How Do You Dial In a French Press Coffee Ratio?
A French press brews by full immersion, so the ratio and the steep time decide the cup. A practical starting point is 15 grams of coffee to 240 grams of water, roughly 1:16, with a coarse grind, water just off the boil, and a steep of about four minutes before pressing and decanting.
The metal mesh filter is why the method keeps the oils in coffee that paper filters would hold back, giving a fuller body and a wider range of flavors. Grind size, water temperature and steeping time all need consistent control to repeat the same result, and the same parameters apply whether the beans are roasted for filter or used on household coffee machines.
The French press, with its simple operation, no need for paper filters, and ability to retain coffee oils, has become the daily first choice for many coffee lovers. But to consistently produce a good cup of coffee, the coffee-to-water ratio, grind size, water temperature, and steeping time all need to be precisely controlled. This article revolves around the extraction principles and flavor characteristics of the French press, explains in detail the suitable roasting direction for French press coffee beans, and uses the practical parameters of 15 grams of coffee to 240 grams of water as an example to break down the complete steps from pouring and stirring to pressing and decanting. It also shares Front Street Coffee's bean list recommendations and brewing key points to help you easily make a cup of rich, sweet, and layered French press coffee.
Among people who drink coffee in the city, some prefer the ceremonial process of pour-over, some enjoy the laboratory atmosphere brought by the siphon, and naturally some are fond of the convenience and directness of the French press. However, the charm of every coffee brewing device is not only in its appearance and operation method—brewing coffee is more like a kind of scientific experiment. Different devices each have their own extraction logic, and all require repeated experimentation to find the most appropriate coffee-to-water ratio and the ideal flavor expression.
The structure of the French press is not complicated: put coffee grounds and water into the pot, then use the plunger to press the coffee grounds to the bottom, and filtration is complete. Moreover, the metal filter can be repeatedly cleaned and used. Although it looks simple, its extraction efficiency is quite high. It does not need paper filters and is also more environmentally friendly and economical. The French press can retain the original taste of coffee most quickly, because the metal mesh will not absorb the precious natural oils in coffee like paper filters do, so what is ultimately presented is the most authentic, mellow, and richly varied flavor of coffee.
The French press can almost be called a "lazy-friendly device," with a low operational threshold, but a good cup of coffee will not lose any of its complete flavor because of that.
In fact, the extraction method of the French press is closest to cupping results. It can fully release the oils, aroma, flavor, and other elements in coffee. The mouthfeel is smooth, sweet, and rich, making it very suitable as breakfast coffee.
For coffee beans used in a French press, single-origin beans are usually more suitable, or beans with more prominent fruit acidity, and the roast level is mainly medium-dark. Front Street Coffee recommends choosing beans with better balance. For example, among the everyday beans on Front Street Coffee's bean list—Brazil coffee beans, Colombia Huila coffee beans, Indonesia Mandheling coffee beans, and Costa Rica Tarrazu coffee beans—Front Street believes these beans have balanced flavors with notes of dark chocolate and fruit. Since the French press is an immersion extraction method, it can bring out coffee oils, aroma, and a rich mouthfeel all at once, while dark-roasted beans more easily highlight aroma and body, so these medium-dark roasted beans from Front Street Coffee are very suitable for French press preparation. Coffee brewed with a French press will have fuller aroma and a heavier mouthfeel when deep-roasted.
As for light-roasted coffee beans, Front Street does not recommend them for the French press. Most Ethiopian coffee beans are suitable for light roasting, such as Front Street's Yirgacheffe—Red Cherry coffee. With pour-over, it is relatively easy to bring out lemon, floral, and fruity notes, but if switched to French press immersion, the resulting cup will taste rather one-dimensional and subdued.
Let's look at how Front Street uses a French press to make an excellent cup of coffee. Front Street's Brazil Queen, Mandheling, and Colombia Huila all have flavors suitable for the French press. Here, Colombia Huila coffee beans will be used for an actual demonstration.
For coffee beans roasted in-house by Front Street Coffee, use well-rested Huila coffee beans and grind them to a coarseness suitable for the French press—medium-coarse, coarser than pour-over coffee grounds. Front Street recommends a standard sieve passing rate of 70%–75%. If the grounds are too fine, coffee powder will leak through the filter mesh holes, and the coffee will become cloudy.
You can start by trying a 1:10 coffee-to-water ratio. For 2 servings, that means 20 g of coffee beans with about 200 g of water. The final ratio depends on your taste preference. Like Front Street Coffee's drip bags, each small packet contains 10 grams of coffee, such as the seasonal Brazil drip bag and Mandheling drip bag coffee. Using these already-ground drip bags to make French press coffee is also especially convenient. Front Street recommends a coffee-to-water ratio of 1:16, with 15 grams of coffee grounds to 240 grams of water.
Front Street recommends preparing an electronic scale. Although the French press itself has markings and a measuring spoon, it is still recommended to use an electronic scale, because coffee beans will change in density due to factors such as growing altitude and roasting method, and the weight and lightness of each type of bean are different. In addition, if you make a very delicious cup of coffee and want to reproduce that taste, you must record the ratio; conversely, if you make a terrible cup of coffee, you can also know how to adjust based on the data.
At Front Street, use fresh and clean soft water such as C'estbon mineral water. Do not extract with water that is too hard, and do not use unfiltered water. If the water quality itself is poor, it is difficult to make delicious coffee.
Front Street Coffee brewing steps:
Grind the coffee beans, then pour them into the French press. At this point, there is no need to worry about what many people say about grind size. Do not grind too coarse; medium grinding is sufficient.
Boil the water. The recommended water temperature is 93°C, then pour in the appropriate amount of water. We used 15 g of coffee grounds and poured in 240 g of hot water. Stir with a spoon so that the coffee grounds and water fully blend.
Put the lid on the French press with the filter resting at the highest position, then let it sit for 4 minutes.
Before pressing down the filter, you can open the lid and first use a spoon to scoop out the foam and small fragments floating on top, then press the filter all the way down.
Once brewing is complete, immediately pour it out into another insulated container! Do not delay, because the coffee grounds are still steeping in it. Then pour it into a cup and enjoy it slowly.
The French press is the simplest, most convenient, and most environmentally friendly brewing method. The coffee it brews is stronger, more flavorful, and more layered than fully automatic drip coffee machines. It also requires no electricity, no heating, no paper filters, is easy to clean, and lets you drink the coffee oils along with the coffee. It is most suitable for office workers who are busy with work but still want to steal a moment of leisure. Why not try it yourself?
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The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
