How to Make Coffee Using a French Press

I received the product mentioned in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. This post contains affiliate links.

I’m a coffee snob. I rarely drink it because I’d rather drink no coffee than bad coffee.  If the coffee is not of high quality, I easily pass because I don’t drink it for the caffeine fix. I drink it for the taste.

I attribute my snobbiness to drinking Costa Rican coffee most of my life. To me, some American brands of pre-ground coffee serve as a better soil amendment than something that pleases my taste buds.

I  Used to Be Bad at Making Coffee

Before learning how to make coffee in a coffee maker properly, I was terrible at it. I mastered pour-over coffee, which some say has the best taste, but the more convenient method was unknown to me. 

Once, at a hotel, my parents asked me to brew the coffee provided in the amenity basket. I placed the prepared grounds that were enclosed in the filter in the coffee pot, poured the water into the coffee maker and turned it on. I treated the prepared filter like a tea bag instead of placing it in the coffee maker’s basket. In addition to this, I never really knew the coffee-to-water ratio. 

I have a better handle on things and have mastered my coffee maker. The next step in my café endeavor was learning how to use a French press. I always wanted one and knew about the features to seek, but had no idea how to use it. Kitchen Supreme helped me out and sent me its French Press for Coffee & Tea Maker. I’m happy to report that my first cup of coffee from the French press was excellent.

How to Use a French Press

1. Fill the French press with water and pour the water into a teakettle or hot pot.
2. Bring the water to a boil.
3. Grind the coffee beans until they’re medium coarse. You’ll need 1 tablespoon of coffee for every cup of water. The Kitchen Supreme press holds 4 cups of water, so I used 4 tablespoons of coffee. (Tip: If your coffee tastes bitter or too acidic, the grounds were too fine. If the coffee tastes weak, the grounds were too coarse.)
4. Remove the teapot from the heating element or turn off the hot pot when the water comes to a boil. Let the water rest for about 30 minutes.
5. Warm the French press by filling it with hot water from the tap. Then pour out the hot water. (I like to set it aside and let it cool so I can use it for my plants.) (Note: Neglecting this step could result in the French press shattering when you pour in the boiled water. As glass heats, it expands. Pouring boiling water into a cold French press could cause the glass to expand too quickly.)
6. Place the coffee grounds into the French press.
7. Add enough of the boiling water to the French Press to cover the coffee grounds.
8. Let the coffee grounds “bloom” for 1 minute. Then use a long spoon to stir the grounds. If you like, you can cover the press to keep the water warm.
9. Add the remaining amount of boiled water and stir the coffee grounds once more. Cover the French press to keep the water hot.
10. Let the coffee grounds steep for 3 ½ minutes to 4 minutes, depending on the strength that you like.
11. Slowly push down on the French press’ plunger to push the coffee grounds to the bottom of the container. (Tip: If depressing the plunger seemed too easy, the grounds may be too coarse. If it seems too hard, the grounds may be too fine.)
12. Pour the coffee into cups or into a tea- or coffee pot. Don’t let the coffee sit in the French press because it will taste bad.

 

About the Kitchen Supreme French Press

Kitchen Supreme’s French press works for brewing coffee and tea. It comes with a long tablespoon, which doubles as a stirring stick, and a special stirring spoon that rests on the side of your cup. The glass on the press is made of borosilicate, which resists thermal shocks better than other types of glass. I like that the press comes with three additional screens. 

All in all, I’m happy with the French press, especially because it comes with the accessories that you need. I appreciate the instructions that came with the press since I had never used one, but found them confusing, particularly when it came to the blooming and steeping times when making coffee. Clearer instructions would make this a five-star product.   

You can buy the French press at Amazon.com.

What are your coffee brewing tips?

I received the products mentioned in exchange for an unbiased review on my blog. This post contains affiliate links, meaning that I receive a small commission if you click on an Amazon.com link and make a purchase.