The French press is seen as a symbol of brewing methods among coffee lovers. It’s an art to extract the rich flavors from coffee beans to create the perfect cup of coffee. Even after mastering the French Press, choosing the right coffee beans for the French press is the determining factor for the desired taste.
With a variety of options on hand, selecting the right coffee for your French press might get confusing.
It is important to know what a French Press is and how to brew the perfect coffee with it check out ”French Press Coffee and French Tip”.
Best Coffee For French Press
Let’s discuss some aspects to look out for when choosing the right coffee.
The Grind Size
The grind size is an important factor to influence the coffee taste. A common mistake people make is overextension while using the French press. To avoid this problem, medium-coarse grind is the best because larger particles of grind lead to a slow extraction rate and prevent the desired taste as a result.
The Roast Level
Medium-roast coffee provides a strong enough chocolaty flavor and also prevents over extraction.
The dark roast coffees are strong and earthy brews. As some people prefer a certain level of bitterness in their coffee, reducing the steeping time to 4 minutes instead of 5 minutes is the option to go to..
The light roast coffees can be used in the French press as well but these are more sensitive and under extract. Precisely, 4 minutes of extraction work best for the light roast coffees.
The Origin
The best coffees for a French press are typically found in regions with rich volcanic soil (for robusta) or less acidity (for arabica).
Countries with higher elevations produce less acidic arabica coffee. This prevents a common acidity problem that some users of French presses report. Ethiopia, Kenya, and Colombia are among the countries that produce high-altitude coffee.
Countries with rich volcanic soil produce the best robusta coffee for a French press. Vietnam, Indonesia and Brazil are rich volcanic soil countries.
Ideal Water Ratios (Standard 2 Cup Press Size)
| Coffee | Water-Coffee Ratio | Water |
| 5-6 tbsp or 30 gm | 1:12 | 1.4 cups or 350 gm |
| 5-6 tbsp or 30 gm | 1:14 | 1.7 cups or 400 gm |
| 5-6 tbsp or 30 gm | 1:16 | 2 cups or 500 gm |
French Press Coffee Decanting
One of the important steps to ensure the best flavor is French press coffee decanting. It is also important to keep in mind French press water temp. Steep the coffee carefully as per your taste sense or desire then press the plunger. After pressing the plunger, decant immediately into an Insulated vessel. It will stop the brewing.
Understanding the types of beans
The types of beans used influence the flavor and taste while brewing coffee with a French press. Here are some of the popular types of coffee beans used for a French press.
- Arabica Beans
- Robusta Beans
- Blends
- Dark Roast Beans
- Single Origin Beans
Arabica Beans
These are famous for their nuanced flavor and color. Arabica beans are favorites for the French press brewing, because they come with a wide range of tastes, like sweet and chocolaty.
Robusta Beans
These beans are enriched with a high amount of caffeine and are more bitter as compared to the arabica beans. But they are not as popular of an option for the French Press.
The Blends
As mentioned earlier about the bitterness and intense flavor of robusta beans, Blends balance the sweetness of arabica beans and the strength of robusta beans.
Dark Roast Beans
The dark roast beans are specially famous for a French press coffee. to enjoy the deep and bold flavors using the French press extraction method.
Single Origin Beans
Coffees come from a specific origin, a farm or country is liked by the people who prefer to enjoy the distinguished taste as per their own desires.
Selecting the specific coffee beans depends on your personal taste perception and preference. You can discover the best coffee for French press by experimenting with different types and roast levels of coffee beans.
What are the Other Different Brewing Methods?
There are different types and models of the French press. Here we will describe some of the most popular French press tools, like the Fellow Clara French Press, the stainless steel French, and the Utopia French Press.
To improve the experience, there are many more types of French press coffee available, such as camping French Press for greater convenience, French press coffee decanting, and Frieling French Press
Fellow Clara French Press
The Fellow Clara French Press is modern, aesthetic and full of features to elevate the coffee-brewing experience. To maintain the ideal brewing French press temperature, it has vacuum-insulated walls to ensure that your coffee remains hot for your second and third cups. The Fellow Clara French Press is also user-friendly, as it has a nonstick interior for effortless cleaning.
Stainless Steel French Press
A stainless steel French coffee machine is a durable and efficient coffee brewing device due to its robust construction and excellent heat retention. It has insulated walls to keep the coffee hot for a long time. Stainless steel tends to be unbreakable, which ensures the durability of this device and allows the tool to be used for a long time.
Utopia French Press
The Utopia French Press is an affordable tool with a sleek and versatile design. The most perfect and useful feature is its 34-ounce (1-liter) capacity, making it useful for multiple servings. It also has a triple filter system for a smooth and grit-free cup of your favorite coffee. The plus point Utopia French Press is more convenient to use and clean.
There are a lot more varieties of French press coffee to enhance the experience, i.e., Disney Alice French Press, camping French Press for more convenience, French press coffee decanting, Frieling French Press, and many more.
Pour Over Coffee Vs French Press
Here we will display some comparisons for French press vs pour over. As you can study the table to see what is different in pour over coffee vs french press.
| Feature | Pour Over | French Press |
| Brewing Method | Drip (water poured over coffee grounds) | Immersion (coffee grounds steep in water) |
| Grind Size | Medium | Coarse |
| Flavor Profile | Clean, bright, highlights subtle flavors | Rich, full-bodied, retains oils and fine particles |
| Texture | Lighter, smoother | Heavier, more robust |
| Brewing Time | 2-4 minutes | About 4 minutes |
| Ease of Use | Requires more precision and control | Simple, less precise |
| Cleanup | Easier (disposable or reusable filter) | More involved (grounds need to be scooped out) |
| Equipment Needed | Pour-over dripper, filters, kettle | French press, kettle |
| Serving Size | Typically single servings | Typically larger batches |
| Customization | High (pour rate and water temperature) | High (watch oversteeping time and grind size) |
Coffee to Avoid Using in a French Press
It is recommended to avoid using finely ground coffee as it can block the French press filter and make it difficult to plunge. Using highly acidic coffees can be problematic too as the French press emphasizes acidity, which leads to an overly sharp taste. Additionally, try to make no use of pre-ground coffee, as it does not provide the optimal grind size recommended for the French press.
Enjoying Your Perfect Coffee
With certain attention, you can avoid the rough experiences while making the best coffee with the French press. Use the recommended coffee beans and keep in mind the temperature, grind size, roast level, and temperature to get the best taste.
FAQs
How to make cold brew in a French press?
To make the best coffee for French press, grind the coffee and combine coffee and cold water. Steep for a few minutes, then press and stain. Serve with some cookies.
Does French press work on induction stove?
French press is not generally designed to be used on an induction stove. It is not recommended to use it on an induction stove.
Can you make espresso in a French press?
No, you cannot make traditional espresso in a French press, but you can make French press espresso like coffee.
How to use French press?
To use French press, Grind the coffee beans, boil the water, and add coffee grounds. Pour water, steep, press, and serve.
How long French press steep?
It is recommended to steep for 4 to 5 minutes as per your sense of taste. Longer steeping can lead to over-extraction and a more bitter taste.
How to make French press tea?
You can make French press tea by selecting the high-quality loose-leaf tea as per your taste preference. And follow the same procedure as the French press coffee.
How do you make French press coffee?
Grind the coffee, boil water, and add coffee grounds. Pour water, steep, press, and serve.
How do you use French press coffee?
French press coffee is world wide popular and used among coffee lovers. It’s amazing taste makes it unique.
How long French press sit?
The recommended French press sit is about 4 minutes. You can increase the time as per your taste requirement. But the longer the sit time, the bitter the taste you will get.
