French Press

Brew guide

French Press

Full-bodied and unfussy.

French press is one of the most accessible ways to make a great cup. The immersion method draws out more body and oils than paper-filter brewing, which gives it a rich, round character. Good for people who prefer their coffee with a bit more weight to it.

French press is about as straightforward as coffee brewing gets. Coarse grounds, hot water, a few minutes, a slow plunge. The result is a rich, full-bodied cup that's completely distinct from anything brewed through a paper filter.

Because there's no filter to catch them, the natural oils from the coffee go straight into the cup — that's what gives French press coffee its characteristic weight and texture. It also means the grind size and steep time matter more than people expect. Get those right and the method is nearly foolproof.

It's an easy brewer to recommend for people who want a consistently satisfying cup without much technique.

how to brew

equipment list

French press
Freshly ground coffee — French press (coarse) grind
Kettle
Kitchen scale
Timer
Mug

at-a-glance recipe

Coffee 30g
Water 500g (500ml)
Ratio 1:16 (coffee : water) — adjust to taste
Water temperature 93–96°C / 200–205°F
Grind size Coarse — like rough breadcrumbs
Total brew time 4 minutes

French press scales easily — use the same 1:16 ratio and adjust the dose to your press size.

step-by-step instructions

Written for a standard 500ml French press. Scale up proportionally for larger presses.

1. Preheat the press

Add a small amount of hot water to the empty press, swirl, and discard. This keeps the brew temperature stable during extraction.

2. Grind and add your coffee

Grind 30g of coffee to a coarse grind — like rough breadcrumbs. Add the grounds to the preheated press.

3. Add water and start your time

Pour 500g of water (93–96°C) evenly over the grounds. Give it a gentle stir to make sure everything is saturated, then place the lid on top with the plunger pulled up. Don't press yet.

4. Steep for 4 minutes

Let the coffee steep undisturbed for 4 minutes. Resist the urge to press early — the full steep time makes a difference.

5. Press slowly

At the 4 minute mark, apply slow, even pressure to the plunger. It should take about 20–30 seconds to press fully. If it's difficult to press, your grind is too fine. If it drops with no resistance, go coarser.

6. Pour immediately

Pour the coffee into your cup right after pressing. Don't leave it sitting in the press — the grounds continue extracting and the coffee will become bitter and muddy.

7. Taste and adjust

Too bitter? Shorten the steep time or go coarser. Too thin or weak? Grind finer, steep a little longer, or add more coffee.

coffees we’d reach for

French press suits coffees with a bit of body and sweetness. Full-bodied blends work particularly well — the immersion method accentuates weight and texture. Single origins with lower acidity also hold up well without paper filtration.