How to Use a French Press: Ratio, Time & Steps

With coarse coffee grounds, a 1:15 coffee-to-water ratio, 200°F water, and 4-minute steep, you can make the perfect batch of French press coffee at home. Follow the steps below for a detailed walkthrough of how to use a French press, from gathering the right ingredients to proper cleanup afterwards.

How Does a French Press Work

A French press is an immersion brewer: coffee grounds steep in hot water, then a metal mesh plunger pushes the grounds to the bottom so you can pour clean coffee from the top. Unlike drip coffee makers that pass water through a paper filter, French press brewing keeps more oils in the cup, which often creates a fuller, richer flavor.

Neighborly Tip!

If you’re curious about how French presses work in comparison to other types of coffee makers, read our related guides Percolator vs. French Press Coffee Makers: A Matter of Taste and Pour-Over Coffee vs. French Press: Masters of the Manual Brew.

What You’ll Need to Brew French Press Coffee

Before brewing your coffee, gather the necessary materials. To make French press coffee, you’ll need the following:

• French press coffee maker
• Coarse coffee grounds
• Coffee grinder
• Hot Water
• Tea kettle
• Water thermometer
• Measuring cup & scoop
• Spoon for Stirring
• Coffee mug

How to Use a French Press: Step by Step

Step 1: Warm Up Your French Press

Start off by warming up your French press. Pour hot water (either from the sink or tea kettle) into the French press and leave it in for a few minutes. Once the French press starts to feel warm to the touch, pour the water out. This helps keep the brew temperature from fluctuating and it will keep your freshly brewed French press coffee warm.

Step 2: Measure Coffee Grounds & Water

For most French press brews, use a 1:15 ratio – about 1 gram of coffee for every 15 grams of water. Remember to use coarse coffee grounds which have the texture of breadcrumbs or coarse salt. Fine espresso grinds can slip through the mesh filter of a French press and leave sediment in your cup. Depending on the amount of servings you want, follow to ratios below:

• 1 serving: 5 oz (150 ml) of water, 2 tbsp (10 g) of coffee grounds
• 2 servings: 10 oz (300 ml) of water, 4 tbsp (20 g) of coffee grounds
• 4 servings: 20 oz (600 ml) of water, 8 tbsp (40 g) of coffee grounds
• 8 servings: 40 oz (1.2 L) of water, 16 tbsp (80 g) of coffee grounds

Step 3: Heat Water to the Right Temperature

For the best, most flavorful results with a French press, heat your water to about 200°F (just off a boil). If you don't have a thermometer, boil water and let it rest 30 seconds before pouring. If the water is too hot, your coffee will taste burnt. If the water is too cool, the coffee could taste watered down.

Step 4: Add Coffee & Water

Add your coarse coffee grounds to the French press and pour in the hot water. The coffee grounds will float to the top to create a crust-like look. Let the grounds sit for 30 seconds before stirring to allow the coffee time to “bloom.” Take a stirring spoon and stir the mixture until the ground coffee sinks to the bottom of the French press.

Step 5: How Long to Steep French Press Coffee

Steep French press coffee for 4 minutes after you've added water and stirred the grounds. If you prefer a lighter cup, try 3 minutes; for a bolder brew, steep up to 5 minutes – but avoid going longer, as over-extraction can make the coffee taste bitter and gritty.

Step 6: Press & Plunge Slowly

After you have let your coffee steep, press the plunger slowly all the way down. If you find that there is too much resistance, it likely means that your coffee grounds are too fine. If there is not enough resistance, it is likely that the coffee grounds are too coarse.

Step 7: Serve & Enjoy

Now that you know how to use a French press, it’s time to enjoy your freshly brewed coffee. Pour any leftover coffee into another container or carafe to ensure that it does not get too bitter as it sits in the coffee maker.

How to Clean a French Press

It’s important to clean your French press after each use. Used grounds and leftover oils can make your next batch of coffee taste bitter. First, allow your French press to cool down before cleaning it. Remove the plunger and rinse in warm water. Add a splash of water inside of the coffee maker and swirl it around to loosen the coffee grounds. Dump the coffee grounds into the trash or a compost. Clean the individual parts of the French press with warm, soapy water and rinse them thoroughly to remove soap residue.

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