How to Make French Press Coffee: A Complete Beginner’s Guide

French press coffee is one of the simplest and most tasty ways of preparing coffee at home. When you are learning to make French Press Coffee, you will like the fact that it requires little equipment and gives you full control of the process through which the coffee is being brewed and produces a rich and full-bodied cup of coffee. It is your first time brewing a cup, or you are a coffee lover and want to learn how to prepare a cup of French Press Coffee, this tutorial on how to make French Press Coffee will guide you on all you need to know.

What Is French Press Coffee?

French press coffee is made through a manual method of brewing whereby the coffee ground is dipped in hot water, and the separation of the beverage is done with the assistance of a metal mesh plunger. This is an important approach that must be understood in the process of learning to make French Press Coffee properly.

The paper that filters the French press is never applied like it is the case with drip coffee makers, and this allows oils and flavours in the coffee to be natural. This method is loved because of its aggressive taste, its rich aroma, and gustatory softness, which are some of the reasons why most individuals use the method when investigating how to prepare French Press Coffee at home.

French Press Coffee Ingredients

Preparations Before You Begin

Before starting How to Make French Coffee, you need the following items:

• French press (any size)
• Fresh coffee beans
• Burr grinder (recommended)
• Kettle or pot to heat water
• Measuring spoon or scale
• Timer
• Stirring spoon (wood or plastic)

French Press Best Coffee to Water Ratio

Great-tasting coffee must have a good ratio, which is a crucial step in making French Press Coffee perfectly.

Recommended ratio:
1:15 (1 gram of coffee to every 15 grams of water)

Example:

• 30 grams of coffee
• 450 ml of water

You will be able to change this ratio according to the intensity or the lightness of your coffee.

French Press Coffee Maker History.

One of the most well-known coffee-making gadgets in the world is known as the French press, also referred to as cafetiere, coffee plunger or coffee press pot. Early designs of this coffee maker are always traced back to 1852, when Jacques-Victor Delforge and Henri-Otto Mayer came up with one of the earliest designs that lacked a tight seal. This was later improved to produce the modern versions, which have a mesh filter and plunger. The design of the French press was developed by European innovation and was popular due to its simple and predictable design. The sources are from Wikipedia as a reference for this section.

What Is the French Press Brewing Technique?

A French press is a rudimentary immersion brew in which rough coffee is immersed in hot water, then filtered using either a fine wire mesh plunger. Since the grounds are constantly in contact with the water during the entire process of steeping, this way will provide the maximum amount of flavours and oils to be extracted that many of the other brewing methods will filter away. The metal mesh of a French press also allows the rich coffee oils and aroma compounds to stay in your cup, which makes it have a fuller body and a stronger flavor unlike the drip coffee makers, which use paper filters. The Reference of this part is provided by Wikipedia, which you can also visit on this side.

How French Press Coffee Extraction Works

During the French press brewing technique, the soluble compounds of the coffee grounds are dissolved in the hot water to which they are steeped together. The immersion brewing method provides evenness of the grounds, and the lateral extraction and strong flavor development. The metal mesh filter separates the denser grounds to the bottom when the plunger is pushed down, leaving the oils of flavour and fine particles to remain in the drink. Since no paper filter catches such oils, the resultant coffee has a more mouthfeel and a more complex aroma. Reference: General explanation of immersion brewing from coffeexplore.

Why the French Press Uses a Metal Filter

Another characteristic of the French press is the metal mesh filter that is used to separate the brewed coffee and freshly steamed grounds. The metal mesh lets the natural oils (which much of the coffee flavor and aroma is comprised of) flow directly into your cup, unlike paper filters, which soak up coffee oils and may shift the flavor profile. This has the effect of producing coffee which is richer in body and more flavorful, and many coffee purists would love that. The Reference of this section is from Wikipedia.

Common Names and Global Popularity of French Press Coffee

There are various names by which this coffee maker is known all over the world, though it is also known as a French press in most places. Most commonly known as either a French press or a coffee press in North America, and a cafetiere in the UK and Ireland. It is also referred to as a coffee plunger in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. All these names are an indication of how popular it is and how long it has been used as a popular method of brewing. The Reference of this section is from Wikipedia on the French press 

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make French Press Coffee

Step 1: Heat the Water

French press coffee is easy to make, and attention to detail is the only way that it will provide a rich, smooth taste. These are the steps to follow in order to prepare the perfect cup.

Heat water to 195–205°F (90–96°C).

In the event that you do not have a thermometer, boil the water for 30 seconds and then use it. This will make the best extraction during the preparation of French press coffee.

Step 2: Grind the Coffee Beans

Roughly mill your coffee beans, as you would your sea salt.

Never use finely ground coffee because it may go through the mesh filter, and translate to gritty or bitter French press coffee.

Step 3: Place Coffee Grounds into French Press.

Put the ground coffee into the empty French press.

At this point, accuracy in measurements is significant as it directly influences the quality of your coffee in terms of strength and flavor.

Step 4: Pour Hot Water

Add the hot water slowly to the coffee grounds, making sure that all the grounds are properly wet.

After approximately half a cup of water is poured in, allow 30 seconds before the coffee blooms. This emits carbon dioxide and improves taste.

Step 5: Stir Gently

Stir gently the coffee and water blend using a spoon.

This assists in creating an equal distribution of the grounds to extract in the same way.

Step 6: Steep the Coffee

The lid should be placed on the French press with the plunger not pressed.

Steep the coffee for 4 minutes.

To be more pungent, you can steep for up to 5 minutes.

Step 7: Press the Plunger

Slowly and steadily press the plunger down.
Pressing too quickly can disturb the grounds and negatively affect the taste of your French press coffee.

Step 8: Serve Immediately

Pour the coffee into your cup right away.
Leaving coffee in the French press can cause over-extraction, leading to bitterness.

How to Make French Press Coffee Better

• Use freshly roasted coffee beans.
• Grind the beans just before brewing.
• Clean your French press after each use.
• Experiment with ratios and steeping time.
• Use filtered water for better flavor.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using the Wrong Grind Size

• Too fine = bitter and muddy
• Too rough = weak and under-extracted.

Letting Coffee Sit Too Long

Even when pressed, coffee will keep on brewing. Always serve immediately.

Using Boiling Water

The coffee may burn on water that is too hot and destroy the flavor.

Why French Press Coffee?

• No electricity required
• Affordable and portable
• Full-bodied flavor
• Easy to use and clean
• Ideal for home and travel

French press brewing is the ultimate way to have full control over your coffee, and it i,s by all means, perfect with the people who love experimenting with flavours.

Final Thoughts

The French press coffee is cheap, simple to prepare and highly rewarding.
Coffee that is of the standards of a cafe can be made at home with as few as a few simple tools and the appropriate technique.
After learning the basics, you can then experiment with various beans, ratios, and brewing times to get the best cup for you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).