Making the perfect cup of coffee isn’t nearly as difficult as many think it is. Sadly, there are too many people who settle for less than quality coffee, and too many mainstream coffee shop chains who cater to that mindset. A great cup of coffee is easy to make with a French Press.

Making your coffee using a French Press is easy, but there are several things to keep in mind as you do it.

First, however, let’s examine just what a French Press is. There are two main methods of brewing a great cup of coffee. There are several variations on each, and there are some more obscure methods that are possible, but most people use one of these two forms. There is the pour over, which we will look at next, and the press pot, commonly known as the French Press.

With a pour over, a filter is used, keeping the oils and sediment away from your coffee. This allows you to taste more of the notes hidden in the bean itself. A press, on the other hand, leaves the oils in the coffee as it is brewed, and gives more of a taste of the roast itself. Both methods have benefits, and I use each of them frequently.

Benefits of using a press

With a press, you eliminate the filter. This allows the oils to move into your drinkable coffee. With no filter, there is less trash to dispose of, and you also eliminate the possibility of tasting the paper in your coffee. There are ways around this of course, but many prefer the press for just that reason.

With a press, you have total control over the water temperature and the extraction time. With a common drip coffee maker, you have little or no control over either of these factors.

With a press, you get a fuller, bolder cup of coffee, because it has the oils of the beans right there.

Drawbacks of using a press

Because of the nature of the press, the grinds stay in contact with the coffee at all times. That results in sediment in the bottom of your cup. Using a press, you probably won’t want to drink the last sip of coffee in your cup.

In order to extract the coffee properly, you need to grind your coffee as fine and as even as possible. You will need to invest in a good burr grinder or hand grinder to achieve this. A cheap blade grinder will not give you an even grind.

A French Press makes some good coffee, but it needs to be consumed quickly. You cannot leave the coffee in the press because extraction will continue to occur, as the coffee stays in contact with the grinds constantly. Leaving it in the press too long will result in over-extracted, bitter, coffee, and it will cool quickly.

How to use a French Press

First, grind your coffee as evenly and as fine as you can get it. But leave it coarse enough so that it will not pass through the filter on the plunger. You will need a consistent grind to get the best extraction.

Remove the lid of the press, which includes the filter and plunger. Pour your ground coffee into the bottom of the press. I find that 22 grams of coffee tastes best with about 30 to 325 grams of water (about 12 ounces). Some prefer to add more water, but I like a strong coffee.

Pour your water in slowly. The water needs to be between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit, which is just below boiling. Pour slowly, allowing for complete saturation. You might also give the coffee a quick stir using a bamboo skewer to ensure that the coffee is fully exposed to the water.

Place the lid and plunger back on the press, but do not press it yet. This keeps the heat in.

After one minute, remove the lid and give the coffee a brief stir with the bamboo skewer again. This gives the brew some agitation and causes the grinds to begin to sink. Again, this essential for a complete extraction of the coffee.

After a total immersion time of about four minutes, begin to plunge. Hold the press lid with one hand and slowly press the plunger evenly downward. Take it easy, go slow and keep the plunger level. Moving too quickly or unevenly may result in some of the grinds slipping past the filter into your drink. If this happens, quickly remove the plunger and rinse with hot water and begin to plunge again.

This process should take you about twenty seconds. Once it is pressed fully, do not remove the plunger, but do remove the coffee. Holding the plunger down, so the grinds don’t slip past, pour the coffee into a cup and enjoy.

Making a great cup of coffee with a French Press is simple once you get the hang of it. And a French Press is a pretty inexpensive way to get a cup of coffee that is worth enjoying. If you are interested, you can get a French Press, or an Aeropress at Amazon. You can also find a quality burr grinder or hand grinder there as well.

If you’ve never experimented with a press pot before, I encourage you to give it a try. This method will give you a great tasting cup of coffee, and you will be well on your way to finding the perfect cup.

Question: Have you ever used a French Press to make coffee? How do you like it? You can leave a comment by clicking here.