Top 10 Tips for Better French Press Coffee at Home
Undoubtedly, the beauty of a French Press Coffee Maker is its simplicity. Whether you're in a rush to get to work or simply eager to start the day off right, you can use the French Press to brew a cup of coffee in just a few minutes time. Not only is the Coffee Press a classic way to brew coffee, but it can truly produce a delicious cup as long as you play your cards right.
If you to enjoy the perfect cup of Joe every morning, here are Top 10 Tips for making delicious French Press Coffee at home.
1. Start With Fresh Coffee Beans
To brew a fresh cup of coffee, you need to start with fresh coffee beans. If store-bought coffee beans simply don't cut it for you, order from a local roaster for delicious coffee beans. Before you even get out your French Press, check the expiration date of the coffee beans. Sealed coffee beans usually remain fresh in the pantry for about six months. In the freezer, sealed coffee beans can remain fresh for up to two years.
2. Grind the Coffee Beans Right Before Brewing
Many people prefer to use ground coffee to brew a cup of Joe in the morning. While ground coffee is certainly convenient, the price is a lackluster taste. If you want to preserve the taste of the coffee as much as possible, you should grind the coffee beans right before brewing.
3. Use the Proper Grind for Your Coffee Beans
When it comes to ground coffee, the last thing you want is to have course and fine coffee particles in the same batch. To achieve a uniform and coarse grind, it is important that you use the proper grind setting. Avoid grinding coffee beans with a blade grinder, use burr coffee grinder instead.
4. French Press Coffee / Water Ratio
While some people prefer their coffee strong, others prefer weaker cups. Experiment with different coffee-to-water ratios to find your preference. Start with 7 grams of ground coffee per 4 oz. of water and go from there.
5. Use Good Quality Water
Many coffee lovers make the mistake of focusing entirely on the quality of the coffee beans. At the end of the day, a cup of coffee is mostly water. Contrary to popular belief, you shouldn't use distilled or reverse osmosis water for your coffee. You need the minerals in the water to bring out the flavor of the coffee.
6. Use the Right Water Temperature
As you know from personal experience, coffee is all too easy to burn. The ideal water temperature for brewing coffee is 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit. If you don't have a thermometer on hand, boil water and leave it on the stove to cool for one to two minutes.
7. Preheat Your French Press and Coffee Mug
In the morning, most people prefer a warm cup of coffee to wake them up. If you want to keep your coffee warmer for longer, preheat your French Press and coffee mug for one minute before brewing the coffee.
8. Brew for 4 Minutes
To avoid burnt coffee, you should brew for four minutes. If you prefer less bitter coffee, brew for 3 minutes.
9. Transfer Coffee to a Thermal Carafe
Immediately after brewing, you should transfer the coffee to a thermal carafe. Allowing the coffee to sit in the French Press will simply lead to over-extraction and an overly bitter cup of coffee.
10. Clean Your Coffee Press
Clean your French Press after each use to prevent tainting future cups of Joe with a stale coffee taste. Learn how to clean your French Press quickly and easily.
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