How Much Coffee For A French Press: What’s the Ratio?

Are you wondering, “how much coffee for a french press?” Take a look at what we have put together on making the perfect cup of French press coffee!

How Much Coffee For A French Press - french press coffee on a wooden table
French press coffee will create a deep, rich, earthy taste in your cup of joe

Are you someone who cannot wake up in the morning until you know your coffee maker is making your cup of coffee? But, how much coffee for French press is enough to wake you up?

If so, you are just like me. There’s nothing quite like the smell of brewed coffee sitting in the morning. I always get excited when I lay eyes on my carafe!

There are multiple methods of coffee brewing and everyone has their own definition of a perfect cup. Some people like the pour over method or drip coffee with a paper filter. Others think the French press brew method makes the best coffee. 

If you are using a French press coffee maker, how many grams of coffee should you use? What is the water ratio? Take a look at some of our information below and learn how to get the most out of your press pot! 

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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?

pouring coarse ground coffee beans into a french press
Use a grind size between 0.75 mm and 1 mm

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? 

When you make French press coffee, you need to drink it immediately. There are always a few coffee grounds at the bottom of your cup. If you let them sit in your coffee, they will continue to release oils, making your coffee taste bitter. 

Why does my coffee taste so thin? 

If your coffee is a bit weak, you may want to allow your coffee to brew for a bit longer. Or, your grind size may be too coarse. Make your grind a little finer and see if this helps.

Author

  • David R

    Job experience includes extensive work as a teaching assistant, tutor, and guest lecturer and extensive employment in the healthcare field. Have published multiple research papers and numerous poster presentations on various healthcare research topics. Find David on WriterAccess.