August 10, 2022
One of the easiest ways to make a cup (or two) of coffee at home is by using your handy French Press. But nailing the French Press method requires more than just mixing water and grounds before pressing.
Like all brewing methods, this one calls for extra attention to temperature, brewing time, and grind size. If these three components work harmoniously together, you’re left with a very rich, flavorful cup in only a few minutes.
What is a French Press?
A French Press consists of two parts: a vessel, typically made of glass or stainless steel, and the plunger, or “press”, that has a metal filter to separate the grounds from the coffee once brewing is complete.
It’s important you purchase a French Press that is made from a heat-resistant material or something that can handle higher temperatures for safety reasons.
Lardera’s French Press not only offers a convenient 20oz brewing capacity, but is made from borosilicate glass to safely retain heat and make for easy clean-up by being dishwasher safe.
The flavor profile of a French Press coffee is often characterized as bold and fragrant. Because there are no paper filters to remove the coffee’s natural oils from the brew, all of these oils bring their flavor and texture to your cup.
These easy-to-use appliances can vary in size, meaning you can make anywhere from one cup to 4 cups depending on your French Press’s capacity. And since this kitchen staple doesn’t require any electricity to operate, it also acts as a solid addition to campsites and other outdoor excursions.
The Tools You Need
While you technically don’t require electricity to brew coffee with a French Press, you will need some other tools and ingredients.
To use your French Press, you’ll need:
● Hot water
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Coffee
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A digital scale and timer
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Coffee grinder (or pre-ground coffee)
● Filtered water
Water: Not Too Hot, Not Too Cold
Although you can heat water on your stovetop, it’s recommended to use a gooseneck electric kettle for better control.
Lardera’s Smart Electric Kettle is the fastest and most accurate electric kettle currently on the market, which allows users to heat up to 16oz of water in under 100 seconds with an easy-grip handle and a no-drip gooseneck spout, to name just a few features.
When heating your water for brewing, you'll want temperatures that are slightly below boiling, with 200-205ºF being the suggested range. It’s important not to pour boiling water on coffee since this can scorch the grounds and create unpleasant bitter flavors.
Coffee: Fresh Is Always Best
Although your French Press can vary greatly in size, we recommend using 500g of water and 30g of coffee to brew two cups.
It’s important to use the correct grind size when using a French Press, since failing to do so can lead to unsatisfying results. French Press calls for a medium-coarse ground since this brewing method uses less pressure and requires less surface area. Unlike espresso, the coarser grounds in the French Press undergo a gentler, longer extraction to get the most flavor pulled from your coffee. And as with all quality brewing, grinding fresh coffee is always recommended to get the best tasting cup possible.
The Assembly
Once you’ve used a digital scale to portion your coffee, place your beans in your coffee grinder to get a medium-coarse grind size. Afterward, begin heating your water in your kettle and it’s now time for the assembly process.
Start off by pouring hot water from your kettle into your French Press to warm up the vessel. By doing so, you’re preparing your French Press to retain a stable temperature throughout the entire brewing process. Discard the water once you’re ready to add your coffee grounds.
Next, place your empty and warmed French Press on your digital scale and tare to zero. Add your medium-coarse grounds and confirm that your dosage is correct before proceeding with next steps.
It’s now time to add your water. After confirming that your water is at correct temperatures, slowly pour your hot water over the grounds, keeping the 500:30 water to coffee ratio in mind.
The Bloom
One of the first things you’ll notice once your coffee is soaked in hot water is a layer of gas bubbles forming at the surface. This is produced by the coffee’s natural oils interacting with the water, and the coffee is in a stage of “blooming.” All of your grounds flavors are being extracted and it should be left alone for around one minute to achieve optimal results.
After a minute or so, use a spoon to break up the top layer and reincorporate the oils into your coffee. Your coffee now needs to brew for another four minutes.
Once four minutes have passed, place your plunger lid on top of your French Press and slowly press down until its metal filter reaches the bottom. There should be a slight but consistent resistance when doing so. Now that your coffee grounds and brewed coffee have been separated, your brew is ready to drink. Pour and enjoy!
