There are definite differences between a cup of coffee brewed in a traditional drip machine and a cup of coffee brewed with a French press. Although much of the outcome depends upon the freshness of the coffee beans you're using, drip coffee tends to have a more subdued, occasionally stale flavor, whereas French press coffee is bolder and may have a slightly thicker texture. To brew the best cup possible, start with fresh, high-quality beans.
Step 1
Pour enough cool filtered water into a cooking pot to make the amount of coffee you need.
Step 2
Heat the pot of water over medium heat on the stove.
Step 3
While waiting for the water to boil, prepare your French press. Remove the plunger from the carafe and set it aside. Pour hot tap water from your kitchen faucet and let the water flow over the carafe. Fill the press with hot water and set it on the counter. Warming the press up gradually with the hot tap water will keep it stable when you finally pour in the very hot water from the stove.
Step 4
Set your coffee grinder on the counter and fill it with fresh coffee beans. According to Pete Miller of Caravan Coffee, the grind should be medium to coarse so that the bean pieces do not clog the French press filter.
Step 5
Pour the hot tap water out of the French press. Use a tablespoon scoop to gather ground coffee and transfer it to the carafe. For each 6 oz. cup, add about 2 tbsp. of coffee, as Erin Meister of Counter Culture Coffee recommends.
Step 6
When the water has begin to boil, remove it from the stove. Let it sit for several seconds until it stops bubbling, then pour it slowly and steadily into the carafe.
Step 7
Stir the coffee ground and water in the carafe briefly, then set the plunger back on the carafe without pushing it down.
Step 8
Allow the coffee to steep for two to four minutes. After the steeping time has passed, slowly plunge the filter down to the bottom of the carafe.
Step 9
Pour a fresh cup of coffee.
Things You'll Need
- Cooking pot
- Filtered water
- Stove
- Coffee beans
- Coffee grinder
- Tablespoon scoop
- French press
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