How to Make Coffee Using a French Press

The French press is credited with insuring a smooth, full bodied coffee without any bitterness. This works because coffee doesn't get over-brewed like it can be using other methods and there's no paper filter to interfere with distributing coffee's essential oils.

At its most basic, a French press is a glass cylinder, a tight fitting lit and a long handled plunger with a filter at the bottom end. Coffee is brewed the same way you make tea. Coarse ground coffee is placed in the bottom of the cylinder. Water is boiled and added. After 4-5 minutes the plunger is lowered, separating coffee grounds from the coffee.

As with all things, quality comes with a price. One down side to the French press is that it doesn't keep coffee warm. If you don't want the coffee to cool down before you're done, the coffee can be transferred to a carafe to keep warm. Also, they're difficult to clean. The handle and plunger assembly must be disassembled and cleaned thoroughly after each use.

Good coffee can be made using the French step by following these fairly simple steps:

1. Warm the carafe and coffee cups by filling them with boiling hot water. Put the lid on the French press so it stores heat better.
2. To make coffee, bring water to the boil. If you grind your brew, do it now. Coarse grind works best.
3. When your water comes to the boil, turn off the heat. Empty the French press and add your coffee grounds.
4. Gently pour water over the coffee. Fill the French press to 2 inches below the spout. Gently stir the coffee until the grounds start soaking up the water.
5. Raise the plunger until its up close to the lid. Prop the lid/plunger assembly on top of the carafe and let the coffee steep for 4 minutes.
6. After 4 minutes, hold the lid down with one hand. With the other hand, slowly push the plunger down. Serve the coffee as soon as possible.