French press – instructions for beginners and professionals
Easy, environmentally friendly and stylish. The built-in filter of the French press not only saves you extra filter paper, it also ensures that valuable fats and oils remain in the coffee, guaranteeing a full-bodied cup of filter coffee.
All you really need for a good cup of coffee from a press pot is water and coffee. Incidentally, the “inventor” of this method probably thought the same thing. It is thought that a Frenchman boiled water around 1850 and forgot the coffee. So he put the coffee powder in the hot water and it rose. In order to be able to drink the coffee, he got himself a small sieve-like grid and pressed the coffee down with a stick.
Like its inventor, the French Press is a real lateral thinker. Not only because of the environmentally friendly filter, but also because of the slightly different brewing process. This is referred to as immersive preparation, in which every coffee grain floats completely in the water. In contrast, other filter methods involve pouring hot water over the ground coffee.
So if you’re looking for an easy way to make a strong, full-bodied cup of coffee without any extra frills, the French press is the perfect choice.
Simple French press preparation
Step 1: Boil water – allow to cool slightly – approx. 95°C
Step 2: Coarsely grind 60 grams (8 tablespoons) of coffee per liter
Step 3: Pour in water
Step 4: Stir and put the plunger on
Step 5: Leave to infuse for approx. 2-5 minutes
Step 6: Slowly press the plunger down
Step 7: Pour/pour the coffee immediately
French press preparation for professionals
Special equipment
Thermometer
-determine the perfect water temperature
Coffee scale
-accurate measurement of coffee quantity
-easy way to precisely determine water quantity (1 ml = 1 g)
-timer function for precise brewing time
PRO tip first: Tinkering allowed!
When it comes to the grind, the amount of coffee and the brewing time, you can tinker and experiment until you find the amount that is perfect for your taste.
Step 1 Boil water
It is best to boil more water than you need for the coffee to heat the French press (simply fill with water). For the infusion, the water should be around 92 – 95 °C. Allow the water to cool slightly or use a thermometer.
Step 2 Grind coffee
For the French press, the coffee should be coarsely ground, about as coarse as semolina or sea salt. One liter of coffee contains 60g of coffee. The recipe can be adapted depending on the filling quantity.
PRO tip: The degree of grinding can vary depending on the grinder ; the coarsest setting is recommended as a starting point.
Step 3 Infusion
Pour a portion (approx. 10%) of the required water at 92 – 95°C and leave to swell for approx. 30 seconds. Then add the rest of the water, stir briefly, place the plunger on top and leave to infuse for approx. 2 – 5 minutes.
PRO tip: Alternatively, instead of putting the stamp on beforehand, as with professional cupping, you can pour in all the water straight away and allow a crust to form on the surface. Simply break this crust after pulling by stirring and then put the plunger on as normal and press.
PRO tip: The longer the coffee steeps, the more substances can be extracted, so the coffee tastes a little milder if it only steeps for a short time and a little more bitter and intense if it steeps for a long time. Here you can vary according to taste.
Step 4 Pressing
Press the stamp on slowly and evenly. The filtered coffee should be poured straight into cups or decanted (e.g. into a thermos flask).
PRO tip: Some recipes recommend leaving the freshly filtered coffee to rest for approx. 2 minutes so that the coffee grains can settle again. However, if you leave the freshly brewed coffee in the brew for too long, the coffee could become a little bitter.
Step 5 Enjoy your coffee
Coffee for the French press
Both medium and light roasts are suitable for the French press. If you like a fruity, almost tea-like taste, you can try a lighter roast. If you prefer something more classic, you can also try medium roasts, where the taste is more chocolatey. However, we advise against very dark roasts.
Here are our recommendations for the French press:
Paradise Island Inndie Beans
Vom Checker geprüft – Das ist unser Fazit:Paradise Island von Inndie Beans ist ein milder Single Origin aus Papua Neuginea mit rescher Säure. Komplex-fruchtig mit Aromen nach Vanille, tropischen Früchten und Zitrus, gerne im Filter.
Espresso Biologico Caffè Gemelli
Vom Checker geprüft – Das ist unser Fazit: Der kräftige Bio-Kaffee von Caffè Gemelli ist mit seiner strahlenden Säure und ausgewogenen Bitternoten eine resche Abwechslung für Espresso-Trinker. Das komplex-fruchtige Aroma nach süßen Brombeeren von Biologico kommt als Espresso gut zur Geltung.
Ethiopia Sidamo Bristot
Vom Checker geprüft – Das ist unser Fazit: Der Single Origin von Bristot aus der äthiopischen Anbauregion Sidamo ist besonders feingliedrig mit Noten nach Bergamotte, Orange und Gewürze. Die feine Balance zwischen Säure und Süße zeichnen Ethiopia Sidamo aus. Gerne im Filter oder Siebträger.
The perfect French press
At Coffeechecker, we offer a high-quality French Press from the traditional Italian manufacturer Bialetti. The French Press is not only robustly made, but also looks good! The glass insert can also be removed for easier cleaning.
Bialetti French Press 0,35l
Features:-Kaffeebehälter ist aus hitzebeständigem Glas-Deckel und Halterung aus rostfreiem Edelstahl 18/10-hitzeisoliertrm und ergonomischer Soft-Touch-Griff-Füllmenge: 0,35 Liter-Spülmaschinenfest-tropfreier Auslauf
The French Press in check – Conclusion
Per
+environmentally friendly – no filter paper required
+ easy to clean
+ full-bodied coffee thanks to the fats and oils contained in the coarser sieve, which remain in the coffee
Contra
– brewed coffee must be decanted immediately (cups, thermos flask), otherwise it becomes bitter
– pre-ground coffee is usually too fine for the French press – fresh grinding is better anyway 🙂
Super simple and environmentally friendly! If you have the opportunity to grind your own fresh coffee, the French Press is the perfect choice. And here’s a little tip: The French Press can also be used for other purposes. For loose tea or for frothing milk – this little pot can do a lot!
