French coffee press, also known as plunger pot, has become popular nowadays for brewing coffee. Though it was mostly used by coffee lovers in Australia and Europe, but it’s use is spreading in other parts of the world as well. The secret to a mug of good exotic coffee starts from the very first step itself and continues till the end. Hence you have to be very careful at each step to get a perfect cup of coffee.
The glass carafe in the cylindrical shape and the steel filter that detaches from the coffee ground, makes the coffee press just the perfect thing for your perfect cup! Read through and learn how to brew your coffee with the french coffee press.
Complexity Level: Moderate
Time Required: 15 – 20 minutes
Estimated Cost: 1$ for 2 servings
Resources Required:
- A coffee press
- Fresh coffee beans
- A grinder
- Hot water
Instructions:
1. Choose the right grinder:
Choosing the right grinder is very important for making coffee. It allows the beans to be grounded properly and evenly and leaving no scope for any bigger or smaller particle, which can spoil your coffee. Also make sure that the coffee beans are not grounded to a very fine powder or else the filter will not work well and you will see the powder floating in your cup.
2. Choose the appropriate beans:
Choosing the perfect beans is also the key for making a perfect cup of coffee. The exotic flavor of the coffee comes from the oil of its coffee beans. Do not pour boiling water on the ground beans, as it ruins the oil. Therefore, to avoid this, before you grind the beans, start boiling your coffee. This will give it enough time to get its temperature lower down a bit.
3. Select the water carefully:
Some of the tap waters contain a very distinct kind of smell in them, most of it chlorine. So it is always better you use mineral water. Any kind of odor or smell in the water can damage your coffee and you can smell it while drinking.
4. Pour water in the pot:
Now slowly and very carefully pour the hot water into the coffee pot. You might want to mix the ground coffee beans with water with the help of a spoon. Do not over fill the pot/carafe to its rim; leave place for the filter to work. Now put the carafe’s lid on it and keep aside for a few minutes.
5. Press to get your coffee:
This is the most important step. Carefully start pressing the lid with one hand. Make sure you apply even pressure on all sides and let the plunger stick go straight. You can now pour the coffee straight into your cup but waiting for a few minutes for it to settle is recommended. Do not take out the lid while pouring the coffee in the mug.
Frequently asked questions:
How can I clean the coffee press?
The best way to keep your coffee press clean is to wash it immediately after you pour the coffee into the mug. If you suspect the aroma to be still there and spoil your next mug of coffee, then use some baking soda and scrub the carafe carefully. Filling it with water and keeping aside for sometime before washing is also a good idea.
Quick Tips:
- Two tablespoons of coarsely ground coffee to one cup of water is the recommended ration for that perfect coffee.
- The more time you let it be before pressing, the more it will brew and give you a stronger coffee.
Things to watch out for:
- Do not use a metal spoon. It may leave scratches to your steel carafe.
- Do not put a lot of pressure while pressing to filter the coffee. It will only spill out.
