A French press, also known as a cafetière, сafetière à piston, Cafeteria, press pot, coffee press, or coffee plunger, is a coffee brewing device patented by Italian designer Attilio Calimani in 1929. Since its introduction in the early 20th century it has gained a huge following by individuals and coffee connoisseurs alike.
Many coffee shops now offer French press coffee on their menu in addition to the pour over method. In the end, what we are all really looking for is the best cup of coffee, and the French press is certainly able to produce a great cup every time and is very easy to use and clean.
Even if you are already familiar with the French press, or are ready to give it a go, read our short tutorial below on this classic brewing method.
Start by boiling water in a kettle. It is recommended to warm up the clean, empty French press by pouring hot water into it and let it sit for a minute. This will help keep a warmer temperature while the coffee brews to get a good extraction.
You need 8 Tablespoons, or 56 grams of coarsely ground coffee. (We suggest using a medium to dark roast.) The grounds should resemble breadcrumbs. You can use a small kitchen scale to measure the weight in grams.
Pour out the hot water that was sitting in the French press. Add your freshly ground coffee to the press. Get your timer ready. Add hot water to the top of the press and start the timer. After 1:00, slowly stir the grounds to make sure they are fully covered in water and there are no dry areas.
Once your timer hits 4:00, press down the filter in the French press. Be sure to push it straight down until it touches the top of the grounds sitting on the bottom.
That's it! See how easy it is? Pour the coffee from the French Press into your selected mugs for serving. Pour any remaining coffee into a carafe to avoid over extraction because you might want a second cup!
Clean up is simple too. Just add a little tap water to the press and swirl it a few times in order to loosen up the grounds. Then dump it into the trash or compost. Wash the French press with warm water and soap to remove residue and oils from the beans. Let it dry good before making your next French press coffee.
The French press method is a simple method to be used at home, while traveling or at work and produces great coffee every time. There are all kinds of French presses on the market and kits available depending on the amount you prefer to make.
It is truly one of our favorite ways to make coffee. We hope you find this helpful and appreciate the simplicity and great taste of French press coffee!
Full Bloom Coffee Roasters
Garner, NC
