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The Emergence of the French Press

The French press (hereafter referred to as the press pot), also known as a press pot or coffee plunger, first appeared in France in 1850. Of course, like all inventions such as cars and computers, its form was rudimentary compared to modern versions. The French press was no exception. At that time, it wasn't really considered a dedicated coffee brewing tool, but rather a simple device consisting of a glass or plastic container with a metal filter screen attached to a plunger rod. More people used it to brew black tea than coffee back then.

The "Piston-Filtered Coffee Device"

As we can imagine, the prototype French press quickly revealed its flaws. Because the metal filter screen couldn't completely separate coffee grounds, its effectiveness was limited, and the resulting coffee lacked optimal texture and flavor. Then in March 1852, the French press design made a breakthrough. A French goldsmith and a merchant obtained a patent for a "piston-filtered coffee device." This patent primarily described a metal canister connected to a movable rod, with holes at the bottom of the rod, with layers of flannel sandwiched above and below. When the movable rod was pulled, it could move within a cylindrical container. If the rod was pressed to the bottom, the filtered coffee would remain above the rod, separated from most coffee grounds. This patent represented significant progress in French press design.

Although the French press originated in France, it was the Italians who made this brewing method widely known. In the late 1920s, around 1929, designer Attilio Calimani from a Milan company officially registered a patent for a modified version of the French press, after which press-style coffee gradually became popular.

French Press = Lazy Person's Pot?

For those who love coffee, and even for those accustomed to brewing coffee at home, what's your impression of the French press? Simple to operate? Exclusively for lazy people? No technique required? Whether your impression is good or bad, indeed, the brewing skills it requires are fewer compared to other tools. As shown in the diagram, its operation is quite easy. Because the French press uses immersion extraction rather than drip brewing, it doesn't emphasize pouring technique or speed. As long as you follow the appropriate coffee-to-water ratio, water temperature, and time, it's not difficult to brew a delicious pot of coffee.

However, simply describing the French press as a "lazy person's pot" seems to overlook its advantages. In our opinion, besides being simple to operate, the French press is also lightweight, portable, and convenient to use. Whether at home, in the office, or even packed in luggage during travel, it's not cumbersome. Additionally, using a French press doesn't require filter paper—you just need to press down the plunger after extraction is complete to separate the coffee grounds. It's environmentally friendly and doesn't require preparing various tools. Multi-purpose functionality is another advantage of the French press. As mentioned earlier, the French initially used it to brew black tea. Even though the French press has been improved, it can still be used for brewing both tea and coffee, even hot or cold. Therefore, some people who don't drink coffee still use French presses.

Tasting Original Coffee with a Unique Mouthfeel

Many of our friends have mentioned that while the French press is very convenient to use, the brewed coffee always seems less "clean" and has grounds when drinking. Is this because it doesn't use filter paper? Not at all—this is actually what makes French press coffee unique.

Florence Fabricant (the renowned food critic for The New York Times) once introduced the French Press to New York Times readers as the favorite tool among coffee connoisseurs. This reputation is well-deserved. The French press is indeed a brewing tool that presents coffee's original flavor using the simplest method. Because the French press uses immersion, it can separate coffee grounds from coffee without filter paper. However, it allows oils and other larger aromatic particles from the coffee to pass through the filter screen into the cup. Therefore, French press coffee has a rounder, fuller mouthfeel and texture, adding to its smooth character. This is why many coffee enthusiasts enjoy using French presses to brew dark roast coffee, fully enjoying the sweetness and richness of dark roasted beans.

As for the presence of grounds when drinking, this is definitely avoidable. First, when using tools without filter paper, the grind size should be medium to coarse. For French press, it's best to grind coffee beans to the consistency of coarse salt. Moreover, after steeping, when pressing down the plunger, you must press it all the way to the bottom. If you repeatedly pull up and press down, coffee grounds can easily escape, resulting in sediment.

The Evolution of the French Press

Have you heard of Bodum? This coffee equipment brand from Copenhagen, Denmark, sells its products worldwide. Their French Press Coffee Maker, launched in 1970, became so popular that Bodum became almost synonymous with the French press.

Today, French presses are no longer limited to traditional forms (whether glass-made, with handles, etc.). Bodum has even introduced handle-less "Travel Press" models. The Clever Coffee Dripper developed in Taiwan is a product that combines the design of pour-over drippers with French press principles. This shows that the merits of French presses have gained considerable appreciation in the coffee world and continue to evolve.

French Press Usage Instructions and Steps:

Grind Size:

French press coffee can easily be over-extracted, so the grind size needs to be coarser. Generally, it should be slightly larger than granulated sugar particles. If the grind is too fine, coffee extraction will be very rapid, and small coffee grounds will pass through the metal filter screen, making the coffee taste less clean.

Coffee Brewing Ratio:

The coffee brewing ratio refers to the proportion of coffee to water. Common brewing ratios range from 1:15 to 1:18. A 1:15 ratio means 15 grams of coffee requires 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 preferences.

Water Temperature:

Water temperature should be approximately 92-94 degrees Celsius.

Steps:

1. Remove the plunger from the pot, check the mesh holes of the metal filter, and grind coffee beans to coarse particles that cannot pass through the mesh (about 20 grams/two cups). Tip: Pull the plunger handle upward.

2. Pour coffee grounds into the pot. To ensure hot water can evenly wet the grounds, gently shake the pot to make the coffee surface flatter.

3. Set the timer for 4 minutes.

4. Start the timer and pour hot water (150ml) over the coffee grounds for about 30 seconds to ensure even dissolution, with water reaching about half the press pot's capacity. Tip: While fully blooming the coffee grounds, continue pouring hot water.

5. Slowly pour hot water (150ml) until reaching the desired volume, then position the plunger. Tip: The pouring process should take about 1 minute up to this point.

6. When the 4-minute timer is up, slowly press the plunger down.

7. To avoid over-extraction, immediately pour the coffee into cups. Tip: If making two cups for one person, because the coffee grounds will steep for a period, the first and second cups may taste different.

Finally, please savor the delicious coffee in your cup slowly!

Recommended French Press Coffee Bean Brands

FrontStreet Coffee's roasted single-origin French press coffee beans offer excellent guarantees in both brand and quality, suitable for brewing with various equipment. More importantly, they offer exceptional value—a half-pound (227 grams) package costs only about 80-90 RMB. Calculating based on 300ml per cup with a 1:15 coffee-to-water ratio, one package can make 11 cups of coffee, with each French press coffee costing only 8-9 RMB. Compared to café prices that often reach dozens of RMB per cup, this represents excellent value.

FrontStreet Coffee: A roastery in Guangzhou with a small shop but diverse bean varieties, where you can find both famous and lesser-known beans. They also provide online shop 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