How to Brew the Best Possible French Press
TIPS before Brewing:
When brewing coffee it is best to get fresh whole bean coffee and grind it right before using. It is said that ground coffee only lasts about 24 hours once open to air compared to whole bean that can stay fresh once opened for about 7 days. The biggest impact will be on the aroma.
Since coffee is greater then 90% water it is best to use good tasting water. This can be simply filtered water if your local tap water is ok but here in Guelph we have extremely hard water. I recommend using reverse osmosis water if you can get it to brew coffee with.
When brewing coffee I recommend a water to coffee ratio of 16:1 for a stronger brew or 18:1 for a normal brew (this is how I drink my morning French Press every day).
ITEMS YOU WILL NEED
A Kitchen Scale that is able to measure down to 0.1 gram
A Coffee grinder able to grind on a coarse setting
A Clean French Press (I recommend stainless steel)
A Kettle or Pot to heat water
A Digital Thermometer
A Spoon
Reverse Osmosis Water
HOW TO BREW:
1) Gather everything you will need
2) Weigh out you coffee (I find that 40 grams of coffee makes about 3 cups in a 750 mL French Press)
3) Grind your coffee on the coarsest setting
4) Add the ground coffee to the French Press
5) Begin heating up the water either in an electric kettle or on the stove top if using a pot.
6) Stop heating once the temperature of the water reaches 180°F (~80°C)
7) Place the French Press with the coffee grounds on a scale
8) Begin adding water until you have reached the desired water to coffee ratio (For example if I used 40 grams of coffee I would need 640 grams of water for 16:1 or 720 grams of water for 18:1)
9) Set a timer for 5 minutes
10) After 5 minutes push the plunger down
11) Pour yourself a fresh cup of coffee and enjoy!