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Rise and Grind...

It feels like we’ve run the gamut in our house when it comes to making coffee, constantly trying to find the most convenient way to brew the tastiest batch. We’ve tried everything from the classic drip coffee maker to the ever-so-popular coffee pods, pour-overs, to french press. And while I understand the convenience of the former, I gotta say, the tastiest cups for us lately have been achieved with a french press! While it may take a couple more steps to get to the final product, it is so worth the extra effort! 

Step 1: The Press

If you've never used a French Press before, it may seem a little daunting, but I promise, this low maintenance device is easy to use, easy to clean and will have you serving up a super fresh cup in mere minutes! Try a classic French Press, like this one, with a durable glass carafe that can be taken out of it's handle for easy cleaning. Small enough to be tucked away in a cabinet, but big enough to serve up a few cups at a time, this is the perfect size for anyone looking to save space. The french press will deliver some seriously fresh and tasty coffee. 

Step 2: The Beans

For the French Press, you will want to use only a coarsely ground bean. If the grinds are too fine, you run the risk of clogging up your filter. If you go through coffee pretty fast, you can buy your beans whole and grind them right there at the grocery store. But for maximum freshness, you can invest in a either an electric grinder like this one or a manual grinder, grinding only what you need to make each batch. And of course, you should store your beans in some sort of airtight container, like this one, to hold onto that fresh feeling. 

Step 3: The Water

To get the best tasting coffee, you'll want to use only the highest quality H20! Coffee is made up of mostly water, so if it doesn't taste good enough to drink on its own, it probably won't taste great in your coffee. We like to heat our water in a gooseneck kettle. There are some great electric kettle options out there, but personally, I enjoy the simplicity of the non-electric kettle. You'll want to heat the water to right around 200*F. Not quite boiling, or you'll scorch your grinds. Ouch! Personally, we don't test the water temperature before pouring. Look and listen (carefully!) for the signs that your water is on the verge of boiling. The water will be ready right before it comes to a boil, but if you happen to get distracted and the water starts boiling, simply turn off the heat and wait around 30-45 seconds for it to cool down a bit.  If you prefer to be more precise, you can try one of the electric kettle options with a digital temperature readout, like this one.

Step 4: The Scoop

The perfect ratio of coffee to water will depend on how strong you like your cup. The standard sized french press will hold around 32-34 ounces. You'll want to leave about an inch of space at the top for the lid, so you will end up using around 30 ounces of water. We typically use around 10 tablespoons of coffee for a somewhat strong cup. If you're not sure how strong you'd like it, you can start with 2 tablespoons (1 scoop) for every 6 oz of water and adjust from there. 

Step 5: The Cup

Whether you're enjoying a relaxing cup of coffee on a Sunday morning, or rushing to fill up your cup on the way out the door, you can express your personality and have a little fun with your coffee mug. From goofy quotes, to the stylish and sleek, to the plain and practical, you're bound to find one that suits your style! 

Print Recipe

Thanks for Chewsing!