A French press is a classic and simple way to brew coffee that yields a rich and full-bodied cup. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to make French press coffee:
Start by heating up water to around 200°F. This can be done either in a kettle or on the stove.
While the water is heating up, measure out your coffee beans and grind them coarsely. A good rule of thumb is to use a ratio of 1:15, meaning for every 1 gram of coffee, use 15 grams of water. For example, if you want to make 12 ounces of coffee, you will need 36 grams (or about 1.25 ounces) of coffee.
Once the water has reached the desired temperature, add a small amount of hot water to the French press and let it sit for a few seconds to warm up the press. Then pour out the water.
Add the ground coffee to the French press.
Pour the hot water over the coffee, making sure to saturate all of the grounds. You should use enough water to cover the coffee, but not so much that it overflows the press. Give the coffee and water mixture a quick stir to ensure that all of the grounds are wet.
Start the timer and let the coffee steep for 4-5 minutes. During this time, the water will extract the flavor from the coffee beans.
After the time is up, slowly press down on the plunger to separate the coffee grounds from the liquid. Take your time and make sure to press down all the way.
Pour the coffee into your cup, and enjoy! If the coffee is too strong, you can always dilute it with a bit of hot water.
Use freshly roasted coffee beans for the best flavor. Old beans can taste stale and lack flavor.
Experiment with different grind sizes to find the one that suits your taste best. A coarser grind will yield a weaker coffee, while a finer grind will make a stronger one.
If you want to make a larger or smaller batch of coffee, adjust the amount of coffee and water accordingly. Just make sure to maintain the 1:15 ratio.
Clean your French press after each use to prevent any lingering flavors from affecting future brews.
