FRENCH PRESS BREWING

The French press has been around since 1929, and its design has changed very little since then. Its simplicity is probably its greatest appeal, and it is especially convenient when serving a few cups at a time.

This doesn’t mean that attention to detail isn’t also essential to achieve optimum results. To achieve a full expression of the coffee, decant it immediately after brewing so it doesn’t become bitter. It only takes four minutes to brew.

Step 1

Boil enough water to fill the French press.

Step 2

French press coffee calls for a coarse, even grind. We recommend a 1:12 coffee-to-water ratio. If you’re using 420g (i.e. 420 ml) of water, you’ll want 35g of coffee.

Step 3

Gently pour water onto the grounds – measure off twice the weight of coffee, i.e. 70g/ml, using example above.

Step 4

Give the grounds a gentle stir with a wooden spoon. Allow the coffee to bloom for 30 seconds.

Step 5

Add the rest of your water and position the lid gently on top of the grounds. Don’t plunge just yet. Let the coffee steep for four minutes in total. Use a timer or watch! This step is important.

Step 6

Press the filter down. If it’s hard to press, it means your grind is too fine; if it presses too easily, it means your grind is too coarse. When you’ve finished pressing, serve the coffee immediately. Don’t let it sit, as this will cause it to continue brewing and over-extract (become bitter).