How to Make the Perfect French Press: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Master the perfect French press coffee with this step-by-step guide.
- Learn the best coffee-to-water ratio, steeping time, and pro tips for a rich, full-bodied cup of coffee.
- Nothing fancy is involved here – just your favorite Bulletproof Coffee roast and a French press coffee maker.
Unlike drip coffee makers that use paper filters, the French press allows all the natural oils and ultra-fine particles of coffee to steep into the brew itself, changing the texture and taste.
Why Choose a French Press?
The French press method leads to a richer, bolder cup of completely customizable coffee. You can adjust elements such as the bean’s grind size, water temperature, and steeping time to make coffee exactly how you like.
The best part? No electricity is required; you can take this thing wherever you want if you can boil water.
French Press Brewing
The first step is choosing high-quality coffee beans and grinding them to a coarse size. Bulletproof French Kick Coffee is our favorite roast to use in a French press. The full body, medium-bold flavor profile shines well when steeped without overpowering.
What is the Perfect Coffee Ratio for a French Press?
Finding the perfect French press coffee ratio is the most intimidating part of using a French press coffee maker. This isn’t a rigid recipe, but it’s a great foundation until you’re ready to experiment and adjust for your palate.
Follow this general ratio guide and step-by-step guide below for the ideal balance when brewing French press coffee:
- 1 serving: 1 cup water (8 ounces) + 2 tablespoons coffee beans
- 2 servings: 2 cups water (16 ounces) + ¼ cup coffee beans
- 4 servings: 4 cups water (32 ounces) + ½ cup coffee beans
- 8 servings: 8 cups water (64 ounces) + 1 cup coffee beans
How Do I Get the Best Results from a French Press?
Use these pro tips to ensure optimal flavor and extraction when brewing coffee in a French press:
More From Bulletproof
Use Freshly Ground Coffee Beans
Make sure to grind your coffee beans with a burr grinder rather than a blade grinder. A burr grinder uses two rotating plates to crush the coffee beans, while a blade grinder uses a spinning blade to chop the beans. Blade grinders produce an inconsistent grind, containing both fine particles and a range of larger chunks, which can lead to over-extraction and a bitter taste.
If you don’t have a coffee grinder at home, you can purchase high-quality ground coffee tested for toxins.
Use the Proper Temperature Water
Extremely hot water can rapidly extract the delicate oils and damage the aromatic compounds of the coffee. In contrast, water that is not hot enough can lead to under-extraction and a weak taste. The recommended temperature for water when brewing coffee is between 195°F and 205°F because it effectively pulls out the desirable flavors and oils from coffee without extracting the bitter ones.
A good rule of thumb is to boil water, remove it from the heat, and wait about 1 minute before using it.
Monitor Steeping Time
Like water temperature, steeping too long can lead to a more intense and bold taste, while steeping too short will lead to a mild flavor. The longer the coffee steeps, the stronger it will taste, but it can eventually become bitter. Experimenting with the steeping time may help customize your French press recipe if you like to explore different flavor profiles.
Common Mistakes when Using a French Press
Avoid these common mistakes to save yourself frustration and disappointment with your brew:
- Using the wrong size coffee grind: Avoid using a fine grind because the small particles can sneak through the filter and contaminate your coffee with gritty sediment.
- Steeping for too long: One of the most common mistakes is leaving coffee in the French press after the brew time has elapsed. Immediately serve all the coffee from the media into another vessel to avoid over-brewing.
- Pressing too fast: It’s essential to press the plunger down very slowly to avoid any fine particles or sediment breaking through the metal mesh filter.
French Press Coffee
https://www.bulletproof.com/recipes/how-to-make-the-perfect-french-press-a-step-by-step-guide/
Ingredients
- 2 tbps Dark Roast Ground Coffee
- 8 oz water
Tools
- Burr grinder
- French Press coffee maker
- teapot or electric kettle
Instructions
- Set a pot of water to boil. Once boiling, turn off the heat and wait about 1 minute before using.
- Grind two tablespoons of coffee beans to a coarse size.
- Add the coffee grinds to the French press and slowly pour about half (4 oz) of hot water onto the grinds in a circular motion, ensuring they are completely saturated. Wait about 1 minute for the coffee to bloom.
- Break apart the layer of coffee grinds that are floating on the top with a spoon and give a gentle stir.
- Slowly pour the remaining water (4 oz) over the grinds and let it steep for 4 minutes.
- Place the lid on and press the filter down very slowly and gently. Serve immediately.
Nutritional Information
- Servings: 8 oz
- Sodium: 11 mg
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