The French Press - A Timeless Brew Method Made Simple
When it comes to making a delicious, no-fuss cup of coffee at home, the French Press (or cafetière) is a classic choice. Its simple design and reliable results have made it a staple for coffee lovers around the world.
At Rounton Coffee, we love the french press for its ability to bring out bold, rich flavours in every cup. Whether you’re brewing for one or for a group, this versatile coffee maker is perfect for anyone who values simplicity without sacrificing quality.
In this guide, we’ll take you through everything you need to know about using a french press - from the equipment to step-by-step brewing instructions - so you can enjoy café-quality coffee at home.
How to Brew The Perfect Cup With a French Press
Equipment Needed
- French Press
- Kettle
- Freshly roasted coffee
- Good, clean, soft water
- Scales
- Two dessert spoons
- Timer
The Recipe
- Ratio: 50g Coffee to 800g Water
- Total Brew Time: Approximately 10 minutes
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Weigh and Grind the Coffee. Weigh out 50 grams of coffee using your scales. Grind your coffee beans to a medium-coarse consistency (somewhere between caster sugar and sea salt will do). If you’re using pre-ground coffee, just make sure it’s ground specifically for a french press.
- Put the Kettle on to Boil. While the water is heating, preheat your french press by pouring in some hot water. Discard the water once the french press is warm.
- Prepare the French Press. Place the French press on the scale and set it to zero. Add the 50 grams of ground coffee and tare again.
- Initial Brew. Pour 800 g of water into the French press. Make sure to saturate all the grounds as quickly as possible and set your timer for 4 minutes. Now wait.
- Break the Crust. After 4 minutes, you'll see foam and a crust have formed across the top surface. Use the dessert spoons to "break" this foam and gently scoop away the foam and any floating coffee.
- Now Wait. Set your timer for an additional 4-5 minutes and let the coffee sit undisturbed. This will allow the sediment to sink to the bottom of the brewer.
- Serve (Without Plunging). Put the lid on the press but do not plunge it down. Pushing the plunger down redistributes the grounds and starts extracting again, which is not what we want. Instead, pour gently at an angle into your cup. Any sediment will stay at the bottom of the press and you'll get a lovely clean, full-bodied cup of coffee.
Brewing Tips
-
Use Clean, Soft Water - Since coffee is mostly water, using water that is clean tasting and relatively soft will significantly improve your brew. If you live in an area with notoriously hard drinking water, using a water filtration jug like a BRITA will make a big impact on your cup.
- Grind Fresh - Buying a coffee grinder is arguably the single best investment to make better brew at home. Grinding coffee increases the surface area of coffee exposed to air and so it goes stale more quickly. Buying a good quality burr grinder and grinding fresh will make a huge difference to cup quality.
- Measure - Knowing how much coffee and water you are using, and how long your brew takes are some of the most important aspects of brewing good cups of coffee (and correcting bad ones). Investing in some digital scales and using a timer make recipes much easier to follow and ensure that you can brew consistently good cups of coffee.