The French Press – simplicity, sophistication and a beautiful cup of coffee.

Using a French press to prepare fresh roasted coffee may differ somewhat from the directions that came with your French press. We’ve found the following method produces excellent French pressed coffee.

Brewing characteristics: Sturdy body, full flavour, but fine grounds could end up in your cup.

Preferred grind: Coarse on a conical burr grinder (Flat burr & blade grinders will produce more fine grounds, but can definitely be used.) A coarser grind means reduced surface area for extraction and as a result, the French press method uses more coffee than others.

Preferred roast: Light medium to medium-dark (Dark roasted beans tend to be very brittle and produce more fines.)
Here’s a selection of our recommended French press coffees.

General Ratio for optimal flavour:

2.5 grams of coffee to 1 oz of water.

This ratio allows for peak flavour development, but based on your preference, you can adjust accordingly. 

* If the numbers above confuse you, as it does with us sometimes, we have a tip:

TIP:  for an 8 oz cup of coffee:
BEANS: Use 2 tablespoons
GROUND: Use 3 tablespoons

 

STEP ONE

Bring filtered water (enough for your cup plus a little more) to a boil. Now is a good time to grind your coffee if you’re starting with whole beans. A coarse grind is preferred so that fewer fine particles escape the filter mesh.

 

STEP TWO

With your ground coffee in the press, pour the water to just cover the ground coffee.
Fresh roasted coffee will still be degassing and you’ll notice the coffee start to “bloom”. We don’t want these gases to affect the taste of the coffee, so let it sit just a bit.

 

STEP THREE

Give the mixture a few stirs with a wooden spoon or palette stick and add the rest of water.
Metal spoons GREATLY increase the chances of cracking the glass and we want you to be happy!

Rest plunger on top (Don’t plunge yet). Let the mixture steep for 4 minutes. No shortcuts. 4 minutes.

 

STEP FOUR

Plunge all the way. Although it’s pretty in the press, immediately pour the coffee into your cup or a carafe. Letting the coffee stay in the press will result in over-extraction and a generally undesirable taste. At this point, the coffee is not piping hot as with other brew methods, so if you like it hot, waste no time. If it’s fresh roasted, we’ve found temperature to be quite forgiving and we can take our time and enjoy.

 

CLEANUP

Cleaning a French press may seem daunting, but it’s really straightforward. Remove and wash the mesh and all the components of the plunger. Add some water to the carafe and swirl a bit to help get all the coffee grounds out. Carefully wash and avoid knocking the glass carafe on anything. Dry and store safely until it’s coffee time again!

Shop coffees here
Purchase French presses and other coffee gear here.