Why French Press Still Wins

The French press is beloved for one key reason: texture. By steeping coffee grounds in hot water and using a metal mesh filter instead of paper, it preserves natural oils and tiny suspended particles that create a round, full-bodied mouthfeel. If pour-over is a high-definition photo, French press is a warm, cinematic film—soft around the edges, rich in the middle, and endlessly comforting.

Pick the Right Beans and Grind

Start with a medium-to-dark roast if you love chocolate, caramel, and nutty notes; choose a medium roast if you prefer clarity with a hint of brightness. The grind should be coarse and consistent—think sea salt. Too fine and you’ll over-extract bitterness and sludge; too coarse and the brew will taste thin and sour.

• Grind size: Coarse (≈ 900–1100 μm)
• Freshness: Use beans roasted within 2–4 weeks and grind just before brewing.
• Water: Filtered, 92–96 °C (197–205 °F)

Your Foolproof 4-Minute Method

1. Ratio: 1:15–1:16 (e.g., 30 g coffee to 450–480 g water).
2. Preheat: Warm the press and mugs with hot water; discard.
3. Bloom (0:00–0:30): Add grounds, pour 2× weight of water to wet all grounds, stir gently.
4. Fill & Steep (0:30–4:00): Add remaining water, place the lid with plunger pulled up.
5. Skim: At 4:00, remove lid and gently skim floating foam with a spoon for a cleaner cup.
6. Plunge & Pour: Press slowly (≈15–20 s). Serve immediately to avoid over-extraction.

Tip: If you prefer an even cleaner flavor, after plunging do not decant the last 10–15%—that’s where the silt lives.

Tune to Your Taste

• Too bitter/astringent? Use a coarser grind or shorten steep to 3:30.
• Too sour/thin? Finer grind (slightly) or extend steep to 4:30.
• More aroma? Bloom longer (up to 45 s) and swirl gently before plunging.

Flavor Add-Ins (Optional)

Subtle additions can deepen the experience: a cinnamon stick in the steep, a dash of cardamom, or an orange-peel twist for top-note brightness. Keep it minimal to let the coffee’s origin character shine.

Care & Cleaning for Consistent Quality

Rinse immediately after brewing to prevent oil build-up. Disassemble the filter stack weekly and wash with mild soap. For deodorizing, soak parts in a 1:1 solution of warm water and white vinegar for 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Clean gear equals cleaner flavor.

Serving Suggestions

• Milk pairing: Whole milk or oat milk rounds out the body beautifully.
• Temperature: Serve at 60–65 °C (140–149 °F) to preserve aromatics.
• Snack ideas: Butter croissants, almond biscotti, dark chocolate (70%).