How to make perfect French press coffee

Obviously to brew coffee with a French press you’ll need a quality press. For daily brewing, you probably won’t need anything larger than 34 ounces, but presses get quite a bit larger if you’re making coffee for a full house.

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Bodum 1-liter French press coffee maker ($39.95)
Bodum 1.5-liter French press coffee maker ($28.58)

The first step to making great coffee is finding great coffee beans. You’ll get a much fresher taste if you buy whole beans and grind them yourself. Look for trusted brands like Stumptown, Real Good Coffee Co, and Stone Street.

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12-ounce bag of Stumptown Founder's Blend ($14.99)
2-pound bag of Real Good Coffee Co Donut Shop Medium Roast ($24.99)
1-pound bag of Stone Street Cold Brew Dark Roast ($14.99)

The Stumptown guide suggests warming the French press by rinsing it with hot water, in order to maintain a good temperature throughout brewing.

Use a kitchen scale to weigh out 56 grams of beans. Meanwhile, add hot water to the press in order to warm it up.

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Pop your beans into a grinder and run them until they come out about as coarse as breadcrumbs. Some grinders, from brands like Cuisinart, will allow you to dial in the coarseness.

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Dump the hot water rinse from the press and add your coffee grounds. Top with hot water at 205 degrees Fahrenheit, just shy of boiling, and fill the press halfway, being sure to get all the grounds wet. Start your kitchen timer immediately.

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At one minute on the timer, stir the mixture with a wooden spoon to break up the top crust. Then fill the press the rest of the way with hot water and put on the top.

At 4 minutes, plunge the press to strain the coffee. Serve and enjoy.