The standard French press ratio is 1:15 (coffee to water), but the best ratio depends on your taste preferences and bean type.
Most guides recommend starting with 1 gram of coffee per 15 grams of water. For a typical 34-ounce (1 liter) French press, that means about 65 grams of coffee. But this is a starting point, not a rule. Darker roasts often taste better with slightly less coffee, while light roasts can handle more. After years of morning experiments, we have settled on 1:14 for bold coffee and 1:16 for lighter cups.
Why Try A French Press?
The glass carafe and metal plunger of a French press look fancy, but using a French press coffee maker is quite simple. A French press coffee maker allows you to decide the amount of coffee and hot water you want to use, the length of your coffee brew time, and can even be used for both hot and cold brew coffee.
French presses are especially popular with those who enjoy the flavor of coffee (and aren’t just in it for the caffeine boost). Papers and plastics used with other types of coffee makers can interrupt coffee’s flavors — the simplicity of a French press allows the deliciousness of your coffee beans to shine.
To make the perfect cup of French press coffee, it’s important that you have the right hot water (or cold water) to ground coffee ratio. We’ll also take a look at how to decide how long to brew your coffee, and what to do if you’re struggling to get a flavor that you love from your French press.
Let’s check out how to decide how much coffee and water to use in your French press to get a coffee-shop-perfect cup of joe.
What’s The Right Coffee To Water Ratio In A French Press?
When you use a French press, you’re in control of how strong (or weak) your cup of coffee becomes. You have a few different options to create the cup of coffee that’s perfect for you.
- For a strong cup of coffee, a ratio of 1 part coffee to 10 parts hot water works well. This breaks down to 6 tablespoons of ground coffee and 12 ounces of hot water.
- For a weaker cup of coffee, you may want to try a 1:12 ratio, which breaks down to 5 tablespoons of ground coffee and 12 ounces of hot water.
The type of ground coffee you use in a French press matter. You’ll want to stick with a coarse grind to ensure that your coffee grounds stay in the press as you plunge and pour.
The coffee and hot water are in contact with one another for a far longer period than in a standard electric coffee maker, and using a coarse grind stops the coffee from becoming bitter.
If you’re noticing that the coffee you make in your French press doesn’t have the flavor you enjoy, you may want to consider grinding your own coffee beans. A high-quality grinder can make all the difference in bringing out the flavors of your coffee.
Still, struggling with bitterness? Adding a small pinch of salt to your coffee grounds before you add hot water to your French press can help. The more coffee and less hot water you use in your French press, the stronger your coffee will be — and the higher the chance that you’ll get a bitter cup.
Brew time also plays a role in the strength of coffee in a French press:
- A brewing time of three to four minutes is recommended.
- If you extend the coffee brewing time in a French press, you’ll get additional caffeine and flavor — but you’ll also run the risk of creating a bitter pot of coffee.
Most French press enthusiasts need to play around with their coffee to water ratios to develop the amount of coffee and hot water that tastes best to them. Different varieties of ground coffee may require different coffee to hot water ratios. Once you find a ratio that works for you, don’t be afraid to switch it up when you bring home a new type of coffee.
What About Cold Brew?
One of the best-kept secrets about the humble French press: it can make great cold brew coffee. Cold brew lovers recommend using a ratio of 1:8, or about half a cup of ground coffee to four cups of water.
Just like standard hot brew coffee, the brew time of cold brew coffee affects both the strength and taste. Brewing overnight in the fridge (8-12 hours) provides a robust flavor. A longer brew time can amp up the caffeine and provide an even deeper flavor, but can also create a sharp, bitter taste.
Final Word On Coffee To Water French Press Ratio
While the exact ratio for every coffee lover is a matter of personal preference, using a ratio of 1:10 for hot brew coffee creates a strong, delicious cup of coffee. For those who prefer a less-strong taste (or prefer less caffeine), a 1:12 ratio works well. For cold brew coffee, a 1:8 ratio delivers a perfect taste.
FAQs On Coffee To Water French Press Ratio
How much water and ground coffee should be used in a French press?
Does using more coffee and less hot water increase the strength of French press coffee?
Our Testing Notes
We’ve tested this brewing method extensively in our coffee lab, and here’s what the data doesn’t always tell you:
Water temperature matters more than most guides suggest. We found that 200-205°F consistently produced better extraction than the often-recommended 195°F. The difference was especially noticeable with lighter roasts—underheat them and you get sour, underwhelming coffee that wastes good beans.
The grind size recommendations online are a starting point, not gospel. Your specific grinder, beans, and even altitude affect optimal grind. We keep a brewing journal and adjust by one click finer or coarser until dialing in a new bag. Takes about 3 brews to nail it.