Also called a press pot, the French press brews a heavy-bodied, flavorful cup. This method uses a coarse grind and a short, 4-minute steep for clarity and sweetness without over-extraction.
What you’ll need
- French press (4–8 cup)
- Kettle
- Coffee grinder
- Scales
- Timer
- Cup/server
- Fresh-roasted coffee (e.g., 17 g)
- Filtered water (e.g., 272 g total)
| Serving Size | 4-Cup Press | 8-Cup Press |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee | 27 g | 54 g |
| Water | 430 mL (+ extra to preheat) | 860 mL (+ extra to preheat) |
Step 1. Warm up the press
Bring enough water to a boil to fill the press. Preheat the empty press with very hot water, then discard the rinse water.
Step 2. Measure & grind
Measure your coffee (e.g., 17 g) and grind coarse—like breadcrumbs.
Step 3. Bloom (twice the coffee weight)
Start the timer. Gently pour about 2× coffee weight in water to saturate (for 17 g coffee, bloom with ~34 g water). Stir to ensure all grounds are wet.
Step 4. Stir at 1:00
At the 1:00 mark, give the top layer a gentle stir to break the crust.
Step 5. Fill to final weight
Top up with the remaining hot water to reach your final target (e.g., 272 g total for 17 g coffee at 1:16). Place the lid on, with the plunger pulled all the way up. Steep until 4:00.
Step 6. Press
At 4:00, press the plunger down smoothly and firmly to the bottom.
Step 7. Enjoy
Serve immediately. If not serving at once, decant to avoid over-extraction.
