Make Perfect French Press Coffee
We all love espresso, but even those with expensive machines at home tend to opt for the good old French press on the odd occasion, and for good reason. French press coffee has a completely different taste and texture than espresso and it is just one other way of enjoying quality coffee. Based on my experience, here are some tips on getting that perfect cup.
The plunger, or French press, is a simple, elegant, and effective way of brewing coffee. However, unlike instant coffee there are some small variables that can make a big difference to the profile of the coffee.
As with everything coffee, your biggest challenge will be consistency. The freshness of the coffee, the temperature of the water and plunger, brewing time, the grind (if you purchased whole beans and ground yourself) and the amount of coffee you use are all factors that need to be controlled when striving for the perfect cup.
The first step to a perfect cup of plunger coffee is preparation. Ensure you have everything you need on hand. Your plunger, a cup, a stirring device, a measuring spoon, and your coffee of choice. After you have everything together, fill the kettle with fresh, cold water and turn it on.
Whilst the kettle is doing its thing, warm up your plunger. In my experience, it is best to keep the plunger at a consistent temperature during the brewing stage, warming the plunger helps with that.
Dry the plunger and dish out the coffee. The amount of coffee depends on cup size and personal taste, but the general rules is 7 grams per cup of coffee. Most high quality plungers come with a 7 gram measuring spoon to make this easy for you.
Just before the kettle boils, turn it off and pour in the water. Boiling water scalds and burns coffee grinds, and can lead to a nasty tasting cup of coffee. When you boil water you also start to loose the oxygen and other minerals that assist in making a perfect cup of coffee.
Stir your coffee a few times then place the lid on to preserve heat. (Note – Don’t push down yet!) Some people also wrap their plunger in towels, modified oven mitts or tea cosys to try to keep a consistent temperature. This step is optional but if you have the time, do some experimenting.
Let the coffee brew for about 4 minutes, slightly less for smaller plungers, slightly more for larger plungers. Once again, brewing time depends on personal taste, however don’t let it sit for too long as you will end up with a bitter tasting cup of coffee due to over extraction.
After the coffee has brewed, slowly and evenly push the grinds to the bottom of the plunger. If you encounter resistance, do not force. Doing so can lead to water gushing up through the filter, ruining your coffee and possibly burning you. The best way to get around this resistance is to lift the filter slightly and try again.
When the grinds are at the bottom of the plunger, serve your coffee immediately, and enjoy as soon as you can (being careful not to burn yourself.) If you enjoy your coffee with milk or sugar, add to the cup before pouring the coffee.
Unless you have a really sweet tooth, a properly made French press coffee 
should not require sugar. I also find that milk veils the subtle flavors of gourmet coffee made with a French press, and so prefer my coffee without it. If you are new to freshly roasted gourmet coffee, I encourage you to try this too. It really is a world away from the stale supermarket blends you might be used too.
When you have finished your coffee, be sure to wash out your plunger, separating into pieces if possible. Old, trapped coffee quickly becomes stale and can add awful, unwanted flavors to your next cup. If possible try to dispose of your used grinds in the bin rather than down the sink, and never use coffee more than once! If you feel like another cup, start from scratch with fresh coffee.
To preserve the flavor of your coffee and to ensure it is as fresh as possible, be sure to keep it in an air tight container, in a cool and dry place. If you purchased whole beans, grind only what you need then store your coffee as a whole bean.
When done correctly, the French press produces a fantastic cup of coffee. People have been know to perform professional coffee ‘cupping’ using a French press, as it is possibly the best way to bring out some of the subtle flavors and textures of quality coffees. There are some that even recommend people buy a quality grinder and French press rather than spend the money on a domestic espresso machine. Just something to think about before you go shopping.
There are people wondering which blend they should be using with their French press. There is no answer, it really boils down to personal preference. I use the medium roast during the day, the decaf at night and the Australian roast for something a little different. If you enjoy the Italian styles blends, the dark roast would probably suit you best.
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