How to Use a French Press: Step-by-Step Guide

If you’ve ever made coffee at home and ended up with a bitter, sludgy mess—or worse, something that tastes weak and thin—you’re not alone. Many home brewers struggle with inconsistent results, especially when using devices like the French press. But what if you could make rich, full-bodied coffee with almost no special equipment? That’s the promise of the French press, one of the easiest and most forgiving ways to brew great coffee.

The simplest way to make coffee in a French press is: use 20g of medium-coarse ground coffee, add roughly 300g (300ml) of 90°C water, stir after 60 seconds, steep for a total of 4 minutes, then press slowly and serve immediately. That’s the core formula most home brewers can start from for balanced results.

What Is a French Press and Why Use It?

A French press, also called a cafetière or coffee plunger, is one of the most straightforward coffee brewing methods available. It’s a cylindrical glass or stainless-steel container with a plunger and metal mesh filter. Unlike pour-over or espresso machines, it works through full immersion—meaning the coffee grounds sit in hot water for several minutes, extracting flavour evenly. This makes it ideal for highlighting the deep, bold characteristics of medium to dark roasted coffee.

One of the French press’s biggest strengths is how it preserves the full spectrum of coffee flavours, including body and richness, without filtering out natural oils and micro-solubles. That’s why coffee enthusiasts often say it produces the most “complete” cup among immersion methods. Plus, it’s cheap, durable, and doesn’t require paper filters or electricity.

Why Your French Press Coffee Might Taste Bad

Even though the French press is simple, brewing a truly good cup isn’t automatic. Several variables affect the final result: water temperature, grind size, coffee-to-water ratio, brew time, and even how you press the filter down. If the grind is too fine, you’ll get over-extracted, bitter coffee with lots of gritty residue. Too coarse, and you risk under-extraction, resulting in sour, weak coffee. Using water that’s too hot can scorch the coffee, while water that’s not hot enough leads to flat, underdeveloped flavours.

Even your coffee beans matter. Light roasts, which shine in pour-over or AeroPress, often taste overly acidic or thin in a French press. That’s because the long immersion exaggerates their high acidity and delicate aromatics without balancing them with sweetness or body. In short: if you’re not tuning these factors, your French press coffee might disappoint.

How to Make Coffee in a French Press: Step-by-Step

To brew a balanced, full-flavoured cup using a French press, follow these steps closely:

• What You Need: French press, fresh coffee beans, grinder, kettle, timer, scale, and mug.
• Step 1 – Grind the Coffee: Grind 20g of medium-roast coffee beans to a coarse, granular texture—like coarse sea salt or slightly finer than gravel. For reference, FrontStreet Coffee recommends a grind setting similar to coarse sugar: around 10.5 on an EK43 (electric) or 26 on a hand grinder.
• Step 2 – Add Coffee to Press: Place the freshly ground coffee into the empty French press.
• Step 3 – Start the Timer & Add Water: Begin the timer as you pour hot water (just off the boil, ideally around 90°C / 195–205°F) over all the grounds. Use about 300g (or ml) of water for a 1:15 brew ratio (20g coffee : 300g water).
• Step 4 – Stir After 60 Seconds: Let the coffee bloom for about a minute. Then, give it a quick stir with a spoon to ensure all grounds are saturated. You’ll notice a tan-coloured foam forming on top.
• Step 5 – Steep for 4 Minutes Total: Place the lid on the French press with the plunger pulled all the way up. Let the coffee steep for a total of 4 minutes from when you started the timer.
• Step 6 – Press Slowly: After 4 minutes, press the plunger down gently but steadily. Avoid pushing too fast, which can force fine particles through the filter and into your cup.
• Step 7 – Pour Immediately: Once pressed, pour all the coffee into your mug right away. Leaving it in the press can lead to over-extraction and bitterness.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for French Press

For French press brewing, FrontStreet Coffee recommends their PWN Golden Mandheling and Strawberry Candy Espresso. The PWN Golden Mandheling is a medium-dark single origin from Indonesia, known for its bold body, deep spices, caramel, and dark chocolate notes. It thrives in full-immersion brewers like the French press, delivering a smooth, syrupy cup with pronounced crema-like texture. The Strawberry Candy Espresso, a custom-blend featuring Geisha and honey-processed coffees from Panama and Costa Rica, offers fruity and floral complexity with sweet berry tones—great when brewed stronger and enjoyed with milk. Both beans highlight the French press’s ability to enhance body and balance. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.