Making the Perfect French Press Coffee?

Answer 1

For many people, making French press coffee may seem a bit foreign and something reserved for high end restaurants, but this is certainly not the case. Anyone can easily make a great cup of French press coffee at home. It just takes a few simple steps and quality coffee beans.

The Beans

A great cup of coffee is only as good as the coffee beans. When making coffee, it is best to start with freshly ground beans. For a French press, the grind should be relatively course. This will ensure that no grounds end up in the coffee itself. For consistency, the same grind should be used each time. A grinder that has an automatic shut off and grind selector will ensure the perfect cup of coffee. This grind should then be place in the bottom of the press.

The Water

Hot water then gets poured over the ground coffee beans. With the water, filtered or spring water is best. The water should be allowed to get hot but should not be allowed to come to a boil before being placed in the press. The use of boiling water will cause the coffee to taste scorched or too strong. The coffee then gets lightly stirred before placing the lid on the press. Many manufacturers will recommend a wooden spoon to be used to stir the coffee as most presses are glass and can easily break. As long as this is done carefully, a typical metal teaspoon is fine.

The Wait

The coffee will need to brew for a certain amount of time before it can be pressed. This usually corresponds with the number of cups of coffee. For example, four cups of coffee should brew for four minutes. Once the time has elapsed, the plunger should be pressed down slowly and evenly.

With a few simple and easy steps, a great cup of French press coffee can be enjoyed at home.