How to Make French Press Coffee: Step-by-Step

French press makes a rich, full-bodied cup with almost no equipment — and it's nearly foolproof once you know the ratio and timing. Here's the simple method.

What you'll need

• A French press
• Coarsely ground coffee (like coarse sea salt)
• Hot water, around 200°F

The French press ratio

Use about a 1:15 ratio — roughly 30g of coffee to 450g of water for a standard press. Coarse grind is key; fine grounds slip through the filter and make it muddy.

Step-by-step

1. Add coarse-ground coffee to the empty press.
2. Pour in hot water, saturating all the grounds. Give it a gentle stir.
3. Place the lid on with the plunger up, and steep 4 minutes.
4. Slowly press the plunger all the way down.
5. Pour right away (leaving it on the grounds makes it bitter).

The best coffee for French press

French press loves a smooth medium-to-dark roast with body. Our House Blend and Cowboy Blend are ideal, and a bold single origin like Sumatra is fantastic too. Explore more in the coffee collection.

Tips

• Grind coarse to keep the cup clean.
• Decant into a mug or carafe right after pressing.
• Preheat the press with hot water for a hotter cup.

Grab a smooth House Blend and put your French press to work.