The French Press
The French Press has been a trusted source of delicious coffee for over a century. Patented in 1929, the idea can be traced back to the early 1800s France.
How has the item remained so popular for so long? Above all, the answer is taste. French presses utilize a technique known as immersion brewing, where coffee grounds are steeped in hot water for several minutes.
The resulting flavor is richer than what many other coffee makers can accomplish. French press coffee makers come in glass, stainless steel, and stoneware and can usually be found with capacities from 12 to 51 ounces.
If you’re interested in getting more information on this traditional coffee machine, keep reading.
What is a French Press?
The Francophone press was first devised by two French innovators in 1852. In 1928, two Italian creators acquired the formal patent for the French press as it is familiar today. The same 1928 version is still being utilized currently.
In the last 100 years, the French press has developed into a common approach to make coffee in the U.S. and throughout Europe. Individuals who love coffee all around the globe agree that the French Press can produce a fantastic cup of coffee. Is a French press really any preferable to a simple drip coffee?
The fundamental difference between French press coffee and drip coffee is that the former gives you a stronger, more pure flavor of the grounds since it filters out any impurities. Using a drip coffee machine, metal filters are placed inside with ground coffee to be used. Hot water is then run over the grounds and refill the carafe below with the filtered liquid. By using the drip method, a filter is necessary to take in the coffee grounds as well as soak up the oils within them.
The French press works a bit differently. The coffee does not drip down through a filter. Instead, you fill the carafe itself with coffee grounds. Allow the coffee to steep, and use a stainless steel plunger to lift the coffee (and its delicious oils) to the surface of the container.
The conclusion is a cup of rich coffee that has been left to steep. The coffee is full of tiny particles of coffee grounds, which coffee drinkers contend makes for a premium cup.
What to Look for When Buying a French Press
Material
The material is a great starting point to help you reduce your choices. A French press may be crafted out of glass, stainless steel, or stoneware. Each type of kitchen design has its positives and negatives, and it will bring a distinct style to your kitchen. Glass is by far the most widely used and most economical material, yet it’s the most breakable and does not insulate well. As opposed to stoneware and stainless steel, which cost more, they offer improved longevity and conserve heat better.
The taste is not changed by the type of material you use. The coffee will be delicious no matter what.
Heat Retention
This is something that deserves its own mention, even though it is closely connected to what material a French press is made out of. Those who are accustomed to using coffee makers with heated plates that keep their brew warm for two hours might be initially disappointed when transitioning to a French press. Non-electric coffee makers, not just French presses, tend to have difficulty keeping the coffee warm for an extended period of time in comparison to electric brewing devices.
Only consuming a couple cups of coffee and drinking them quickly should not cause a problem. If you care about your coffee staying hot for a while, think about getting a thermal or insulated French press.
Hot Tip
If you have a lightly roasted coffee bean, it is recommended to use hotter water and to leave it steeping for longer. If you are using coffee that has been strongly roasted, you may want to lessen the temperature of your water and decrease the amount of time it steeps. Consider it as such: the paler the coffee, the more flavorful elements that are still present. You will need to heat it up a bit more and leave it on a little while longer, Timothy Johnson, Head of Education and Training at Vibe Coffee Group stated.
Capacity
A French press is capable of producing only a limited amount of coffee at one time, with the available size options between 12 and 51 ounces. If you are wanting to make coffee for a whole family, it is best to get a larger French press, one that has the capacity to make 8 cups or more. One should be aware that there is a correspondence between size and cost when it comes to French presses: greater models cost more and smaller ones are less costly.
It is important to remember that the metrics used in the coffee industry can be deceptive. Many customers assume that each “cup” equals 8 ounces. Despite this, coffee producers recognize a cup as ranging anywhere between 4 to 6 ounces. For example, the widely acclaimed 8-Cup Bodum Chambord French Press actually only holds 34 ounces of liquid, instead of the 64 ounces you would anticipate according to usual measurements.
Ease of Cleaning
Making the coffee is only half of the process. When you have finished, you must take out the plunger, throw away the used coffee grounds, and wash the pot for next time. Components that can be cleaned in the dishwasher will speed up the process, though some individuals opt to clean their press manually right afterwards so that it is always prepared when they require it. Handwashing a French press isn’t complex or lengthy, but some individuals might become bored of having to clean it after making each pot of coffee.
Warranty
When using French presses with a glass carafe, be aware that they are quite delicate and more prone to damage than other types of coffee makers. It is generally recommended not to use metal spoons when stirring to avoid the chance of breaking the glass. Examine the warranty that comes with an item to find out what kind of damage may be included or excluded.
Types of French Presses
Here are a variety of interesting french presses.
Glass
Typically, thinking of a French press brings to mind an elegant glass flask. These French presses are not just the most widely sought-after type, they are also very inexpensive. The perks of picking glass over other materials include its low weight and being able to monitor the amount of coffee that remains. Many French presses built from glass can also be washed in the dishwasher, allowing the cleaning to be finished in an expedited fashion. Nevertheless, they can shatter more quickly, so it is better to not stir them with a metal spoon when brewing your coffee.
Stainless Steel
French presses of stainless steel are the second most common kind. Some of them can cost more than $100, but these types of cups can keep drinks hot for longer periods of time and are much more durable than glass cups. It is generally possible to put these items in the dishwasher; however, it is best to consult the manufacturer’s instructions first. When it comes to designs, you have the option of selecting the timeless silver steel look or a selection of vibrant colors. When deciding on the type of French press you want, remember that stainless steel presses are quite weighty, so if you’re looking for something more lightweight, glass might be the better choice for you.
Portable
It is possible to own a French press that can be taken with you wherever you go. These amazing little apparatuses appear to be portable mugs, however inside they contain a sifter and piston to make scrumptious coffee while travelling. Normally they are made of stainless steel which allows you to put them in a rucksack or travel case while you are camping or away. Portable French presses are intended for individuals, so they usually have a smaller volume than ones designed for home use. The best part, though? They are just as affordable as standard French presses.
Maintenance
Brewing your very first pot of French press coffee can feel intimidating, so these are some fast, easy directions for making scrumptious coffee each time. First, start with coarsely ground coffee. If you grind the beans too finely, you will have a sediment of them settling at the bottom of your mug. Include approximately 1 gram of coffee per 15 grams of water. Thirdly, heat the water to a temperature between 195 and 205 degrees, and then slowly and evenly direct it onto the coffee grounds. Give everything a stir afterwards. Finally, let the coffee steep for about four minutes. That’s it! Plunge it, pour it, and enjoy.
Does the French Press Make a Better Cup?
Many ardent coffee drinkers will claim that their favorite kind of coffee is crafted through a French press.
Why?
A French press gives you the ability to have greater command over the preparation of your coffee, leading to a tastier cup than one from a drip machine.
Those who are passionate about French press coffee value the freedom to make decisions about the flavor. A lot of people prefer to take charge of each phase of the enterprise, from crushing the beans to heating up the water to the precise heat.
A French press grants you the best of your beans, as the coffee grounds are not removed, allowing for the oils to add flavour to the coffee. The result is a cup with a more natural taste and a hearty texture, perfect for the person who desires to truly take pleasure in the beans’ flavor.
Does it take more time than making a cup of coffee using a single pod or using an automatic machine that requires only a push of a button?
Of course. Yet it’s worth noting the ritualistic component of boiling water in a tea pot, filling it into your teapot, and pushing it down by hand.
Those steps contribute to the taste, but also make the experience more enjoyable.
How is the Electric French Press Different from a Regular French Press?
What advantages does using an electric French press have over using the more conventional version? Is it really all that different?
The answer is no.
The main distinction between an electric French press and a regular electric one is the additional kettle.
You’ll need to use a stovetop kettle to boil the water for the French press process, which is the first step. Instead of using hot water, you can pour in cold water into the electric French press and it will heat up by itself due to the built-in heating element.
Once the water reaches the correct temperature, it will begin to soak the coffee grounds. After that, you must still wait for three to four minutes for the brewing process to finish, and then manually extract the brewed liquid before pouring into a cup.
Don’t Let the Name Fool You
An electric French press coffee maker may appear to be a modern way of brewing coffee, but it is not too dissimilar from the classic approach.
There is no longer a requirement to boil water in a teapot. If you put in a lot of effort to ensure that your water reaches the perfect 204-degree temperature, you won’t be able to regulate it anymore.
A French press coffee maker that is powered by electricity warms up the water to the precise preset temperature. You can’t control it. The temperature of the water produced by the press you purchase may not be to your liking.
The Pros of the Electric French Press
Ease of Use
The electric version does away with the requirement of boiling water, making it easy to handle, yet you will still have to manually stir your coffee and push the grounds down.
Can Also Make Tea
For tea drinkers, an electric French press can be used to steep tea leaves.
Larger Capacity
If you’re tired of using a traditional French press that only produces a limited amount of coffee in one go, some electric presses can give you a larger quantity.
No Need for Filters
The French press doesn’t require you to use any single-use filters regardless of whether it is powered electrically or not.
The Cons of the Electric French Press
Unless boiling water in a kettle is what’s preventing you from using a French press, we think the electric version has more cons than pros.
Less Control Over the Brewing Process
When the water is heated automatically, you form a loss of command and autonomy concerning the production of the beverage.
More Expensive Than a Manual French Press
Electric French presses cost more than manual ones. If you don’t have a lot of money to spend, it is advisable to use a standard press.
Mechanical Parts Can Malfunction
Mechanical components are present in electrical devices, thus it is inevitable for malfunction to occur.
More Parts to Clean
Using a conventional style of coffee press necessitates you to clean the receptacle, plunging system, top, filtration device and boiling pot. With an electric machine, you must remember to clean the inside components too.
Can’t Take it With You
Many coffee enthusiasts have taken to bringing their own miniature French press when they go out of town. Sadly, the French press for electricity is not an ideal option for trips.
FAQs
How much coffee should I use for a French press?
To make coffee with a French press, one should use 1 gram of coffee for every 15 grams of liquid (1:15).
What grind size should I use?
French press coffee is best brewed with beans which are ground to a coarseness or medium-coarseness. If the coffee grounds are too small, the taste of the coffee can come out overly sharp and have an unpleasant taste. Additionally, the size of the grinds might cause some of the grounds to pass through the filter and ruin the brewed pot.
Is French press coffee more caffeinated?
Coffee made in a French press has a deep, rich flavor. French press has more caffeine than traditional drip or espresso because it uses the immersion process to brew the coffee. The ground beans soak in the hot water for 4 minutes. Espresso extraction is around 25 seconds and drip is one to two minutes.
The French Press Makes Delicious Coffee
If you use fresh roasted beans the French Press makes really good coffee. It works well for both single origin and blends. My favorite in a French Press is freshly, dark roasted Columbian Supremo. What’s yours?
Leave a Reply