How to Make French Press Coffee?

The French are known for their luxury, lifestyle, and fashion, but did you know, they also are masters of potions? They make the most enchanting perfumes! However, if you had to learn something from the French, you should learn How to Make French Press Coffee. Especially if you are a coffee enthusiast or looking to pick up a shift as a barista.

The French Press is a slow brewed concoction with a rich full-bodied flavour considered to be superior to the general drip or pour over alternatives. Made in a specialised compression pot that is shaped like a beaker. Making the process of making feel like the fun science experiment that it is. 

The process requires great attention to details. The temperature of the pot, the time it’s left to brew and the delicateness of the pressure you apply to press it; they all come together to give you a wholesome brew. 

Table of Contents

1) What is French Press Coffee?  

2) How to make French Press coffee?   

3) Why is it called a French Press? 

4)  Pros and cons of a French Press Coffee    

5) More facts and coffee brewing methods     

6) Conclusion

What is French Press Coffee?   

French Press coffee is a brewing method that uses a cylindrical pot with a plunger and a built-in filter screen to press hot water through ground coffee. A delightful aroma, its superior flavour, and the therapeutic process of brewing a French Press Coffee, it is an experience. A form of brewing coffee that is a milestone in the history of coffee.  The French Press originated in the 1850’s in France. 

Even though it is known as a French Press, they history brewed some conflict between France and Italy on the origins of its first brewer. The urban legend remains that a French man, admits his daily routine, forgot to put his coffee in the coffee pot! But he did not fret, he added his coffee to the boiling water and let it brew. When the coffee grounds started to float, he used a metal screen to press them down and poured himself a cup. 

What he discovered was a superior taste of coffee that revolutionised coffee for the elite and bougie. Since then, it has become one of the most favourable types of coffee for the sophisticated coffee enthusiast. 

However, when you use the word French Press you are not only referring to the type of coffee, but also the compression pot designed to make it. The pot makes the process efficient and easy to perform by even a common man. 

How to make French Press coffee? 

Are you ready for the experience of superior coffee? Let’s start our journey with the best French Press Coffee recipe you will find on the internet. It will lead you through the step-by-step process, so follow along to brew perfection.

Things you need 

No recipe is complete without a ‘What you will need’, here is a list of things you need to make the best French Press: 

1) Half a cup of freshly roasted coffee beans  

2) Four cups of water  

3) Coffee grinder or Burr grinder  

4) French Press (32 ounces)  

5) Long spoon  

6) Electric kettle/Alternate method of boiling water

7) Thermometer  

8) Timer 

Step-by-step preparation guide 

Grab your lab coats and let's brew this concoction, here are the steps you must follow: 

Step 1 – Preheat your French Press pot with hot water for 30 seconds. This allows the coffee to brew in the right temperature. If you forget this step, the naturally cold temperature of the glass or metal your French Press is made from may hinder the proper brewing of your coffee. 

Step 2 –  Time to grind! With the help of your Coffee grinder, grind the coffee beans with the help of a grinder until they turn coarse. The coffee beans should be rough, perfectly coarse and even in size.

Step 3 – Ditch the water in the flask, you used to heat pot up and get ready to brew! 

Step 4 – Pour the coffee grounds in the French Press and give it a little shake, just to make sure the grounds are evenly spread. 

Step 5 – Put the 4 cups of water to boil, and use the thermometer to monitor the temperature, the ideal temperature to brew coffee is between 195o F – 200o F. (you can let the water heat alongside the rest of your process to avoid losing the heat of the French Press flask)

Step 6 – Pour the hot water into the French Press gently. Use the long spoon to stir the coffee to perfectly saturate the coffee in the water.

Step 7 – Give it a rest! Put on a timer for 3.5 - 4 mins and let your coffee brew at ease. $ mins is recommended if you like your coffee strong! But if you dont anywhere between 3.5 mins to 4 will do you good. 

Step 8 – Once the timer goes off, gently put pressure on the compression plunger. You do not need to force it down as it will only throw your coffee out of your pot and might cause severe burns if in contact. Put gentle pressure and let the gravity do its magic. This step is considered rather therapeutic.

Step 9 – Pour out the coffee into cups and serve up the wholesome brew. 

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Extra Tips for Making a Better Coffee 

You can almost smell the aromas just reading this blog! But what if you were told that you can make this brew even better?If you want to add extra spice to your coffee, you can follow the tips and tricks below to brew a better coffee.  

1) Although it depends upon which roast you take, for a better taste, try dark roasts. French Press goes well with dark roasts.  

2) Pour the hot water into the coffee flask in a circular motion to ensure that all the grounds are immersed.   

3) Fill up the flask till about half full.  

4) To improve the extraction and flavour of your coffee, wet the grounds simultaneously.  

5) Keep the coffee-to-water ratio should be 1:15  

6) Avoid pushing the plunger too fast and hard, as it will fluster coffee grounds and make them bitter. 

7) Add sweater of choice if you wish to. 

Nutritional Information and Benefits

French press coffee offers a rich and flavourful brew with several nutritional benefits. Unlike filtered coffee, it retains the natural oils and fine particles from coffee grounds, resulting in a fuller taste and a slightly higher concentration of beneficial compounds like antioxidants. 

French press coffee is also known to contain cafestol and kahweol, compounds that have been linked to increased cholesterol levels when consumed in large quantities. However, moderate consumption can provide a balanced intake of these compounds. Additionally, French press coffee can provide a boost in mental alertness and physical performance due to its caffeine content. For those seeking a robust coffee experience with potential health benefits, French press brewing is worthwhile.

Why Is It Called a French Press?

Aside from the urban legend that suggests it originated in France, it is actually also known by many different names. In most European countries it is known by the name ‘cafetiére’ which is French for coffee pot. In New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, it is know as a ‘coffee plunger’. As the origins of it is still a grey area, most people enjoy the French urban legend, giving it the title ‘The French Press’.

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Pros and Cons of a French Press Coffee  

While it might be one of the finest and simplest brewing methods globally, French Press coffee equipment could also be a bane and a boon at the same time. So, let's see some pros and cons of a French Press.  

Pros  

The French Press is not only a great coffee for your taste buds, it also has other benefits. Here is a list of a few:

1) Flavour profile: French press coffee retains natural oils and fine coffee particles, resulting in a fuller, more robust flavour compared to drip coffee.

2) Control over brewingtime: You have complete control over the brewing time, allowing you to adjust the strength and flavor to your preference.

3) Eco-friendly: It doesn’t require paper filters, reducing waste and making it an environmentally friendly option.

4) Simple and affordable: The French press is a straightforward device that is relatively inexpensive and easy to use, making it accessible for most coffee enthusiasts.

5) The waste can be recycled: The used ground after the brew can be utilised to make home-made coffee liquor or put in small quantities in potted plants to chase away pests with the strong scent and provide nutrition value to your plants.

Cons  

As Spider man said, “With great power, comes great responsibility!”, with great coffee comes a few cons. Here is a list of a few: 

1) Sediment in Coffee: The lack of a paper filter means fine coffee grounds can end up in your cup, resulting in a gritty texture.

2) Higher cholesterol compounds: It retains cafestol and kahweol, which can raise cholesterol levels if consumed in large amounts.

3) Requires attention: Brewing with a French press requires careful attention to timing and water temperature, which can be inconvenient for some.

4) Not ideal for large quantities: It’s best suited for making small batches, so it may not be practical for brewing large quantities of coffee at once.

More Facts and Coffee Brewing Methods  

a) Grind size matters: The grind size of coffee beans plays a key role in the brewing process. Coarse grinds are ideal for methods like French press and cold brew, while fine grinds are best for espresso and AeroPress. Matching the grind size to the brewing method ensures optimal extraction and flavour.

b) Single-origin specifics: Single-origin coffee refers to beans sourced from a specific location, such as a single farm or region. Brewing single-origin coffee can highlight distinct flavours and characteristics unique to that origin.

c) Immersion brewing benefits: Methods like the French press and AeroPress fall under immersion brewing, where coffee grounds are fully submerged in water. This technique allows for a thorough extraction of flavours, often resulting in a richer taste.

d) Filter material impact: The type of filter used in brewing can affect the coffee's taste and texture. Paper filters typically produce a cleaner cup by trapping oils and fine particles, while metal filters allow more oils through, resulting in a fuller-bodied coffee.

e) Cultural variations: Coffee brewing methods vary significantly across cultures. For example, Turkish coffee is brewed using very fine grounds in a cezve, while Italian espresso is made by forcing hot water through finely-ground coffee under high pressure.

Conclusion

This blog encapsulated the essence of a well-made French Press Coffee, with its rich and full body flavours. It gave you step by step instructions on How to Make French Press Coffee, and how you can spice it up to add more flavours to the mix. It also gave you a little insight into its historical conflicts and the urban legend of its origins. Hopefully, you will enjoy your concoction of the perfect brew.