Press pots
have been around for ages. In fact, it is estimated that the French Press was likely invented in the mid 1800’s, though it wasn’t patented until 1931. Either way, there is a reason why it’s still around today and used by coffee enthusiasts throughout the world. While the press pot may seem complicated and mysterious to the uninformed, it’s actually fairly simple to use and has some advantages over the traditional small coffee maker. The following article will serve to highlight some of the benefits of the press pot and will run through the process step by step.
As with any of the available small coffee makers, it helps to first understand the basics of brewing coffee before expecting a great cup. There are certain factors that shouldn’t be compromised on if truly great coffee is what you’re after; clean water, proper grind and proper water temperature are fundamental to the process. By proper grind I’m referring to anything besides a blade or “whirly bird” type grinder. The problem with these types of grinders is that they pulverize the coffee beans into large chunks and small dust particles, which later lend to sludge in the final cup. The preferred method of grinding is to use a quality conical burr grinder
, which has the ability to grind uniformly without creating too many ultra fine particles. In terms of water temperature, the ideal for brewing coffee is somewhere between 195 and 205F. Within this temperature range is where the best extraction of flavor occurs.
To properly use a French Press
, the beans must be ground using the type of grinder mentioned above immediately prior to brewing. In other words, place the freshly ground beans into the press pot the moment after turning off the grinder. The recommended ratio of coffee to water is 1 rounded tablespoon to 4 ounces, which is about a cup. The water you use should be directly off the boil, which will give you the proper temperature once it’s poured on top of the grounds. The water should be added gradually, but steady until all of the grounds are saturated. Once the all of the required water has been added to the grounds it’s time to give a few stirs to mix the two together. Using fresh coffee beans it should only take about 5-6 stirs with a chopstick to get the proper mixture. After stirring, the chopstick should be removed and the filter apparatus should be placed over the opening of the press pot. You will want to wait approximately 4 minutes for the grounds to steep, after which you will press gently down on the plunger while making sure to keep the rod straight the whole way down. Once the plunger has been pressed all the way down it’s time to pour your coffee into your favorite coffee cup or travel mug and enjoy. Be sure to secure the lid when pouring, as some press pots are known to have issues with the lid falling out during the pour.
By following the instructions listed above you will be able to turn even cheap coffee into something truly enjoyable. The quality found in a great cup of French Press brewed coffee is truly unmatched by any other brewing method, and press pots are one of the least expensive brewing devices available.
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