It’s no secret that brewing coffee in different ways can drastically affect the overall flavor profile and bring out more nuanced flavors in your favorite coffee beans. Trying new brewing methods is a great way to keep your coffee experience feeling fresh and fun, and the French Press is a favorite method for so many reasons.

So, if you want to learn how to properly use your French press to maximize flavor—this is the perfect article for you! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to a Curated Expert!

What is a French Press?

A French press, also known as a press pot or coffee plunger, is a manual coffee brewing pot with a glass or stainless steel container with a plunger and mesh filter. It brews coffee by steeping coarsely ground beans in hot water and then pressing down the plunger to filter the grounds from the brewed coffee.

History of The French Press

The first sketches of the French press date back to 1852; however, the first patent wasn’t until 1928. The invention process has a few different plausible stories.

One popular story is that a French man went camping one night and forgot to add his coffee beans to his boiling pot of water. He didn’t want to waste the only coffee he had on him, so he threw them into the pot. When a traveling Italian man passed by, the French man purchased a mesh screen from him that he plunged over his coffee grounds with a stick to separate the coffee.

The French Press Brewing Process

While the French press uses a relatively simple brewing process, there are some specific ways you can make sure to get the best final product possible.

1. Grind Your Coffee

Properly grinding your coffee beans is the first step in creating the best French press coffee. Your French press coffee grind should be larger than drip coffee and pour-over grounds, which tend to be a medium-fine size.

The perfect grind should be about the size of breadcrumbs or coarse sea salt. Getting your grind right prevents over-extraction and keeps the grounds from escaping through the mesh filter and into your mug.

Use a high-quality burr coffee grinder to ensure your grind is consistent and to avoid any bitterness or uneven extraction.

Generally speaking, if your plunger is too hard to push down, your grind is too fine. If it falls down without applying pressure, it's too coarse.

2. Measure Your Coffee Grounds

For a standard 8-cup French press, you’ll need to measure out 1 ounce (about 28 grams) of coffee grounds for every 8 ounces of water.

You can adjust the amount of coffee grounds you use based on your taste preferences, but this is the standard and a great starting point.

While you can measure with a measuring spoon, we recommend using a coffee scale for accuracy.

3. Preheat Your French Press

While not everyone adds this step into their French press brewing routine, preheating your mug and French press helps maintain the water temperature during brewing and can help your coffee stay warmer for longer. This is especially helpful if you’re planning on having a couple of cups and don’t want your coffee getting cold too soon.

Simply pour hot water into your mug and French press and let it sit for a couple of minutes before you add your coffee grounds.

4. Add Freshly Ground Coffee

After discarding your water from preheating, place the measured coffee grounds into the bottom of the French press carafe (also known as a cafetière).

5. Boil Water

In a kettle, bring your water to a boil.

Once boiled, allow it to cool slightly for 30 seconds to a minute. Water boils at 212 degrees, but the ideal temperature for a French press is around 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit. Too hot, and you can scorch your grounds and make them bitter. Too cool, and you could under extract your beans and make your overall brew less strong and robust.

6. Bloom the Coffee

Pour a small amount of hot water over the coffee grounds, just enough to saturate them. Stir the grounds gently with a spoon to ensure even saturation and allow them to bloom for about 30 seconds.

This step helps release trapped gasses and makes your brew more flavorful and robust.

7. Pour Your Water

After the blooming phase, slowly pour the rest of the hot water over the coffee grounds in a circular motion, making sure all of the grounds are fully submerged.

8. Stir and Steep

Use a spoon to gently stir the coffee-water mixture to help it evenly extract. Place the lid on the French press with the plunger pulled up and set a timer for 3 minutes.

9. Plunge and Serve

Once your timer is up, slowly press the plunger down to filter the coffee grounds out of the brewed coffee.

Using gentle pressure will help not only keep grounds out of your coffee, but also prevents air from forcing any hot liquid out.

10. Pour and Enjoy

That's it! Once your coffee is filtered, you’re ready to enjoy it. Pour it into your preheated mug and enjoy it how you would any regular drip or pour-over coffee. You can add syrups, sugar, milk, or half and half.

How to Choose Coffee Beans For a French Press

While choosing coffee beans will depend on your flavor preferences, there are a few tips for getting the most out of your brew.

Medium and dark roasts tend to compliment the brewing process best. Look for beans with flavor notes that can withstand longer steeping times, like chocolate, nutty, or earthy undertones.

Avoid overly acidic or delicate beans from regions like Ethiopia or Kenya since they tend to be more floral and fruity.

As with any kind of coffee and espresso routine, always buy whole-bean coffee and grind it yourself immediately before brewing. This helps your beans taste much fresher and more full of flavor.

Want more guidance? Check out our Expert Guide to Coffee Beans.

How To Clean a French Press

After each use, pull the plunger and mesh filter back up to the top of the carafe. Be sure to discard your coffee grounds in either the trash can or an at-home compost to prevent clogging your sink.

Wash all of the components with hot, soapy water to remove the oils, and let your French press air dry before reassembling it.

Suppose you notice your French press carafe is starting to look a bit discolored. In that case, you can always do a deeper cleaning by soaking your disassembled French press parts in a solution of vinegar and water or baking soda and water for 5-10 minutes or until the discoloration fades.

Final Thoughts

Using a French press is a super simple way to enjoy a great cup of coffee quickly. Just remember to keep your French press clean and maintained to avoid bitterness and ensure a great cup of coffee every time.

Also, be sure to invest in a high-quality burr grinder for consistent grinds, and always use freshly ground coffee beans for a deeper and richer flavor profile.

If your coffee ever isn’t tasting quite right, you can experiment with different coffee-to-water ratios and breeding times till you find a method that works best for you and your preferences. Need help shopping for a French press or have any more questions? Chat with one of our Coffee Experts today!