French Press Tips and Techniques

Use freshly ground coffee for best results. Heat the water first, then grind. Use coarse grounds to minimize "sludge" at the bottom of the cup. Some sediment is inevitable, but with a coarser ground the strainer will filter out more grounds from getting to the cup.

• Add 7 grams (1 tablespoon) of grounds to about 6 oz of water. I find this to produce a great balance. Add more and your coffee will be stronger; add less, and it will be a weaker cup.
• Stir the coffee well after adding the hot water. This allows the water to absorb more of the oils and flavors and brew a richer cup.
• Don't let the coffee steep for too long before straining (i.e. more than 4 minutes). According to experts, this will cause over-brewing and over-extraction of your coffee.
• Don't press down hard. Do it gently. Pressing down the plunger too aggressively may cause it to splash out hot water and cause burns.
• Keep the french press away from children. The pot may be HOT!
• Once brewed, pour immediately. A french press doesn't keep the coffee hot for long.
• The french press cleans easily. Dispose off the used grounds and just rinse it at the sink. Check instructions about dishwasher safety.
  From time to time, you may want to take apart the 3-part plunger and clean thoroughly  it's easy. Just observe how it is assembled before you take it apart, so that you can easily resemble it later.

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