How to make strong french press coffee? (3 ways how)

In this article, we will answer the question “How to make strong french press coffee?”, and what mistakes to avoid when making French Press coffee?

How to make strong french press coffee?

The rule of thumb is to use a 1:15 ratio of coffee to water. If you want a stronger brew, you should try the following techniques.

  1. Increase the amount of coffee grounds
  2. Increase the steeping time. This will make the coffee taste more bitter.
  3. Use finer grinds. Finer grind will offer a greater surface area for an efficient and strong extraction.

Increasing the steeping time might make the coffee a little bitter. 

Serving sizeAmount of waterAmount of coffee
1 servings1 cup water (8 fluid ounces)2 tablespoons coffee beans
2 servings2 cups water (16 fluid ounces)1/4 cup coffee beans
4 servings4 cups water (32 fluid ounces)1/2 cup coffee beans
8 servings8 cups water (64 fluid ounces)1 cup coffee beans

To make the best french press coffee, follow the instructions below.

Weigh your coffee and water

You cannot rely on the volume of the coffee beans. Because beans vary in their densities. You must weigh your water and coffee beans in the correct ratio to get the perfect brea every time. Another tip for the perfect brew is to use good quality water and fresh beans. 

Beans that have been in open air for hours or days will not impart maximum flavor to the brew. If you are going to use tap water, do not take any risk and taste it before using it.

Wet the grinds first

Do not pour all the hot water in the french press at once. Start with a little water which is enough to dissolve the coffee grounds. Wait for 30 seconds and proceed with adding the rest of the water carefully.

This step also allows CO2 to escape. This keeps your coffee from developing an undesirable sour aftertaste.

Stir 1 minute

When you pour all the water in the french press, the coffee grounds may rise to the top. Take a clean spoon and give it a gentle stir until the beans have settled at the bottom.

Brew for 4-5 minutes

The brewing time starts right after the water has come into contact with the coffee grounds.use a timer on your mobile or a stopwatch to brew your coffee for the right time.

Plunge and pour

After 4-5 minutes of brewing, gently press the plunger down and pour the brew into mugs. If it is not to be consumed immediately, transfer it to another container to avoid over-extraction.

Other FAQs about Coffee which you may be interested in.

How many Coffee Beans are in a cup of Coffee?

Do coffee grounds go bad?

How long can coffee last in the fridge?

What is a french press?

A French press is a method that involves the use of a french press machine to brew coffee. This machine includes a plunger and a filter. French press method gives you a lot of autonomy over the brew strength, the water temperature and you can make coffee for 3-4 people easily at a time. It is also a very portable and self-contained device. A French press brews coffee by immersion brewing, unlike the drip coffee methods.

It can also be used to brew tea. Clean the French press machine thoroughly before brewing coffee after tea and vice versa. Because the residues of the previous brew might ruin the taste of the fresh brew. Tea like Indian Chai and Chinese Tea should not be brewed using a french press. They need to be boiled for longer periods. 

This device is known by different names in different parts of the world. It is called a French press or coffee press in North America. In Britain and Ireland, it is known as a cafetière. It takes the name of “Coffee plunger” in New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa.

Mistakes to avoid when brewing French press coffee

Not grinding the beans properly

The coffee beans should have a coarse and even ground for the french press to extract the maximum flavors out of them.

Using the wrong quantity of coffee

It is recommended to weigh the coffee to get the perfect coffee to water ratio each time. The rule of thumb is to use coffee and water in a 1:10 ratio i.e use 1g of coffee for every 10g of water.

Leaving the coffee in the french press after brewing

Do not leave the concoction in the french press past the brewing time. As time will pass, bitterness will overpower the flavor of your coffee. Immediately pour out the brew once you are done.

Conclusion

In this article, we answered the question “How to make strong french press coffee?”, and what mistakes to avoid when making French Press coffee?

References

https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-perfectly-robust-french-press-coffee-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-113601

https://driftaway.coffee/frenchpress/