How to Make French Press Coffee: A Beginner's Guide
Welcome to the wonderful world of freshly roasted coffee! If you're new to making coffee with a French press, you're in for a treat (filter coffee is one of my favourite ways to enjoy coffee). This method is simple, requires minimal equipment, and produces a rich, flavourful cup of coffee. Follow these easy steps to brew your perfect cup.
What You'll Need
- French press
- Freshly roasted coffee beans or ask for the beans to be ground for filter
- Coffee grinder
- Scales
- Kettle
- Water
- Timer
- Spoon
- Mug
Step-by-Step Guide
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Measure Your Coffee and Water
Start by measuring your coffee and water. A good starting ratio is 1:15 (one part coffee to fifteen parts water). For example, if you use 30 grams of coffee, you'll need 450 milliliters of water.
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Grind Your Coffee
Grind your coffee beans to a coarse consistency, similar to sea salt. Freshly ground coffee makes a big difference in flavour, so use a burr grinder if possible.
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Boil the Water
Boil your water and let it cool for a minute. The ideal temperature for brewing coffee is around 93°C. If you don’t have a thermometer, just wait 30 seconds after the water reaches a boil.
- Add Coffee Grounds to the French Press
Place the press onto a set of scales and add 30g of ground coffee.
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Add Hot Water
Zero the scales and pour 450ml of hot water over the coffee grounds, making sure to saturate all the grounds evenly. Pour in a circular motion to ensure even extraction.
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Stir and Let Steep
Give the coffee and water a quick stir with a spoon to mix the grounds. Place the lid on the French press with the plunger pulled all the way up. Let the coffee steep for 4 minutes. You can adjust the steeping time to taste, but 4 minutes is a good starting point.
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Plunge the French Press
After 4 minutes, press the plunger down slowly and steadily. Apply gentle pressure to avoid any grounds escaping into the brewed coffee.
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Pour and Enjoy
Pour the coffee into your mug immediately to prevent over-extraction. Enjoy your freshly brewed French press coffee!
Tips for the Best French Press Coffee
Use Freshly Roasted Coffee: Freshly roasted beans yield the best flavour. Look for a roast date on the packaging and aim to use the beans within a few weeks of roasting.
Experiment with Ratios and Times: The 1:15 ratio and 4-minute steep time are guidelines. Feel free to adjust these based on your taste preferences.
Preheat Your French Press: Pour hot water into the French press to preheat it before adding your coffee and brewing water. This helps maintain the optimal brewing temperature.
Making French press coffee is a straightforward process that can yield delicious results with a little practice. Enjoy experimenting and discovering the flavours that freshly roasted coffee can offer!