Coffee Brewing Series 3 - French Press

Coffee was simply brewed with water before any of the brewing methods. As time passes, new brewing methods emerge, one of which is currently extensively employed in the preparation of coffee: the French press.

What is a French Press?

A thin cylindrical carafe made of glass or metal is fitted with a metal or plastic top and plunger that fits firmly in the cylinder in the French coffee press. A built-in filter screen (fine wire or nylon mesh filter) forces hot water through to prevent grounds from entering the coffee. When it's time to pour and serve, a lever is pushed down, straining and separating the coffee grounds from the brewed coffee, leaving the grounds on the bottom of the filter and the liquid coffee above it.

Compared to a drip coffee machine, a French press allows you to control the temperature of the water, ensuring that your beans reach their full potential.

2 Types of French Press

Glass French press is classic and beautiful - you can see what's going on with a glass model, which can enhance the coffee-making experience. The carafe will not break easily if it is made of high borosilicate and heat-proof glass.

Metal French Press is beneficial just because it's cold to the touch. The metal French press is a sturdily constructed workhorse. To decrease the chance of crushing things together and making messes, many busy cafes use metal presses instead of glass.

History of French Press
Mayer and Delforge, two Frenchmen, patented the first design for this type of brewer in 1852. In 1929, the Italian maestros Attilio Calimani and Giulio Moneta patented the first French press that resembled what we use today.

Faliero Bondanini, an Italian, invented the coffee press. His design was the most popular, and he was known in France as a 'Chambord.' He later marketed the Chambord to the UK market as 'La Cafetiére Classic.'

Brewing with French Press

1. Fill the bottom of the French press carafe with freshly ground coffee. A ratio of 10 g ground coffee to 130 ml water can be used. Because finer grounds will pass through the press filter and into the coffee, a coarse grind is required for a French press. The key is to choose a coarse grind that is equal and consistent throughout. Very coarse grinds are likely to block the filter, but very fine grinds will flow through.
   
   
2. Fill the French press carafe halfway with water and bring to a boil (approximately 195 degrees Fahrenheit/ 90 degrees Celsius). To incorporate the coffee grounds, stir it gently.
   
   
3. On top of the press, place the lid and filter, and steep for 90 seconds to 4 minutes, depending on the flavor you want. Remember that the stronger the flavor of your coffee, the longer you let it steep.
   
   
4. Using a firm but slow motion, press down on the French press "plunger" to filter the beans from the liquid brew. *Let the coffee steep in hot water for a few minutes before pressing the grinds to extract every last drop of delicious oil.
   
   
5. For the finest flavor, serve right away.

Depending on your personal preference and coffee roast degree, you can change the intensity and flavor of your coffee. Remember that no matter what brewing method you use, the greatest coffee comes from freshly ground beans. Have fun with your coffee!