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Sara is an architectural designer turned work-at-home Mom. She lives in New Jersey by way of New England and New York, with her husband and 3 kids under 8. She loves design, being creative, and spending time with family and friends. She loves checking out local businesses and eats and being apart of the local farm to table community. Continue Reading
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French Press Coffee - coffee made in a French press is fresh, with low acidity with a full-bodied flavor.
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
Hi Everyone, one of my favorite ways to make coffee is with a French press, so this tutorial on the blog is LONG overdue!
My parents brewed coffee with a French press when I was growing up and I remember distinctly the first time I really saw (and fell in love with) the process of French press coffee when at Coffee Connection, a pre-Starbucks, iconic coffee shop that used to be in Harvard Square.
My family were regulars there whenever we were in the city limits because that was the place to get coffee (you can read about the history of the Coffee Connection, here).
I use a 4-cup, French press which makes the perfect amount for 2-4 people.
I often use half and half with my coffee but when I brew with the French press, sometimes I will just drink my coffee black because it's so fresh and pure tasting.
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I suggest using your favorite high-quality coffee beans when making French Press Coffee because you really taste the flavor of the coffee with this particular method.
You want to make sure that you have the right coffee to water ratio when making coffee, in general, I always measure the coffee beans before grinding them with a tablespoon measure, 1 tablespoon per cup of water. (I personally always add an extra tablespoon no matter what method of brewing I do because I like strong, full-flavor coffee but you can do what you like!.)
These are the Libby clear glass mugs that I use (above photo); I love these because you can really admire the color of the coffee. They are also great for hot chocolate 😉
Making coffee with a French press makes me think of my first college roommate, Stephanie, who also shares my love of coffee.
She was from the Pacific Northwest and would tell me about how good the coffee was there.
We used to make French press coffee in the dorm which was super comforting and special.
My husband Eric's friend, Vince, roasted these beans himself! (they are healthily competitive road biking friends but not running because Vince does a 7-minute mile and Eric (and myself too) runs more for the cardio workout 😉
Anyways, Eric doesn't drink coffee, so I got the whole bag to myself, what a treat!
I waited a certain number of days until they were at a peak time to use them and whenever I get my hands on some good coffee, I try making it every which way.
I also made this cold brew one day and it was so, so good (hint, that's my next coffee-related post).
Ideally, for grinding beans for the French press, you want a Burr grinder that makes a larger sandy-gravel grind but you can get a similar effect by using a regular grinder like mine above.
I just pulse and shake the grinder until I get the right, even consistency.
Make sure you do not do a fine grind as you would want for an automatic drip coffee maker - that's the "kiss of death" for the French press, my friends, you would get coffee mud, if you did that, yuk! 😉
The above photos show the grind I used, I have nice, larger pieces that cannot get through the wire mesh in the lid of the French press - this is key.
{BTW, sorry guys, I can not for the life of me get the spots off my French press, we have hard water, apparently.
I swear my French press is clean, I hand washed it and ran it through the dishwasher before shooting these photos.
I give up!
I tried straight vinegar and a microfiber cloth to no avail...give me advice in the comments below, if you have any.}
This is a French press that my parents gave me which I love.
It's a Frieling #8.
My one lament is not being able to see the beautiful process going on inside.
I have a habit of collecting coffee makers, so if I ever acquire another French press, I will find a reason to do another post to show it.
The roast and color of @oneuponedowncoffee's brewed Kenya coffee used in these photos, really remind me of those early memories I have at Coffee Connection.
It's not heavy and dark which is widely available and what I usually drink (and what is popular for many years now in the US).
I like the full flavor without feeling like the coffee is watered down in any way.
It's great to have something different for a change and if you are like me, a coffee nerd/lover, you might too.
My instructions in this post give a good starting point to anyone who wants to try brewing their coffee in a French press, after you get the hang of it, you can start experimenting with slightly different ingredient ratios, types of beans, etc.
If you like this French Press Coffee tutorial, you might also like, No-Churn Coffee Ice Cream, Sweetened Condensed Milk Coffee, Coffee Whipped Cream.
Do you like making coffee with a French press?
What's your favorite type of coffee to brew?
Let me know in the comments below!
This post was originally posted on 6/28/2018 and updated and republished on 4/15/2021
French Press Coffee – coffee made in a French press is fresh, with low acidity with a full-bodied flavor.
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Please note that the Calculated Nutrition is an estimate at best.
[…] This recipe was originally published on our sister blog Life’s Little Sweets, as “French Press Coffee”, here […]
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David Ross says
You might want to try a bleach/water mix to clean your French press just be absolutely positive you get it good and cleaned/rinsed.