They say the perfect cup of coffee does not exist, but the French press has a few words for those doubters — “I beg to differ!” In spite of its name, the French press is actually made by two Italian designers named Attilio Calimani and Giulio Moneta.
The French Press has a number of other names, such as the cafeteria, coffee press, coffee plunger, cafetière à piston, and cafetière. Not only is it easy to brew and super consistent; it is also reliable. It has remained unchanged ever since it came to the world in 1929 and is quite perfect for making numerous cups of heavy-bodied coffee in just 4 minutes.
The French press may take longer to prepare, but the results are definitely worth it, and they will send your taste buds all the way to cloud nine. If you want the recipe for that heavenly revitalizing nectar, then this is the place for you.
Equipment Required
- Baratza Virtuoso Grinder
- Jennings CJ4000 Scale
- Hario V60 Gooseneck Kettle
- Bodum 170z French Press
- OXO Digital Timer
Ingredients You Need
- 27g (5 Tbsp) coarsely ground coffee
- 4-cup French Press
- 400g (1.75 cups) off boil water
- Kitchen timer
- Spoon or chopstick for stirring
Optimal Coffee to Water Ratio:
A good rule of thumb would be to apply a 1:15 coffee to water ratio, no matter what size French press you use. Now, for every gram of coffee, you should add 15 grams of water, which converts to three tablespoons of coffee for every one cup of water. Start experimenting to find the best taste that works for you.
Below are the steps you must follow to prepare a french press for coffee dorks everywhere.
1. Make Preparations
First, be sure to preheat your french press machine with hot water, including the plunger and then pour the hot water into your cup. Then take about five tablespoons or 27 grams of coffee before grinding right after that. Its consistency should be that of kosher salt.
2. Add Coffee
Tip your coffee into the french press machine and then give it a gentle shake to level the grounds.
3. Add Water
Initiate the timer, add water in a circular motion, and wet all of the grounds, until your press is half full. You can just take your time to enjoy the bloom. Maybe you’ll even enjoy the smell as it wafts towards your nose.
4. Gently Stir
After 30 seconds, gently stir the grounds with a spoon or a chopstick. This is a good idea, as it helps with softening the coffee grounds, so your drink isn’t completely gritty.
5. Add More Water
Pour water to the top of the press evenly and add the lid, while having the plunger to the grounds. If what you’re using is a kitchen knife, then it has to come in contact with 400g of water.
6. Plunge
This term may sound out of place, but it’s the correct one. Wait until your timer hits 4:00, and then push the plunger completely down but slowly. This method will work best.
7. Pour
Then, decant the coffee to prevent over-extraction. You can now get ready to begin enjoying the artful cup of coffee you’ve prepared by yourself at home.
8. Enjoy Your Coffee
Finally, you can enjoy your fresh batch of coffee without being so miserable about it.
The steps you have read and followed above are key to producing top-quality coffee. But you’re not done yet as only leaving it until here will make the coffee taste bitter. Here are some of the steps that you can take to get past that bitterness.
- Bitterness is only due to over-extraction. If your coffee beans come in contact with the grounds, then decant the coffee right away.
- Buy good coffee from the supermarket or mall.
- Using the boiling hot water, you can scorch the coffee as well as the coffee bitterness. Always remember that the ideal temperature is 200 degrees, which you can get by allowing the water to boil and then letting it sit for one minute.
- Uneven grinding is what can also lead to coffee bitterness. This is when there are tiny pieces of ground coffee. You should also consider using a burr grinder. If you have not done that already, then do so now, and also remember to change the burrs on your grinder if they are getting old.
- Old coffee that sticks in the filter will always taste bitter.
Conclusion
This how-to guide is a perfect set of instructions for any beginner looking to start brewing their own French press coffee at home. Hopefully, these foolproof tips for making the perfect cup of French press coffee will be of great use to you!