To use a French press, add coarse-ground coffee to the beaker, pour in hot water just off the boil, steep for about four minutes, then press the plunger down slowly and pour. This guide gives the full steps, the ratio, the grind and what to do when the cup comes out bitter or muddy.
We sell the GROSCHE Madrid French press, so read this with that in mind. The brewing numbers come from three published guides linked below; for our own press we stick to what its listing says.
Three published guides agree on the method: a coarse grind, water about 93 to 96°C (199 to 205°F), and roughly four minutes of steeping before a slow, steady press of the plunger.
Ratios differ by source, from about 1 g of coffee per 12 g of water to 1 g per 17 g. Start near 1:15 and adjust the next brew to taste.
Pour the coffee out as soon as you press. Wikipedia and Blue Bottle both warn that coffee left sitting on the grounds keeps extracting and turns bitter or astringent.
A French press also works for loose-leaf tea, but Wikipedia advises decanting the tea after steeping and cleaning the press well before switching between tea and coffee.
How Does a French Press Work?
A French press steeps coffee grounds in hot water, then a plunger with a fine mesh filter pushes the grounds to the bottom so you can pour. Wikipedia describes it as a method based on steeping the grounds for a few minutes in hot water.
- The beaker: A narrow cylinder, usually glass, that holds the grounds and water.
- The plunger and mesh: A lid with a plunger that fits tightly and carries a fine stainless steel or nylon mesh filter.
- Metal, not paper: Blue Bottle notes that the metal mesh lets more oils and fine particles into the cup, which is why the coffee tastes heavier than paper-filtered coffee.
What Do You Need to Use a French Press?
You need a French press, coarse-ground coffee, hot water and a timer; a scale and a grinder make results more repeatable. Stumptown's guide also lists a stir stick and a kettle.
- Fresh coffee beans: Grind them just before brewing, and grind coarse.
- A kettle: Water just off the boil, about 205°F according to Stumptown and Blue Bottle.
- A scale (optional): Weighing coffee and water gives the same cup twice. Both roasters weigh in grams.
- A timer: The method turns on a four-minute steep.
How Do You Use a French Press, Step by Step?
Preheat the press, add coarse-ground coffee, pour hot water, stir once, steep about four minutes, then press slowly and pour right away. The steps below follow Blue Bottle's and Stumptown's guides.
- Heat the water and preheat the press: Bring water to just off the boil and rinse the empty press with hot water to keep the brew warm, as Stumptown suggests. Discard the rinse water.
- Grind and add the coffee: Grind coarse and add it to the empty beaker. Level the grounds by shaking the press gently.
- Pour in the water: Start your timer and pour the water over the grounds so all of them are wet.
- Stir: Give the slurry one gentle stir to break up dry pockets, then put the lid on with the plunger raised. Stumptown stirs at 1:00; Blue Bottle stirs right after the pour.
- Steep about four minutes: Both roasters brew for 4:00.
- Press slowly: Push the plunger down with steady pressure. Blue Bottle says the plunge should take about 20 seconds.
- Pour right away: Pour all the coffee out, into cups or a carafe, so it stops extracting.
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GROSCHE Madrid French Press
A French press with a borosilicate glass beaker, a chrome housing and two filters, in 350 ml and 1000 ml sizes. Brews coffee or loose-leaf tea.
Shop now → ✓ 30-day money-back guarantee · Free shipping over $75What Is the Right Coffee-to-Water Ratio for a French Press?
Start around 1 g of coffee for every 15 g of water and adjust to taste. The three sources land in a range: Stumptown uses 56 g of coffee to 850 g of water, Blue Bottle 30 g to 350 g, and Wikipedia about 30 g to 500 ml.
- Stronger: Closer to 1:12, as in Blue Bottle's 30 g to 350 g.
- Middle: About 1:15, as in Stumptown's guide. For 300 g of water that is 20 g of coffee.
- Lighter: Closer to 1:17, as in Wikipedia's 30 g to 500 ml.
- Fit your press: Check how much water your beaker holds below the lid before you scale a recipe.
What Grind Size Works Best in a French Press?
Coarse. Blue Bottle compares it to sea salt, Stumptown to breadcrumbs and Wikipedia to cooking salt.
- Too fine: Wikipedia says fine grounds are harder to press, can seep past the filter and tend to over-extract and taste bitter.
- A quick test: Blue Bottle says strong resistance on the plunge means the grind is likely too fine, and a plunger that drops with little resistance means it may be too coarse.
How Hot Should the Water Be and How Long Should It Steep?
Use water between 93 and 96°C (199 to 205°F) and steep for about four minutes. That is the range Wikipedia gives; Stumptown says about 205°F and Blue Bottle 205 to 210°F.
- Too cool: Blue Bottle says water that is too cool can give a flat or under-extracted cup.
- Longer steeps: Wikipedia says some writers give around four minutes as optimal and that cold brewing needs several hours of contact.
- Press the plunger slowly: Wikipedia says plunging slowly also avoids accidental scalding.
Why Is My French Press Coffee Bitter or Muddy?
Bitter coffee usually points to a grind that is too fine, a steep that is too long, or coffee left sitting in the press; muddy coffee usually means fine grounds got past the filter. These are the causes the three guides name.
- Left on the grounds: Wikipedia says coffee left in the beaker with the used grounds may become astringent and bitter. Stumptown and Blue Bottle both say to pour any remainder into another vessel.
- Grind too fine: Finer grounds over-extract and can seep around the filter into the cup, per Wikipedia.
- Flat or weak: Water that is too cool or a grind that is too coarse. Change one thing per brew.
Can You Make Tea in a French Press?
Yes, for loose-leaf tea. Wikipedia says a French press can be used in place of a tea infuser, that the tea keeps steeping after you press, and that it may be best to decant it into a serving vessel.
- Light teas: Wikipedia says the method suits light teas and not masala chai, which must be boiled.
- Keep it clean: It adds that the same press should not be used for tea and coffee unless thoroughly cleaned, as coffee residue can spoil the flavour of the tea.
- Browse more: Our tea accessories collection has infusers and teapots.
Can You Make Cold Brew in a French Press?
Yes. Wikipedia says French presses are sometimes used to make cold brew, which needs several hours of contact between the water and the grounds instead of four minutes.
- Same coarse grind: The logic of a coarse grind and a metal filter carries over.
- What we cannot say: We have not tested cold brew ratios or times in our press, so check a dedicated cold brew guide for numbers.
How Is a French Press Different From a Moka Pot?
A French press steeps the grounds in the water and then filters them with a plunger; a moka pot works on the stove and pushes water up through the grounds. Our how to use a moka pot guide covers the stovetop method.
- Heavier cup from the press: Per Blue Bottle, the metal mesh lets more oils and fine particles through.
- Different heat source: A French press needs only hot water; a moka pot sits on a stove.
How Do You Clean a French Press?
Take the press apart, rinse out the grounds, wash the parts and dry everything before reassembling. Our listing for the Madrid says to dry all parts to avoid rust.
- Lift out the beaker: On the Madrid the glass beaker lifts out of the chrome housing for washing.
- Dishwasher: GROSCHE states every size of the Madrid can go in the dishwasher, according to our listing.
- Dry before reassembling: Our listing says to rinse out the grounds and dry every piece.
What Should You Look for in a French Press?
Look for a tight-fitting plunger with a fine mesh filter, a beaker material you are happy with, and a size that matches how many cups you pour. Our Madrid has a borosilicate glass beaker and two filters, one on the plunger and one in the lid.
- Two sizes: The Madrid comes in 350 ml, one large cup, and 1000 ml, several cups.
- Lid filter: A second filter in the lid turns closed while the coffee steeps to hold the heat, per our listing.
- Coffee or tea: The same press brews both; wash it well between them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do you steep coffee in a French press?
About four minutes. Blue Bottle and Stumptown both press at 4:00, and Wikipedia says some writers give around four minutes as optimal.
What grind do you use for a French press?
A coarse grind, described as like sea salt by Blue Bottle, breadcrumbs by Stumptown and cooking salt by Wikipedia.
How much coffee do you put in a French press?
Sources range from about 1 g of coffee per 12 g of water to 1 g per 17 g. Start near 1:15 and adjust to taste.
Do you stir French press coffee?
Both Blue Bottle and Stumptown stir once, Stumptown at 1:00 and Blue Bottle right after pouring, to wet any dry grounds.
Can you leave coffee in a French press?
It is better not to. Wikipedia says coffee left with the grounds may turn astringent and bitter, and both roasters say to pour the remainder into another vessel.
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