How To Use a French Press

If you’ve ever had coffee made in a French Press, you already know that it’s something special. And if you haven’t, there’s no better time to give a try than right now!

The slow steeping of the coffee grounds in the carafe creates a gorgeous crema on the coffee, and results in a rich, flavorful cup that’s in a league of its own.

And while the process may look fancy, learning how to use a French Press is actually both easy and affordable!

Whether you prefer a perfect cup of black coffee in the morning, or a coffee with sugar and cream as an afternoon indulgence, this is easily one of the best ways to brew a great cup of coffee.

What Is a French Press?

As you might expect, the first step in understanding how to use a French Press is understanding the brewer itself.

A simple carafe that features a plunger with a built-in filter on the lid, it lets you steep coffee in hot water, and then press the grounds out of the liquid to extract further flavor.

A basic French Press made of glass or stainless steel costs between $20-$35, making the French Press incredibly economical when compared to the average drip coffee maker or Keurig machine.

And since it uses no electricity and doesn’t need paper filters, it can be used to brew up a perfect cup of coffee literally anywhere.

Personally, after having my first glass carafe break, I prefer the stainless steel versions. But there is something timelessly classy about the traditional glass French Press, so choose whichever one best suits you and your needs.

Making Coffee in a French Press

To make coffee in a French Press, start with a medium-coarse ground coffee. Since the coffee steeps in the hot water, it doesn’t need to be as finely ground as it does when using other brewing methods.

Then, simply add the ground coffee to the carafe, fill with water that’s been heated to just below the boiling point, and stir the coffee and water together gently.

Cover the carafe with the lid, with the plunger pulled up to the top of the French Press, and set a timer for four minutes.

When the timer rings, gently press the plunger down to the bottom of the carafe, and pour out a perfect cup of coffee.

Tips For Using a French Press

For the ultimate, best-ever cup of coffee, remember these tips when using your French press:

• Preheat your carafe by filling it with hot water before brewing to keep your coffee at the perfect temperature longer.
• Use purified water to ensure you get the the coffee’s full flavor.
• To get the full flavor of your coffee beans, grind the beans just before brewing. Aim for a coarseness similar to sea salt.
• After brewing, pour all the coffee out of the French press and into a thermal carafe so it doesn’t continue to steep.
• Want to brew more than just coffee? You can also use a French press to make delicious loose-leaf tea, breakfast chocolate, and more!