To use a French press, add coarsely ground coffee, pour in hot water just off the boil, stir, place the lid, and let it steep for four minutes before pressing the plunger down slowly. Use a ratio of about 1 part coffee to 12 to 15 parts water by weight. The two things that matter most are a coarse grind and a four-minute steep, which give a rich, full-bodied cup.

Quick Answer

Add coarse grounds, pour water at about 94°C, stir, steep 4 minutes, then press slowly and pour right away. Use roughly 1:13 coffee to water. Coarse grind and a 4-minute steep are the keys.

Short Answer

Use a coarse grind, hot water just off the boil, a four-minute steep, then press slowly and pour immediately so it does not over-extract. A 1:12 to 1:15 ratio gives a balanced, full cup.

What You Need

  • A French press
  • Coarsely ground coffee
  • Hot water (about 94°C)
  • A scale or spoon, and a timer

How to Use a French Press: Steps

  1. Warm the press with a little hot water, then discard it.
  2. Add coarse grounds, about 30g for a 2-cup press.
  3. Pour in hot water just off the boil and stir gently.
  4. Place the lid with the plunger up and steep for 4 minutes.
  5. Press the plunger down slowly and evenly.
  6. Pour all the coffee out right away so it does not keep extracting.

Key Takeaway: Pour the coffee out as soon as you press. Leaving it on the grounds is the main reason French press coffee turns bitter.

Getting the Grind Right

French press needs a coarse grind, about the texture of coarse sea salt. Fine grounds slip through the metal filter and make the coffee gritty and bitter. A burr grinder gives the even coarse grind you need; see our best burr grinders.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a fine grind, which makes gritty coffee.
  • Pressing too fast, which can spray hot coffee or crack glass.
  • Leaving coffee on the grounds after pressing.
  • Using water that is fully boiling, which scorches the coffee.

Safety Notes

  • Pour water just off the boil to avoid splashing.
  • Press slowly; forcing the plunger can break the glass.
  • Handle glass presses carefully and replace cracked beakers.

FAQ

How long do you steep French press coffee?

Steep French press coffee for about four minutes, then press and pour. Longer steeping over-extracts and makes it bitter.

What grind do you use for a French press?

Use a coarse grind, about the texture of coarse sea salt. Fine grounds pass through the filter and make the coffee gritty.

How much coffee for a French press?

Use roughly 1 part coffee to 12 to 15 parts water by weight, for example about 30g of coffee for a 2-cup press. Adjust to taste.

Bottom Line

Use a coarse grind, a four-minute steep, a slow press and an immediate pour for a rich French press cup. Pick a press in our best French presses guide, and compare it with pour-over in our French press vs pour-over comparison.

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