The French Press is a popular and convenient way to brew coffee. Because the French Press is relatively inexpensive, it's a great way to experiment with different beans, roasts, and grind options, allowing enthusiasts to their perfect technique and understand how those choices impact coffee flavor.
Let's take a look at some of the most common frequently asked questions about using a French Press:
Q: What is immersion brewing, exactly?
A: French Press is an immersion brewing method. In immersion brewing, coffee grounds sit with the water and steep for the full brewing time. That's often about 4-5 minutes. Contrast this with other brewing methods, in which water is only in contact with the grounds temporarily, for a few seconds.
Q: What are the characteristics of coffee prepared in a French Press?
A: Coffee made with a French Press is known for being strong and bold. This is because a French Press retains more of the oils and flavors from the ground coffee.
Q: What grind should I choose for brewing in a French Press?
A: Grind your coffee to a coarse, even size, similar to sea salt or kosher salt. That’s significantly coarser than a “Medium grind,” which is what you’ll commonly find as the grind option on mass-market coffee sold at the grocery or convenience stores.
If you're ordering ground coffee from Klatch Coffee instead of grinding yourself, simply choose the "Coarse (French Press / Percolator)" option and we'll fresh-roast and grind right before shipping to you.
Q: What's needed for French Press brewing?
A: You need 4 components: the French Press itself, boiling water, ground coffee, and a scale for precision. For best results, weigh out the coffee precisely using a digital scale, like the Escali Arti series, which is accurate down to the single gram.
Q: Can I take a French Press camping? What about travel?
A: Because they require no electricity, French Press brewers are ideal for travel or camping trips. As long as you can boil water (such as over a camp stove, or even a camp fire) you're ready to brew with the French Press. If you don't have access to electricity, you can pre-grind your coffee before your trip, or even use a hand grinder on-site. Don't forget to weigh out the coffee before you depart for best results.
Q: Is the water-to-coffee ratio important?
A: Absolutely! Controlling, and experimenting with the water-to-coffee ratio is the best way to understand and appreciate French Press brewing. We recommend starting with a 13:1 ratio, for example, 700ml of water to 54 grams of coffee. You can then fine-tune your ratio in the future based on the results and your preferences.
Q: What coffee should I use in a French Press?
A: While you can use just about any coffee, a flavorful blend is a great please to start, as they highlight the complexity of multiple coffees.
Q: Should I pre-heat my French Press? What about the mug?
A: We recommend pre-heating both the French Press and the mug you plan to use for serving. Carefully fill both with boiling water before you begin. This will pre-warm them, and help retain heat. Discard the boiling water from the French Press before brewing, and from the mug right before you pour the coffee into it.
Q: What if I don't have a scale?
A: Never fear, if you don't have a scale, you can measure the coffee in tablespoons instead of grams as a workaround. 1 tbsp = about 5 grams of coffee, so you'd use 11 tablespoons to get approximately 55 grams of coffee.
Q: Cleaning your French Press
A: Use just a few drops of soap and warm water. Oils from roasted coffee can begin to stick if your French Press isn't cleaned well after each use. Rinse well to ensure the soap doesn't impart flavor on your next serving of coffee, and be gentle, as glass can be fragile.
Q: Can you make tea in a French Press?
A: Yes, a French Press can be used to make other drinks besides coffee, including tea. Brewing tea follows the same principles - check the recommended amount of loose leaf tea, steep for the recommended amount of time, and press the tea leaves. You may even find a recommended recipe printed right on the tea box or bag, including a recommended water temperature.
