How do you like your coffee? Do you get it from your favorite cafe, or do you brew it yourself?
If you want to start making your coffee, or if you are tired of your old brewing method, whatever the case, you can use a French press. A good cup of fresh coffee can easily make a day, and if you use a French press coffee maker the right way, you are sure to have a tasty coffee every day.
I will walk you through the basic steps to creating the best French Press Coffee you have ever tasted. The French press may be a familiar expression to coffee enthusiasts, but not everyone knows how it works.
In this guide, I will review everything you need to know about the French press and how to achieve the incredible coffee you love.
Table of Contents
How to use French Press Coffee Maker easilly?
A French press is a famous brewing unit that was first patented in Milan, Italy. The appeal of the French press to everyone is mostly due to how easy it is to use.
The mechanics of this brewing unit are straightforward. To quickly grasp how a French press works, it is important that you first familiarize yourself with its parts.
When buying a french press coffee grinder , there are many styles to consider, including design, functionality, brands more.
The French press has two main parts, the beaker with the bottom and a handle and the lid with the piston and the filter.
The cup is the central part that contains the coffee grounds and the hot water. Other models use plastic, ceramic, or metal. But the most common is a beaker made of glass.
Attached to the beaker are the bottom and the handle. The purpose of the base is to ensure that you do not burn the surface where you put your coffee machine on.
On the other hand, the handle helps you avoid burning yourself and make it easier to pour the brewed coffee into a mug.
French presses are equipped with a filter. This filter helps ensure that only the fine particles and natural oils from your coffee grounds pass through the coffee machine and into your cup. Better models use more microfilters. It helps to achieve a rich and tasty cup of coffee.
The filter is connected to a metal rod that goes through the top, called the piston. The plunger is used to push the filter down and push it to the bottom of the beaker.
A lid is mounted on top of the beaker to prevent coffee particles from flowing out each time you press,
In a nutshell, the French press Coffee marker works by adding coffee grounds and hot water to the beaker. Put the lid on and gently press the plunger to filter the coffee.
After just a few minutes, you can now get your much-needed coffee. But calm down, we go into the step-by-step process of using a French press in the later part. To clarify that, an automatic pour-over coffee maker gives more decadent flavors.
What do you need to make perfect coffee ?
Before we go into the step-by-step instruction on the proper operation and preparation of coffee using a French press unit, let’s first look at the preparations you need to make.
To make the process easier for you and to ensure the quality taste of your coffee, remember to prepare and consider the following aspects.
The smallest ingredients you need to make a coffee using a French press unit are water, ground coffee, and the French press.
If you are looking to savor wonderful coffee, you will need the perfect burr coffee grinder for the french press that can produce uniform particles.
French Press
Choosing the right French press depends mainly on one’s preference. But you need to know that there are different sizes of French presses that you can find on the market. The smaller ones can make 3 to 4 cups of coffee, while the larger ones can make 8 to 12 cups.
For those who prefer less hassle of making coffee, an electric French press may be the right machine for you. This model can heat the water, brew the coffee and keep it warm until you are ready to drink it. It is relatively light and practical.
Many of the best quality manual grinders perform just as good as the more expensive electric models but they cost a fraction of the price
Filtered water
Before choosing, To ensure safety and of course, to preserve the rich taste of the coffee, it is better that you use filtered water to make your coffee. Filtered water is already cleaned of any odors and other impurities that may affect the taste of your coffee.
Coffee beans
The quality of your coffee beans has a significant impact on the overall taste of your coffee. Experts and baristas prefer medium and dark-roasted coffee for better brewing and extraction of oils and flavors. Be sure to use high-quality fresh coffee beans for a good cup.
When using the French press, you also need other optimal tools to achieve perfectly brewed coffee. These are the coffee grinder, the kettle, the scale, and the timer.
Coffee Grinder
Freshly ground coffee beans ensure a better-tasting coffee. Because when the coffee is already ground, this starts to lose flavor due to oxidation.
If the ground coffee is mainly not stored properly, it absorbs odors and the richness of the taste decreases over time.
Therefore, it is better to own a coffee grinder and grind your beans before making your coffee.
A burr grinder is the most recommended. It allows you to set the painting size and ensure a uniform size of coffee particles.
A uniform size is especially important because smaller particles are over-extracted while the larger ones are under-extracted. Particles of equal size ensure a perfectly balanced cup of coffee.
Kettle
A French press requires you to first boil the water you put in the beaker. You can use any kettle to boil your water and pour the hot water into the French press when you start brewing your coffee.
Weight
Coffee beans have different properties and densities, depending on how they were treated.
To ensure uniformity in the quality of your cup, you can use a scale to measure your ground coffee. You can also use a coffee spoon or spoon if there is a scale.
Timer
You can use the timer on your phone. A timer is important to keep track of the time you have to process your coffee. If you leave it soft for too long, your coffee will be over-extracted and affect its taste. You can use the timer on your phone.
French Press recipe for beginners: Super simple, fast, and easy
Cuppabean This super-simple French press recipe only takes approx. 4-6 minutes. I use this recipe at home, so I hope you guys will like it!
EQUIPMENT
- French Press
- Kettle
- Teaspoonful
- Teaspoonful
- Timer
Ingredients
- 3 tsp. coarse ground coffee beans
- 250 ml. hot water
7 way to use a French Press Coffee Maker
1. The first step in making this quick French press recipe is to boil the water using a kettle.
2. Preheat the cup and the French press by pouring the boiled water on each and leaving it for 30 seconds. Then empty.
3. Measure 3 tbsp. of coarsely ground coffee, and place it in the French press.
4. Pour 250 ml. water on the French press. Mix gently and cover with a lid.
5. Set your timer and brew your coffee for 4 minutes.
6. When the timer is off, gently push the plunger down.
7. Pour your french press cover on your preheated cup. Serve, and enjoy!
Also read: How many cups of coffee do you drink a day?
How to Make French press coffee ?
Now that you already know what you need to make coffee using a French press brewing machine, it’s time to make your favorite coffee. We guide you through this step-by-step instruction.
Boil water
The first thing you need to do is prepare the hot water for your coffee. Boil water with a kettle. As mentioned, it is much better to use filtered water to prevent impurities from affecting the taste of your coffee.
The ideal brewing temperature is 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit.
1-Preheat the French press
Likewise, the preheating process is crucial to stop the brewing temperature from fluctuating, ensuring an even temperature throughout to effectively brew your coffee.
The preheating process also helps clean the beaker of any particles. But this step is only optional.
You can use the water you have boiled before to preheat your French press. You need to pour some hot water on the beaker and gently let it swirl around the press until it is hot enough to touch.
After use, pour the water and dispose of it properly.
2- Measure the coffee grounds
As we have mentioned, it is better to have your coffee beans freshly ground before using them. We recommend coarsely ground beans for slow extraction.
Then measure your coffee grounds. The amount you need depends on the size of your French press and the amount of coffee you want to make
3- Measure the water
The ratio of coffee to water is 1:15. This measurement means that for 1 ounce of coarsely ground coffee for every 15 ounces of water.
Weighing your water using a scale is better to get the correct measurement. But if you do not have a scale at home, you can use a spoon or scoop for measurement.
4- Add ground coffee and hot water
Once you have all the measurements done, you can now add your coffee grounds to the French press. Smooth it out before adding the correct ratio of hot water.
Add the water on a slope and make sure all the coffee gets wet.
After pouring, take a spoon and gently stir the coffee to ensure that every particle is wet and immersed in water.
5- Place the lid and start timing
After pouring everything in and making sure the water and coffee grounds are mixed properly, place the lid on top of the beaker to keep the heat inside and ensure that no particles flow out of the beaker.
The piston must be pulled up. Set your timer to 4 minutes and let the coffee rise.
6- Gently push down on the plunger
Then you can start pressing the plunger down to the bottom of the cup. If it is difficult to squeeze down, it means that your particles are not refined or coarse.
Serve:
Do not leave it in the container with the coffee grounds for a long time, as this will cause it to continue to pull out and lose more flavor during the process.
After squeezing, serve the coffee immediately and enjoy your freshly brewed coffee.
You may not want to pour the remaining 10% of your coffee as that part has a higher salt concentration and can affect the taste of your coffee.
Be sure to clean your French Press after each use to get rid of coffee particles and oils from your filter and beaker.
As you have seen, brewing coffee with a French press is relatively simple and easy to understand. Aside from getting the correct measurement, the whole process is a breeze. In a few minutes, you can have your favorite cup of coffee ready.
Also read: How long should a good coffee maker last?
What to look for in a French press before choosing ?
The French press is a widespread brewing method and you will find many different units of French press brewing machines on the market. You can even get it at a relatively coffee maker under 200.
But before choosing a coffee maker first, make sure that it is exactly what you need. The following are just some of the general considerations to keep in mind before spending your money on a French press.
The capacity
French presses are available in different sizes. You will find small French presses. This size can typically fill 3 to 4 cups of coffee. This size is ideal for those living alone or for smaller families. You can also invite some of your friends for a coffee.
For a larger group, a large French press is required. A large French press can make 8 to 12 cups of coffee. In general, the size of your French press depends on your intended use of it.
The material
French presses can be made of glass, metal, or ceramic. The cups for French presses are usually made of glass. This material looks best and most elegant, but it is fragile and it can easily break if you are not careful.
According to French lifestyle & interior design expert Dean Signori, a French metal press, on the other hand, is the most durable. Metal is not brittle and is challenging.
It also keeps and keeps the heat well and keeps your coffee warm in the container, even after a while. The ceramic material is also durable and also retains heat well.
The price
If you decide to buy your French press, review everything and compare prices. Usually, French presses have the same features and almost the same quality with just different prices.
You do not have to spend too much out of your budget to have a high-quality coffee machine.
You can always find a relatively cheaper option with good quality. When choosing a French press, make sure it is in line with your needs and budget. Check the world’s Top selling coffee maker under $200.
Is it worth it?
You have many options where you get your coffee. You can spend money on coffee shops. You can also buy an espresso machine or a drip machine to brew your coffee.
But the best choice we can give you is the French press. Is it worth it? Of course, and here are the reasons for that.
Is French Press is economical and Practical ?
A French press does not use paper filters as it is already equipped with a filter inside. Paper filters tend to remove more flavors and oils from the coffee grounds.
With the French press, the taste is preserved much better compared to other brewing methods.
With a French press, you can get a complete saturation of reasons that give you a better taste. You do not miss anything as the French press requires you to push the plunger down to the bottom to get all the coffee particles.
It maintains the temperature better compared to other brewing methods
The French press also keeps the temperature better compared to other brewing methods. Drip machines, for example, cool the water down as quickly as it heats up. The perfect temperature for French Press coffee is around 195°F; this is just below boiling. Heat the water on a stovetop bowl or electric kettle to boiling, then take off the heat for about 1 full minute before making the coffee
French press maintains an even temperature throughout the brewing process – uniform temperature results in a better-brewed coffee.
One of the main reasons why the French press is popular is because of how easy it is to use.
Once you have made all the preparations and measurements, you only need to add hot water and ground coffee together, press, and then serve. It could not be easier than that.
Summary
With a French press at home, you do not have to spend money on coffee shops, which admittedly cost a lot. But most importantly: With your coffee machine, you have full control over how you want your coffee.
You can control the amount and taste of your coffee. You can now make your own according to how you prefer your coffee. Therefore, it is wise and worth investing in a French press.
It is easy to use and relatively inexpensive. If you decide which coffee machine you want, we strongly recommend that you get the best budget French press. With it, you can enjoy rich, freshly brewed coffee every day.
Now that you’ve read all about brewing coffee using the French press, its components, and how it works, we hope this article has helped you in some way. Overall, the French press is efficient and produces the best coffee.