Unlike drip coffee makers that use paper filters, the French press allows all the natural oils and ultra-fine particles of coffee to steep into the brew itself, changing the texture and taste.

Why Choose a French Press?

The French press method leads to a richer, bolder cup of completely customizable coffee. You can adjust elements such as the bean’s grind size, water temperature, and steeping time to make coffee exactly how you like.

The best part? No electricity is required; you can take this thing wherever you want if you can boil water.

French Press Brewing

The first step is choosing high-quality coffee beans and grinding them to a coarse size. Bulletproof French Kick Coffee is our favorite roast to use in a French press. The full body, medium-bold flavor profile shines well when steeped without overpowering.

What is the Perfect Coffee Ratio for a French Press?

Finding the perfect French press coffee ratio is the most intimidating part of using a French press coffee maker. This isn’t a rigid recipe, but it’s a great foundation until you’re ready to experiment and adjust for your palate.

Follow this general ratio guide and step-by-step guide below for the ideal balance when brewing French press coffee:

• 1 serving: 1 cup water (8 ounces) + 2 tablespoons coffee beans
• 2 servings: 2 cups water (16 ounces) + ¼ cup coffee beans
• 4 servings: 4 cups water (32 ounces) + ½ cup coffee beans
• 8 servings: 8 cups water (64 ounces) + 1 cup coffee beans

How Do I Get the Best Results from a French Press?

Use these pro tips to ensure optimal flavor and extraction when brewing coffee in a French press:

Use Freshly Ground Coffee Beans

Make sure to grind your coffee beans with a burr grinder rather than a blade grinder. A burr grinder uses two rotating plates to crush the coffee beans, while a blade grinder uses a spinning blade to chop the beans. Blade grinders produce an inconsistent grind, containing both fine particles and a range of larger chunks, which can lead to over-extraction and a bitter taste.

If you don’t have a coffee grinder at home, you can purchase high-quality ground coffee tested for toxins.

Use the Proper Temperature Water

Extremely hot water can rapidly extract the delicate oils and damage the aromatic compounds of the coffee. In contrast, water that is not hot enough can lead to under-extraction and a weak taste. The recommended temperature for water when brewing coffee is between 195°F and 205°F because it effectively pulls out the desirable flavors and oils from coffee without extracting the bitter ones.

A good rule of thumb is to boil water, remove it from the heat, and wait about 1 minute before using it.

Monitor Steeping Time

Like water temperature, steeping too long can lead to a more intense and bold taste, while steeping too short will lead to a mild flavor. The longer the coffee steeps, the stronger it will taste, but it can eventually become bitter. Experimenting with the steeping time may help customize your French press recipe if you like to explore different flavor profiles.

Common Mistakes when Using a French Press

Avoid these common mistakes to save yourself frustration and disappointment with your brew:

• Using the wrong size coffee grind: Avoid using a fine grind because the small particles can sneak through the filter and contaminate your coffee with gritty sediment.
• Steeping for too long: One of the most common mistakes is leaving coffee in the French press after the brew time has elapsed. Immediately serve all the coffee from the media into another vessel to avoid over-brewing.
• Pressing too fast: It’s essential to press the plunger down very slowly to avoid any fine particles or sediment breaking through the metal mesh filter.

Print Recipe

French Press Coffee

A step-by-step guide to the popular method of brewing coffee with a French Press.

How to Make the Perfect French Press: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ingredients

Tools

• Burr grinder
• French Press coffee maker
• teapot or electric kettle

Instructions

• Set a pot of water to boil. Once boiling, turn off the heat and wait about 1 minute before using.  

• Grind two tablespoons of coffee beans to a coarse size. 

   

• Add the coffee grinds to the French press and slowly pour about half (4 oz) of hot water onto the grinds in a circular motion, ensuring they are completely saturated. Wait about 1 minute for the coffee to bloom.  

• Break apart the layer of coffee grinds that are floating on the top with a spoon and give a gentle stir.

• Slowly pour the remaining water (4 oz) over the grinds and let it steep for 4 minutes.

• Place the lid on and press the filter down very slowly and gently. Serve immediately. 

Nutritional Information

• Servings: 8 oz
• Sodium: 11 mg

In this episode of The Art of Being Well, I am joined by Helen Christoni of AquaTru and Ideal Living to uncover the real truth about what’s coming out of your tap. We dive into the shocking presence of microplastics, forever chemicals, and fluoride in the U.S. water supply, why boiling doesn’t make water safer, and how water may be contributing to rising rates of fertility issues, bone disease, and cognitive decline. Helen walks us through the best water filtration options, how to check your own zip code’s contamination levels, and why purified water is one of the most overlooked keys to health and detox. If you’ve never questioned what’s really in your water, this episode may change the way you hydrate and protect your health!

Helen Christoni is a passionate Health & Wellness executive with over 20 years of experience across a wide range of businesses in this category. Helen thrives on connecting people with great products through meaningful partnerships. With her uniquely diverse background and dedication to healthy living, Helen has an integral role as Senior Vice President of Business Development & Partnerships at Ideal Living, the makers of AquaTru, AirDoctor and AromaTru. At Ideal Living, we believe in Wellness Tech with a mission and that everyone has the right to pure air and clean water. Helen oversees both education and partnerships at Ideal Living and strives to help people around the world learn about the importance of having purified water in their homes.

A few of my favorite things we cover in this episode: 

•  Helen’s personal health journey and how it led her to the world of clean water advocacy.
• Why “clean water” doesn’t always mean healthy or contaminant-free.
• The invisible journey water takes – from treatment plants to your tap – and how that introduces toxins.
• Why the EWG Tap Water Database is a powerful tool to uncover what’s really in your water.
• The dangers of forever chemicals, fluoride, microplastics, and pharmaceutical residues in U.S. tap water.
• Why boiling water doesn’t remove contaminants, and may even concentrate them.
• How common filtration systems differ: from pitcher filters to reverse osmosis systems.
• The importance of NSF-certified filters and what to look for when shopping for a purifier.
• Why shower and bath water also matter – your skin absorbs more than you think.
• Small, simple swaps to reduce everyday exposure to toxins in the home.

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Happy listening and we hope you learned a little bit more on the art of being well!

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In Health,

Dr. Will Cole