Top 10 Important Beginners Questions About French Press Coffee
One of the questions about French press coffee is, is it better? This is one among other questions that are often asked by beginners on French press coffee. Most beginners often look at French press coffee makers with pure confusion.
As a newbie, you might become intimidated by your first French press coffee maker; this is because these machines often appear complicated and scary for most.
However, this is not the case; using the French press coffee maker is relatively easy. Asking baristas questions on your first French press coffee maker can be tricky for beginners since they might not understand what they will get from the coffee maker.
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Due to that, we shall be answering the 10 common beginners French press coffee questions. These questions we have complied together to aid beginners in understanding French press coffee makers way better.
Frequently Asked Questions About French Press Coffee By Beginners
1. Is French press coffee better?
This is the most asked questions about French press coffee. Using French press coffee in brewing coffee can be tricky for beginners; however, it is a coffee maker that is worth giving a try. Unlike most coffee brewing machines, the French press coffee maker is not electric; instead, it operates manually.
You will have to measure your ingredients, grind your coffee, and add water, time brewing duration by yourself as well as pressing the plunger.
To be precise, a French press coffee machine is more of a hand-on when compared to the usual coffee pot. However, using this coffee maker is relatively easy and does not consume plenty of your time.
It will only take you two minutes to grind and boil your water. Furthermore, its brewing duration is approximately 4 minutes. The entire process sums up to 6 minutes of a pure aromatic process, which is often loved by most coffee enthusiasts. With a French press coffee you are assured of getting;
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Rich aroma.
The French press coffee features a metallic filter that allows the natural oil of a coffee to get to your mug. Due to that, you will have a vibrantly aromatic coffee along with a lovely flavor.
Full-bodied.
You will get some microscopic coffee ground in your mug. With these, your coffee flavor will be boosted with amazing fullers that will have you feeling satisfied.
Full satisfaction.
You will feel fully satisfied after having a single cup. With a cup of French press coffee, you will feel awesome again.
2. What is the ideal equipment for making a French press coffee?
Making a French press coffee is relatively easy; you will only require a burr coffee grinder to help grind your coffee beans. The reason why using a coffee grinder when brewing your stellar coffee with a French press is necessary includes;
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Offers you a chance to brew fresh beans.
Once roasted, whole coffee beans will be at the peak of their freshness for approximately 2 to 3 weeks. Furthermore, the coffee will only have 20 to 30 minutes after being ground. It is due to this that you should always grind your coffee at the right time before brewing it.
By doing that, you will be able to preserve its exotic as well as nuanced flavor that is often enjoyed by all coffee lovers.
Using coarse ground.
Usually, pre-ground coffees are grounded to a size that best suits drip coffee makers; however, it is not ideal for French presses. This is because small ground tends to get stuck in their mesh filters that are extremely fine, and at times, they slip through.
By doing this, you will be creating plenty of sludge in your mug, which makes it hard to press the plunger down. Using a coarse ground size will aid in preventing the ground from clogging or slipping through your filter while delivering your cup of coffee.
3. Why are there coffee grounds in my cup of coffee?
There is no need to worry when you find a coffee ground in your cup of coffee. To be honest, you cannot achieve a 100% free coffee ground cup of coffee. Usually, coffee grounds feature the same sizes, and they are often large enough, blocking them from going through a French press filter.
When grounded, coffee beans tend to reduce in size as they get shattered into very small pieces, which at times become microscopic. Due to their reduced size, getting through your filter into your coffee mug becomes relatively easy.
These types of coffee grounds are often referred to as fines. Fines are inevitable even when using a world-class coffee grinder.
Often, coffee enthusiasts find a small amount of coffee grounds in their mug to be perfect. For some individuals, large coffee grounds are excellent as well.
Therefore, as a beginner, there is no need to worry about the coffee ground in your mug of coffee. However, if you don’t like the tiny particles of the coffee ground at the bottom of your cup, the best thing to do is avoid drinking it; this will make your life much more comfortable.
4. Do I have to pour out all the coffee in a French press?
Absolutely YES! You should do this every single time. When you press the plunger down, and your coffee beans come into contact with water, the brewing process will continue; however, it will be at a relatively slow speed.
This is bad! You should note that, in order to brew a fantastic coffee, you will have to control several variables for you to achieve a balanced extraction. Whenever you let your French press coffee continue brewing after plugging, you will be increasing the risk of overshooting the lovely flavor of your coffee.
In accordance with that, purring out all the coffee in your French coffee press after brewing is highly recommended. Don’t press the plunger down before pouring all the coffee.
5. What appropriate size of French press coffee should I buy?
Unlike other coffee brewing machines, French press coffee uses cups in measuring rather than ounces. Usually, these cups are based on the European small size cups, which are often around 4 ounces or 100ml.
You should not mistake these cups for the American standard mugs. This form of measurement is often confusing, especially with beginners. Here are the standard measurements you should use when purchasing a French press coffee;
- 3 cups are equivalent to 12 ounces or 354 ml.
- 8 cups are equal to 34 ounces or 1005 ml.
- 12 cups are equal to 52 ounces or 1508 ml.
6. What is the right water ratio for a French press coffee?
The most appropriate amount of water for a French press coffee tends to differ from individual to the other. This is because some coffee lovers prefer having their coffee very strong, while others tend to love their coffee not that strong. As a beginner, it will be the best way to give a try different strengths of coffee in order to find the level that suits you best.
You should do this by having different coffee to water ratios. It would be best if you started with 7 grams of ground coffee and four ounces of water. This is the ideal starting point.
Furthermore, the quality of water you use will have a significant impact on your coffee. Just as most coffee enthusiasts focus more on the quality of a coffee bean, the quality of water matter as well. Usually, a mug of coffee often contains more water.
Divergent to the famous belief, it is not ideal to use reverse osmosis or distilled water for your coffee; using mineral water in brewing your coffee will offer you a fantastic flavor of your coffee.
Read more:
How to Make Strong Coffee in a French Press
7. What is the appropriate temperature of water you should use?
As we all know, burning coffee beans is relatively easy. Usually, the most appropriate water temperature for brewing a coffee is approximately 195 to 2050F.
For individuals who don’t have a thermometer, boiling your water and letting it cool for about 1 to 2 minutes will provide you with the ideal temperature.
It will be best to preheat your French press coffee as well as a coffee mug. When you wake up in the morning, you will prefer having a cup of coffee that is warm over a cold cup of coffee.
In order to have your cup of coffee warm for an extended period, preheating your coffee mug and a French press for a minute before you start brewing will be best for you.
8. What is the ideal brewing time?
It only takes a few minutes to brew coffee with French press coffee. In order for you to prevent your coffee beans from burning, it will be best for you to brew it for not more than 4 minutes.
Three minutes is ideal for individuals who love their coffee less bitter. Once you are done with brewing your coffee, you should consider transferring it to a thermal carafe. You should then allow the coffee to settle in the French press in order to have an over-extraction and bitter cup of coffee for individuals who love it bitterly.
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9. How to make a cold brew with a French press?
The best part of using a French press coffee maker is that it makes not only hot coffee but also a cold one. If you are an individual who is tired of hot coffee, giving cold coffee, a try will be best, especially when you use the French press in brewing it.
Some coffee enthusiasts find cold coffee to be smooth and very refreshing. Furthermore, brewing a cold coffee with a French press is relatively easy. All you need to do is to brew your coffee using cold water, usually at room temperature.
When soaking your coffee beans, it will be best not to stir it. Press your French press plunger down, and give it 12 to 24 hours to brew. Once done, pour your coffee over ice and enjoy your cold coffee along with milk and other sweeteners.
10. How to clean your French press?
When cleaning a French press, you will require; spatula, water, dish soap, baking soda, bottle brush or sponge and vinegar. However, vinegar and baking soda are optional.
Before you commence on cleaning your French press, get rid of all coffee grounds with the use of a spatula or your hands. Once this is done, add water and soap for a quick clean and move your plunger up and down until it becomes nice and bubbly.
You will then have to rinse, scrub, and rinse your French press once again. Get rid of all the soapy water and then start plugging again using your soft part of the bottle or sponge brush until the water becomes clear.
In order to achieve a deep clean for your French press, it will be best to repeat the entire process on a weekly basis. Disassemble your plunger and clean each piece individually using a baking soda along with water. Scrub the baking soda paste using a sponge or bottle brush.
If you experience water buildup, it will be best to use vinegar with a water to vinegar ratio of 50 to 50. By doing this, you will be able to clean your French press thoroughly.
Things to consider when purchasing French press coffee maker
French press coffee makers are simple to operate, and they are considered to be a classy way of brewing coffee. However, there are several designs available in today’s market, which makes it tricky for beginners to choose one that will suit them the best.
Due to that, we have compiled for you some fantastic aspects you will need to consider when choosing a French press coffee maker.
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Right size
Size matters when choosing a French press coffee maker. Twelve cups French press coffee maker is ideal for a large family, whereas a 3 cup French press is ideal for individual use. When choosing a French press, it is best to consider the total number of individuals who will be using it.
Type of material.
French presses are made from different types of materials, including metal and plastic. As a first-timer, using stainless steel or a glass French press will be best for you since they are highly affordable and extremely durable.
Quality.
Purchasing a high-quality brand French press will guarantee your durability. Furthermore, this type of French presses are considered to be highly effective and are the best when it comes to the production of high-quality coffee.
Final verdict
As a beginner, using a French press coffee maker can be a bit tricky; however, as time progresses, you will find it to be relatively easy.
French presses are well-known for producing high-quality coffee that is often loved by most coffee enthusiasts. As we come into conclusion, we hope that we have answered all the questions that you might have concerning the French press coffee maker.
