Making coffee with a French press is both easy and rewarding. Simply add the grounds and water, wait, and then press the plunger. Before you know it, you have a delicious cup of coffee! However, if your coffee turns out grainer than usual or doesn’t taste quite right, don’t worry. These minor, common French press errors are easily fixed.
You’re Grinding Your Coffee Beans Too Finely
The French press filter is meant to catch coffee grounds and stop them from getting into your cup. It’s not as fine as filters used in other methods. To achieve the perfect cup of French press coffee, grind your coffee to a coarse texture, similar to sea salt or kosher salt grains. This ensures proper brewing and prevents those pesky floating grounds in your drink.
Simply Recipes / Irvin Lin
Your Water Temperature Is Too Hot
Boiling water isn’t ideal for a French press. The best brewing temperature is around 202°F, which is about 10 degrees below boiling. If you have a kettle with temperature settings, use that. If not, let the water cool for 30 seconds to a minute after boiling before adding it to the grounds.
Your Coffee to Water Ratio Is Off
While not everyone measures coffee and water precisely every morning, finding the right ratio can significantly improve your brew. Blue Bottle Coffee suggests using a ratio of one part coffee to twelve parts water, although you might prefer a different strength. Determine how many cups your French press makes and adjust the amounts accordingly for your perfect cup.
Simply Recipes / Irvin Lin
You’re Brewing the Coffee for Too Long
Leaving your French press to brew for an extended period can result in a bitter coffee. Aim for a brewing time of four minutes—neither more nor less.
You Leave the Coffee In the Press After Plunging
Once you’ve pressed down, pour out all the coffee. Leaving it in the press will cause it to continue brewing and develop a bitter taste. If you’re not drinking it all at once, transfer it to another container to preserve its flavor for later.
See? It’s not difficult. Soon, you’ll be crafting French Press coffee like an expert.
