How to Make French Press Coffee

How to Make French Press Coffee: The Complete Guide

If you love a rich, full-bodied cup of coffee with maximum flavour — and minimal fuss — then using a French press is one of the best methods you can try. In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to make French press coffee, step-by-step, using coarse beans and simple equipment. Plus, I’ll show you some excellent coffees from The Coffee Connect to get you started.

What You’ll Need

  • A French press (also called a cafetière)

  • Coarsely-ground coffee beans

  • Hot water (not boiling)

  • A kettle

  • A timer or stopwatch

  • A spoon for stirring

  • A mug or serving jug

(Optional but recommended: a scale to weigh coffee and water, for consistency.)

Step-by-Step: How to Brew French Press Coffee

1. Preheat the French Press

Rinse your French press with hot water to warm the glass (or vessel) — this helps keep the brewing temperature stable.

2. Grind & Measure Your Coffee

Use a coarse grind (similar to sea salt texture). Fine grinds will seep through the mesh filter and make the brew muddy or overly heavy. 
As a starting point, try a 1:15–1:17 coffee-to-water ratio — for example, 15 g coffee for 225 ml water.  If you have a scale, you can try 30 g of coffee for 450 ml of water for a larger pot. 

3. Heat the Water

Boil your water, then let it cool slightly so it’s around 92–96 °C (just off the boil). Pouring water that’s too hot can scorch the coffee and affect the taste.

4. Add Coffee and Pour Water

Place the ground coffee in the warmed press. Pour enough hot water to just saturate the grounds, then wait ~30 s for the coffee to “bloom”— this helps release gases and enhances extraction. 
After the bloom, pour the rest of the water slowly and evenly. Stir gently to make sure all grounds are saturated.

5. Steep for 4 Minutes

Place the lid on (with the plunger up), set a timer, and let the coffee steep for about 4 minutes. This seems to be the sweet spot for balanced flavour. 

6. Press the Plunger Slowly

Once steeping is done, press the plunger down slowly and evenly — don’t force it. A slow plunge helps avoid disturbing sediments and ensures a smoother cup.

7. Serve Immediately

Pour the coffee into mugs (or better, into a serving jug) immediately. Leaving coffee sitting in the press can lead to over-extraction and bitterness.

👇 Recommended Beans from The Coffee Connect for French Press

For best results, choose whole-bean coffee (so you can grind coarse) and medium-to-dark roasts for full body. Here are some you might like:

(If any of the above are out of stock — or you want to explore more — feel free to browse through the main coffee collection for whole-bean options.)

Why French Press Coffee Tastes Different

Because the French press brewing method uses immersion (coffee grounds steep directly in water) rather than passing water through paper filters, it retains more of the natural oils and solids from the beans. This leads to a richer, fuller-bodied, more textured cup compared with drip coffee. 

It also allows you to control strength and flavour by adjusting grind size, coffee-to-water ratio, and steep time — giving you plenty of flexibility to dial in your perfect brew.

Troubleshooting: Common Issues & Fixes

Problem Likely Cause Solution
Coffee tastes bitter or over-extracted Water too hot, too much coffee, or steeped too long Use water ~ 93–96 °C, reduce coffee slightly, keep steep to 4 min
Sediment or sludge in cup Grind too fine or plunged too quickly Use coarse grind; plunge slowly
Weak or under-extracted cup Too little coffee or too coarse grind Increase the amount of coffee or slightly finer grind (but not too fine)
Coffee goes cold quickly Served directly from press or mug not preheated Preheat mug / decant immediately into warmed mug

Tips for the Best French Press Coffee

  • Use freshly roasted whole beans — grind just before brewing for maximum flavour.

  • Use filtered water if your tap water is very hard — water quality affects taste.

  • Preheat both your French press and your mug or jug to maintain temperature.

  • Experiment — adjust ratio, grind or steep time to suit your taste preferences.

  • Clean your French press thoroughly after each use — old oils and residue can taint future brews.

Final Thoughts

Making great coffee with a French press is simple, satisfying, and extremely flexible. It’s ideal if you enjoy a robust, full-bodied cup with character — and it doesn’t require any expensive machinery.

Start with good whole-bean coffee, coarse grind, the right water temperature and a careful technique. With a few tries, you’ll soon discover exactly how you like your brew.

Happy pressing ☕

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