Brewing Specialty Coffee with a French Press (the how to guide)

Brewing specialty coffee with a French press is arguably the most low-maintenance coffee brewing method available.

French press coffee is smooth, rich, earthy and indulgent, and if you have never had a coffee made from this brewing device, then you are certainly missing out on one of the most simple coffees, and great tasting experiences. 

Regardless if you are familiar with the French press or not, in this article you will save time and money as we will give you a complete how-to guide to help you brew speciality coffee with a French press.

What is French Press Coffee?

Put simply, French Press Coffee is a cylinder pot with an in-built filter screen and plunger, when pressed down the filter presses hot water through the ground coffee, ready to be poured into a coffee cup and consumed. 

It is simple, easy to prepare and tastes delicious. It is a device that was invented by Paolini Ugo in 1929 and is still a method used today by millions from around the world.

The French Press goes by many names, such as caffettiera in Italy, a coffee plunger in the southern hemisphere, and in the U.S. it goes by the name French press or coffee press.

However, its true French name is cafetière à piston, most commonly referred to simply as cafetière.

French Presses are much more portable and self-contained than other methods of coffee making, therefore a popular method for travellers, office workers and those that are generally on the go frequently.

You can also use this brewing method during all seasons as it is used to make a cold brew during the hotter months.

How to Make Specialty Coffee With a French Press?

Although many would say it is easy to make French Press coffee, and some even consider themselves pros, it will actually take a bit of practice if you are to make it perfect.

Whatever size French press you use, the general rule of thumb is to follow a 1:15 ratio of coffee to water, which converts to about 3 tablespoons of coffee for every cup of water.

It can then be a case of trial and error to find the perfect ratio for your taste preferences. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide to making French press coffee:

Everyone’s taste preferences will be different, however, with this simple process you will be sure to begin your journey of making the best French press specialty coffee.

Tips on Making the Best French Press Specialty Coffee

• Ensure your French Press is washed and clean, preferably straight after use.
• Buy quality whole bean specialty coffee, and grind it just before use.
• Follow a 1:15 ratio of coffee to water.
• Always use coarse-ground coffee to ensure the best taste and no grit.
• 200 degrees is the ideal water temperature. 
• Ensure you don’t have uneven coffee grounds.

How to Clean your French Press

No matter how good the coffee beans you use are, or the methods you take, if your french press is left dirty, you will be sure to head towards a bad-tasting, bitter coffee brew.

Therefore, cleaning your French press and the filter regularly is a must.

Due to the simple french press design, you will be happy to know that cleaning them is just as simple.

It is recommended to disassemble your french press, however, most french presses are dishwasher safe too, but you will run the risk of breaking it.

Cleaning Steps

• Ensure you remove the plunger from your french press first.
• Fill with warm water to loosen the coffee at the bottom which will be easy if you have done this straight after use.
• Pour the coffee contents over the sink, or use a mesh strainer so you can reuse the coffee ground for other purposes.
• Add liquid soap to the water inside your french press.
• Put the plunger back on and press down so the plunger is submerged in warm soapy water.
• You can pump it up and down a few times to remove stubborn oils and stains.
• If there are still stains, use a small brush or dishcloth.
• Rinse several times, and dry with a soft cloth or micro cloth.

Top 3 French Press Coffee Makers

As there is a huge variety of French presses available, we have given you our top three below.

What Specialty Coffee Can You Use with a French Press?

One of the key things in making the ultimate french press brew is of course the type of coffee you use.

A good batch of French press coffee requires a course and even ground, therefore, your best bet is to grind your beans at home with a grinder which you can find on Amazon for a pretty good price.

What Grinder Should I Use for French Press Specialty Coffee?

As we mentioned before, the grind is just as important as the bean, using a whole single-origin bean will ensure you have the correct course consistency in its freshest time frame.

We generally recommend a manual grinder as you can take better care of your bean and ensure you are making a perfect amount without any going to waste.

FAQs

Conclusion

For a robust, flavourful cup of specialty coffee, the French press is one of the easiest ways to get it done at home or while on the move. 

It is easy to see that there are many different designs for French Press, hot brew and/or cold brew, and despite the time it takes to heat up the water, you will quickly become a french press coffee addict. 

Ensuring you follow the methods in this article, and you have the best quality specialty coffee, it will be a matter of no time before you start making the best French press coffee, impressing your fellow coffee lovers around the world.

If you enjoyed this article, read more like this by checking out our Specialty Coffee Buyers Guides.