There are plenty of ways that you can brew delicious coffee, and there are many types of coffee you can enjoy. You could use a pour-over method, Aeropress, use a coffee maker, a Moka pot, or a French press.
Today we are going to focus on the French press method for brewing coffee, so if this method interests you, stick around. But if you prefer other coffee types like espresso, look here for more information.
The French press method is a very easy and popular method for brewing coffee. It is actually as easy as brewing tea, and you could even use a French press to make tea!
Once you are well acquainted with the water-to-coffee ratio and time required for brewing, you are good to go with using a French press.
You can get a deliciously flavorful coffee with a rich and full body when you use a French press, this is because it is a full immersion coffee plus the filter is just a fine mesh, and not paper, allowing more flavor to seep through.
If you are a coffee addict, a French press might just be the method of brewing you have been looking for all this time!
What Do You Need To Use A French Press Coffee Maker
Source: manofmany.com
The first thing you need to know is what you need to use a French press.
Of course, you need the French press itself, however, you also need the following:
- Stirrer or spoon.
- Water at 200 degrees Fahrenheit/ 93 degrees Celsius.
- Kettle (Electric kettles are more precise).
- Weighing scales or measuring spoons.
- Coffee grounds (coarse grounds are better, you do not want your grounds too fine).
Once you have these, you can then get started on making your French Press coffee.
Pro Tip
You could get whole coffee beans and coarsely grind them of you have a coffee grinder, for an even more delicious brew.
Step-By-Step Guide to Using a French Press
Source: travelandleisure.com
So, how do you make a delicious coffee with a French press? Here’s how!
1. Warming
This step is not always necessary, but it is best if you want to brew the perfect coffee. You should heat your French press with some hot water, this simply ensures that the French press stays warm during the brew.
Temperature is a key aspect in making good coffee, if your coffee hits the walls of a cold coffee maker, it will start to cool down a lot faster.
As you wait for the French press to warm, you can use this time to grind coffee beans into the grounds if you need to. Since French press coffee is a method that uses immersion brewing you will need some coarse and chunky coffee grounds of a decent size.
Before you continue, remove the hot water from the French Press. You use fresh water for the brew.
2. Add In Your Coffee
Whichever coffee you are making, now you add the ground coffee to the carafe and measure the water-to-coffee ratio at around 15 grams of water per gram of coffee.
A milliliter of water will weigh 1 gram, so you can measure the ratio very easily if you have scales. However, you could also use a measuring cup too.
3. Cover It All
Once you have your coffee grounds in the carafe, pour your fresh hot water in (200 degrees Fahrenheit/ 93 degrees Celsius). It is best to do so in a spiral motion as this makes sure that the water submerges all the coffee grounds evenly.
However, you also want to get the grounds wet at the same time, or as close to the same time as you can, as this will brew you a perfectly balanced coffee.
Note that the grounds may bubble in the hot water, this is normal and is known as ‘blooming’, it releases gasses from the coffee allowing for a more thorough extraction of all that coffee goodness.
4. Fill & Stir Your Coffee
Once the coffee grounds are submerged, and the blooming process has finished, fill the carafe with the rest of the water and gently stir the coffee. This ensures that any grounds that have crusted at the top of the brew get mixed back into the water.
However, do not stir violently as it may make the grounds extract their flavor too quickly, which can result in some bitterness.
Place the lid onto your French press, do not push the plunger down yet, and leave it to brew for 3 minutes.
5. Patience Is A Virtue
Some may wait longer than 3 minutes. However, 3 minutes will make an ideal-tasting brew. Do follow manufacturer instructions as some coffees may differ.
Now, push down on the plunger, so it goes all the way down, but do not press too hard, this is how you break a French press.
6. Pour & Enjoy!
Now all that is left to do is pour your coffee into your cup and enjoy!
Remember to take care of your French Press and do not leave extra coffee for later. If your coffee grounds sit there for too long it can get bitter. Try to clean out your French press straight after use and always be gentle with the mesh filter during cleaning.
Why French Press Beats Other Methods
Source: myrecipes.com
French press coffee tends to be a favorite method for many as it is pretty easy to do, the only complicated part can be in measuring coffee grounds versus water ratios (which must be done for other methods too). However, this gets easier with practice and time.
French press coffee is also delicious and can make all the difference if you are only used to making instant coffee at home. It is also super easy, and the process never changes!
Overall
The main thing you need to remember when you are making French press coffee is to ensure that the ratios are correct. Grinding your own coffee beans is also important for the tastiest possible coffee.
If you do choose to grind your own beans, make sure you do so coarsely, and not too fine.
The French press method will totally change your life, and you will never go back to instant coffee again. And, don’t forget, for peak flavor, always use filtered water for the best coffee!
In our blog post you can find more information about some of the world’s top coffee-loving countries.
