French press being poured into a glass mug

How to Make French Press Coffee

Full-Bodied, Rich, and Dependable

French press coffee is known for its dense, heavy body and deep flavor. Because the coffee steeps fully immersed in water and is filtered through a metal mesh rather than paper, more oils and fine particles remain in the cup. The result is a rich, textured cup with intensity and weight — yet, when prepared carefully, it carries its own kind of elegance.

As with any brew method, the details matter. To achieve a full expression of the coffee, decant immediately after brewing so it doesn’t over-extract and become bitter or chalky. With just four minutes of brewing, the French press rewards patience with a bold, aromatic cup.


Brew Time: 4 minutes

Grind Size: Coarse

Coffee Dose: 30 g

Water: 350 g

French Press Instructions

1. Heat Your Water
Begin by heating water to 205–210°F.

Using properly heated water ensures full extraction during immersion brewing and helps bring out sweetness and body in the coffee. Water that’s too cool can lead to a flat or under-extracted cup.
2. Grind Your Beans
Grind 30 g of coffee to a coarse and even consistency, similar to sea salt.

A coarse grind is ideal for French press because the coffee remains in contact with water for several minutes — finer grinds would extract too quickly and create bitterness. Coarser particles also help the metal filter separate grounds from liquid, resulting in a cleaner cup and smoother plunge.
3. Add Your Coffee
Place your French press on a scale and add the ground coffee to the empty carafe. Tare the scale to zero so you can measure water precisely. Starting with accurate ratios helps keep your brew consistent from cup to cup.
4. Add Water
Start your timer and pour 350 g of water over the grounds, making sure all the coffee is fully saturated.

A steady pour helps evenly wet the grounds and promotes balanced extraction.
5. Stir the Grounds
Give the slurry a gentle stir to incorporate any dry pockets of coffee.

This ensures all grounds are in contact with water and encourages an even bloom for fuller flavor.
6. Place the Lid on Top
Set the lid on the French press with the plunger fully raised.

This helps retain heat during brewing, keeping extraction stable and consistent.
7. Plunge the Coffee
At 4 minutes, slowly press the plunger down with steady pressure. The plunge should take about 20 seconds.

A controlled plunge minimizes agitation and keeps excess sediment from entering your cup.
8. Note
If you feel strong resistance, your grind is likely too fine. If the plunger drops quickly with little resistance, your grind may be too coarse. Adjusting grind size is the easiest way to refine your results.
9. Enjoy
Align the pouring filter with the spout and pour immediately. To preserve flavor, decant any remaining coffee into another vessel so it doesn’t continue brewing in the press. Enjoy a cup that’s rich, warm, and full-bodied.