Download Article
Download Article
A coffee press, sometimes called a French press or plunger pot, is often hailed by coffee enthusiasts as the best method for brewing coffee. It's one of the few brewing methods that allows all the natural oils and proteins in the grounds to be present in the final cup. Many drinkers also view the press as an exceptionally pure brewing method because it uses no paper filter that could alter the taste of the finished brew. Even better, making coffee with a coffee press is extremely easy once you learn the basics.
Ingredients
- ½ cup (51 g) coffee beans
- 4 cups (946 ml) water
Steps
-
Measure the coffee beans. To ensure that you wind up with the right amount of grounds for your coffee, you must carefully measure out the coffee beans. For 32 ounces (946 ml) of coffee, which is approximately 3 to 4 servings, use a measuring cup to measure a ½ cup (51 g) of beans. [1] X Research source- The standard size for most coffee presses is 32 ounces (946 ml), but you can make fewer servings if you prefer. For a single serving, measure 2 tablespoons (13 g) of beans. For 2 servings, measure a ¼ cup (26 g) of beans.
-
Grind the beans coarsely. Once you’ve measured the beans, place them in a coffee grinder. Use the coarsest setting to grind the beans down until they resemble bread crumbs. [2] X Research source- For the best flavor, coffee beans should always be ground just before brewing (ideally within 15 minutes). Grinding before this will lead to stale, oxidized coffee.
- In most cases, the finer you grind the beans, the weaker the coffee will be. The coarser the grind, the stronger the coffee will be. Pay attention to the grinder setting that you use, so you can adjust it the next time if you aren’t happy with the taste of your coffee. [3] X Research source
Advertisement -
Boil the water and then cool. To make 32 ounces (946 ml) of coffee, you’ll need to heat 4 cups (946 ml) of water. The water should be 195 degrees Fahrenheit (91 degrees Celsius), which is below boiling. Boil the water in an electric or stovetop kettle, but then remove the water from the heat and allow it to cool for approximately 30 seconds to 1 minute before making the coffee. [4] X Research source- If you’re making a single serving of coffee, heat 1 cup (237 ml) of water. For two servings, heat 2 cups (474 ml) of water.
- You can use tap water to make your coffee. However, be sure to drink some first to ensure that it doesn’t have a bad taste. If it does taste odd, use filtered or bottled water instead. [5] X Research source
-
Prepare your chosen press. Examine your coffee press to ensure that the plunger device inside that pushes the grounds to the bottom of the pot to express their flavor into the hot water is working properly. Remove the lid and plunger, and place the ground coffee beans in the press. [6] X Research source- You can find coffee presses that feature glass or plastic pots. Unless you're traveling with your press and have to worry about possible breakage, it's best to use a glass press. Plastic pots can sometimes affect the taste of your coffee. [7] X Research source
- To make clean up easier, make sure that your press is dishwasher-safe.
Advertisement
-
Fill the press halfway with water. After you’ve boiled and cooled the water, it’s time to add it to the grounds in the coffee press. However, you don’t want to add all of the water at once. Instead, start by pouring just enough into the press to fill it halfway. Allow the coffee and water mixture to sit for approximately 1 minute. [8] X Research source -
Stir the grounds and water. When the coffee and water have sat for a minute, the grounds will likely float to the top and form a thick layer. Use a spoon to stir the mixture vigorously so you break up the layer of grounds. [9] X Research source- When you’re stirring the mixture, it helps to use an up and down motion with the spoon to ensure that the grounds and water are well mixed.
-
Add more water to fill the press. After you’ve mixed the water and grounds, you can pour the rest of the heated water into the press. Use a circular motion as you’re adding it so all of the grounds are soaked. [10] X Research source- If you prefer, you can add all of the water at once and stir immediately to combine the coffee and water. However, it can be more difficult to ensure that all of the grounds are soaked if you pour in the water all at once. [11] X Research source
Advertisement
-
Allow the coffee mixture to steep for several minutes. Once you’ve added all of the water, place the lid on the press. Don’t press the coffee yet, though -- allow the mixture to sit for another 3 minutes so it has time to fully steep. [12] X Research source- As you become more experienced in making coffee with your press, you may realize that certain types of coffee taste better if they are steeped longer or shorter than 3 minutes. Adjust the brewing time to your personal tastes. [13] X Research source
-
Push down on the press. After the coffee has steeped for several minutes, it’s time to plunge the press. Push down on the press gently until it reaches the bottom of the carafe. [14] X Research source- Pushing on the press too hard can agitate the coffee too much and leave it bitter. If you feel resistance when you’re plunging on it, back up the press a couple of inches and plunge it again until you get to the bottom.
-
Pour the coffee, and serve immediately. When you’re plunged the press all the way to the bottom, the coffee is ready. Pour it into cups or a serving carafe, and serve immediately. [15] X Research source
Advertisement
Join the Discussion...
Hi everyone! I was recently gifted a French press and have been experimenting with different ways to make coffee using it. I thought I'd come to... Read More
The most important thing for using a French press is the ratio of coffee to water. I get the most flavorful cup when I use about 30 grams of coar... Read More
I'd also add that I always start by pouring just a tiny bit of hot (~200 degrees F) water on the grounds and stir them to make sure they're all s... Read More
Video
Expert Q&A
Search
-
QuestionCan you make iced coffee in a French press?Jaden Zhao is a Barista and the Owner of Jiaren Cafe & Yoga Studio in Santa Clara, California. Her cafe specializes in matcha drinks, espresso, coffee, fruit drinks, and herbal drinks. Additionally, the cafe hosts classes and features a yoga studio and a community space. Jaden earned an MS from Santa Clara University Leavey School of Business and a BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.Yes, if you chill the entire French press container with ice and then pour it over ice. Still, you're better off choosing cold brew if you're in the mood for chilled coffee.
-
QuestionCan I use boiling water in a French press?MissyWikiCommunity AnswerYes, you can. Once the water reaches a boil, remove it from the heat and wait about 30 seconds before pouring onto the coffee. This will lower the temperature from boiling to around 200° F, which is ideal for brewing.
-
QuestionCan I use it for making cocoa?MicheleTop AnswererSince cocoa powder dissolves completely in hot water, there's no reason to use a press to make hot cocoa. A press is used to steep coffee, tea leaves or chicory, then filter the grinds out so you can drink the result without grit.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Tips
- If you don’t plan to drink all of the coffee right away, don’t leave it in the press. It will get bitter if the grounds continue to steep in it. Instead, pour it into a carafe or other serving container.Thanks
- Before making your coffee, it’s a good idea to rinse the press with hot water. That will warm it up to help keep the coffee itself warm.Thanks
- Try making your own coffee creamer if you're interested in making your own special flavor.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- Use a digital kitchen scale or leveled tablespoons to measure coffee. A 1:18 coffee to water ratio works well for a basic cup, but try a 1:16 ratio for stronger coffee.
- Use a little more ground coffee beans and then only fill your coffee cup 3/4-full. Top up your mug with hot milk to make a delicious latte.
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
Things You'll Need
- Coffee press
- Tea kettle or saucepan
- Cups
References
- ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-french-press-coffee-113601
- ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-french-press-coffee-113601
- ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/2014/07/how-to-make-better-french-press-coffee-tips-technique-grind-timing.html
- ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-french-press-coffee-113601
- ↑ https://greatist.com/eat/how-make-best-french-press-coffee
- ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-french-press-coffee-113601
- ↑ https://ineedcoffee.com/buying-a-french-press-picking-the-right-one/
- ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-make-french-press-coffee-the-right-way-gallery/3
- ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-make-french-press-coffee-the-right-way-gallery/3
- ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-make-french-press-coffee-the-right-way-gallery/3
- ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-french-press-coffee-113601
- ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-make-french-press-coffee-the-right-way-gallery/3
- ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-french-press-coffee-113601
- ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/2014/07/how-to-make-better-french-press-coffee-tips-technique-grind-timing.html
- ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/2014/07/how-to-make-better-french-press-coffee-tips-technique-grind-timing.html
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To make coffee with a coffee press, start by boiling a pot of water. Then, fill the coffee press halfway with the hot water. Once you've done that, add your coffee grounds to the press and stir them thoroughly. Next, fill the press the rest of the way up with hot water and let the coffee steep for several minutes. Finally, put the lid on the press and press down on the plunger until it reaches the bottom of the carafe. Your coffee is now ready to be poured and served! If you want to learn how to grind coffee beans to use in a press, keep reading!
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 320,682 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "Never used a coffee press before. Now I'm looking forward to making a nice cup of coffee like I had at Castleton at the secret tea rooms Christmas Eve. I've learned everything from you today, thank you very much." ..." more
Advertisement
96%
of readers found this article helpful
.
Click a star to add your vote
% of people told us that this article helped them.
"Never used a coffee press before. Now I'm looking forward to making a nice cup of coffee like I had at Castleton at the secret tea rooms Christmas Eve. I've learned everything from you today, thank you very much."
..."
more
"Had no idea how to do it. We were staying in Spain in a rented condo, with only an espresso machine that didn't work and a coffee press. We are going to try and make some tomorrow."
..."
more
"I have never used a coffee press, and had lost/misplaced the instructions that came with mine. These instructions seem simple, to-the-point ,and love the visuals! Easy to follow."
..."
more
"Bought a coffee press with no instructions that has sat in my kitchen for a year. Thanks to the step-by-step instructions, I can't wait to use it!"
..."
more
"Good information on the technique. The woman was knowledgeable but frankly, the male speaker was so inane that I almost shut it down."
..."
more
