The Mistakes People Often Make when Using the French Press

1. The Mistakes People Often Make when Using the French Press

2. Many people see the French press as a gift from the coffee gods. Its brewing method is simple, but delivers a strong, smooth, aromatic cup of coffee. Comparatively, there are some who just are unimpressed by the French press. It can be perceived as clunky, complicated to operate, and a producer of coffee that really isn’t much better than others.

3. But, perhaps, this perception is the result of misusing the device. Brewing a great cup of coffee with a French press can be an exact science that takes time and practice to master. However, along the way, brewers may encounter some issues or common mistakes. These common mistakes can lead to misconceptions about the device and its brewing abilities. Fortunately, there are ways to overcome these mistakes, which could change your mind about the French press.

4. Using too Much or too Little Coffee Once again, brewing with the French press can be an exact science. The greatest component of this science is finding the correct coffee-to-water ratio. Generally, the ratio is 10 grams of water to 1 gram of coffee. But it can vary depending on personal taste. However, it’s important to use enough coffee without going overboard. Too much coffee can make your brew bitter and overpowering, while too little coffee can make it bland and simply watered-down. Trial-and-error is the best method for finding your perfect coffee-to-water ratio.

5. Improperly Grinding the Coffee Beans It’s no secret that a good grind produces good coffee. In fact, it’s one of the most important components to brewing delicious coffee. But the quality of your grind often depends on the quality of your coffee beans and coffee plunger. So, ensure you have a nice plunger and coffee beans before using the French press. For fresh, fair-trade, organic coffee and top-quality coffee plungers, visit LivingZest. To get the best results from your press, use fresh, coarsely ground coffee beans.

6. Leaving the Coffee in the Press The French press continues to brew coffee even after you’ve finished and pushed the plunger down. So, if your freshly brewed coffee remains in the device, it will become over-extracted, bitter, and generally undrinkable. Fortunately, there are a couple of solutions to this problem. First, you could pour any leftover coffee into a carafe or thermos to keep it warm and help it maintain it’s flavor and integrity. Second, you could brew the exact amount of coffee you want. For example, brewing an espresso coffeeor enough for one or two cups for yourself, instead of an entire batch to share with others.