How to make the perfect french press coffee

Making a cup of coffee using a french press is relatively easy and a great way to get your daily dose of caffeine. However, if you're after a quick cup of coffee the french press may not be for you. But be a little patient and you'll be rewarded with a delicious cup of coffee. Below, we show you the essentials to help you make that perfect brew, with no silty, sludgy stuff at the bottom!

The pro's and cons of french press coffee

Pros: Due to the size and relative simplicity of use, the french press is ideal for brewing coffee for several people at once.

Cons: You need a little patience. Making the perfect brew can take around 8 minutes.

Why grind size matters?

Making the perfect french press coffee heavily depends on the grind size. Grind too large and you under extract, resulting in a weak bland coffee. Grind too small and you end up with over-extracted bitter coffee. After extensive testing, we've found a coarse grind, similar to coarse sea salt to be the best for making a french press coffee.

If you don't have a grinder and buy fresh coffee from a roaster, they can usually grind this size for you. 

You need fresh coffee!

You want delicious french press coffee. That means freshly roasted, freshly ground coffee to get the best possible experience. Store brought coffee is often roasted months in advance, and will have lost their aroma and rich flavours resulting in bitter, bland brews. 

Step by step guide to making french press coffee

You need 6g of coffee per 100ml of water. If you prefer a stronger brew, use 7g per 100ml.

Our recipe is using a 350ml french press, giving you 300ml of coffee. If you're brewing a larger amount, then use the above water to coffee ratio to get the right quantities for your brew.

What you need

• 18g freshly roasted & freshly ground coffee (use 21g if you prefer a stronger brew) 
• Weighing scale
• Kettle - With 300ml boiled water
• Spoon

Step by step guide to brewing coffee in a french press

1. Weigh out 18g of fresh ground coffee using your scale. Empty the weighed out coffee into the french press.
2. Boil a kettle and pour 300ml of boiled water into the french press, ensuring all the grinds are covered. 
3. Wait for 4 minutes.
4. Grab a spoon and gently stir the crust that has formed, stirring for a few seconds. You'll see the crust slowly falling to the bottom and a layer of foam forming at the top. Using a spoon, gently remove the foam and discard. 
5. Wait another 3 minutes (this allows the silt & sludge to settle down giving you a cleaner cup of coffee).
6. Slowly plunge the plunger down to a level just above the coffee grounds. 
7. Gently pour the freshly brewed coffee into your cup
8. Enjoy!