Hi, friends, and welcome! Today I'm going to share with you how to brew coffee at home with a French press.* I also have a delicious coffee recommendation if you're looking for something new to try! The French press is my preferred way of brewing my coffee, and I've noticed it has become a more popular method of home-brewed coffee.
My coffee knowledge comes from a variety of different places; I worked as a barista in a local coffee shop for eight months and learned the ins and outs of the gourmet coffee industry. We offered a selection of espresso, drip coffee, and cold brew beverages that our customers in town grew to love. Growing up, I drank coffee occasionally, but it became a daily ritual in high school. Now that I'm older, coffee is a hobby and part of my lifestyle more than it is a simple grocery item.
To start, here is a list of the items you'll need to begin:
1) A French press (obviously). I purchased mine from Wayfair, which is a great site for kitchen products. Mine is 32 oz. (just under 950 ml.) and knowing the size of your FP is important for knowing how much coffee to use.
2) Spoon or stirrer (this may be included in your FP purchase; mine was)
3) Hot water kettle (and 64 oz. of water at 200º F). Mine is from Hamilton Beach, is super affordable, and has lasted a long time!
4) 5 tbsp. (approx. 71 g.) of a coarsely ground coffee of your choice. It's important to either purchase your coffee pre-ground for French press, or purchase a grinder for your kitchen to grind the beans fresh as you brew. Using coffee that is not coarse enough will flow through the filter and put grounds into your coffee. As I've mentioned before, I purchase my coffee online in subscriptions, and I have the beans ground for me before the roaster mails it. One of Chris and I's favorite roasts comes from Red Rooster, a local coffee company from Virginia, and it's a medium roast with a lot of flavor.
Now that you have everything you need, let's get brewing!
1) To begin, heat 32 oz. of water in the kettle and add to the French press. This step preheats your FP and preps it for the hot coffee you're about to make. After 30 seconds, empty the french press and begin heating another 32 oz. of hot water (if you're like me and can only boil 1 L at once).
2) Add your coffee grounds to the French press.
3) When the water is ready, slowly pour in a circular motion to cover all of your grounds. Add enough at first to soak them and begin the brew, then pause for 30 seconds (I use my phone's stopwatch for this). Then, fill water to the top of your FP (make sure to leave room for the lid and filter)!
4) You will notice that the coffee grounds will all float to the top of the water and form a layer of crust. Using your stirrer, gently break this layer and stir the grounds for a few seconds.
5) Place the top of your French press on and let coffee brew for 4 minutes.
6) Slowly push the plunger straight down to the bottom (don't push too hard at the bottom in an attempt to squeeze more flavor out of the grounds; your FP has already done all the work and it'll taste great).
7) Serve your coffee however you like!
Tell me how you make your coffee at home, and share what kind of coffee you're using lately!
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Until next time, hope you're Living23 like me.
*my coffee instructions and ratios are based off of the how-to French Press Guide on Trade. Click the link for more info and details on the French press method!
Lisa, what kind of coffee are you making in your press right now?
I love mine. Coffee taste amazing. Tammy you have to try it.
Of course, Tammy! I’m so happy you enjoyed it! 😊
That sounds wonderful! I've always wanted a FP. Never looked into how to use one. Thank you for the tips!