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Press Pot Tutorial

by Michael Allen Smith

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I recommend serving all the coffee immediately after the 3 minutes of steeping. Keeping the coffee in the glass beaker will not stop the brewing. The coffee will keep getting stronger. So if you have extra coffee consider transfering it to a thermal container. Personally, I only brew enough for one mug of coffee. My only decision is whether I want a 10oz, 15oz, or 24oz mug!

Pour and serve.

Troubleshooting Bad Coffee

Beginners can make some mistakes early on that may result in less-than-optimal coffee. Below is a chart of some common press pot problems and my solution.

ProblemSolution
Coffee Tastes Weak Most likely the grind is too coarse. Grind the coffee a little finer. Also make sure you are allowing the coffee to steep for 3-4 minutes.
Coffee Tastes Bitter The coffee has been ground too fine. Next time use a coarser grind.
Coffee Taste Too Strong Use a 3 minute steep. Don't let the brewed coffee sit inside the glass beaker brewing. Move it from the press pot to a thermal container or just brew what you need. Also note that if you've been accustomed to drinking drip coffee, press pot coffee will taste richer (stronger) at first.
Gritty/Thick Sediment This could be a problem with the filter. If the filter doesn't fit snuggly against the glass, coffee sediment will go into the upper chamber. Filters can become damaged. You can purchase replacement filters.
Sediment Woes If everything tastes right, but the sediment is bothering you then consider replacing the stainless steel screen with a nylon fine sediment screen.
Water Takes Too Long to BoilI feel your pain. Only boil the amount needed for your press pot. In other words, don't completely fill your kettle. If heating the water still takes too long, consider getting a top of the line electric kettle. Bodum mades a cordless kettle called the Ibis that heats water very fast. It is used by professional roasters at cuppings.
Inconsistent GrindMy guess is you have one of those $20 blade grinders. Some of the coffee is coarsely ground and some is ground fine. Getting an excellent grind from a blade grinder takes practice. Buying a burr grinder is ultimately a better solution.

Cleaning

The stainless steel french press is easy to disassemble and clean. Although it's not necessary to disassemble before cleaning, every so often you would want to give your press pot a complete cleaning. Be sure to read the french press cleaning section of Ryan Jacob's Keep Your Coffee Equipment Clean article. For day to day cleaning I use the dishwasher.

Final Thoughts

The press pot is the perfect brewing system for the office and for camping. At the office you can stay clear of the gross break room drip pot and brew your own. You may need to bring in your own electric kettle as most hot water dispensers do not produce water hot enough for optimal brewing. Because the french press itself doesn't require electricity, it is the ideal brewing method for the great outdoors. Your only requirement is heating up the water over a campfire.

Tips From Richard Nelson of Sandy, Utah

One thing to keep in mind as you prepare your delicious French Press brew: most of these pots are made of glass, and they love to break. Several manufacturers mention the importance of using a wooden spoon to stir the grounds. I always assumed it was a taste thing, until I inadvertandly klunkled the side of the pot a wee bit too heartily. CRASH! Instant debris. My next FP lasted a bit longer, due in part to my careful use of the wooden spoon method. Then I grazed the hard sink edge ever so slightly while rinsing it out. Similar effect.  
NOW, I have discovered the Starbucks Stainless Steel French Press! I find others are carrying them, too. Williams-Sonoma, for example. I was concerned about taste, but I can report the metal matters not! It just doesn't break, and it keeps the coffee hotter longer if you pre-heat.

Tip From Christine McLaughlin of Sarasota, FL

I just wanted to add that I use a wooden chopstick for stirring in my glass press pot, and it's ideal ... it doesn't carry enough weight to shatter the glass, and I get a perfect "bloom" every time.

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