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 French press is very easy to use and is also ideal for beginners. However, a French press manual is a good idea - after all, no one is born an expert.
A big advantage of the coffee press is that the powder is in continuous contact with the water during the preparation process, allowing a particularly full-bodied aroma to develop.
Would you like to know how to prepare your favorite hot drink manually and without pressing a lot of buttons? Find out here!
What is a French Press?
The French press is a fairly practically constructed coffee press, which typically consists of a lid with a press plunger and a pot, which is usually made of glass.
Since the filtering process is not required when preparing a French press, the essential oils of the coffee beans remain intact, which means that the end result - as already mentioned - tastes particularly aromatic! However, to ensure that the coffee powder does not end up in the finished drink, the plunger is equipped with a metal sieve that holds back the coffee grounds.
A French press can, but does not always have to, be designed in a classic style. There are also devices made of stainless steel or stoneware, for example. Ultimately, the design is always a matter of taste, because it is primarily about the aroma, isn't it?
By the way, all brewing methods in which coffee has prolonged contact with water are so-called immersion methods.
The advantages of the coffee press
Are you thinking about adding a French press to your kitchen appliances? We can absolutely understand this idea, because it offers a variety of interesting advantages, which we have summarized for you here:
- Easy preparation: The press is one of the easiest coffee brewing methods and allows you to make the perfect coffee with little effort. All you need is hot water, (preferably freshly) ground coffee beans and a little patience.
- Cost-effective manufacturing method: With the Fellow French Press, you don't have to buy expensive coffee pads or capsules. Instead, you can grind large quantities of coffee yourself at a reasonable price and enjoy your favorite drink whenever you want. Ideal for those on a budget!
- Full aroma: The taste of freshly ground coffee prepared with a French press 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 of durable materials and can be used for years, which means you can avoid recurring waste and protect the environment. There is also no paper waste.
- Easy transport : Have you ever tried to take your fully automatic coffee machine with you on your travels? Exactly! A French coffee press, on the other hand, fits perfectly in 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 affects 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 people like it fruity, others like it a little more bitter. So it's important to think about the flavor you want in advance.
To find the right coffee for the French Press, you should also keep in mind that certain varieties are better suited to this device than others. Ideally, you should choose a medium to dark roasted specialty coffee , as it contains more aromatic substances and provides a stronger taste. But of course, that is also a matter of taste!
In our opinion, African Arabica varieties are particularly well suited to the French press and deliver 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 little too bitter and is therefore not for everyone.
You can also try trying different blends to find out what tastes best. A mix 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 making delicious coffee with the French press.
Coffee that is roasted a little darker contains more aromatics than coffee that is roasted lighter, and therefore produces a stronger aroma and a deeper taste. So if you are looking for a particularly intense taste, you should use coffee that is roasted a little darker. Finally, it is also important to note 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 will quickly find out which coffee tastes best in your coffee press!
It's definitely worth experimenting a little and trying out different types of coffee powder - that way you're guaranteed to find the perfect beans for your individual preferences. And don't worry - we'll get to our detailed French press instructions soon!
The fine art of coffee preparation with the French press
Before you try your first – and hopefully delicious – French Press coffee, there are a few important things to consider. If you keep these in mind from the start, you can look forward to great drinking quality in the long term.
So first we should start by choosing the beans, which you should 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 creates the desired, particularly intense taste.
If you are unable to grind the beans yourself, you can of course buy ready-made powder in the store. You can also have the beans freshly ground in a specialist shop, which will certainly taste better than using pre-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 aren't spot on. So we'll give you a few tips!
Which press is the best?
If you want to make good French press coffee, you need to invest in a good coffee press. Sure, there are cheap presses everywhere - but will you enjoy using them in the long term?
The good news is that coffee presses are often not too expensive and usually have the same structure. As already mentioned, the container is usually made of glass, which means it is somewhat prone to breakage.
If you want to be on the safe side, choose a press jug that has a container made of robust stainless steel. The frame, however, 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 - cheaper versions are only held in place with a simple screw, which can easily come loose during cleaning. A better idea are stamps that are held in place by a firmly sealed connection.
The correct amount of coffee for the French Press
What dosage is needed for the French Press? Generally, it should be about 60 - 65 grams per liter of water. We'll give you a little dosage guide: Since most presses are a bit smaller and hold around 750 ml, in this case it is 45 grams, which corresponds to 4.5 tablespoons.
Most coffee presses come with what is known as a lot - this is a small measuring spoon that you can of course also use. Since this is a little smaller than a tablespoon, 7 to 8 units is a better measure.
Ultimately, however, it's a matter of 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, it is time for the Grinder: 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 development as low as possible.
Unfortunately, cheap grinders often cannot do this, so it is worth investing a little more here too. If the grind is not optimal, the extraction will be poor and the result can be a furry taste - and that is really not ideal, is it?
And last but not least, you can of course choose between an electric grinder or a manually operated coffee grinder. As far as the grinding quality is concerned, there are no major differences - here too, it's a matter of which option you prefer!
The optimal grind for the French Press
The ideal grind is also very important for your beloved stimulant. If possible, you should get into the habit of grinding the beans immediately before use in order to get the best possible aroma.
While a particularly coarse grind was recommended in the past, this is no longer the case today: medium to coarse is sufficient! However, it should never be ground too finely. We will explain exactly why this is the case in the detailed instructions for the coffee press!
Keep an eye on the water temperature!
You shouldn't make any compromises when it comes to water temperature. How high it should be depends on the roasting of the beans.
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 jug and then pour it out again 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 measure the ground beans, depending on which option you prefer). As already mentioned, 45 grams is sufficient for most machines (for a 0.75 liter pot)
- If you are not using ready-made powder, this is where the coffee grinder comes in! A medium to coarse grind is ideal here.
- Now pour the powder into the coffee press.
- Now pour 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.
- Allow the aromatic mixture to brew for 30 seconds before adding the remaining water. An additional 4 minutes of brewing time are required.
- Then place the lid on the plunger and press the filter slightly under the surface so that it can warm up - this will cause the metal of the plunger to expand slightly.
- Then press the plunger down slowly and carefully to separate the coffee grounds from the 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 anything but 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 types 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. Don’t be afraid to be creative!
Coffee Annan - good coffee with a clear conscience!
Even with coffee from the French press, everything depends on the quality of the beans. Sustainable coffee from Coffee Annan is not only fairly traded and organically grown, but also roasted directly in the country of origin.
This not only creates a particularly enchanting aroma, but also supports the people in the producing countries in building a sustainable future for themselves and their children. Take a look around our shop, or order a coffee sample package - bet that your favorite variety is also there?
FAQ
How do you clean a French press?
Fortunately, cleaning is not that difficult - pour the coffee grounds into a kitchen sieve to prevent the drain from becoming clogged and simply clean the coffee press with detergent and a sponge.
The stamp, on the other hand, 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 strongly and may taste too bitter. We recommend a medium to coarse grind!
Which roast is best for the French press?
As already mentioned in the detailed part of this French Press guide: Whatever you like is allowed! However, you should keep in mind that medium to strong roasted beans provide the strongest aroma.
Conclusion
With our French Press instructions tp 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.
With these instructions, you can quickly prepare your own delicious coffee - and that for a lot less money! You can also give your favorite pick-me-up a personal touch - just give it a try! We hope you enjoy your creative drinking pleasure!
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