The Easiest Way to Brew Great Coffee with a French Press

If you’ve ever struggled to make a decent cup of coffee at home — or felt overwhelmed by pour-over setups, scales, and precise timings — there’s a simpler way. This method delivers excellent results without requiring expensive gear or deep coffee knowledge. Whether you’re using a $20 French press or just a mug, you can still make delicious coffee.

The easiest method? Use a French press (or a cup), add around 9–10 grams of coffee per 150–200ml of water, pour water at 85–95°C, stir, wait a minute, then press or drink. That’s it. No perfect grind, no scales, no stopwatch.

Why This Method Works So Well

This approach — sometimes called the “Tan’s French Press Method” or “cowboy coffee” when done in a cup — is forgiving because it doesn’t rely on exact grind size or fixed brew time. Instead, it self-adjusts based on how fine or coarse your coffee is ground. That means even beginners can get great results without stress.

How It Compares to a Drip Coffee Machine

Most automatic drip machines control everything for you — but that also means you have very little control over the actual coffee quality. The only variables typically in your hands are grind size and coffee-to-water ratio. Yet grind size matters a lot because it needs to match the fixed brew time inside the machine. Get it wrong, and your coffee will either be weak and under-extracted or bitter and over-extracted.

In contrast, the French press method (and the simplified cup version) gives you flexibility. If your grind is too fine, extraction stops sooner. Too coarse? It brews longer. It adapts naturally, leading to more consistent results with less effort.

How to Make Coffee Using the French Press (Tan’s Method)

You only need three things: a French press, hot water, and coffee grounds.

• Grind: Grind your coffee to a medium level — not too fine, not too coarse. Exact uniformity isn’t critical.
• Dose: Use about 9–10 grams of coffee per cup (serves one). That’s roughly one rounded tablespoon.
• Water: Heat your water to between 85–95°C (just off boil). Use about 150–200 milliliters of water per cup.
• Add Coffee: Put the coffee grounds into the French press.
• Pour Water: Add hot water — about 150–200ml per cup.
• Stir: Shake or stir the French press a few times so all the coffee is saturated. Keep stirring until most coffee grounds sink and you no longer see them floating on the surface.
• Wait & Press: Put the lid on with the plunger up. Wait about one minute. Then press the plunger down gently and pour your coffee.

Note: If it feels hard to press the plunger, that means coffee is still floating and hasn’t soaked enough. In that case, let it sit a bit longer before pressing.

The Simplified Cup Version (“Cowboy Coffee”)

No French press? No problem. Use a regular coffee mug instead.

• Cup Size: Use a standard mug (around 160–200ml capacity).
• Dose: Add one spoonful of coffee — about 9–10 grams.
• Water: Pour hot water into the cup until it’s about 70% full (approx. 150–200ml).
• Stir: Shake or stir the coffee in the water until the grounds mostly sink.
• Drink: Once most of the coffee grounds have settled at the bottom, your coffee is ready to drink.

This makes a strong, clean cup and works great in offices or outdoors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What grind size should I use for French press coffee?

Use a medium grind — not as fine as espresso, not as coarse as coarse drip. Exact uniformity isn’t crucial, but aim for something in between. The method is forgiving if your grind is slightly off.

Does water temperature matter in this method?

Yes, use water between 85–95°C. That’s just off a rolling boil. Too cool and extraction suffers; too hot and you risk over-extraction or bitterness.

How much coffee should I use per cup?

About 9–10 grams of coffee per 150–200ml of water. That’s around one heaping tablespoon per cup.

Can I use any kind of coffee bean with this method?

Yes. This method works well with any coffee origin or roast level — light, medium, or dark. It highlights the bean’s natural flavours without needing precise control.

Why does the plunger feel hard to press?

If it’s difficult to press the plunger, it means the coffee grounds are still floating and haven’t been fully soaked. Let the coffee sit a bit longer before pressing to ensure even extraction.

What’s the advantage of this method over a drip coffee machine?

This method adapts to your grind size automatically. If your grind is too fine, brewing finishes faster; if it’s too coarse, it takes a bit longer. That makes it more forgiving than drip machines, where grind size must match a fixed brew time.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for French Press

For this easy brewing method, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Yirgacheffe — bright and floral with citrus and stone fruit notes. The Colombia Huila offers balanced chocolate and caramel with a medium body, ideal for French press. Or go deeper with the PWN Golden Mandheling, a classic Indonesian blend with low acidity and rich body. All three shine when brewed with a French press or cup, highlighting their unique profiles. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.