How to use a French Press Small Coffee Maker

I’ve written a great deal about the benefits of small coffee makers and have shared my experiences using a large majority of them. Being somewhat of a coffee aficionado, I feel it’s only fair that I share my opinions on the best small coffee machines so that you can spend your time enjoying coffee. My early experimentation in trying to achieve coffee greatness was somewhat mixed, and it took me quite a while before I was able to achieve the kind of consistency that impressed coffee lovers around me. One of the first devices I trialed outside of the standard drip small coffee makers was the French Press, a completely manual brewer that requires some degree of finessing to get things just right.

I purchased my French Press, the Bodum Chambord 8-cup model, from Amazon for about $35, which is a great deal considering that this model retails at coffee shops and department stores for closer to $50. Upon opening the device I became immediately hesitant and a bit nervous. After all, the press pot is unlike any other brewer and doesn’t operate automatically from the push of a button. I had to get out the directions and actually read through them step by step. It became obvious that the French Press was not as difficult to use as it appeared on the outside, and I was soon enjoying my new brewing device and sharing the results with friends and family. After a period of time I began browsing online coffee forums and reading about some variations that people were making on the manufacturer’s suggested brewing instructions. I quickly learned that the rules laid out by Bodum were meant to be broken in a way.

It turns out that using a French Press coffee maker is actually fairly simple. After all, you’re simply combining ground coffee with hot water, forcing it through a filter and drinking the finished product. Well, okay, it’s a bit more complicated than that, particularly if you’re looking to get the most out of your press pot. The following is a checklist that I go through each and every time I use my French Press to get the most out of it. These simple steps allow me to produce an extremely rich cup of coffee that is unmatched by any other method, making the French Press the best small coffee maker around -

Grind Coffee Fresh Using a Quality Grinder

This is perhaps the most important step, since using a poor quality (blade) grinder will not produce the results you’re after. It’s critical that you spend the money on a quality burr grinder, which will allow you to adjust the grind to suit the press pot. You want to stay away from a blade or “whirly bird” grinder, as these tend to pulverize the beans into a bunch of different particle sizes, including a fair amount of dust. A quality conical burr grinder can cost between $100 and $150, but will last you nearly a lifetime and produce a grind that second to none and perfectly suited to a variety of different brewing methods including espresso, drip and press. When using a French Press you want uniform large particles – the key word being “uniform.”

There are a couple of reasons why a large particle size is suggested when using a press pot. First, large particles will tend to produce a smoother flavor profile and reduced the possibility of over-extraction, which is nearly guaranteed when using a fine grind. Over-extraction leads to bitterness, which is not something desirable. The second advantage to using a coarser grind is that the “plunging” process will become easier. Pushing down on the plunger should be a smooth, continuous process and shouldn’t be laborious or require superhuman strength.

The Nitty Gritty

1. You want to use 1 rounded tablespoon of properly ground coffee per cup (4 oz.) and the coffee should be added to the press pot directly after being ground
2. Boil your water ahead of time (before the grind) so that it’s ready to use directly off of the boil
3. Carefully pour the hot water over the grounds, being sure to fully saturate them
4. Use a plastic spoon or wooden chopstick to briefly stir the grounds, which will aid in proper extraction
5. Once the coffee has been stirred and a small bloom has started, place the plunger on top of the pot to cover it and wait for 2-3 minutes for the coffee to steep
6. After the steep time has expired simply grab the plunger and press down, allowing for a continuous, steady plunge – no need to go crazy with the plunger
7. Pour out your beautiful beverage and enjoy the fruits of your labor

It’s important to avoid leaving the finished coffee in the press pot after the plunger has been pressed, since this is akin to letting the coffee continue to steep, which can lead to bitterness caused by over-extraction. Instead, pour the coffee in a carafe or vac-pot until you’re ready to consume it. Another helpful tip is to avoid drinking the last ¼-inch of coffee in your cup, since the last sip can often contain fine coffee grounds or “fines.” You only have to do this once and you will never forget again.

Watch this guy for a better idea of how a French Press works. The important thing is that you have an understanding of the basic process and that you aren't afraid to experiment. At the end of the day it you that will be enjoying the beverage produced, so make it work for you.