How to Make French Press Coffee
If you’re a real coffee drinker, like me, most likely you have more than one way to brew coffee at home. I have several ways to make myself a cup of coffee at home, including a French press, which I love for busy mornings where I don’t have time to drink a full pot of coffee.
My career lends itself to flexibility in my schedule, and most often, I find myself working from home. During the school year, I work part-time as a substitute teacher. On busy mornings where I am working out of the house and need to get myself and my kids ready for school, my coffee press is the perfect tool I need to get my morning coffee going quickly.
A full pot of coffee is too much for those mornings where I won’t be around to drink the entire pot. Pour-over coffee is too small as it’s only one cup of coffee.
That’s where my French pressed coffee comes into play. My coffee press is perfect for a single cup to drink at home while we are all getting ready and to fill up my to-go tumbler with delicious creamy coffee to get me through my day.
The French press is perfect for those who don’t want a full pot of coffee that can get stale or burnt as you reheat it all day, but better than a pour-over which only provides you with one cup at a time. French pressed coffee is the perfect go-between for those hectic mornings where you need more than one cup, but you need it quickly to get you up and going.
I should note that I love pour-over coffee for those late weekend afternoons where I decide I want just one more cup of coffee for the day. Some people also swear that pour over is the most delicious way to make coffee.
Why French Press Coffee?
French press coffee comes out creamy, and slightly foamy, with a bold flavor that isn’t bitter or too acidic. The French press is convenient for those fast-paced mornings where you and your partner need one cup before you head out the door, or you need a cup for at home and enough to fill your coffee-to-go container.
Not only is pressed coffee fast and convenient, but it’s also smooth, creamy, and delicious. Get yourself an excellent coffee tumbler, and your French press coffee will stay hot all day!
Benefits of French Pressed Coffee:
- Saves you money at the coffee shop. Making pressed coffee at home before heading to work will help you save time and money from having to stop at the coffee shop on the way to work.
- Easy to use and easier to clean. French Presses are very user friendly, and they’re super easy to clean. Many are even dishwasher safe!
- More flavorful and creamier coffee.
- More control over the strength of your coffee. Merely steep for less or more time, and you have your perfectly brewed cup of coffee to your exact preference.
- Reep all of the health benefits of coffee in a quick, convenient, and less expensive way. French Press Coffee is significantly cheaper than single-serve cup coffee makers.
How to Make French Press Coffee at Home:
French presses come in multiple sizes. Depending on your situation, a small press may be perfect. I prefer the larger size so that I can have 2-3 cups for a guest and myself or my spouse, or I can have a cup for at home and a cup to go once I leave for work.
If you’re a camper, french press coffee is perfect for those early chilly mornings around the campfire!
Our favorite Presses:
French Press Coffee Maker by Pentabeauty:
This coffee maker is stunning with its impressive glass carafe and stainless steel lid and plunger. There is just something so beautiful about watching your coffee steep through a glass carafe. An empty glass french press also looks gorgeous on your counter. This press holds an impressive 32oz of coffee, which is perfect for your extra-large coffee mug at home and your 24 oz coffee tumbler. The double filtration system helps keep coffee sediment out of your final cup. At $24, this french press system is much more affordable than other single cup coffee systems.
Secura Stainless Steel French Press Coffee Maker:
The one downside to glass carafes is the insulating factors. This stainless steel carafe will keep your coffee hot without any heating elements needed keeping your coffee fresh and delicious tasting. With a cool-touch handle, you don’t have to worry about burning yourself while you press the plunger to filter your French Press coffee. If you plan to enjoy your coffee at home without leaving the house, this stainless steel version will keep your coffee hot and fresh for you. This French press has a slightly smaller capacity at just 17oz but is available in larger 34oz and 50oz sizes.
Le Creuset Stoneware French Press Coffee Maker:
If you haven’t been living under a rock all your life, you’ve undoubtedly heard all about Le Creuset. Famous for their stoneware serving dishes and cookware, Le Creuset makes a matching coffee press to go with their line of kitchen products. This 27oz stoneware French press retains the heat in your coffee while brewing a perfect pot of French press coffee. This French press comes in an impressive eight colors to match your kitchen decor or other Le Creuset kitchen products. A slightly more expensive coffee press at a $75.00 price tag, the Le Creuset will keep your coffee hot and look stunning while doing so.
Brewing Instructions:
Now that you’ve picked out your favorite French press coffee maker let’s get you pressing coffee at home!
Supplies needed for French Press Coffee:
- French Press
- Tea Kettle to boil water
- Medium Grind Coffee ( About 1 Tablespoon of coffee per 7 oz of water).
Directions for French Press Coffee:
- In your clean and dry French press, place 1 tablespoon of coffee grounds per 7 ounces of water. For a 32 oz French press, you want about 4-4.5 tablespoons of coffee.
- Boil enough water to fill your French press in your tea kettle. For the best brew, pull your tea kettle off of the heat just after it starts to whistle slowly. If you don’t catch it, let your kettle cool for about 30-seconds after you remove it from the heat. You want your water to be just below a rolling boil.
- Pour your hot water over your coffee grounds and stir gently.
- Place the lid to your French Press over your coffee, but do not plunge the filter just yet.
- Depending on your tastes, wait 2-4 minutes before pressing your coffee. 4 minutes will yield strongly brewed French pressed coffee.
- Press your coffee slowly using a steady downward motion on the plunger. You want this to be a slow and steady movement for the best-filtered coffee.
- Serve immediately and enjoy it! If you don’t have a stainless steel carafe, transfer your french pressed coffee to a to-go tumbler, which keeps your coffee hot all day.
French pressed coffee comes out creamy and smooth. Serve it with your favorite cream and sweetener or enjoy it black. Make sure to use a medium ground coffee which is uniformly ground coffee for less sediment escaping through the filters and into your coffee.
