A coffee press, or what is often called a french press or a plunger pot, is one of the coffee makers that coffee lovers regard as the best method for brewing coffee. This opinion seems reasonable because brewing coffee with a coffee press will not remove all the proteins and natural oils contained in coffee beans. In addition, the coffee press method also does not use paper filters which reportedly have the potential to reduce the taste of coffee. Want to learn how to brew coffee using a coffee press? Read the easy tips below!
Ingredients
- 50 grams of coffee beans of your choice
- 950 ml. water
Step
Part 1 of 3: Preparing Water and Coffee Beans
Step 1. Measure the coffee beans
To produce the right amount of ground coffee, make sure you measure the beans correctly. To produce 950 ml. or 3-4 cups of coffee, you need 50 grams of coffee beans. Use a measuring cup to make your measurements more accurate.
Most coffee press has a volume of 950 ml. However, you can reduce the amount if you want. To make one cup of coffee, you need 13 grams or 2 tbsp. coffee beans. To produce two cups of coffee, you simply double the dose
Step 2. Grind the coffee beans to form coarse grains
After measuring the coffee beans, put them in the grinder. Set the grinder to produce coffee grounds that are coarse in texture like breadcrumbs.
- For the best taste, grind the coffee beans right before brewing (ideally, up to 15 minutes before you brew them). If left for too long, coffee grounds can go stale and undergo an oxidation process.
- In most cases, the finer the texture of the coffee grounds, the weaker the taste and texture of the resulting coffee will be. On the other hand, the coarser the texture of the coffee grounds, the stronger the flavor will be. Therefore, pay attention to the settings of the coffee grinder that you use so that you can adjust it the next time if the taste of the coffee produced is not satisfactory.
Step 3. Heat the water and let it cool for a while
To produce 950 ml. (approximately 1 liter of coffee), you need 950 ml. water heated to 91°C or below its boiling point. You can heat the water in a kettle or a saucepan; once it reaches that temperature, turn off the stove and let it cool for a while for 30 seconds to 1 minute before use.
- To make a cup of coffee, you need 250 ml. water. To make two cups of coffee, you simply double the dose.
- If you want, you can use tap water to make coffee. However, make sure you boil it first so that the water is free from harmful bacteria and germs.
Step 4. Prepare your coffee press
Don't forget to make sure the plunger (the rod that connects the coffee press lid and filter) that will be used to press the coffee grounds to the bottom of the coffee press is functioning properly. Open the lid of the coffee press and put coffee grounds in it.
- Generally, you will find coffee press made of glass and plastic. If possible, use a glass-based coffee press because plastic has the potential to affect the taste of the coffee produced.
- Also make sure your coffee press is easy to wash. If your home only has a dishwasher, make sure your coffee press is machine washable.
Part 2 of 3: Mixing Water and Coffee Powder
Step 1. Pour water until it fills half of the coffee press
Once the temperature has cooled, pour some of the water into the coffee press. Let the water and coffee mixture sit for about 1 minute.
Step 2. Stir in coffee grounds and water
After letting it sit for 1 minute, the coffee grounds should form a thick layer that floats on the surface of the water. Stir the mixture with a spoon until it is completely combined.
Try stirring in a vertical motion to mix the coffee grounds better
Step 3. Add water until it fills the coffee press
After stirring the water and coffee grounds, pour in the remaining hot water you prepared and stir again in a circular motion until everything is well combined.
If you want, you can pour in the entire amount of water at once and stir right away. However, be careful, this method has the potential to make the coffee grounds clump and difficult to mix well with water
Part 3 of 3: Brew Coffee
Step 1. Brew the coffee for a few minutes
After pouring the water, put the lid on the coffee press. Do not immediately press the plunger! Instead, let the coffee and water mixture sit for about 3 minutes for the aroma and taste to blend perfectly.
If you are used to making coffee with a coffee press, you will automatically realize that there are some types of coffee that are tastier if they are brewed in less than 3 minutes, and vice versa. Adjust the brewing time to your personal taste
Step 2. Press the plunger
After the coffee has brewed for a few minutes, press the plunger. Do this process slowly until the bottom of the plunger touches the bottom of the coffee press.
If the movement of your hand is unstable when pressing the plunger, the coffee grounds are prone to mixing with the steeping coffee so that it has the potential to make it taste bitter. If you feel resistance when you press down on the plunger, try lifting it a few millimeters, straightening it out, and pushing it back down again
Step 3. Pour in the coffee and serve immediately
When the bottom of the plunger touches the bottom of the coffee press, it means that delicious coffee is ready to be served. Pour the coffee into a glass, cup, pitcher, or other similar container, and serve immediately.
Tips
- Before use, try warming the coffee press by rinsing it with hot water. In this way, the hot temperature of your coffee will last longer.
- If you don't plan to finish all of your brewed coffee right away, make sure you transfer the leftovers to a cup or glass. Leaving the coffee steep for too long in the coffee press can make it taste very bitter.
- Try making your own coffee creamer if you are interested in making a distinctive coffee taste.
