If you love coffee and you have not yet tried French press coffee, you’re missing out. Every coffee lover should at least try it out, so they know what it’s like, even if you decide it’s not for you on a regular basis. That said, Jiale Coffee take a deeper look at French press coffee and all you need to know about it.
What Is French Press Coffee?
When compared to drip coffee, French press will have a richer and more full-bodied taste. The term “French press” refers to the way the coffee is prepared/brewed. French press is a manual brewing method which just means you’re not doing it with an electronic device (like with drip coffee).
French press coffee is great for a darker roast, for full bodied flavor or for using with milk or creamers. It is a classic for great reason and it’s really very simple to use, once you get used to the process. You don’t need to worry about waiting for water to brew through, and it produces a great flavor.
Some people who are new to French press coffee may find the process intimidating. We’re going to explain exactly how to do it below but it’s actually much simpler than you might think. It doesn’t take a long time to do, the press itself is easy to use, and it doesn’t require any special skills or a deep learning curve. If you’re curious about French press coffee and want to learn more, read on.
Benefits of Using a French Press
While there are a few added steps to this type of coffee preparation over just dropping a filter and some pre-ground coffee into your automatic drip maker, for many people, the benefits are worth it. Either way, it’s not hard to learn. Grinding coffee and boiling you water only takes about two minutes and then you can reap all of the rewards.
So, why would you want French press coffee over regular manual or drip coffee? For some people, it’s all about preference. However, there are some benefits to French press coffee to consider. These include:
- It’s cost-effective
- It produces a rich, full-bodied taste
- It’s portable (you can take it anywhere)
- It’s healthy (the health benefits of coffee are preserved with this brewing method)
Another benefit to French press coffee is that it preserves the coffee bean’s natural oils. This is what gives it the full flavor and the rich aroma that French press coffee is so known for.
How to Use a French Press
If you’re going to make French press coffee, there are a few things you will need. Start with the following:
- A French press (more on choosing this in the next section)
- A stirrer or long spoon
- A kettle
- A scale (this is optional but many like to measure their ground coffee)
- Water heated to 200 degrees
- Your coarsely ground coffee of choice
This means that if you want to buy fresh coffee beans and grind them yourself, you will also need a coffee bean grinder, if you don’t already own one.
Again, it takes about two minutes to heat your water (you can boil it with the kettle) and to grind your fresh beans. One huge benefit of French press coffee is that it allows you to use the freshest beans possible.
You just warm with water, add the coffee grounds, pour your water around in a spiraling motion so the water even submerges all the grounds. If you see dry coffee, try to direct the water pour right onto it. Even extraction is what will make your coffee have the best flavor.
If you see your coffee grounds bubbling or growing in the water, this is called “blooming”. It helps the grounds brew perfectly, so this is a good thing.
Then, you’ll fill and stir. Use that stirrer or long spoon to gently stir the mixture inside your carafe. You don’t need to stir aggressively or roughly. Just a nice, gently stir will do.
Finally, set a timer for about four minutes and just wait. Once the timer goes off, your coffee will be ready to drink. Just press the coffee plunger all the way down so that your coffee grounds are packed to the bottom. Remember to press gently and not too hard.
Now your coffee is ready to drink! Just pour it into your favorite mug and enjoy!
Buying a French Press Coffee
If you decide you want to make your own French press coffee at home, you’ll need to buy a coffee press. Buying your French press does not need to be a complicated process. There are more options today than ever before, so you have plenty to choose from. If anything, you may run into the problem of not knowing where to start with so many choices.
You really can’t go wrong with whatever French press you choose, but to make it easier when you are shopping, think about how you will use it.
Are you the only person in your household who will use it? How much coffee do you drink? There are single-use on-the-go French presses that allow you to make your coffee and drink it in the same container.
Then there are larger ones that allow you to make as much as 34 or even 51 ounces of coffee at a time. This might be a good choice if you consume a lot of coffee or if you will be making coffee for two. And finally, there are those with clear, glass carafes if you like to view your coffee brewing while you prepare it.
What is French Press Coffee Conclusion
French press coffee is so easy to make and like pour-over coffee, it allows for a lot of customization with how you like it. If you’re very particular about your coffee flavor, this could be a good choice for you. It’s also very simple and convenient, once you learn how to do it. You don’t need any coffee pods or coffee filters or anything like that. However, if you have high blood pressure or are concerned about the digestive impact, please read those articles first before trying French press coffee.
If you love coffee, we encourage you to give it a try today and see what you think!
