How to Make French Press Coffee – A Couple Cooks
Learn how to make French press coffee with the perfect coffee to water ratio! This simple method makes a rich, full-bodied cup with this simple tool.
I’ve become a coffee expert by making coffee almost every way, and here’s one thing I’ve found: the French press is one of the easiest, most inexpensive ways to brew a great cup of drip coffee. It’s a forgiving method that works for may types coffee beans and roasts, and you don’t need lots of extra equipment.
While I love my morning pour over coffee, this method is a close second I recommend for a morning coffee ritual! I’ve tested this method over and over to hone just the right French press ratio to make the best cup of joe.
What Is a French Press?
The French press is a small pitcher with a plunger that’s used to brew coffee and other drinks. Despite the name, the French press is actually Italian: it was patented by an Italian designer in 1929.
Other names for this coffee brewing tool include coffee press, coffee plunger, or cafetière. It’s most often used for brewed coffee, but the French press also makes tea, cold brew, espresso, and more.
Why I Love the French Press Method
There are lots of advantages to using this coffee tool. The major pros to making French press coffee:
- It’s inexpensive. A quality French press costs a fraction of an espresso machine.
- It’s forgiving. It works with any coffee roast, and the method isn’t overly sensitive to coffee grind. While you’ll need to dial it in, some variation in the ground size won’t affect the final cup.
- There’s minimal equipment. You don’t need lots of extra accessories like filters or food scales, and there’s an easy to remember coffee ratio.
- Rich, bold flavor. The filter preserves the oils that give French press its signature full body.
One con to the French press? Flavor. Coffee connoisseurs tend to prefer the pour over coffee method for extracting the best flavor from the coffee bean. I agree, so pour over coffee with a Chemex is my go-to morning method. Now that I’ve dialed in my French press method, it’s a close second.
The French Press Coffee Ratio
Here’s a simple formula to memorize about French press coffee so you can make it anytime, anywhere. How much coffee for a French press?
- The best French press coffee ratio is 1:13 coffee to water, or approximately 1 gram coffee for every 13 grams water. You can adjust this to taste, but it should make a great cup of coffee with dark, medium, or light roast coffee. An even easier way to think about it?
- Use 1 cup ground coffee and 4 cups water. That’s 1 part ground beans to 4 parts water, no matter what size of French press coffee maker you’re using.
This ratio is a little different than other top methods, which use less coffee to water. But we’ve tested this recipe multiple times with light roast, medium roast, and dark roast coffee. And we can assure you: this French press coffee ratio makes the best cup!
Ingredients and Equipment You’ll Need
Ready to make French press coffee? Here’s what you need:
- French press coffee maker: The Bodum brand has been making this coffee tool since the 1940’s. I use this Bodum 34-ounce (1 liter) French Press.
- Coffee of any roast: You can use light, medium, or dark roast coffee here and get a great cup with any of them.
- Filtered water (optional): Filtered water has the best flavor for coffee: I use this filter pitcher.
- Coffee grinder: You’ll want a medium grind using any type of coffee grinder. An electric burr grinder is most consistent, but not required for the French press like it is for pour over coffee.
- Food scale (optional): You can use a digital food scale to weigh out the coffee and water, or just use the ratio of 1 cup grounds to 4 cups water.
- Electric kettle (optional): To easily measure temperature of water, you can use an electric kettle.
How to Make French Press Coffee
Got your required equipment? Let’s make French press coffee! Add the coffee, wait for 5 minutes, and plunge. Here’s what to do (or jump to the recipe card below):
- Grind the coffee: Grind 70 grams (1 cup) coffee beans to a medium grind. The size of grind is important: if it’s too fine it can create sediment; if it’s too coarse it’s not flavorful enough.
- Heat the water: Heat 4 cups water to hot but not boiling (200 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit) using an electric kettle, or bring it to a boil on the stovetop and then let it sit for 1 minute to decrease in temperature.
- Add coffee grounds: Add the coffee grounds to the bottom of the pot.
- Let coffee bloom for 1 minute: Add hot water to the height of the coffee and stir with a spoon. Set a timer and wait for 1 minute.
- Add water and brew 4 minutes: Fill the French press to the top (just below the spout) and stir again. Set a timer and wait for 4 minutes.
- Plunge: Place the lid on the French press and slowly press the plunger all the way down. Serve immediately. (Tip: If the plunger is hard to press, use a more coarse grind of coffee the next time. If it presses very easily, make the coffee grounds a bit finer.)
Troubleshooting Your Brew
- Does the coffee taste weak? The grind is probably too coarse or the measurement ratio was off. Check your ratio (1 cup grounds to 4 cups water) and grind slightly finer.
- Is there sediment in your cup? The grind on your coffee is probably too fine. Aim for medium grind.
- Does the coffee taste bitter? The water could be too hot, or the coffee was steeped too long. Make sure to heat to 200 to 205°F and pour right after plunging.
What Else Can You Make in a French Press?
The French press is great for brewed coffee, but it works for many other things: espresso, tea, and more! Here are our top alternative ways to use a French press:
Frequently Asked Questions
Pre-ground coffee works, but many store-bought grounds are ground finer than is ideal for a French press, so you may notice more sediment in your cup. For best results, grind whole beans to a medium grind just before brewing.
The tradeoffs are cleanup of the French press, and sometimes getting a bit of sediment in the cup. The other trade-off is flavor: many coffee lovers prefer the cleaner flavor of pour over coffee.
Weak French press coffee is usually because of: not using enough coffee (check your ratio: 1 cup grounds to 4 cups water), a grind that’s too coarse, or water that’s not hot enough.
French Press Coffee
Learn how to make French press coffee with the perfect coffee to water ratio! This simple method makes a rich, full-bodied cup with this simple tool.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 3 to 4 mugs (32 ounces) 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Brewed
- Cuisine: Coffee
- Diet: Vegan
- Grind the coffee: Grind the coffee beans to a medium grind using a coffee grinder (a burr grinder is most consistent but not required). The size of grind is important: if it’s too fine it can create sediment; if it’s too coarse it’s not flavorful enough.
- Heat the water: Heat the water to hot but not boiling (200 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit) using an electric kettle, or bring it to a boil on the stovetop and then let it sit for 1 minute to decrease in temperature.
- Add coffee grounds: Add the coffee grounds to the bottom of the pot.
- Let coffee bloom for 1 minute: Add hot water to the height of the coffee and stir with a spoon. Set a timer and wait for 1 minute.
- Add water and brew 4 minutes: Fill the French press to the top (just below the spout) and stir again. Set a timer and wait for 4 minutes.
- Plunge: Place the lid on the French press and slowly press the plunger all the way down. Serve immediately. Tip: If the plunger is hard to press, use a more coarse grind of coffee the next time. If it presses very easily, make the coffee grounds a bit finer.
Notes
*Coffee is best with filtered water: it’s easiest using a filter pitcher like this one.
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