French Press
Full Immersion Brewing
Bold. Full-bodied. Unapologetic.
📷 Add a hero image for French Press here via the Featured Image setting
The French press uses full immersion — coffee grounds steep directly in hot water, separated only at the end by the metal mesh plunger. The result is a cup with more body, more texture, and more of the coffee’s natural oils than any paper-filtered method. It rewards patience: breaking the crust at the right moment, stirring consistently, and decanting before the grounds settle back.
What You Need
- French press (any size)
- Burr grinder
- Digital scale
- Kettle
- Spoon
- Timer
Step by Step
Boil Extra Water
Boil about 8 oz more water than you need — you will use the extra to preheat the press and your mugs.
Preheat Everything
Pour hot water into the French press, let it warm for 30 seconds, then pour it into your mugs to preheat those too.
Weigh and Grind
Grind coarse — like rough breadcrumbs. Too fine and you will over-extract and clog the filter.
Pour and Start Timer
Add ground coffee, tare to zero. Start timer and pour freshly boiled water, saturating grounds completely. Set for 4–6 minutes.
Break the Crust at 1 Minute
After 1 minute the grounds float and form a crust. Break it with a spoon. Stir every 10–30 seconds to keep extraction even.
Stop Stirring 1 Minute Early
With 1 minute left, stop stirring and let grounds settle. This reduces sediment in your cup.
Press and Serve Immediately
Press slowly and steadily to ½ inch above the grounds. Pour immediately — coffee sitting on the French press continues to extract and turns bitter.
Pro Tips
- Always decant or serve immediately after pressing.
- Coarse grind is critical — fine grind makes a muddy, bitter cup.
- Clean your French press thoroughly after every use — rancid oils ruin future brews.
- Shorter steep (4 min) for lighter roasts, longer (6 min) for darker roasts.
The right coffee makes every method taste better.