French Press

If you’re looking for a simple way to make coffee with lots of flavor and body, look no further than the French Press!  It is easy, it is inexpensive, and it makes some seriously freakin’ good coffee.

Here’s what you need to make this divine coffee:

• Some freshly roasted whole bean coffee
• A French Press (DUHHHH)
• A Kettle
• A coffee scoop or scale
• A grinder
• A DESERVING mug.  Something cute that makes you feel happy!

The following video shows step by step instructions on how make coffee using a French Press, which happens to be the method I use daily.  Enjoy the video and go make some coffee with a French Press, like now!

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The French press is a very simple, easy to use coffee maker. Its only requirement is hot water and coarse coffee grounds. Because no electricity is needed to make the coffee, the French press ideal for campers and hikers who don’t want the added weight of a percolator.

The French press goes by many other names, including coffee press, press pot, and coffee plunger. In fact, in New Zealand and South Africa, the coffee is called plunger coffee reflecting that it was made using a coffee plunger.

A coffee plunger or French press is typically a one or two cup glass container that is narrow and cylindrical in shape. The lid has a plunger attached to it which has a mesh or fine wire filter on it. Some of the modern French presses are thermal insulated plastics with drinking spouts on the lid to make it a portable cup. Traditionally, the coffee plunger is made of glass and the coffee is poured into a drinking cup after it brews.

The brewing process is quite simple. The most important step in the process is getting the grind of the bean correct. If it is too fine it will simple pass through the filter on the plunger and muddy the coffee. A coarse grind is necessary to keep the coffee trapped beneath the plunger.

The coffee grounds and hot water are poured into the French press together and allowed to steep together for a few minutes. When the coffee is ready, according to the drinker’s preference for strength, the plunger is pushed down into the water and the coffee grounds are trapped beneath the plunger filter.

French press coffee is typically stronger and thicker than other types of coffee due to there being more solids in the water than there would be in a drip coffee maker that uses a paper filter. The mesh filter allows more of the coffee’s natural oils and flavors to seep through to create a richer beverage.

Because the coffee grounds are settled beneath the plunger the coffee should be poured into a coffee mug and enjoyed within about twenty minutes. Due to the higher concentration of natural oils in French press coffee, it will begin to break down and become bitter faster than other types of coffee brews.

French press coffee is ideal for individuals who like a strong, rich cup of coffee and don’t want to hassle with a full pot of coffee. It is also the perfect coffee maker for travelers who don’t have access to electricity or don’t want to pay the high cost of coffee while on vacation. College students love the ease with which they can get their jolt of caffeine and the French press is their late night friend. In the end, the French press is the perfect coffee companion for practically anyone.

-Sharon Chapman

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Well, they also have other good stuff for coffee brewing, including the Kenya french press coffee maker (pictured above). The Bodum French presses are easy to use. Simply add your favorite ground coffee, hot water, press and enjoy the most aromatic delight in the shortest period of time. The Kenya French presses are available in three different sizes: 32 oz. ($29.95), 16 oz. ($24.95) and 12 oz. ($19.95). Get yours here.

And while you’re at it, check out the IBIS electric water kettle (pictured below).

It boils 50 oz. of water in about 4 minutes using a 1500 watt power heating element directly in contact with the water, which means the energy enters the water without getting lost heating up the metal body of your traditional kettle. It’s made of a heat-reinforced polypropylene plastic and a stainless steel heating element, with an  easy to read water level indicator that shows in ounces and liters the amount ready to boil. Whether it is 10 oz or 50 oz the Bodum kettle will automatically cut off power after the water boils a short while. Bodum has also provided the Ibis with a special “scale filter” which reduces the amount of calcium in your water. With this filter your tea and coffee will become even more aromatic and tasteful. The kettle is cordless and available in a 1.7 liter, 50 oz, capacity for $39.95. Buy it here.

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Ed's home roast (photo courtesy of Storygoil/Today Is Pretty at Flickr).

Remember when I told you about Ed?

Well, he’s back, and he’s got the hand-crafted, home roasted beans to prove it. He’s been busy roasting Finca Mauritania beans lately, with the promise of a spring roast in the near future. To read about why he selected Finca Mauritania coffee, click here.

In today’s economy especially, I’m a big advocate of supporting the “little guy,” as he is least likely to get a handout bailout from the government. And what better way to do just that, than by buying beans that have been roasted to perfection by someone who really knows and cares about coffee beans?

To read more about Ed, including tips on brewing the perfect cup of French press coffee (complete with sketches!), click here.

His blog, Coffee is Food, also offers more insights into the wonderful world of coffee roasting.

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Many people have heard the term, but not all of us know exactly what a French press is. Also known as a press pot, a coffee press, or a coffee plunger, the French press is perhaps the best way to get a stronger, more flavorful cup of coffee.

The Press Pot

The French press normally consists of a glass cylinder, although it could be made of other material. A plunger tightly fitted into the lid has a mesh filter at the bottom of the plunger. The filter could be either wire or nylon mesh, but the nylon is more forgiving for unevenly ground coffee.

Coffee and water are placed in the jar together to brew for a few minutes. The plunger and filter are used to separate the grounds from the water, and voila – you have a very rich cup of coffee.

Coffee made in a French press tends to retain more of the flavor of the bean, as well as retaining the oils that would normally be filtered out by a paper filter in a traditional automatic drip machine.

Since the coffee is in direct contact with the water, and the water retains a certain amount of sediment in the brewing process, coffee brewed in a French press should be served immediately, no more than 20 minutes after it has steeped. Waiting too long to serve the coffee can lead to overexposure to the beans, making for a bitter cup of coffee.

Your Daily Grind is Key

The single most important element in making an excellent cup of coffee with a French press is to have a uniform, coarsely ground coffee. If you are going to be using a French press on a regular basis, invest in a high quality burr grinder, which provides a more uniform grind than the blade grinders. Burr grinders cut rather than crush the coffee bean, which is important since a large part of the bean’s flavor can be lost in the grinding process. A good burr grinder will have a mechanism to prevent the beans from overheating during grinding, and it will cost you about $100.

Having a consistent coarse grind is just as important to making a great cup of coffee in a French press as having a consistent fine grind is to making espresso. Unevenly ground coffee may not get filtered properly, leaving you with a large amount of grounds in your cup.

Boil Your Water

Coffee beans are vital to achieving great taste, but so is the water you use. To get the best cup possible, use quality bottled or filtered water. Boil the water ahead of time, and have it ready to add to your French press as soon as you have finished grinding your beans.

Mix It Up

Place 8.5 grams of freshly ground coffee into your French press for each four ounces of water you plan to add. The coffee should be put into the press immediately upon grinding, and the boiling water should be added without delay. This will ensure the freshest, smoothest taste.

Add the water evenly and steadily, ensuring you cover all the grounds with water uniformly. Once all the water has been added, take a wooden stir stick and stir the coffee briefly. Add the lid, plunger, and filter. For smaller amounts, allow the brew to steep for two to three minutes. Larger pots should sit for four minutes.

Once your coffee has finished brewing, grab the plunger and gently, steadily depress it towards the bottom of your French press. Control your plunge, ensuring the rod remains perfectly upright. Any angle as you depress the rod could result in excess grounds escaping into your coffee.

When you have plunged all the way to the bottom, immediately pour your coffee into a cup and enjoy.

Keep it Clean

Properly cleaning and maintaining your coffee press will ensure you receive great tasting java for a long time to come. Many people underestimate the importance of using clean utensils and equipment, but the residue of old coffee can impair the taste of your fresh cup. Thoroughly wash and rinse the plunger, filter, and pot after each use.

Purchasing a French Press

There are no mechanical parts inside a French press. The mechanism is very simple, so choose a design that fits your style. You can find one in any capacity – two, three, four, eight, or twelve cup – made in glass, metal, and bronze. Some look like an old-fashioned coffeepot, while others are sleek and modern. Some evoke images of faraway places like Kenya or Asia, while others would be right at home in a modern bistro.

Most French presses can be found for under $20, but the larger capacity, double-walled, upscale or trendy versions can cost as much as $100. Find one that matches your décor at a price you can be happy with.

If you prefer to have your coffee on the go, you can find travel presses. The press mechanism and cup combine into one easy-to-carry unit, allowing you to enjoy your coffee press at any hour, any place.

If you love to enjoy a rich, smooth cup of coffee and have never before experienced the fullness of a cup from a French press, go ahead and give it a try. When made properly, you will be capturing the full essence of the flavors of the bean. Experiment with various roasts and find out which one satisfies you the most.

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