Learn how to brew French press coffee with the ideal coffee to water ratio! This straightforward technique produces a rich, full-bodied cup using this handy tool.
I’ve gained expertise in coffee by preparing it in nearly every way, and one thing I’ve discovered: the French press is among the simplest and most economical methods to make a fantastic cup of drip coffee. It’s an accommodating approach that works for various types of coffee beans and roasts, and it doesn’t require a lot of additional equipment.
While I enjoy my morning pour-over coffee, this technique is a close second that I recommend for a morning coffee routine! I have practiced this method repeatedly to perfect the right French press ratio for crafting the best cup of joe.
What Is a French Press?
The French press is a compact pitcher with a plunger utilized for brewing coffee and other beverages. Despite its name, the French press actually hails from Italy: it was patented by an Italian designer in 1929.
Other designations for this coffee brewing device include coffee press, coffee plunger, or cafetière. It’s primarily used for brewing coffee, yet the French press is also capable of making tea, cold brew, espresso, and more.
Why I Adore the French Press Method
There are numerous benefits to utilizing this coffee tool. The key advantages of making French press coffee include:
– It’s affordable. A quality French press is much less expensive than an espresso machine.
– It’s lenient. It works well with any coffee roast, and the method is not overly picky about coffee grind. While it’s beneficial to fine-tune it, some variation in grind size won’t impact the final cup too much.
– Minimal equipment is required. You don’t need many extra tools like filters or kitchen scales, and there’s a simple coffee ratio to remember.
– Rich, bold flavor. The filter retains the oils that give French press its distinctive full body.
One downside to the French press? Flavor. Coffee aficionados usually prefer the pour-over method for extracting the optimal taste from the coffee bean. I share that view, so pour-over coffee with a Chemex is my preferred morning technique. Now that I’ve refined my French press approach, it’s a very close second.
The French Press Coffee Ratio
Here’s a straightforward formula to remember for French press coffee so you can prepare it anytime, anywhere. What’s the coffee measurement for a French press?
– The optimal French press coffee ratio is 1:13 coffee to water, or about 1 gram of coffee for every 13 grams of water. You can adjust it to your liking, but this ratio should create an excellent cup of coffee with dark, medium, or light roast coffee. An even simpler way to remember it?
– Use 1 cup of ground coffee and 4 cups of water. That’s 1 part ground beans to 4 parts water, regardless of the size of the French press coffee maker you’re using.
This ratio differs a bit from some other popular methods, which use a smaller amount of coffee to water. However, we’ve tested this recipe multiple times with light roast, medium roast, and dark roast coffee. And we can confirm: this French press coffee ratio creates the best cup!
Ingredients and Equipment You’ll Need
Prepared to brew French press coffee? Here’s what you’ll require:
– French press coffee maker: The Bodum brand has been crafting this coffee tool since the 1940s. I utilize the Bodum 34-ounce (1 liter) French Press.
– Coffee of any roast: You can use light, medium, or dark roast coffee here and achieve an excellent cup with any of them.
– Filtered water (optional): Filtered water provides the best flavor for coffee: I use this filter pitcher.
– Coffee grinder: A medium grind is essential using any type of coffee grinder. An electric burr grinder offers the most consistent results, but it’s not mandatory for the French press as it is for pour-over coffee.
– Food scale (optional): You can use a digital food scale to measure the coffee and water, or just stick to the ratio of 1 cup of grounds to 4 cups of water.
– Electric kettle (optional): To easily measure water temperature, you can use an electric kettle.
How to Make French Press Coffee
Have your necessary equipment ready? Let’s brew French press coffee! Add the coffee, let it steep for 5 minutes, and press down. Here’s the process:
1. Grind the coffee: Grind 70 grams (1 cup) of coffee beans to a medium consistency. The grind size is crucial: if it’s too fine, it can produce sediment; if it’s too coarse, it won’t be flavorful enough.
2. Heat the water: Heat 4 cups of water to hot but not boiling (200 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit) using an electric kettle, or boil it on the stovetop and then let it sit for 1 minute to cool to the right temperature.
3. Add coffee grounds: Place the coffee grounds at the bottom of