For a standard French press, use 1 gram of coffee per 15 grams of water as your starting ratio.
This translates to roughly 2 tablespoons per 6 ounces of water. Adjust based on taste preference and how strong you like your coffee.
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The French Press (Bodum) Method
Even though the French Press method may not be the most common way to make coffee, it is the simplest. A French press machine is made up of a cylindrical pot, a plunger, and a screen.
With this coffee brewing method, you are simply going to use hot water and pressure to force the liquid through your coffee ground. Then, you will separate the grounds from your coffee by pressing the entire mixture through a mesh filter or screen.
French press coffee will create a deep, rich, earthy taste in your cup of joe. Even though it may take some practice, it is one of the most reliable methods for making coffee.
How Do You Make French Press Coffee?
If you are interested in making good coffee with a French press, the steps you need to follow include:
Step 1. Prepare the Water and Beans
First, you need to boil some water. Once you have boiling water, turn it off and allow it to cool. Otherwise, you may scorch your coffee beans. Once you turn off the heat, let the water rest for at least 30 seconds.
While the water is boiling, grind your beans using a burr grinder. For a French press, you want a coarse grind.
Step 2. Fill the French Press
Add the beans in water to the French Press. Only add the water to the beans after the water has cooled sufficiently.
Step 3. Stir and Brew
After this, you can sit back and watch the coffee bloom! Be sure to give the coffee grounds a solid stir. Allow the coffee to brew for approximately four minutes.
You can play with the brewing times to see what flavor you like best. The longer you allow the coffee to brew, the more flavors you will extract.
Step 4. Plunge and Serve
After your coffee has brewed for a few minutes, plunge the mixture gently. This will force the coffee through the paper filter and separate a lot of the coffee grinds. Finally, your coffee will be ready to serve.
How Much Coffee For French Press?
The amount of coffee you need depends on your measurements. If you are using the standard system, you should use two tablespoons of ground coffee for every cup of water. If you would like a bolder cup, you can use more coffee.
If you are using the metric system, you should use 50 grams of coffee grounds for every liter of water. Because a liter is approximately 4 cups of coffee, this will produce several cups.
Remember that water is the majority of your cup of coffee. The water temperature matters, as it could lead to under or over-extraction. Do not pour boiling water on your whole bean coffee or coffee grounds, as you will simply burn it.
You should also use clean tap water. If your tap water doesn’t taste great, you may want to use natural spring water instead. Or, try adding a water filter to your tap.
What Should the Grind Size Be for the French Press?
When you are using a burr grinder, you should grind your coffee beans just before you use them. Remember that you need a coarse grind for The French Press method. You should aim for a grind size between 0.75 mm and 1 mm.
If the grind is too fine, the coffee will be too strong. If the grind is too coarse, the coffee will take the weak. Use a burr grinder to get the best results.
The Final Word on How Much Coffee For A French Press
The amount of coffee you should use in a French press depends on how much coffee you are making. With standard measurements, you should use 2 tablespoons of coffee grinds for every 8 oz of water. If you are interested in making multiple cups of coffee, you need to multiply this ratio.
There are a number of factors that will play a role in the quality of your French press coffee. Make sure that you use clean, fresh tap water. Grind your coffee beans to the appropriate grind size right before you use them.
Finally, you can also play with the brewing times to see what flavor you like that.
FAQs About How Much Coffee for a French Press
Why does my coffee taste so bitter?
Why does my coffee taste so thin?
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.