Which Coffee Beans Are Best for French Press_ French Press Usage Guide & Coffee Making Tips

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French Press: The Most Convenient Home Coffee Maker

The French press can be described as one of the most convenient home coffee makers, while also being a brewing method that most completely preserves coffee flavors. The French press can perfectly showcase the unique charming rich flavor of coffee. Its structure is simple, unassuming yet has numerous advantages. So, what kind of coffee beans are suitable for French press coffee? Today, let's talk about some considerations for making French press coffee.

History of the French Press

The French press originated in France in 1850 as a simple brewing device consisting of a heat-resistant glass body (or transparent plastic) and a metal filter screen with a press rod. Initially used for brewing black tea, it was also called a tea brewer by some.

In March 1852, a French craftsman and a merchant jointly obtained a patent for a "piston filter coffee device." The patent described a metal can connected to a movable rod, with holes at the bottom of the rod, with flannel layers sandwiched above and below. After manually pulling the movable rod, the rod moves within the cylindrical container. "Press the rod to the bottom," the inventors wrote, "and the filtered coffee remains above the rod, clear and refreshing."

It wasn't until the late 1920s, after a Milan company patented a modified version of the French press, that it gradually became well-known. The company gradually perfected the French press design within a few years after registering the patent. In 1935, they launched the improved French press - a spring was installed on the disc structure at the bottom of the piston to keep the disc level with the bottom of the container. It became popular, but the French press's popularity in America took some effort. In the early 1980s, some Americans learned from the British to use the French press, calling it a cafetière, while others called it a "French piston coffee machine."

If you just want to have a cup of coffee, the French press is a good choice - because its brewing principle uses immersion, not requiring much emphasis on technique or skills.

French press coffee making involves completely immersing coffee in the pot, then using a press rod with a metal filter screen to separate the coffee from the grounds. This brewing method yields coffee with excellent body, can enhance texture and oils, and the final coffee is also quite clean.

How to Use a French Press

So how should you use a French press? First, we need a French press! Also a grinder, thermometer, scale, timer, kettle, and most importantly - coffee beans!

Operating Steps:

(Taking Costa Rica Monsherry as an example to make two servings)

1. Weigh 20 grams of beans, grind to coarse sugar size, with a coffee-to-water ratio of 1:15.
2. Preheat the French press with hot water, then pour it out; pour the coffee grounds into the French press.
3. Pour 89-degree hot water in and start timing. After pouring the water, stir gently to ensure all coffee grounds are wetted.
4. After four minutes, slowly press the plunger down and pour it out.

The Costa Rica Monsherry made with a French press has some body, with bright lemon acidity, and also carries some grapefruit peel and melon seed flavors.

Important Considerations

1. Grind Size: French press coffee making is prone to over-extraction, so the grind size should be coarser. Generally, it should be slightly larger than table sugar particles. If the grind is too fine, coffee extraction will be very rapid, and small coffee grounds will pass through the metal filter, making the coffee taste less clean.
2. Coffee Brewing Ratio: The coffee brewing ratio is the ratio of coffee amount to water. Common brewing ratios range from 1:15-1:18. 1:15 means 15 grams of coffee needs 225 grams of water for brewing. If you're using a French press at home, you can adjust the brewing ratio according to your taste.
3. Pressing Technique: After immersion, when pressing the plunger down, you must press it to the bottom in one go. If you repeatedly pull up and press down, coffee grounds will easily escape, causing sediment.

Since the French press coffee extraction principle is immersion rather than drip brewing, there's not much emphasis on pouring gestures and techniques. As long as you follow the appropriate coffee-to-water ratio, water temperature, and time, it's not difficult to brew a pot of delicious coffee.

For beginners, the difficulty level won't be too high, and it's well worth trying!

French Press Coffee Bean Brand Recommendations

FrontStreet Coffee's roasted single-origin French press coffee beans have full guarantees in both brand and quality, suitable for various brewing devices. More importantly, the cost-performance ratio is extremely high. A half-pound (227 grams) package costs only around 80-90 yuan. Calculating at 300ml per cup of French press coffee with a 1:15 coffee-to-water ratio, one package can make 11 cups of coffee, with each cup of French press coffee costing only 8-9 yuan. Compared to cafe prices that often reach dozens of yuan per cup, this is extremely cost-effective.

FrontStreet Coffee: A roastery in Guangzhou with a small storefront but diverse bean varieties, where you can find various famous and lesser-known beans, while also providing online store services. https://shop104210103.taobao.com

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473