Press Pot Tutorial (INeedCoffee.com)

Press Pot Tutorial

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My favorite method of brewing coffee is using the press pot. The press pot, also known as the French Press, produces an extremely rich cup of coffee. Brewing in the french press is simple and easy. In this article we will go through how the press pot differs from other brewing techniques. I'll also cover how to make an excellent cup of coffee and troubleshoot some of the most common mistakes beginners make.

Before we dive into brewing a cup, let me first describe the taste of press pot coffee. Press pot coffee is coffee steeped for 3-4 minutes at a high temperature (195-205 F), which gives it a thicker and richer taste than you'll find with an auto-drip machine. Drip coffee makers produce a very clean coffee, whereas the press pot may have trace amounts of coffee sediment. Some people will be turned off by the sediment. Others will cherish the richness. Since discovering the press pot 6 years ago, I stopped making drip coffee in my home. In fact my drip coffee-maker is buried underneath the counter.

Grinding and Dosage

According to Bodum, the most popular manufacturer of the French Press coffee maker, for each 1.25 dl/4 oz. cup, put 1 rounded tablespoon of coarse ground coffee into the pot. You will be striving for an even grind that is slightly larger than the grind you use for drip coffee. If you grind too fine the plunger can clog and the result is a bitter cup of coffee. On the flip-side, if your grind is too coarse and uneven the coffee will taste weak. Investing in a quality grinder is the single greatest thing you can do to improve the quality of your press pot coffee.

Setup empty press pot. Add ground coffee to press pot.

Brewing Instructions

Remove the plunger from the press pot.
Grind coffee coarse for press pot and add the ground coffee to the glass carafe.
Pour hot water over the ground coffee. The water should be just off boil (195-205 F). Once a kettle comes to a boil, remove from heat and wait 5 seconds before pouring.
Using a knife, spoon or chop-stick give the coffee a quick stir. That will ensure total saturation of the ground coffee.
Place the plunger unit on top. Don't press down yet.
Let the coffee steep for 3-4 minutes.
Using steady pressure depress the plunger. It should have some resistance, but not too much.
Serve and enjoy!

Kettle Fill press pot with hot water.