French Press Recipe
Make French Press Recipe in just 8m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.
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Ingredients
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Coffee and Water
Optional Additions
Equipment
Method
Preparation
Preheat and measure
Boil water in the kettle. While the water heats, weigh or measure coffee. Use a coffee-to-water ratio of approximately 1:15 by weight — for this recipe use about 8 g (0.06 cups) of coarsely ground coffee to 120 ml (0.5 cups) of water to yield one 8–10 oz serving. Place the French press on the scale (if using) and add the measured coffee to the carafe.
Pour the 0.25 cups (about 60 ml) of hot water into the empty French press to preheat the carafe and the plunger. Swirl briefly, then discard the preheat water. This helps maintain brewing temperature.
Brewing
Bloom (30–45 seconds)
Start your timer. Pour just enough hot water (about twice the weight of the coffee; ~16–20 g / ~30–40 ml) over the grounds to evenly wet them, ensuring all grounds are saturated. Gently give the grounds a quick stir with a spoon to eliminate dry pockets. Allow the coffee to bloom for 30–45 seconds — you should see small bubbles as CO2 escapes.
Add remaining water
After the bloom, pour the remaining hot water up to the 120 ml (0.5 cup) mark. Pour in a steady, circular motion to ensure even extraction. Place the plunger assembly on top of the carafe so it rests but do not plunge yet; this helps retain heat.
Steep (3:30–4:00 minutes)
Allow the coffee to steep. Set your timer for a total brew time of 4 minutes from the initial pour (including bloom). If you prefer a stronger cup, increase steep time slightly up to 4:30 minutes; for a milder cup use 3:30 minutes.
Plunge
At the end of the steep time, place your fingers on the plunger knob and press down slowly and steadily, taking about 15–20 seconds to fully depress the plunger. Apply gentle, even pressure to avoid splashing or forcing fines through the mesh.
Serving and Finishing
Immediately pour the brewed coffee into a cup to prevent over-extraction and bitterness from continued contact with the grounds. If you brewed more than you will drink immediately, transfer remaining coffee to a thermal carafe.
Discard spent grounds and rinse the French press promptly. For a deeper clean, disassemble and wash the plunger and filter components with warm, soapy water.