Mastering the French Press
The French Press is the easiest way to brew rich, full-bodied coffee at home. The French Press brews coffee with an exceptionally robust mouthfeel that may include a trace of sediment from the freshly ground beans.
The French Press works by steeping ground coffee in hot water; it is then pressed to filter the brewed coffee. The secret to success with the French Press is a coarse grind and precise timing.
What you need
- A rich dark roast coffee such as Enzo works exceptionally well in this method and delivers a rich bold flavor profile. If your preference is a medium roast coffee, try our Vivace blend.
- Use coarsely ground beans, which will allow for a slower, more even extraction.
- Kettle
- French Press
- Scale or measuring spoons
- Kitchen Thermometer
- Timer
- Spring water (heated to 195°F to 205°F in a kettle)
- Long spoon to stir the coffee
Brew recipes:
- Use 25 grams of coffee and 400 grams of water for 12oz of coffee
- Use 38 grams of coffee and 600 grams of water for 18oz of coffee
- Use 50 grams of coffee and 800 grams of water for 24oz of coffee
Step-by-step
- Heat the spring water up to a temperature between 195°F to 205°F.
- Use some of the water to pre-heat the French press and cup(s), once heated dispose of the water and dry the items.
- Add the measured ground coffee to the French press.
- Put the French press on the scale and tare down to zero.
- Start the timer and pour in the water moving the stream around so that you evenly saturate all of the grounds. Don’t fill the pot completely – coffee grounds will expand during brewing.
- Let the gases release for the first 30 seconds, allowing the coffee to bloom.
- Pour in the rest of the water (according to the brew recipe selected).
- Cover the French Press with the lid.
- At the 2-minute mark stir the coffee gently to allow an even extraction.
- At the 4-minute mark, slowly push down on the press. Be firm but gentle – you may have to press and release a few times to work all the grounds to the bottom.
- Serve the coffee as soon as you’ve finished pressing the pot.