This is less a recipe and more about encouraging you to use French Press Coffee if you are not already. Although Europeans have been using the French press to make coffee for about a century, I became a fan when I worked for a coffee company in the 90s and I have not looked back.
Undeniably, making coffee in a French press is better than those pods or drip coffee machines for one major reason: the French press maximizes the extraction of the oils and flavonoids from the ground bean. The others do not.
I always serve French press coffee to guests after a meal and I always get the same question – what kind of coffee do you use. Although I use quality coffee beans, it is not about the brand but more about the process. Making French press coffee is more of an event than a routine.
And here is my process. Start with cold tap water and heat in your kettle until 200 degrees. My electric kettle will shut off when it reaches this temperature. If you are boiling water on the stove, it will whistle when it is ready.
Meanwhile, grind coffee beans in your grinder. My press holds about 1.5 liters, so I put 6 – 8 tablespoons of whole beans in my coffee grinder and grind until it is coarse and resembles sea salt. Then I put that in the press.
When the water is ready, I pour it in the press and gently give it a stir or two. I put the top on with the plunger up. After 3 – 4 minutes I gently press the plunger down. And that is it.
I hope you will consider making French press coffee as part of your morning event or after dinner for your guests. It took me 2 years to convince my sister and now she is sold and is not looking back either.