The French press is one of the simplest and most rewarding ways to brew coffee at home. With just coarse grounds, hot water, and four minutes of patience, you can produce a rich, full-bodied cup that highlights the natural oils and flavors of your beans.

What You Need

  • French press (any size)
  • Coarse-ground coffee
  • Water heated to 200°F (93°C)
  • Timer
  • Stirring spoon

The Ratio

A good starting point is 1:15 — that’s 1 gram of coffee for every 15 grams of water. For a standard 34oz French press, use about 56g of coffee and 840ml of water.

Step-by-Step

  1. Preheat your French press with hot water, then discard it.
  2. Add grounds to the bottom of the press.
  3. Pour water in a slow, circular motion until all grounds are saturated.
  4. Wait 30 seconds for the bloom, then stir gently.
  5. Fill the rest of the way and place the lid on (don’t plunge yet).
  6. Steep for 4 minutes total.
  7. Plunge slowly with steady, even pressure.
  8. Pour immediately — don’t let it sit in the press or it’ll over-extract.

Common Mistakes

  • Grinding too fine: This leads to a muddy, bitter cup and a hard-to-press plunger. Go coarse — think sea salt.
  • Using boiling water: Let your kettle rest 30 seconds off the boil. Boiling water scorches the grounds.
  • Leaving coffee in the press: Always decant into a separate vessel right after plunging.

Why We Love It

The French press doesn’t use a paper filter, so the natural oils (called diterpenes) make it through to your cup. This gives French press coffee its characteristic heavy body and rounded mouthfeel that drip methods can’t replicate.