Coffee brewing methods have kept evolving since time immemorial. It is possible to ensure the best tasting cup of coffee every time by using different brewing techniques.
A French press is one of the most widely used coffee making methods across the globe. Even though French press coffee makers are the most common way of brewing coffee, a lot of people are not using them correctly.
Although it may not seem like it at first, if you familiarize yourself with the protocol of using this method, it becomes one of the most simple and straightforward. If you are thinking about purchasing this tool, we can show you how to brew French Press Coffee.
History of the French Press Coffee Maker
This coffee press was first invented in France and was the prototype for the current coffee maker design. There was a metal mesh/ gauze secured to a bar. People would then press down on a container of boiling water filled with coffee grounds.
Throughout the ages, this traditional coffee brewing machine has been changed and evolved both in the United States and in France, culminating in the modern version of the French press coffee maker we are familiar with today.
What Is a French Press?
It is unclear where the French Press got its start, but records from the 19th century seem to point to France as the birthplace of early models of the coffee maker. The design didn’t become extremely well known until 1929 when Attilio Callimani, an Italian designer, was given a patent for it.
A French press is an easy-to-use coffee maker comprised of two components: a pot to contain the brewed coffee and water, and a rod with a fine metal strainer affixed at the bottom. Using a filter, the coffee can be simultaneously brewed and poured out.
There are various styles of the basic design, yet the most useful french presses normally contain three components.
A Strong Glass Carafe
Watching the colour of the liquid shift while you make your coffee is a wonderful view and never gets boring. Effectively, glass is quick to tidy and holds a temperature that is perfect for the best taste. The highest quality carafes are manufactured using borosilicate glass that can withstand temperature changes.
Quality Filtration Systems
Filters that were constructed with low quality materials tend to break and lead to coffee filled with grinds. Good-grade filters should be strong enough to stop a lot of the grounds from entering, yet still allow for the traditional richness associated with a french press. The crucial element of your French press is the most essential.
A Classy and Durable Frame
Believe me, it is not a good idea to pick up the cup when your coffee is in the process of making. This is the reason why French press coffee makers put the glass pot inside a housing. Be sure to select a frame that you would be proud to show off, for French press coffee should be appreciated and passed on.
Strengths And Weaknesses Of The French Press
Materials
The elegant minimalism of the french press is one of its major advantages. There are no cables or displays that could become damaged or blow up; just some strong components. You can be sure that worries about faulty performance and complicated assembly will be alleviated once you acquire a french press coffee machine.
Process
The process isn’t complicated either. Put ground coffee and hot water in a machine, let it press down and mix for a couple of minutes, then pour the mixture into a cup. Numerous individuals are anxious that making espresso by hand would be excessively troublesome or tedious, yet utilizing a French press is truly simple and requires no more exertion than an auto dribble pot.
Size
Many French Presses are designed to create multiple servings of coffee simultaneously. This is ideal for entertaining visitors, however the glass enclosure may pose a problem when going on trips.
The Brew (The Important Part)
Very tiny coffee grounds can easily pass through the tight mesh strainer, resulting in a robust taste in your final cup rather than a flavor that is more reminiscent of tea. The flavor of the coffee is enhanced by the oils that pass through the filter, in addition to the other elements.
Only a few find the powerful flavor of the coffee crafted in a French press too strong or too much for them. It is understandable if some people do not find the full range of flavors present in French press coffee to be enjoyable, but many people discover that they do enjoy it.
How to Use a French Press Coffee Maker- 11 Simple Steps
To make the best French press coffee possible, one must start by grasping the fundamentals of how to use the device. For this process, you will require the following:
- A French press
- Measuring cup and a tablespoon
- Boiling water
- Coarse ground coffee
- Fine ground coffee
- A water thermometer
- Kettle
- A stirring spoon
Brewing Procedure
1. Clean your French press thoroughly.
Taking the device apart and scrubbing every element is necessary for a thorough clean. This ensures that you get newly made coffee each time you want to drink some.
2. Preheat your French press.
Bringing the coffee maker up to temperature ahead of time will ensure that it retains heat to keep your coffee warm for an extended period. The temperature of the water will remain constant when you begin to make your cup of coffee as the machine and the water will both have the same temperature.
To do this properly, pour hot water into your French press and move it around. Stir the contents of the beaker until it becomes warm to the touch, then discard the water.
3. Weigh the coffee grounds.
You will need to weigh or measure out the amount of coffee grounds you need with either a kitchen scale or a measuring cup. Be aware of the size of the coffee press and the quantity of coffee you need when taking measurements. The amount of coffee you use could be worked out to however much is needed – from a single cup to six – depending on the capacity of the French press.
In addition, utilize a burr coffee grinder to acquire recently ground coffee from entire beans. Using a coffee grinder allows you to grind your own beans and craft a stronger cup of coffee. The size of the grounds used affects the flavor of your coffee.
A burr grinder produces different sizes of grinds depending on the desired outcome. You can choose to use coffee beans that have been ground into a rough texture to create a less strong coffee.
Using a medium-coarse grind and freshly ground coffee beans will give you a powerful cup of coffee. It is suggested that if you enjoy the flavor of freshly brewed coffee, you should opt to grind up coffee beans on your own rather than using pre-ground coffee purchased from a store.
4. Measure the water.
Once you have chosen the amount of coffee you would like to make, the next thing to do is measure out the water needed. The amount of coffee needed determines the ratio when using a French press. You need two cups of hot water and 1-2 tablespoons of ground coffee to make two cups of coffee.
One measure of coffee can be mixed with fifteen parts of water, which is the same ratio used for French press coffee. A thermometer is required in order to gauge the temperature of the water. To make the perfect cup of coffee, you must heat water to a temperature of between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit. This can be done by using a stovetop, gooseneck kettle, or an electric kettle.
5. Pour your ground coffee into the press.
Once you have the desired amount of coffee measured out, put the grounds into the French press.
6. Follow this step by pouring the hot water into the beaker.
All the water should be poured over the coffee that has already been ground.
7. Using a wooden spoon, stir your mixture until the coffee is completely immersed in hot water.
A wooden spoon will not take on the temperature of the water, ensuring the heat is retained. This machine does not clean the inside of the French press carafe, thus preserving the quality.
8. Place the lid on and start your timer.
The lid, which includes the plunger and filter, helps to keep the interior of the press insulated as the brewing process is happening. This process defines the French press brewing technique. The lead maintains the inside heat guaranteeing flavorful coffee.
This brewing process should take a minimum of four minutes but can be extended for a longer period of time, depending on your taste. If you let the coffee brew for an extended amount of time, it will be a more robust cup of joe, but if you shorten the time, you will end up with a weaker beverage.
9. Press the plunger down.
When you have reached the desired amount of waiting time, press the plunger down completely. In the course of this procedure, you have the opportunity to evaluate your grinding measurements. The coffee had been finely pulverized if it takes a great deal of force to push the plunger down.
The coffee grounds will be too coarsely ground if you don’t feel enough resistance when grinding them. Make sure you push the plunger all the way down to prevent making the coffee too strong.
10. The last step will be to decant your coffee.
The coffee on the bottom of the pot tends to be more robust in flavor due to being over-brewed, thus making the coffee on the top of the pot taste better after being poured out.
11. Enjoy
Brew yourself a cup of joe and savor the best French press coffee experience at home or in the workplace.
Troubleshooting
Below are some typical issues you may come across and their answers.
The Coffee Doesn’t Taste Right
Is the coffee dull and bitter? You’ve got a classic case of over extraction. Essentially, the coffee brewed too much. You could either lower the amount of time you leave the beans in the brew, by around half a minute, or adjust the grinder for a rough texture.
Is the coffee acidic and sour? It is likely not brewed long enough and should be allowed to steep for a bit longer next time. You can increase the duration slightly or adjust the grind setting the next time. Exercise caution not to go too far in detail, or else you’ll stumble into the following issue.
It can take a few tries before you get the coffee just right with these slight changes, but in the end, it will all be worth it as you’ll end up with the perfect cup of coffee and a sense of accomplishment.
The Filter Won’t Plunge
This may not actually be a problem. When you’re using a filter to make coffee, there is a potential for the grounds to interfere. One method to address this is to push up slightly on the filter before pushing down once more.
If the basic solution doesn’t take care of your difficulty, perhaps you used a too coarse grind setting. Next time, make the grounds a bit more coarse to avoid having them become stuck in the small holes of the filter.
Cleaning
Once you have indulged in a few delicious sips of your favourite coffee made in the french press, it is time to attend to cleaning it up. I like to bang the filter rod against the side of the garbage can, so that any particles that are stuck to it can go into the can. Next, I vigorously shake the french press carafe in an upright position, flip it over, and then do a few more shakes over the trash can.
You can also put all of the grounds into a sieve and get rid of them from there. The outcome is contingent on your location and the resources available.
It is inevitable that some coffee grounds will remain after the shaking is finished. Send them down the sink with a lot of water.
It is not essential to use a cleaning agent for washing after every coffee-making session, but it is advisable to do a more thorough clean-up with your hands every few weeks. Make sure to utilize a large amount of hot water to eradicate all the soap from the filter and the carafe.
What Types of French Press Coffee Makers Can You Settle For?
- The small French Press– This one serves if you have a few people drinking coffee often. Brewing coffee with this device targets people using three to four cups at one brewing exercise.
- The large French Press– The large-sized press targets a group of coffee lovers. It produces eight to twelve cups of coffee in one batch.
- Metal French Press– This one comes in a metal beaker to hold the coffee instead of glass. Making french press coffee in cold regions with this machine proves easy. Some come with a metal filter. The metal mesh filter lets you get the best-brewed coffee after pouring.
- The Electric French Press– If you don’t want the struggle of heating the water separately and then adding it to the ground coffee in the coffee press, this will be your lifesaver. It heats the water, keeps it hot, and brews the coffee. In addition, it keeps the coffee warm for longer and hence is effective. However, we recommend you decant the drink to avoid taking the over-extracted bitter coffee at the bottom.
Take Away
Therefore, you are now conversant with the operation of a French press coffeemaker to brew an excellent cup of coffee. By employing the systematic approach and the advice on brewing exceptional coffee with the French press machine, you will become a supreme coffee maker. Gaining a French press will be an important step in advancing one’s skills in making coffee. The process of brewing coffee continues to progress.