French Press
Whether you call it a press pot, coffee plunger, Melior, or сafetière à piston, a French press is a cheap and easy way to make small batches of superior coffee. Follow these simple steps when you’re ready to take the plunge.
The Grind—Coarse: Very distinct particles of coffee, like heavy-grained kosher salt. Downright chunky.
LEFT: It’s easy to adjust the strength of your brew by varying the amount of ground coffee you use in a French press.
- Boil as much water needed for the amount of coffee you want to make.
- Coarsely grind coffee beans.
- Pre-heat your French Press by filling it with warm water from the faucet.
- Boil water. Allow boiled water to rest at a temperature of 195–205 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Pour warm water out of the press and add ground coffee. Use two level tablespoons for every 6 ounces of water.
LEFT: Coffee left standing in a French press will take on a bitter flavor. Many people think it’s spoiled by then, but others like it best that way. Suit yourself.
- Pour just enough hot water over grounds to pre-infuse them. Fresh coffee will expand as gas escapes.
- Pour in remaining water and stir.
- Place the plunger over the press to keep the heat in, but don’t press it down yet.
- Let the coffee brew 3–4 minutes
- Push plunger down slowly.
- Pour and drink the coffee.
Is the French Press Really French?
Legend has it that the plunger press technique was accidentally invented in the 1850s by a Frenchman who forgot to put coffee into the water before he boiled it. Thinking fast, he put the coffee grounds in a jar, poured boiling water over them, and strained them out with a piece of screen. As the story goes, the coffee was so much better that the idea took off.
Whether this story is true or not, the first patents for plunger-style pots were granted to Italians: Attilio Calimani in 1929, and Faliero Bondanini in 1958. The Bondanini version, first mass-produced in a French clarinet factory, became wildly successful. Today you can get French presses in many sizes and styles, including single-cup versions designed for commuters and campers.
