How to Make French Press Coffee

Step 1: Start with Fresh Beans

Use whole beans. Always.

Skip the pre-ground coffee. Once coffee is ground, it starts losing flavor fast. More surface area means more exposure to air, and freshness fades quickly. Grinding fresh keeps those oils and aromatics intact, so your coffee tastes fuller and brighter.

Step 2: Grind Coarse

Grind the coffee coarse. Think sea salt, not sand.

French press is a full immersion method. The grounds sit in water for about four minutes. If the grind is too fine, it extracts too fast and turns bitter and muddy. A coarse grind slows it down, keeps things balanced, and helps prevent sludge in your cup.

The first upgrade we suggest making is a good grinder. You want an even, consistent grind so you get even extraction.

Step 3: Measure

Use about a 1:15 ratio.

That’s 30 grams of coffee to 450 grams of water.

Or, if you prefer ounces, about 1 ounce of coffee to 16 ounces of water.

Step 4: Heat the Water

You’re aiming for around 200 degrees.

At home, an electric kettle works great. If you’re going mobile, bring the water to a boil, then let it sit for 30 seconds to a minute.

Too hot and you scorch the grounds.
Too cool and you under-extract.
Temperature matters.

Step 5: Bloom

Add your coffee to the press. Pour just enough water to cover the grounds and let it sit for about 30 seconds.

This is the bloom. Super important.

When hot water first hits the coffee, you’ll see it puff up and bubble. That’s carbon dioxide escaping from the beans, which builds up during roasting. If you skip this step and pour all the water at once, that gas pushes water away from parts of the grounds, creating pockets and bubbles. Some areas get fully saturated while others stay dry, which leads to uneven extraction.

Letting the coffee bloom first allows that gas to release so the rest of your water can fully soak the grounds. The result is a more balanced, consistent cup instead of something that tastes flat or slightly off.

It’s also a quick freshness check. Fresh coffee will bloom noticeably. If you don’t see much activity, the coffee is likely older and won’t extract as well.

Step 6: Brew

Pour in the rest of the water.
Give it a gentle stir.
Place the lid on and let it steep for four minutes.

Step 7: Press

Press slowly with steady pressure.

No paper filter here. That’s part of what makes French press different. Paper filters absorb oils and fine compounds. The metal mesh keeps them in the cup.

You get more body, texture, and more of the bean’s full character.

Step 8: Pour and Enjoy

Pour immediately so it doesn’t over-extract.

Simple process.
Full expression.
Hard to beat.