How to Make French Press Coffee • Recipe for Perfection (2024)

FAQs

What is the golden ratio of coffee to water in a French press? ›

The Golden Ratio for French Press (1:15)

Most coffee experts recommend a 1:15 coffee-to-water ratio as a starting point.

As a general guideline, a French press that makes 2 cups (or 12 oz) of coffee will require about 14 to 16 grams of coffee grounds. This is equivalent to about 3 to 4 tablespoons of coffee. So the ratio of coffee to water is roughly 1:15.

Compared to other brewing methods, French press coffee often has higher caffeine levels. This is mainly due to the longer steeping time and the use of coarser grinds, which allow for a more effective extraction of caffeine from the coffee grounds.

Using a french press takes time. In terms of how long to steep french press, you'll want to carve out at least 6 minutes to make it all happen: 2 minutes for boiling water and grinding coffee, and another 4 minutes for blooming the grounds and steeping the french press.

Whatever method of brewing you use, the general standard is 1-2 Tbsp of coffee for every 6 oz of water. For the French press, use 2 Tbsp per 6 oz of water.

Use 2 Tbsp (10 g) of grounds for every cup (6 fl oz, 180 ml) of water. Add the ground coffee to the empty coffee press.

For example a single serve French Press is usually around 350ml capacity so you will only need 1 scoop of coffee grounds. This is a good ratio that is generally applicable for any brewing method, from espresso to pour-over.

Medium to dark roasts are generally best suited to brewing with a French Press. The darker roast will complement the French Press if you enjoy adding milk and sugar to your coffee—a dash of milk really complements the deep, chocolatey, and earthy flavors.

Bring your water to a boil. However, don't pour it too soon. Ideally, water temperature for French Press coffee should be between 195 and 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a thermometer to measure the the temperature, and note the time it takes for the boiling water to drop to this preferred temperature.

How to make very strong coffee with a French press? ›

Percolators Were a Pain to Use and Clean

Because of their design, all percolators are tougher to clean than, say, a drip coffee maker. Percolators hold the brew basket with a spring on the metal water delivery tube that's compressed by the lid when closed.

1 cup water (8 fluid ounces) — 2 tablespoons coffee beans (14 grams) 2 cups water (16 fluid ounces) — ¼ cup coffee beans (28 grams) 4 cups of water (32 fluid ounces) — 1/2 cup coffee beans (56 grams)

This recipe makes about 4 cups of coffee concentrate, which is enough for 8-16 cups of coffee. Serve it hot or cold, mixed with water, milk, creamer, hot cocoa, or any other flavorings you like. I usually use a 1:2 ratio of coffee to milk, but if you prefer a stronger cold brew, you can use a 1:1 ratio instead.

Bring your water to a boil. However, don't pour it too soon. Ideally, water temperature for French Press coffee should be between 195 and 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a thermometer to measure the the temperature, and note the time it takes for the boiling water to drop to this preferred temperature.

This may seem like a tedious or trivial step in our brew guide, but removing this foam is actually intended to help remove the most bitter-tasting elements of your coffee. Discard the foam that you skim from the surface of your brew.