What is French Press coffee?
How to brew a perfect cup
History, Brewing Guide, and Benefits
All you wanna Know about French Press!
French Press or coffee plunger or coffee press or La cafetiere there are many different names used for this exceptional coffee brewing method across the World.
A French press is a simple yet elegant way of brewing coffee. It is considered one of the best ways to get a rich and bold taste with less acidity in your cup. The process of brewing coffee with a French press starts by adding coarse-ground beans in the carafe, then adding hot water and letting it steep for 4-6 minutes before pressing it down with the plunger.
French Press is the most economical coffee brewing method, which is pretty easy to use. Anyone with minimal expertise can brew a perfect cup of coffee through this method.
Let’s go through the history of the simplest and most widespread type of coffee maker across the World.
How does a French Press work?
French Press coffee maker has the simplest design compared to all other coffee brewing methods. It consists of a simple jar made of steel, glassware, or stone and a plunger assembly that contains metal filters.
French Press is an immersion type of coffee brewing coffee method. First we Place the coffee grounds in the jar and pour boiling water over them. The coffee grounds remain immersed in the water for four to six minutes to extract the flavors. After that, we push the plunger, and the metal filter takes the coffee grounds to the bottom of the jar. And then, we simply pour the freshly brewed coffee into our cups.
The good thing about this brewing method is we have control over all the brewing parameters. And we can easily adjust these parameters according to our preference.
Like we can choose the temperature of the water, we can adjust the strength of coffee by changing the amount of grounds, we can adjust the grind size according to over preference, we can increase or decrease the steeping time according to our taste. In short, the French Press coffee maker allows us to brew coffee according to our mood.
In contrast, all these parameters are not in our control if we brew coffee through automatic coffee machines. So, if you are like me, you might get bored drinking the same coffee every day. Sometimes we do need change.
How to use a French Press Coffee Maker For a Perfect Brew
What You’ll Need
- French Press Coffee maker
- A Kettle or stovetop
- 250 ml filtered water per serving
- 12-16 gram of coffee grounds per serving
Step 1: Measure the coffee
For brewing a 250ml cup of coffee, it is recommended to use 12-15 grams of coffee grounds. It is okay to use two tablespoons of coffee beans per cup if you don’t have a measuring scale.
Step 2: Grind the beans
There is no right or wrong grind size as long as you are in the coarse range; it simply depends on your taste. But if you find the brew is too bitter, try grinding a little coarser and if it’s coming out too watery, then try a little finer grind size.
Step 3: Heat the water
Next heat the water in a kettle or stove. The best water temperature for French Press is 200 degrees.
When you are heating the water in an automatic kettle, you can adjust the temperature and set it at 200 degrees; if you are boiling the water on the stove, let it sit for 1 to 2 minutes after boiling so that it reaches the perfect temperature.
Step 4: Rinse french press with hot water
Before adding the coffee grounds, rinse the French Press jar with hot water. Although this step is optional, it is highly recommended since it keeps the coffee warm during steeping.
Step 5: Add the coffee grounds and water
Slowly pour water into the French Press jar already containing coffee grounds and close the lid.
Step 6: Let it steep
Stir the mixture after adding water for 10 to 15 seconds, then let it steep for 4 minutes. You can steep it longer than it if you want a more robust cup of coffee. But try to keep it under 6 minutes, as coffee gets more and more bitter with time.
Step 7: Scoop or not?
After the four minutes have passed, you have two options; scoop off the foamy layer at the top or just push the plunger as it is. It’s better to scoop off the layer if you’re always complaining that French Press is too sludgy, but don’t do that if you enjoy the oiliness and richness in the flavor. As when you scoop off the layer many flavorful coffee oils also get out of the cup.
Step 8: Push the Plunger
Now push the plunger and smoothly towards the bottom. You must move it slowly because if you push it too fast, many fine particles will make their way through the strainer, which will make your coffee muddy.
Step 9: Time to Enjoy!
Now, pour the delicious and freshly brewed coffee into your cups and enjoy.
When was the French Press invented
As the name suggests, French Press was invented in France. However, the history of the French Press is not that clear. Some say that this brewing method originated in Italy, while others claim it was first used in France.
The most famous story regarding the history of this popular brewing dates back to the 1800s. When a Frenchman was trying to brew his coffee in the pot, as the water started boiling, he realized he had forgotten to put the coffee grounds in the pot. Then he put the coffee grounds in the boiling water. But in boiling water, the coffee grounds start rising to the top of the pot.
So, he used a metal strainer to keep the coffee grounds away from the cup while pouring it. He was expecting that the flavor of coffee brewed by this irregular would not be that good, but against his expectations, the flavor turned out to be very bold and rich. So, like many other good inventions in the World, the invention of this heavenly coffee brewing method was also an accident.
First Patents
The first patent of French Press was filed in 1852 by two Frenchman named Mayer and Delforge. However, this design was not very similar to the design which we use now. This was merely a cheesecloth or metal piece fitted with the rod which keeps the coffee grounds away from the cup.
The first patent of modern French Press coffee maker was filed by an Italian man Attilio Calimani in 1929. So, some people might suggest that this brewing method is an Italian invention. But I am more convinced by the story that I have mentioned above as the name has French in it too.
Faleiro Bondanini made several changes to the existing design and came up with the most refined design of French Press that we use today. He patented this design in 1958 and started manufacturing it in France. He also markets this new design in the United Kingdom with the name La cafetiere. After that, he sold his patent to a famous kitchenware company in Denmark named Bodum. And Bodum is still the most popular company that manufactures French Press.
Still, after that many companies have altered the design of the French Press. Like you may have seen French Press coffee makers made of steel or stoneware, but the basic plunger assembly and the dimensions and design of the jar are almost the same as patented by Bondanini in 1958.
French Press became popular across all over Europe after its invention 1920s and became the most widely used coffee brewing method. However, it came to America in the 1990s after the Danish company Bodum started supplying this coffee maker to America.
Benefits of French Press Coffee
Budget Friendly
Rich And Delicious taste
You can use it anywhere
As a very simple and portable method of making coffee, the French press is perfect for campers and backpackers.
Versatility
Complete control over the brewing process
With French Press, you have complete control over the brewing process. To suit your taste, you can adjust the ratio of coffee to water, the water temperature, the coffee grind size, and the extraction time. This is a privilege you don’t usually get with automatic machines.
With all these benefits, the French press has some disadvantages too like it’s time-consuming and you have to do it all manually. The major disadvantage is this brewing method is not good for the health of heart, cholesterol and blood pressure patients. Read a detailed guide on whether the French Press is good for health or not.
French Press buying guide
GLASS FRENCH PRESS COFFEE MAKERS
Glass French Press coffee makers are perfect choice for beginners. They are very affordable and makes a perfect cup of coffee
STAINLESS STEEL FRENCH PRESS COFFEE MAKERS
Metal French Press coffee makers are perfect choice for if you are looking for something durable and long lasting. Insulated Metal French presses also keep coffee hot for longer.
CERAMIC FRENCH PRESS COFFEE MAKERS
Ceramic French Press coffee makers are perfect choice if love beautiful designs and want to brew coffee in an elegant way.
COFFEE GRINDERS FOR fRENCH PRESS
There are many expert French Press coffee makers out there, but if you want to brew the absolute perfect cup of French Press, you’ll need an expert grinder too. Here are some of the best coffee grinders.
ELECTRIC KETTLES FOR FRENCH PRESS
The water temperature is a significant factor in preparing a perfect cup of French Press coffee and Electrical Kettles are perfect for heating water. Here are some of the best electrical kettles
PRE GROUND COFFEE FOR FRENCH PRESS
If you are a French Press lover, you must know that a perfect cup of French Press can only be brewed with coarsely ground coffee beans. Here are some of the best coffee grounds for French press
Points to consider while buying a French Press
If you are buying a French Press for the first time or you always end up buying a fragile or improper French Press than this French Press buying guide will surely help you.
Glass Vs stainless steel vs ceramic french press coffee makers
Although, if the material is reliable and the filters are adequate, french press of any material can brew a great cup of coffee. However, there are some benefits and drawbacks to using one material over another. In the post below, we have compared the advantages and disadvantages of using a glass, stainless steel, or ceramic French press.
French Press Comparisons
Espresso vs French Press
Espresso is a concentrated and strong coffee with a bold flavor and creamy texture. While French press coffee has a smooth and rich taste with a full-bodied and slightly gritty texture.
AeroPress Vs French Press
A French Press and an Aeropress are both manual coffee makers since both involve full immersion type brewing processes and require pressing to “Brew a cup of Coffee”.
Percolator Vs French Press
A coffee percolator is a vintage method of brewing coffee that was mainly used before drip coffee makers were developed. But it still has some devoted followers.
Moka Pot vs French Press
Moka pot is a stovetop coffee maker that uses steam pressure to brew coffee. Moka pot makes an intense and strong espresso-styled coffee while French Press makes full-bodied cup of coffee.
Keurig Vs French Press
Keurig is a top-notch single-serve drip coffee maker brand known for its convenience and ease of use. However the taste of coffee is not as great as French Press.
Pour Over Vs French Press
“Pour Over” is a method of brewing coffee by percolating. It’s also known as “filter coffee” or “manual drip coffee”. Pour over makes a clean, sediment-free drink.