Brewing guide
How to Make French Press Coffee
Rich, full-bodied coffee with minimal equipment.
Demonstration content — review and verify before publishing.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Brew time
- 4–5 minutes
- Coffee-to-water ratio
- 1:15 (about 2.4 oz coffee per 34 fl oz water)
- Grind size
- Coarse
- Water temperature
- 198–205 °F
Overview
The French press soaks coffee grounds directly in hot water, then separates them with a metal mesh filter. Because no paper filter removes the oils, the cup tastes heavier and rounder than drip coffee.
It is the most forgiving brewer in most kitchens: there is no pouring technique to learn, and timing is the only variable you really need to control.
What You Need
- French press (any size)
- Coarsely ground coffee
- Kettle
- Kitchen scale (optional but helpful)
- Timer
Step-by-Step Instructions
- 1
Heat the water
Bring water to a boil, then let it rest for about 30 seconds so it settles into the 198–205 °F range.
- 2
Weigh and grind
Use roughly 1 ounce of coffee for every 15 ounces of water by weight. Grind coarse, similar to raw sugar.
- 3
Add coffee and bloom
Add the grounds, pour in twice their weight in water, and wait 30 seconds while the coffee releases gas.
- 4
Fill and stir
Pour in the rest of the water, give one gentle stir to break the crust, and place the lid on without pressing.
- 5
Steep for four minutes
Set a timer. Four minutes suits most medium roasts; go slightly shorter for dark roasts.
- 6
Press slowly and decant
Press with steady pressure, then pour all the coffee out immediately so it stops extracting.
Common Mistakes
- Grinding too fine, which clogs the filter and makes the cup bitter and silty
- Leaving brewed coffee sitting on the grounds after pressing
- Pressing hard and fast, which stirs fines back into the cup
- Using boiling water straight off the stove on light roasts
How to Improve the Flavour
- Skim the foam and floating grounds before pressing for a cleaner cup.
- Try 1:16 if the coffee feels heavy, or 1:14 if it tastes thin.
- Rinse the plunger mesh after every brew — stale oils dull the flavour fast.
Equipment Recommendations
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Frequently Asked Questions
What grind size is best for a French press?+
Coarse. Finer grounds slip through the mesh, over-extract during the long steep, and leave sediment in the cup.
How long should French press coffee steep?+
Four minutes is the standard starting point. Taste and adjust: bitter means shorter or coarser, sour means longer or finer.
Why is my French press coffee bitter?+
Usually over-extraction — too fine a grind, too long a steep, or coffee left sitting on the grounds after pressing.
