Starbucks CEO Says French Press Makes the Best Coffee

If you’ve ever wondered why your home-brewed coffee doesn’t match the bold flavors you get at cafés—or whether there’s a better way than an expensive coffee machine—here’s one surprising answer straight from the former CEO of the world’s biggest coffee chain.

The best coffee, according to Howard Schultz, isn’t made by Starbucks’ professional brewers, but by using a French press at home. He says his Bodum French press produces the best coffee he’s ever had.

Why Schultz Thinks the French Press Is Best

In an interview with BusinessWeek, Schultz—the former CEO and chairman of Starbucks—said the French press extracts coffee oils, aromas, and flavors more fully than any other method. He doesn’t name a specific model, but he uses a Bodum French press, which typically retails for around $30. He believes this simple device delivers richer, more satisfying coffee than what you get from high-end machines or café setups.

How Much You Could Save Brewing at Home

Schultz also pointed out the cost difference: a 1-pound bag of Starbucks coffee beans costs about $14. When he brews it himself at home with a French press, each cup costs roughly 46 cents. Compare that to buying a small cup of brewed coffee at a Manhattan Starbucks, which costs around $2.01. That’s over four times more expensive per cup.

What Schultz Recommends for the Best French Press Brew

Schultz shared his method: don’t heat the French press on the stove, and don’t pour the brewed coffee into a travel mug and drink it hours later. For the best flavor, he suggests drinking the coffee within one to two hours of brewing. He didn’t specify exact grind size or brew time, but the source includes recommendations from coffee experts that align with ideal French press technique.

Why Pre-Ground Coffee Isn’t Ideal

Schultz also warned against using pre-ground coffee. Most Starbucks retail products—including bags of ground coffee—are already ground, which can lead to stale or less flavorful results. For the richest taste, he advises using whole beans and grinding them yourself just before brewing.

What the French Press Does Differently

Unlike espresso machines or pour-over drippers, the French press is a full-immersion brewer. It steeps coffee grounds in hot water, then separates them with a metal filter. This method allows more coffee oils and fine particles to make it into the cup, resulting in a heavier body and bolder mouthfeel. But it also means more sediment and a need for careful grind selection.

FrontStreet Coffee’s French Press Tips & Bean Picks

According to FrontStreet Coffee’s brewing guide, the ideal grind size for a French press is similar to coarse sea salt or coarse sugar—a grind setting around 10.5 on an EK43 or 26 on a hand grinder. The recommended brew ratio is 1:15 (15 grams of coffee to 225 grams of water), and the water should be about 90°C, or slightly cooler than boiling. Let the coffee steep for 3 to 5 minutes, with 4 minutes being optimal for medium to dark roasts. Avoid grinding too fine, or you’ll risk over-extraction and sludge in your cup.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Howard Schultz make coffee at home?

Howard Schultz used a Bodum French press to brew his own coffee at home. He said it produced the best coffee he’d ever tasted, extracting more flavor, aroma, and oils than Starbucks’ own methods. He used Starbucks beans he bought for around $14 per pound.

How much does a cup of self-brewed Starbucks coffee cost?

According to Schultz, brewing Starbucks coffee at home with a French press costs about 46 cents per cup when using a 1-pound bag priced at $14. This is much cheaper than buying coffee at a Starbucks store, where a small cup in Manhattan costs around $2.01.

What grind size should I use for French press?

The ideal French press grind is coarse, similar to coarse sugar or sea salt. For electric grinders like the EK43, that’s around setting 10.5; for hand grinders, it’s around 26. A coarser grind prevents fine particles from passing through the metal filter and making the coffee gritty.

Why shouldn’t I use pre-ground coffee in a French press?

Pre-ground coffee is often more exposed to air and can go stale faster, reducing flavor. Schultz recommends using whole beans and grinding them just before brewing to ensure maximum freshness and flavor, especially for the full-immersion style of a French press.

How long should I let French press coffee steep?

FrontStreet Coffee recommends a brew time of 3 to 5 minutes for French press, with 4 minutes being ideal for most roasts. Shorter times may under-extract lighter roasts, while longer times can over-extract and cause bitterness, especially with darker roasts.

Does Schultz still recommend the French press today?

Yes. In his interview with BusinessWeek, Schultz specifically said the French press makes the best coffee he knows. While he didn’t give a detailed method, the principles he mentioned align with expert French press techniques including using whole beans, coarse grind, proper brew time, and avoiding pre-ground coffee.

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, with heavy body, bold sweetness, and flavors of spice, black chocolate, and caramel after medium-to-dark roasting. The Strawberry Candy Espresso is a custom blend of Costa Rican honey-processed beans and Panamanian Geisha, offering floral and fruity notes of rose, citrus, blueberry, and grape, great with milk. Both are ideal for the full immersion and bold extraction of a French press. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.