French Lessons: Tips for the French press, press jug, cafetiere
At a glance
- Amount of coffee
65 g - Grind
Medium - Coarse - Amount of water
1 l - Temperature
96 °C - Brewing time
4 min
What you need:
Coffee – we recommend our Sierra Nevada
A precision scale, i.e.the Hario Drip Scale
Coffee from French Press (or press plunger pot) has been a popular preparation method for decades now. It’s easy to use, quick to clean and there’s no use for a paper filter. The coffee is full-bodied because the metal filter doesn’t filter out the fats and oils contained in the coffee, leaving you with a coffee packed with flavor.
The French Press is one of the full immersion coffee makers: the coffee powder is in contact with the water throughout the entire process before it is later separated by a filter – and thus differs from the popular preparation with the hand filter, the Pour Over method. The coffee is characterised by its body, as the metal sieve does not filter out the fats and oils contained in the coffee – unlike a paper filter – during preparation. This gives the coffee a richer taste.
1For the French Press, we recommend a medium grind, which is somewhat coarser than for preparation with the hand filter. When grinding, ensure a homogeneous grinding result - for this we recommend a coffee grinder with a cone or disc mill.
2We recommend 65 grams of ground coffee per liter of water. It is best to preheat the glass jug with hot water and pour it out again. This way the water does not cool down as quickly and your coffee stays warm longer.
3Wait about 30 seconds before using the water. This allows it to reach the optimum temperature of approx. 96 °C. Now start the brewing process by pouring the water quickly.
4Stir the coffee after pouring so that the coffee powder is evenly distributed in the water and the coffee aromas can be optimally extracted. Then put the lid on and press it down slightly so that the coffee powder that has settled on the surface is pressed into the water. In this way, you ensure that the coffee powder is completely extracted.
5The ideal preparation time is 4 minutes. Keep an eye on the time so that the coffee is not over-or under-extracted. Over-extracted coffee tastes bitter, under-extracted tastes thin and watery. After 3.5 minutes, stirring twice to remove the foam. Then press down on the portafilter. Be sure to press slowly and evenly so that the ground coffee has time to settle.
6Pour and enjoy!
Did you know?
We owe the invention to a bit of a coincidence
A Frenchman around the year 1800 is said to have forgotten to boil water together with his coffee, so to cut corners, he just poured hot water over his coffee and filtered it with a strainer. Et voilà: the French Press was born.
Recommendations for really good coffee from the French Press
Not in the mood for reading? In the video we show you how easy the preparation with the French Press is
Coffee favourites for the French Press
Your coffee doesn't taste well?
We show you how you can positively influence the taste of your cup of coffee and what you can do if your coffee doesn’t taste the way you want it to.
