How to Make French Press Coffee

Coffee is an aromatic drink made from roasting and grinding coffee beans, then extracting the coffee from the beans using hot water. There are various methods to make coffee. French press coffee is made by steeping coffee in hot water, and then separating the coffee grounds from the water using a French press.

Coffee may be served “black” - just the ground beans steeped in hot water, “white” – served with milk or fresh cream and may or may not have sugar added. It can also be whipped (or frothed) and served with sprinkles of powdered chocolate on the top. It may be served cold poured over ice or you may add other flavorings to it like mint, chocolate or orange essence. A very popular after dinner serving option is created by adding a shot of alcohol, such as brandy, rum or vodka, to a glass, pouring the freshly brewed coffee onto it and then “floating” fresh cream on the top.

So get out your best coffee grinder, set out your favorite mug and acquire your preferred coffee beans and let’s get started on how to make French Press coffee.

Perfect Coffee French Press Method

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Brewing the perfect cup of coffee

source: www.youtube.com

The demonstrator in this video is using the French Press method of making coffee. He points out that the grind needs to be course for this process, then goes on to explain why the water you use should not be boiling. The optimum temperature here is about 200ºF (93ºC.)

He also suggests that the coffee, once the water has been poured over it, should sit for two minutes then stirred and left for another two minutes. He then presses the filter down onto the grounds, the press holding the grounds down and keeping them out of the water, that he then pours into his cup.

Using the French Press

Use half a cup of fresh coffee beans for a 32oz French coffee press.
Grind the beans to coarse grounds.
Tip the coffee grinds into the French press.
Pour hot but non boiling water (approx 93ºC) over the grounds up to the maximum level of the press.
Allow to sit for about 2 minutes, stir, then leave for a further 2 minutes.
Now place the lid and filter onto the press and slowly but firmly push down to the base of the press.
Pour the coffee into your chosen mug and add milk, cream or sugar, whatever is your preference.

Step 1: Choosing Quality Coffee Ingredients

Coffee Beans: The major flavor ingredient in a cup of coffee is, of course, the coffee bean. You will want to select a variety of bean whose flavor you enjoy. There are many to choose from and, after some experimentation, you may even elect to blend a couple of different ones to achieve the flavor you enjoy. Some popular ones to choose from are Blue Mountain, Typica, Bourbon, Mundo Novo, and Caturra.
Water: The main ingredient in coffee is water, so the better the quality of the water you use, the better the resulting taste. If your faucet water has little or no flavor then it should be fine to use this however, if it is full of chemicals and you can taste them, you may want to opt for bottled water.
Milk or Cream: This is an optional addition but, should you choose to use either, it should be extremely fresh. It may be warmed slightly before adding it to the coffee.
Sugar: Again this is a matter of taste. You could use white granulated sugar, brown demerera sugar (raw cane sugar) or, if you like the sweetness but are watching the calories you might choose to add artificial sweeteners.

Step 2: Choosing Quality Coffee Equipment

Grinder: The machine you use to grind your beans can have a major effect on the quality of the flavor released. A blade grinder, the less expensive of the two types, actually pounds the beans until they reach a coarseness which is acceptable based on your chosen method of brewing. The longer the blades cut, the finer your resulting grounds. This has the disadvantage of giving an uneven texture of grounds and leads to excessive exposure to heat, adversely affecting the flavor of your cup. Burr grinders, on the other hand contain two metal parts, one above the other. One of the parts is moved by a motor while the other remains stationary. As the beans fall from the chamber above into the grinding machine, they are “milled” into consistent sizes by the spinning mechanism. The distance between the spinning part and the stationary one is what determines how fine your grounds will be. You can also pick up a hand operated coffee grinder which operates using the same principle as a burr grinder; these are an attractive addition to your kitchen worktop and for the amount you are going to grind, using a hand grinder is not much effort – think of how “green” you will be in reducing your carbon footprint.
French Press: A French coffee press should be cleaned regularly and thoroughly, old coffee can become rancid and will affect the flavor of your cup. The mesh strainer can be lightly scrubbed with a small soft brush, ensuring that both the top and bottom, and all the wires are cleaned well.
Mug or Cup: Thicker ceramic mugs or cups hold the heat better than porcelain, so if you like your coffee to stay hot, consider getting yourself a “special” coffee mug.

Step 3: Making That Perfect French Press Coffee

Grinding the Beans: It is always best to grind your beans as close to time you will brew your coffee as possible. Coffee deteriorates quickly after it has been ground and you should grind only the amount you are going to use at any one time.
Amount of Coffee: Use the accepted correct amount, not too much and not too little! Professional coffee tasters recommend using exactly two tablespoons of ground coffee for each cup of water (approx. six oz.) That may sound like a lot if you have been making less than full strength coffee.
Water Temperature: Coffee should not be boiled, there is an old saying “Coffee boiled is coffee spoiled.” For ideal extraction, try to maintain a water temperature between 195 ºF. and 205 ºF (93 ºC – 95 ºC)
When to Drink: Freshly brewed coffee is best enjoyed if drank immediately! Pour the fresh-brewed coffee into a mug or coffee cup that has been pre-warmed (fill with hot water and stand for a minute, then empty), so that it will retain its temperature for as long as possible. Coffee loses its optimal flavor within moments of being brewed, so only brew as much as will be consumed immediately. If you are not going to serve the coffee immediately after brewing, pour it into a warmed, insulated thermos flask and use within 45 minutes. http://whatscookingamerica.net/CoffeeJava.htm

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