our huge spectrum of tastes and preferences. Plus, depending on which of the best coffee beans for French press you enjoy, each batch of coffee will be a little different. Start with one ratio and adjust from there based on taste.

It’s better to measure your coffee by weight than volume to ensure consistency. The amount of coffee in a tablespoon can vary depending on grind size and roast level, but 10 grams of coffee is always 10 grams.

Top Tips For French Press Brewing

Want to take your French press coffee from good to great? Or from great to spectacular? Here are some helpful tips I’ve picked up along the way:

• Add a bloom stage. Add hot water to your French press in two pours. Start by adding just enough to saturate the grounds. Wait 30 seconds, then add the rest of the water.
• Explore a paper filter. Love the French press coffee flavor but not the rich, oily body? Pour your brewed coffee through a paper filter before serving.
• Adjust your water temperature to your roast level. The ideal coffee brewing temperature is a range for a reason. Try hotter water (~205 ℉) for lighter roasts and cooler water (~195 ℉) for darker roasts.
• Try cold brewing. Did you know you can make cold brew coffee with a French press?

Once you have those on lockdown, we have a whole article with plenty more French press tips!

French Press Vs Other Brewing Methods

There are many different ways to make coffee, each delivering a unique brew – even when you use the same beans! French press coffee is known for being bold, robust, and rich. It has an intense aroma, full body, and creamy mouthfeel. 

How does it stack up against other brewing methods? Check out the links below for detailed comparisons. 

Chemex vs French Press

Drip vs French Press

French Press vs Aeropress

French Press vs Pour Over

Moka Pot vs Press

Percolator vs Press

Final Thoughts

Using a French press is an easy, affordable, and delicious way to make coffee. It’s no wonder it’s one of the most popular manual brewing methods. Following this step-by-step recipe – and taking full advantage of the helpful tips and calculators – guarantees amazing French press coffee, even if you’re a brewing beginner!