Looking for an easy way to elevate your morning cup of coffee? The French press is a popular brewing method that will produce a consistent cup of coffee every time. We've put together a quick guide that makes 2 perfect cups of coffee for our taste. Let's jump into the guide below and make a coffee together!
Supplies You'll Need
- 4 tablespoons of fresh coffee
- 12 fluid ounces of water
- French Press
- Grinder (for whole bean coffee)
- Scale (if you have one)
- Kettle
- Timer
Step 1: Boil Water
Start by boiling fresh water, using filtered water if possible! Once boiled, allow it to cool for about 30 seconds to reach an optimal temperature of about 200°F. Water that is too hot can result in a bitter taste, while water that is too cold may not extract the full flavor profile of the coffee.
Step 2: Prepare Your Coffee
Without getting lost in the details, we use a ratio of 1:16 coffee to water. This means for every 1 gram of coffee, use 16 grams of water. This ratio will allow the flavors of the coffee to shine without being overpowered. If you have a gram scale, you can weigh 50 grams of coffee. If you don't have a scale, don't worry! You can start with 4 tablespoons of coffee, and adjust to taste from there.
For our coffees, we recommend using a coarse grind with French Press. If you purchased ground coffee, you are all set and ready to move onto the next step. If you purchased whole bean coffee, pour the beans you just measured into the grinder.
Step 3: Prepare Your French Press
Next, take your French Press and remove the lid and plunger. You can pour some hot water into the French Press to warm it up prior to brewing, and discard this water before adding in your coffee grounds.
Pour your grounds into the French Press. Since we are making 2 cups of coffee, pour the hot water (12 fl oz / 800 grams) evenly over the grounds, and stir briefly to ensure all of the grounds are wet. Place the lid back onto the French Press with the plunger pulled all the way up. Set your timer for 4 minutes and let the coffee steep, as this will allow enough time for the coffee to fully extract its flavors without becoming overly bitter.
Step 4: Finish Brewing
After 4 minutes, slowly push the plunger down, which will separate the grounds from the coffee. Pour yourself a cup (or two), and enjoy your perfectly brewed French Press coffee!
