Jun 08 2010
French Press Coffee
Coffee drinkers inevitably know that there are as many different types of coffee makers as there are types of coffee to use in them. Automatic drip coffee is the most common, however, French press coffee has become quite popular in recent years due to its ease of use and excellent coffee results.
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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- The Delights of French Press
- Bodum Makes French Press Easy
- The Perfect Way to Brew French Press Coffee
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- Coffee Brewers