One of the most delicious cups of coffee is also the simplest. The French press, AKA the press pot, plunger pot, coffee plunger, or cafeteria, works using a mesh filter to separate coffee grounds from the liquid.
So how many tablespoons of coffee for French Press? Read on to discover the answer.
Quick Navigation
- Why is French Press Coffee so Popular?
- How Many Tablespoons of Coffee for French Press?
- How to make the perfect cup of French press coffee
- FINAL VERDICT
This allows more oils and fats to seep into the coffee than drip coffee’s paper filters allow. Paper filters trap essential oils and keep them out of your coffee.
Thanks to the simple pressing technique of the French press, you end up with a full-bodied, rich, strong cup of coffee that would put a drip coffee to shame.
But, in order to make an enriching cup of French press coffee, you need to know how to make it. How much water do you need? How many tablespoons of coffee for french press? Let’s take a look below.
Why is French Press Coffee so Popular?
The main reason for this coffee’s popularity is its simplicity. Of course, French presses are beautiful objects, whether they are made from stainless steel or glass, and look great in any kitchen. But French press coffee is so easy to make and can be thoroughly delicious when made properly.
Plus, if you are camping or have a power outage, you can use your French press. You can’t say the same for drip machines or coffee capsules.
There is also no waste. With a French press, you never have to buy coffee filters or other paraphernalia, and when you have finished brewing, you only have grounds to dispose of, which can be done in numerous ways such as composting, making it even more convenient.
What you need for a perfect cup of French press coffee:
- French press
- Water (see below for quantity)
- Coffee beans or pre-ground coffee (see below for quantity)
- Kettle
- Stirring utensil
- Mug
- Timer
- Grinder (if using coffee beans)
- Scale or tablespoon
Before you start brewing:
Ensure that you have cleaned your French press thoroughly since you used it last. Old grounds in the mesh filter may ruin the flavor of your coffee.
It’s always best to grind your own beans if you can. Freshly ground coffee has the freshest flavors and aromas. However, if you don’t have a grinder, or prefer the convenience of pre-ground coffee, that is fine.
How Many Tablespoons of Coffee for French Press?
While it may seem complicated to work out how much coffee to use in your French press, once you know the amount of water you need with the correct amount of coffee, you will wonder why you ever believed it was hard.
The ratio of water to ground coffee is quite simple. For each cup, simply add 110 milliliters of water for every 1 tablespoon of ground coffee. For example, if you are making 6 cups of coffee, use 660 milliliters of water and 6 tablespoons of ground coffee.
How to make the perfect cup of French press coffee
Now that you know the correct amount of ground coffee and water to add to your French press, you need to make the coffee.
- Boil your water. Allow standing for 30 seconds so it cools slightly to 205°F.
- Pour around 1 cup of boiling water into your French press. Push the plunger down to the bottom. Swirl the water around for 10 seconds. Pull the plunger back up, remove the lid, and throw out the rinsing water.
- Skip to step 4 if you’re using pre-ground coffee. If you are grinding your own beans, weigh out the beans using a scale and grind them using the coarse setting.
- Scoop the correct amount of ground coffee into your French press based on the ratio above. Shake the press so the grounds settle.
- The next step is called blooming. Pour half the water over your coffee grounds. The hot water makes the ground release all the trapped gasses which expands the grinds and releases the wonderful aromas. The blooming process also results in a thick “crust” being formed. Leave the grounds to bloom for 30 seconds.
- Once your coffee has bloomed, stir it for 5 seconds, breaking up the coffee crust and mixing the grounds through the water.
- Add the rest of the hot water to your French press. Put the lid on with the plunger pulled up all the way. Leave your coffee to brew for 6 to 8 minutes, depending on how strong you like it.
- Gently and slowly push the plunger down until it reaches the bottom. If it gets stuck, pull the plunger back up around an inch then carry on.
- Pour your coffee immediately and serve it the way you like it. Don’t let the coffee stand in the press for too long as this will cause it to become bitter.
FINAL VERDICT
Knowing how many tablespoons of coffee to use in your French press is vital to making an incredible cup of coffee. Once you know the ratio, you will never need to spend another cent in expensive coffee shops or cafés again.