How to make French press coffee

A French press makes a full-bodied cup with almost no equipment. Because the coffee steeps in the water, it is forgiving and easy to repeat.

What you need

Use a little more coffee than for pour-over: around 1 part coffee to 15 parts water works well, for example 30 g of coffee to 450 g of water for two mugs.

• Coarsely ground coffee, about the texture of coarse sea salt
• Water just off the boil
• A French press and a spoon

Step by step

1. Warm the press with hot water, then pour it out.
2. Add the coffee and pour in all the water, making sure every ground is wet.
3. Put the lid on with the plunger up and steep for 4 minutes.
4. Stir the crust on top gently, or skim it off with a spoon for a cleaner cup.
5. Press the plunger down slowly and steadily.
6. Pour right away, or decant into another vessel so the coffee does not keep extracting.

Tips

Fine particles make a French press cup muddy, so a coarse, even grind helps. Pre-ground coffee is usually ground for drip and can be too fine for a press; if you brew this way often, whole bean and a grinder give you more control. Let the last bit of coffee stay in the press rather than pouring the sediment into your cup.

Good coffees for French press

The full body of a French press suits medium and darker roasts. Rock Creek gives citrus, toffee and dark chocolate; Cascades Blend brings cocoa and toasted nut; Flathead Valley adds a deep body with bakers chocolate and caramelized sugar.