Thoughts on French press coffee

[Quint]

A few years back when wife and I were in Bora Bora the resort had French presses in the room and at breakfast. I thought the coffee was excellent made that way. For Christmas my wife bought me one but I have yet been able to produce a cup that I really love. I grind my own bean and typically use a full body coffee because I love a good strong cup of coffee. Love espresso, lattes, cappuccino's etc.

Anybody have experience with and help they can offer on how to make a nice brew?

Thanks

[fabes]

What grinder do you use?

[saintsmokealot]

Water temp has to be spot on

[potpest]

I prefer the proper espresso machine for my coffee when I'm in the house but use a french press mainly on my desk at work. I'd experiment with your grind size, you want it coarser than espresso but not too coarse. This guide has it pretty much perfect for brewing french press IMO:

http://www.hasbean.co.uk/blogs/brew-guides/6552901-french-press-brew-guide

[fabes]

[Hunter1974]

There are several videos on you tube about using a french press . I have thought about getting one myself

[Quint]

What grinder do you use?

I use a Capresso electric coffee grinder

[jgnome]

For any given bean:

- use a burr grinder - adjust until you start to get a"mud" you don't like -- the other type of grinder doesn't work well at getting flavour out of the bean

- freshly roasted bean - buy only enough of freshly roasted that will be used up before 7-10 days after roasting

- I use around 30 gms per 200 ml (around a 1:7 ratio) of water - adjust to your taste start at say 1:10 -- gotta experiment here

- water temp is important. I let the boiled water rest for 15 seconds before I pour into container

- I'm a fan of the constant stir method -- 90 seconds here -- and then press. Let coffee rest to let particles settle to your taste.

[blottomotto]

Taking a water temp certainly makes a difference- I brew mine right around 87 deg C, as to not release any of the more bitter aspects of the bean into the brew.

My more choice method as of lately though has been the cold brew- where its about 1:4 ration of grounds and cold water left in the press over night. You wind up with a much thicker, almost elixir of a coffee that you can then dilute with water and reheat, or, enjoy with some ice cubes if you're impatient (as I am myself!)

[Quint]

@blottomotto very cool and unique technique you have. I'll definitely give that a try.

Thanks

[garbandz]

I use a couple different Bodum models,and a burr grinder set near middle.

You do not want to use over 190 degree water,180 to 190 should be fine.

I watch the bubbles when heating water,and take it off the heat when the bubbles start coming regularly.

pour over grounds,stir with a plastic spatula or wooden spoon,NEVER use a metal spoon,you might break the unit.

Let it steep for 3 to 5 min

.

adjust coffee amount until the second cup makes you pat your feet and the hair stands up on your neck..........

Perfect!!

[topdiesel]

What grinder do you use?

I just got a Baratza and all I can say is where have you been all my life. It is amazing and built soooo well. I end up using less beans and the grind is so consistent. I never had super cheap grinders, but this thing puts every grinder I have used to shame.

I love the French press. Course grind and let it steep for four minutes. I stir with a chopstick (use them more for stirring than eating I think)

Keep trying different beans, I really love beans that have notes of citrus in my French press.

Have you thought about contacting the hotel to find out what coffee they use?

[torsion]

I've got a Bodum french press that I use alot. Works well, however I was recommended one of these recently : http://aerobie.com/products/aeropress.htm

Anyone have one?

[Ubergosupro69]

I love French press and use one daily for my morning coffee, but they're finicky. You want a pretty course grain, definitely use a burr grinder, you want water under boiling, and you want to find the exact time for brewing. To my taste, I brew for just under 5 minutes and then press and pour fast.

Good luck!

[TiminBC]

I have an espresso machine but prefer the french press as it is easier and I like the bulk for the mornings.

[Maplepie]

For the French Press, I actually use a mortar and pestle to grind up the coffee. Takes a lot of bloody work but the end result is much better, IMO.

Plus! No coffee matter residue.

[wea1959]

I've got a Bodum french press that I use alot. Works well, however I was recommended one of these recently : http://aerobie.com/products/aeropress.htm

Anyone have one?

I have been using an aeropress for several years. I used to travel full time, and this was a great solution for crappy hotel room coffee. The entire unit is plastic and packs very well. The cup is strong and clear and works well with a commercial drip grind. It uses small paper filters, though I used a stainless steel one (one less thing to pack). They are also extremely easy to clean. It does not have the charm of a French press, but it delivers a quick cup. I use the inverted method, stir for 10 seconds and steep for 3 min. Plenty of YouTube demos out there.

[JohnS]

What you label as 'French Press' is called a 'Coffee Plunger' in my part of the world!

Australians take their love of coffee seriously. In fact, it's quite common to have conversations of complaint about the standard of coffee in other parts of the world when travelling! I used to use a Stove Top Espresso Maker for my coffee, the traditional Italian way...

But ever since Nespresso's exclusive claim to their coffee system expired and inspired multiple copies a few years ago, I've found that practically everyone I know in the city I live, Sydney, gets by with a portable mini-espresso maker such as the one below...

They are incredibly cheap, ranging from $AUD50 to $AUD100. It's not uncommon to find households where I live where people have espresso machines that are more expensive because they froth milk for cappucinos, such as the one below...

[Orion21]

The French Press is my favorite form of coffee. I buy either Italian roast or French roasted beans.

- I use four cups of water and 7 tablespoons of ground coffee.

- I use an electric kettle to bring the water to a boil and then let it sit for one minute.

- After letting the water sit for one minute I pour the water into the grinds in a circular motion until the french press is at capacity.

- Then let the grinds sit for one minute to form the crust and then break up the crust and mix slightly.

- Then let the mixture sit for another three and a half to four minutes before pushing the plunger down slowly.

- Once to the bottom I pour the coffee through a strainer into a warming vessel to remove the micro grinds.

What's left is pure and smooth!

[polarbear]

I love my French press.

I enjoy it's cost effective nature (when compared to capsules/pods) and it's simple and small size (compared to traditional expresso machines)

I normally buy my bean pre-ground (due to laziness)

My large plunger normally makes 2 large cups of coffee.

My method is:

Boil the kettle first

3-4 table spoons of ground in the plunger (I like strong coffee)

Fill with 60ml (or so) of tap water and stir

Allow to rest for 60 or so seconds

Fill with hot water and stir again

Allow to sit for 5 min

Stir again

Press and pour

I find adding the cold water helps to keep me from "burning" the grounds before adding the hot water.

[cris77]

What you label as 'French Press' is called a 'Coffee Plunger' in my part of the world!

How-Do-You-Use-a-French-Press.jpg

Australians take their love of coffee seriously. In fact, it's quite common to have conversations of complaint about the standard of coffee in other parts of the world when travelling! I used to use a Stove Top Espresso Maker for my coffee, the traditional Italian way...

Stove top Espresso Machine.jpg

But ever since Nespresso's exclusive claim to their coffee system expired and inspired multiple copies a few years ago, I've found that practically everyone I know in the city I live, Sydney, gets by with a portable mini-espresso maker such as the one below...

Caffitaly System.jpeg

They are incredibly cheap, ranging from $AUD50 to $AUD100. It's not uncommon to find households where I live where people have espresso machines that are more expensive because they froth milk for cappucinos, such as the one below...

Pasquini_Livietta_T2_Espresso_Machine__78149_zoom.jpg

I own all the above ....

for french press, the grind is extremely important as is the water temp as to not burn the ground coffee..

[Maplepie]

- I use four cups of water and 7 tablespoons of ground coffee.

- I use an electric kettle to bring the water to a boil and then let it sit for one minute.

- After letting the water sit for one minute I pour the water into the grinds in a circular motion until the french press is at capacity.

- Then let the grinds sit for one minute to form the crust and then break up the crust and mix slightly.

- Then let the mixture sit for another three and a half to four minutes before pushing the plunger down slowly.

- Once to the bottom I pour the coffee through a strainer into a warming vessel to remove the micro grinds.

This is my method. But with the mortar and pestle, you won't need to remove the microgrinds. So I skip the last little bit. It's also much more coarse so I have to let it sit for at least 10-12 minutes. People say that it burns the coffee, but I don't find that at all.

With the leftover grinds, I refill with all the hot water. Then I let it sit for 4-6hours, add some sugar/cream/ ice cups and have a delectable iced coffee for a late lunch. On the good side, it's always good iced coffee

[Walt69]

Probably a 4-letter word here but...i still Keurig... lol.

[fabes]

This is my method. But with the mortar and pestle, you won't need to remove the microgrinds. So I skip the last little bit. It's also much more coarse so I have to let it sit for at least 10-12 minutes. People say that it burns the coffee, but I don't find that at all.

With the leftover grinds, I refill with all the hot water. Then I let it sit for 4-6hours, add some sugar/cream/ ice cups and have a delectable iced coffee for a late lunch. On the good side, it's always good iced coffee

This makes me cringe.

[Nedule]

Water temp has to be spot on

Agreed, I use a french press every morning & have come to learn water temp makes such a huge difference. For me, boiling water out of the kettle makes the coffee too bitter. Best option would buy a kettle with a temperature sensor on it.