1.    Grinding:  Grinding the coffee with the proper grinder may be the most important step here. Spinning blade grinders can cause the grind to be uneven and produce friction which accounts for inconsistentcies in taste. The best grinder to use is a burr grinder. Burr grinders are more efficient because they masticate the bean evenly. The proper grind setting for french press is "course". For drip coffee it should be finer than French Press and finer for espresso.

 

2.    Dosing:   The rule of thumb is to use 1 tablespoon of grind per 4 ounces of water. So for a 32 oz French Press, you would use 8 flat tablespoons. You may add more or less for taste, but this is a good place to start.

 

3.    Water:   When preparing for French Press it's important to first boil the water and let it stand for about 1 minute after boiling, depending on elevation. The water should be between 197 degrees and 202 degrees; the hotter the water the more extraction you get from the grind. Next pour water over the grind allowing room for expansion, caused by "off gassing" of CO2. This is an excellent way to tell how fresh the coffee is.

 

4.    Timer:   Set your timer to 4 minutes and press start. 1 minute into this process your coffee should begin to deflate. Then place the top part of the press into the pot without lowering the screen. It should remain up during this process.

 

5.    Replace plunger:   Place the plunger into the top of the pot and down into the grind, careful only to go a little creating pressure and submerging the coffee. Do not press it down to the bottom yet.

 

6.    Plunge: Once you have reached the 4 minute mark press the plunger slowly and evenly not letting any grind push up through the sides. Pressing too hard or fast will cause the grinds to escape around the sides of the screen.

 

7.    Pour and Enjoy!   Great coffee gets better as it cools so the last drink is better than the first....