How to Use a French Press to Make Delicious Coffee at Home
You may have noticed that I like to drink coffee. We are continuing the coffee theme today with a look at how to use a French press to make coffee. I’m sure I’m not the only one who didn’t know how to use one of these when I first got it. No kitchen is complete without a French press, it’s a great way to make coffee and has a beautifully elegant design. Oh, and they make phenomenal coffee that cannot be matched by other coffee makers.
But learning how to use a French press can be a little more complicated than just brewing up coffee in your drip pot. Here are some simple, step by step instructions to get you started.
- Before anything else you need to grind your coffee. Make sure that the grind setting is very course, otherwise ground coffee will float through the wire mesh and end up in your coffee. Coffee grounds are rather undesirable in the actual cup, so it’s important to grind the coffee course enough to make sure this doesn’t happen. Most coffee grinders actually have a setting titled French Press, if so, just use that.
- Heat water in a kettle. The ideal temperature for french press coffee is approximately 200 degrees Fahrenheit (slightly below boiling point) because if the water is too hot it won’t provide as good of an extraction. It isn’t terrible to have the water too hot, but if it is about 200 degrees Fahrenheit it will draw more flavor from the coffee bean.
Quality coffee is key!
- Pour the coffee grounds into the french press, and pour the hot water over the grounds. Put the lid back on the french press so the heat doesn’t escape. It’s important that the water stays warm to maximize the extraction process.
- After one minute, lift the lid and stir up the coffee. This helps mix the coffee grounds and water which will results in a more flavorful cup. Lots of people don’t do this and it isn’t absolutely required, but from my experience, stirring up the coffee grounds with the water will produce a great extraction. Side Note: all of the coffee professionals I have worked with stir it up like I do, so if you want to be as cool as us pro-coffee makers you should definitely stir your coffee.
- After three to four minutes plunge the wire mesh down, trapping all of the coffee grounds under the wire, and leaving a warm pot of delicious french press coffee for you to enjoy. You may want to stir the coffee again after you have plunged the grounds, as this can create a more even cup of coffee and reduce the likelihood of sediment in the bottom of the cup.
That is pretty much all there is to making good french press coffee at home. It’s a simple method, but offers an incredible coffee drinking experience that you can’t really get from other brew methods.
Happy Brewing!
Category: Life at Home
