How to Use French Press Coffee Maker to Make Coffee

Why so many people love French press coffee? Because it's easy to use and it really makes a great coffee. French press coffee maker simply requires pouring coffee grounds and hot water into the jug, waiting a few minutes, and gently depressing the filter. Compared with other coffee pots or machines, French press coffee pots do not require electricity or complicated operation, so they are more convenient and easy to use. If you haven't tried brewing coffee with a French press, read this article and follow the steps to make your first cup of homemade coffee.

Tools needed

◉French Press Coffee Maker CPA600-06A

◉Kettle CH08A

◉Manual Grinder CH12A-05

◉Coffee Cup CM320-01A

◉Ceramic Coffee Canister CB300-01A

◉Coffee Spoon CGC-01A

Step 1: Pick the Beans

Coffee beans are light roasted, medium roasted, and dark roasted. In the case of deep roasting, the taste of coffee beans will become more intense, and a rich and mellow taste can be obtained. Today's coffee will be brewing with floral, acidic and full-bodied coffee beans. What coffee storage needs to avoid are oxygen, moisture, light and heat. As soon as we open our coffee beans, they should be placed in a light-tight, air-tight ceramic container in a dry, cool place. (Do not use plastic or metal containers, which can cause the beans to inhale plastic or metal flavor.)

Step 2: Grind the beans

Grind the beans just before brewing to preserve their aroma and flavor. I chose to use a manual grinder. When the electric grinder is grinding, the high-speed rotating cutter head will generate high heat, and the coffee powder will accelerate oxidation when heated, resulting in the volatilization of coffee aroma. Since the manual grinder is operated manually, it is basically in the state of "one circle per second", and does not generate too much heat when grinding, so the same kind of coffee beans, the aroma of coffee powder ground by the manual grinder It is definitely better than an electric grinder.

For French press coffee, you should use a coarse grind size, which resembles sea salt or breadcrumbs. Because the hot water is directly in contact with the coffee powder, if the coffee beans are ground too fine, it is easy to over extract, which will aggravate the bitter taste. In addition, if the powder is too fine, the coffee powder will run out of the hole in the filter, and the coffee will become cloudy.

Step 3: Heat the Water

Fill the kettle with fresh and cold water, and bring it to a boil. Today the kettle I used is without a thermometer, so I let the water cool down for a minute or two after boiling to reach the optimal temperature for brewing, which is around 200°F or 93°C. Here is a small tips: Water temperature has a great influence on the taste of coffee. Brewing coffee directly with 100-degree boiling water will produce a lot of impurities, which will not only affect the taste, but also become very bitter.

Step 4: Brew the Coffee

Place the French press on a stable and heat-resistant surface, and add the desired amount of coffee grounds to it. Here, we need to confirm the powder-water ratio. It is recommended to use a powder-water ratio of 1:15 to 1:16. These two powder-water ratio ranges have a higher error tolerance rate. Most of the coffee’s taste and flavor are excellent in the powder-water ratio.

Pour the hot water over the grounds, making sure to wet them evenly and to leave some space at the top of the press. Stir the mixture gently with a spoon or a chopstick to ensure that all the grounds are saturated. Place the lid and the plunger on top of the press, and let the coffee steep for about four minutes.

Step 5: Plunge and Pour

The French press is elegant and gentle, so be sure to press slowly. If stir the coffee roughly at this juncture, it is equivalent to speeding up the extraction process at the last minute, the coffee will be a bitter taste. Slowly and steadily press down the plunger, using the weight of your hand and not too much force. The mesh filter will separate the coffee from the grounds, and the plunger will push them to the bottom of the press. Pour the coffee into mug and enjoy!

I used 20g of coffee beans and brewed about 300ML of coffee. It was just right for two people to drink. Brewing a cup of coffee by French press is as simple as that. The whole process takes only few minutes, but I can enjoy a cup of coffee with coffee shop quality. And I don't have to learn superb brewing skills, it's really friendly for people like me who are too lazy to use their brains. Just make sure to clean the French press thoroughly after each use. Otherwise, coffee stains may be left, which will not be easy to clean after a long time.

Keywords: french press coffee maker

Originally published 18 May 2023, updated 18 May 2023.