French Press

Step 1: Preheat

Pour hot water into the French press, swirl, and discard. This prevents the brew temperature from dropping when you add coffee.

Step 2: Add Coffee & Water

Add 30g coarse-ground coffee. Pour 450g water at 200°F, ensuring all grounds are saturated. Give a gentle stir.

Step 3: Steep

Place the lid on (plunger up) and steep for 4 minutes. Don't press yet.

Step 4: Press & Pour

At 4 minutes, press the plunger slowly and steadily. Pour immediately — don't leave brewed coffee sitting on the grounds or it will over-extract and turn bitter.

Bitter cup: Grind coarser, steep for less time, or pour immediately after pressing.

Muddy / gritty: Grind is too fine, or you disturbed the grounds during pressing. Coarser grind fixes this.

Weak / thin: Use more coffee or steep longer. Try 1:12 ratio for a fuller cup.

How long to steep French press?

4 minutes is the standard. Some prefer 3:30 for lighter roasts, up to 5 minutes for dark roasts. Experiment, but always pour immediately after pressing.

Can I use pre-ground coffee in a French press?

You can. Use the coarsest pre-ground option available — 'French Press' grind if labeled. Expect less clarity in the cup compared to freshly ground.