There are many reasons to use a French press to make delicious coffee. The coffee press is currently experiencing a real comeback - and not without reason! The stamp pot is very easy to use and is also ideal for beginners. French press instructions are still a good idea, after all, no master has fallen from heaven here either.
A big advantage of the coffee press is that the powder is in constant contact with the water during the preparation process, allowing a particularly full-bodied aroma to develop.
Would you like to know how you can prepare your favorite hot drink yourself manually and without pressing a lot of buttons? Find out here!
What is a French Press?
The French press is a fairly practical coffee press that typically consists of a lid with a press stamp and a jug, which is usually made of glass.
Since there is no filtering process in French press preparation, the essential oils of the coffee beans remain intact, which means that the end result - as already mentioned - tastes particularly aromatic! To ensure that the coffee powder does not end up in the finished drink, the stamp is equipped with a metal sieve that retains the coffee grounds.
A stamp pot can, but does not always have to, be designed in a classic style. There are now also devices made of stainless steel or stoneware, for example. Ultimately, design is always a matter of taste, because it's all about the aroma, isn't it?
By the way, all brewing methods in which coffee has prolonged contact with water are known as immersion methods.
The advantages of the coffee press
Are you thinking about adding a stamp pot to your kitchen appliances? We can absolutely understand this consideration, because after all it offers a variety of interesting advantages, which we have summarized for you here:
- Easy to prepare: The press is one of the easiest coffee preparation methods, and so you can make the perfect coffee with little effort. All you need is hot water, (preferably fresh) ground coffee beans and a little patience.
- Cost-effective production method: With the French press you don't have to buy expensive coffee pods or capsules. Instead, you can grind large quantities of coffee yourself cheaply and enjoy your favorite drink whenever you want. Ideal for bargain hunters!
- Full aroma: The taste of freshly ground coffee prepared with the stamp pot is incomparable. It has a full, aromatic taste and a rich bouquet - something that is not always guaranteed with other methods.
- Environmentally friendly use: The coffee press is made from durable materials and can be used for years, meaning you can avoid recurring waste and protect the environment. There is also no paper waste here.
- Easy transport : Have you ever tried taking your fully automatic coffee machine with you when traveling? Even! A French coffee press, on the other hand, fits wonderfully into any suitcase.
Which coffee is particularly suitable for the French press?
First of all, you should know that there are different coffee flavors and each flavor influences the taste of the French press in its own way. That's why it's important that you think about which notes you personally prefer when choosing coffee for the French press. Some like it fruity, others like it a little bitter. It is therefore important to think about the aroma you want in advance.
In order to find the right coffee for the French press, you should also keep in mind that certain types are better suited to this device than others. Ideally, you should choose a medium to strong roasted coffee as it contains more aromatics and delivers a stronger taste. But of course that is also a matter of taste!
In our opinion, African Arabica varieties are particularly suitable for the stamp pot and provide a full-bodied aroma with a slight acidity and notes of chocolate or caramel. Robusta coffee, on the other hand, is ideal for those who prefer a stronger taste - but be careful: this coffee can quickly taste a bit too bitter and is therefore not for everyone.
You can also try trying different mixes to see what tastes best. A blend of Arabica and Robusta coffees can round out the flavor and will help you find the perfect coffee for your French press. In addition to choosing the right coffee, roasting also plays an important role in producing delicious coffee with the French press.
Slightly darker roasted coffee contains more aromatics than light roasted coffee and therefore produces a stronger aroma and deeper flavor. So if you're looking for the best possible taste, consider using slightly darker roasted coffee. Finally, it should also be noted that the quality of the water is just as important as the quality of the coffee powder.
Therefore, always use fresh water with a low mineral content for optimal results. If you follow these simple tips, you'll quickly find out which coffee tastes best in your coffee press!
It's definitely worth experimenting a bit and trying out different types of coffee powder - you're guaranteed to find the perfect beans for your individual preferences. And don’t worry – we’ll get to our exact French press instructions later!
The fine art of preparing coffee in the stamp pot
Before you attempt your first – and hopefully delicious – French press coffee, there are a few important things to consider. Because if you take this into account right from the start, you can look forward to great drinking quality in the long term.
The first thing we should do is select the beans that you will ideally grind yourself. This is particularly important with this type of preparation, as the powder is no longer filtered and has a lot of contact with the hot water, which ensures the desired, particularly intense taste.
If you are unable to grind the beans yourself, there is of course ready-made powder in the store. You can also have the beans freshly ground in a specialist store, which certainly tastes better than using packaged powder from the supermarket.
From the degree of grinding to the amount of coffee – what you need to consider
Every real French press manual says: The right beans are of no use if the other factors are not correct. That's why we'll give you a few more tips!
Which press is the best?
If you want to make good French press coffee, you have to invest in a good coffee press. Sure, there are cheap presses everywhere - but will you be happy with them in the long term?
The good news is that coffee presses are often not that expensive and usually have the same structure. As already mentioned, the container is usually made of glass, which, however, makes it susceptible to breakage.
If you want to be on the safe side, choose press cans that are equipped with a container made of robust stainless steel. The frame, on the other hand, should definitely be made of metal - this is not only more environmentally friendly than plastic, but also more durable.
How the stamp is assembled is also important - in cheaper versions it is only held in place with a simple screw, which can quickly come loose during cleaning. A better idea is to use stamps held in place by a tightly sealed compound.
The correct amount of coffee for the French press
What dosage is needed for the French press? Generally it should be around 60 - 65 grams per liter of water. We give you a little dosage help: Since most presses are a little smaller and hold around 750 ml, in this case it is 45 grams, which corresponds to 4.5 tablespoons.
Most coffee presses come with a so-called plumb bob - this is a small measuring spoon that you can of course also use. Since this is slightly smaller than a tablespoon, 7 to 8 units is a better measurement.
Ultimately, however, it's all about personal preference. How much powder you actually use depends on how strong you want your favorite drink to be in the end.
The right mill
Now that we have clarified this, let's move on to this Mill : Which one is particularly suitable in this case? In general, you should choose a device that delivers good results even with a coarse grind and keeps dust production as low as possible.
Unfortunately, cheap mills often cannot do this, so it is worth investing a little more here too. If the grind is not optimal, poor extraction will occur and the result can be a furry taste - and that's really suboptimal, isn't it?
And last but not least, you of course also have the choice between an electric or manually operated grinder. As far as the grind quality is concerned, there are no major differences - here too, it's about which variant you prefer!
The optimal grind level for the French press
The ideal grind is also very important for your beloved pick-me-up. If possible, get into the habit of grinding the beans right before use to get the best possible flavor.
While a particularly coarse grind was previously recommended, this is no longer the case today: medium to coarse is enough! However, you should never grind too finely. We'll explain exactly why this is the case in the detailed instructions for the coffee press!
Keep your eyes open at the water temperature!
You shouldn't make any compromises, especially when it comes to water temperature. Exactly how high this should be depends on how the beans are roasted.
A frequently mentioned value is 95° Celsius, certain varieties benefit from 90 to 92°. A thermometer is useful here. In general, the water should never be hotter than 96°!
9 steps to the perfect French press coffee!
Now we've talked about hot coffee long enough - let's finally get to our detailed French press instructions!
- First, boil some water to prepare the glass jug. Pour the hot water into the pot and pour it out after a few minutes. The reason for this step? This way, your hot drink will stay at the optimal temperature for longer!
- Now you should weigh the beans (or dose the ground beans, depending on which variant you prefer). As already mentioned, 45 grams is sufficient for most devices (for a 0.75 liter jug)
- If you don't use ready-made powder, use the mill now! A medium to coarse grind is ideal here.
- Now pour the powder into the coffee press.
- Now fill some of the boiled water, which should not be more than 96° Celsius, into the pot and stir well so that the coffee powder comes into contact with the water from all sides.
- Let the aromatic mixture steep for 30 seconds before adding the remaining water. In addition, another 4 minutes of brewing time are necessary.
- Then place the lid on the stamp can and press the filter slightly under the surface so that it can warm up - this way the metal of the stamp expands slightly.
- Then slowly and carefully press the stamp down to separate the coffee grounds and drink. If you feel a lot of resistance, wait a little longer because the coffee is not ready yet.
- And now the best step: enjoy your excellent coffee!
Coffee press for those who like to experiment
This pick-me-up is everything - just not run of the mill! Those who like to experiment can try different types of coffee to find out what they like best. Some people like to mix different varieties together to create an individual flavor. By the way, you can also make espresso in the French press.
Some people like to add a pinch of ground cardamom to the French press, and others swear by a pinch of salt, a pinch of cinnamon and a teaspoon of cocoa powder as additional ingredients. A hint of vanilla is also well received. Feel free to get creative!
Coffee Annan - the good coffee with a clear conscience!
Even with coffee from the French press, everything depends on the quality of the beans. At Coffee Annan these are not the only things grown fairly and sustainably and harvested, but also directly in the country of origin roasted.
This not only ensures a particularly enchanting aroma, but also supports people in the producing countries in building a sustainable future for themselves and their children. Take a look around our shop, right? order a sample package - bet that your favorite variety is also there?
FAQ
How do you clean a stamp pot?
Luckily, cleaning isn't that difficult - pour the coffee grounds into a kitchen strainer to prevent the drain from clogging and simply clean the coffee press with dish soap and a sponge.
The stamp, however, requires a little more care when cleaning: carefully unscrew it and clean the individual parts separately.
What happens if the grind is too fine?
If the grind is too fine, the coffee will be extracted too much and can therefore taste too bitter. Our recommendation is a medium to coarse grind!
Which roast is best for the French press?
As already stated in the detailed part of these French press instructions: whatever you like is allowed! However, you should keep in mind that medium to strong roasted beans deliver the strongest aroma.
Conclusion
With our French press instructions for your new favorite coffee. Save yourself the coffee to go in the future! With the practical Coffee Finder from Coffee Annan you can easily find the coffee that suits you best
Using these instructions, you can prepare your own delicious coffee in no time at all - and for a lot cheaper! You can also add your own personal touch to your favorite pick-me-up - give it a try! We hope you enjoy creative drinking pleasure!
Image source: https://fitfoodiefinds.com/how-to-use-a-french-press/
