Can Coffee Grounds Be Brewed Directly? How Does the French Press Coffee Ratio Differ?

FrontStreet Coffee - French Press Brewing Introduction

What you need to prepare: a French press, fresh coffee beans (ground coffee), and water. Yes, it is that simple.

For a 400ml press, you'll need approximately 25g of coffee beans, about the level of the groove at the bottom of the press. A French press calls for a coarse grind, roughly the size of common coarse pepper particles, with a noticeable grainy texture when rubbed between your fingers.

Water: delicious coffee requires suitable water temperature and timing. After the water boils, let it rest for about 5 minutes, which will bring it to approximately the temperature you want. If you want to be more precise, you can use a thermometer and aim for 88-93°C. The water level should reach the metal ring of the press. Then stir gently to make sure all the coffee grounds come into contact with water. Finally, wait patiently for 4 minutes.

Coffee made with a French press has rich oils and carries the aromatic essence of coffee, bringing you closer to the original taste of coffee than other brewing methods.

If you prefer it cold, that works too. Simply replace the hot water with cold water and place it in the refrigerator for a day, and you have cold brew. It will have a smoother texture and stronger sweetness than hot-water brewing.

Cold Brew Made with a French Press

Finally, pour the coffee into a cup, let it sit for a moment so the fine grounds settle, and you'll have a delicious cup of coffee.

Tips

1. When brewing coffee, it is better to make it stronger rather than weaker. If it is too strong, you can dilute it with water, but if it is too weak, there is no fix.

2. Different beans and roast levels may call for minor adjustments to water temperature and grind size. For light roasts (more brownish in color), use a slightly finer grind and a longer brewing time; for dark roasts (more blackish in color), use a slightly coarser grind.

Knowledge Point

Coffee grounds release their flavors quickly, so it is best to choose whole coffee beans to preserve flavor as much as possible.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

Cold brew made in a French press rewards beans with vivid fruit and floral character, since low-temperature extraction amplifies those notes while softening roast-derived flavors. FrontStreet Strawberry Candy Geisha blend is a natural fit: it combines a signature Panama Geisha, which contributes delicate rose and orange notes, with a Costa Rican honey-process coffee that adds grape, raisin, and strawberry-marshmallow sweetness. Cold-brewed, it is bright and sweet, and if left to settle it even takes on a fruit-wine quality.

If you want florals up front, FrontStreet Ethiopia Huakui is another cold-brew favorite. Grown in Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee, and sun-dried so the beans absorb sweetness from the fruit and skin, it shows magnolia, cream strawberry, dried mango, guava, and black tea notes in cold brew. For a fuller, juicier profile, FrontStreet Kenya Cherry Tomato brings cherry tomato, snow pear, black plum, and smoked plum notes with low bitterness and full acidity, especially refreshing over ice.