How to Use a French Press

Brew a rich, full-bodied cup in a French press using the right grind, ratio, and steep time.

1. Measure and coarsely grind

   Use a ratio of about 1:15 — roughly 1 gram of coffee per 15 grams of water (a common pour is 30 g coffee to 450 g water). Grind coarse, like breadcrumbs or coarse sea salt; fine grounds slip past the filter and make mud.

2. Add coffee and hot water

   Heat water to about 200°F (just off the boil — wait ~30 seconds after boiling). Add the grounds to the carafe, then pour in the water, saturating all the grounds evenly.

3. Stir and steep

   Give it a gentle stir to break the crust on top, set the lid on with the plunger up, and steep for 4 minutes. Longer than 5 minutes turns it bitter.

4. Press slowly and serve

   Push the plunger down slowly and steadily — about 20 seconds. Pour right away so it doesn't keep extracting; decant any extra into a cup or carafe rather than leaving it on the grounds.