Some of you are already familiar with the French press. Others know it by other names: plunger pot, coffee press, piston pot, or cafetière. It's a simple, straightforward, and efficient way to brew coffee that doesn't require any extra filters or a serving carafe. But how exactly is coffee brewed in a French press?
A plunger with a filter is simply pressed down on freshly brewed coffee, and voilà : coffee. Even Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has said of the French press: "The best cup of coffee known to mankind!"
Here we want to introduce you to this wonderful form of coffee preparation, explain what you need to pay attention to during preparation and how you can ultimately enjoy the perfect French Press coffee at home.
The history of the French Press
Coffee historians believe that the French press was probably invented in France around 1850. The story goes that a Frenchman forgot to boil his coffee with water, so he simply poured hot water over coffee grounds and then filtered the coffee out.
The French press wasn't patented until 1929 by the Italian Attilio Calimani, who had optimized the idea. However, it wasn't until the Danish brand Bodum created a timeless design that the French press truly gained widespread popularity, earning international acclaim. Today, the French press is experiencing a resurgence in popularity and a kind of renaissance in households, thanks to its simple design and manual operation, making it particularly environmentally friendly.
What do you need to pay attention to when preparing French press coffee?
Despite the French press's ease of use, there are a few things to keep in mind when using this brewing method. Firstly, it's advisable to purchase a high-quality French press with a glass carafe and minimal plastic components. Cheap plastic, in particular, can alter the taste of the coffee and, in the worst-case scenario, pose health risks.
The next question, of course, is: How much coffee grounds, and what grind size, do I need to brew French press coffee? The amount of coffee naturally depends on the size of your brewing vessel. As a general guideline, you can use about 55g to 65g of coffee grounds per liter of water. This is just a guideline and will vary depending on the type of coffee and your personal preferences.
The grind for French press coffee is much coarser than for filter coffee, otherwise the plunger and filter would let too much coffee through. As a visual guide, French press coffee can be compared to coarse sea salt.
At SIMON&BEARNS, you can easily have your French press coffee ground by us. Simply specify your desired grind size during the checkout process.
The French press is suitable for specialty coffee and light to medium roasts. Espresso preparation is strongly discouraged!
You're only 5 steps away from the perfect French press coffee!
Step 1:
First, rinse your French press with hot water. This removes coffee oil residue and warms the plunger, preventing it from cooling down and over-extracting the coffee.
Step 2:
Pour the desired amount of coffee into your container. A general rule of thumb is 55g to 65g of coarsely ground coffee per liter of water.
Step 3:
Pour approximately 90°C hot water over the coffee grounds in a circular motion. If you like, you can stop after a quarter of the pour, briefly stir the coffee-water mixture, and then continue pouring. However, this isn't necessary, as the coffee and water are sufficiently mixed by the circular pouring motion.
Step 4:
Place the plunger on the pot and do not press down. Wait 3 to 5 minutes to allow the coffee aromas sufficient time to fully develop. Then press the plunger down evenly and slowly. Note: The plunger must be pressed down straight, otherwise too much coffee grounds will remain in the coffee.
Step 5:
Pour coffee into a cup and enjoy.
What to do with the coffee grounds from a French press coffee?
As with any coffee brewing method, coffee grounds are left over at the end. What to do with them?
There are several options, but the drain isn't one of them. Too much coffee grounds can cause blockages and become quite unpleasant. It's better to dispose of your coffee grounds in the trash, or even better, in the compost bin. You can also use moderate amounts of coffee grounds to fertilize your plants.
Cleaning the French press is therefore important to remove coffee oils and coffee residues and thus avoid distorting the taste of the next coffee.
If you have any further questions about preparing French press coffee or which of our coffees are suitable for this method, please don't hesitate to ask. We look forward to your feedback – whether online or in person at our cafés.
Preparing coffee in a French press / plunger pot
Some of you are already familiar with the French press. Others know it by other names: plunger pot, coffee press, piston pot, or cafetière. It's a simple, straightforward, and efficient way to brew coffee that doesn't require any extra filters or a serving carafe. But how exactly is coffee brewed in a French press?
A plunger with a filter is simply pressed down on freshly brewed coffee, and voilà : coffee. Even Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has said of the French press: "The best cup of coffee known to mankind!"
Here we want to introduce you to this wonderful form of coffee preparation, explain what you need to pay attention to during preparation and how you can ultimately enjoy the perfect French Press coffee at home.
The history of the French Press
Coffee historians believe that the French press was probably invented in France around 1850. The story goes that a Frenchman forgot to boil his coffee with water, so he simply poured hot water over coffee grounds and then filtered the coffee out.
The French press wasn't patented until 1929 by the Italian Attilio Calimani, who had optimized the idea. However, it wasn't until the Danish brand Bodum created a timeless design that the French press truly gained widespread popularity, earning international acclaim. Today, the French press is experiencing a resurgence in popularity and a kind of renaissance in households, thanks to its simple design and manual operation, making it particularly environmentally friendly.
What do you need to pay attention to when preparing French press coffee?
Despite the French press's ease of use, there are a few things to keep in mind when using this brewing method. Firstly, it's advisable to purchase a high-quality French press with a glass carafe and minimal plastic components. Cheap plastic, in particular, can alter the taste of the coffee and, in the worst-case scenario, pose health risks.
The next question, of course, is: How much coffee grounds, and what grind size, do I need to brew French press coffee? The amount of coffee naturally depends on the size of your brewing vessel. As a general guideline, you can use about 55g to 65g of coffee grounds per liter of water. This is just a guideline and will vary depending on the type of coffee and your personal preferences.
The grind for French press coffee is much coarser than for filter coffee, otherwise the plunger and filter would let too much coffee through. As a visual guide, French press coffee can be compared to coarse sea salt.
At SIMON&BEARNS, you can easily have your French press coffee ground by us. Simply specify your desired grind size during the checkout process.
The French press is suitable for specialty coffee and light to medium roasts. Espresso preparation is strongly discouraged!
You're only 5 steps away from the perfect French press coffee!
Step 1:
First, rinse your French press with hot water. This removes coffee oil residue and warms the plunger, preventing it from cooling down and over-extracting the coffee.
Step 2:
Pour the desired amount of coffee into your container. A general rule of thumb is 55g to 65g of coarsely ground coffee per liter of water.
Step 3:
Pour approximately 90°C hot water over the coffee grounds in a circular motion. If you like, you can stop after a quarter of the pour, briefly stir the coffee-water mixture, and then continue pouring. However, this isn't necessary, as the coffee and water are sufficiently mixed by the circular pouring motion.
Step 4:
Place the plunger on the pot and do not press down. Wait 3 to 5 minutes to allow the coffee aromas sufficient time to fully develop. Then press the plunger down evenly and slowly. Note: The plunger must be pressed down straight, otherwise too much coffee grounds will remain in the coffee.
Step 5:
Pour coffee into a cup and enjoy.
What to do with the coffee grounds from a French press coffee?
As with any coffee brewing method, coffee grounds are left over at the end. What to do with them?
There are several options, but the drain isn't one of them. Too much coffee grounds can cause blockages and become quite unpleasant. It's better to dispose of your coffee grounds in the trash, or even better, in the compost bin. You can also use moderate amounts of coffee grounds to fertilize your plants.
Cleaning the French press is therefore important to remove coffee oils and coffee residues and thus avoid distorting the taste of the next coffee.
If you have any further questions about preparing French press coffee or which of our coffees are suitable for this method, please don't hesitate to ask. We look forward to your feedback – whether online or in person at our cafés.