USE A FRENCH PRESS

Before brewing, gather the following:

• French press coffee maker

• Your favourite freshly roasted coffee beans from Coffee 47

• Burr coffee grinder

• Kettle

• Digital scales

• Timer

• Wooden spoon or stirrer

• Fresh filtered water

For balanced flavour and consistency, we recommend:

• 60g of coffee per litre of water

For a standard 350ml French press, use:

• 21g of coffee

• 350ml of hot water

The grind size is one of the most important parts of French press brewing.

Use a coarse grind, similar in texture to sea salt. Grinding too fine can lead to:

• Bitter coffee

• Muddy texture

• Over-extraction

• Sediment in the cup

Water temperature matters more than many people realise.

The ideal brewing temperature is:

• 92°C to 96°C
  

Boiling water can scorch coffee grounds and destroy delicate flavour notes. After boiling your kettle, allow the water to rest for around 30 seconds before pouring.

Before adding coffee, rinse the French press with hot water. This stabilises brewing temperature and helps maintain flavour consistency throughout extraction.

Place your coarsely ground coffee into the base of the French press.

Gently shake the press to level the grounds evenly before pouring water.

Pour just enough hot water to saturate the grounds fully.

Allow the coffee to bloom for approximately 30 seconds. During this stage, trapped gases from freshly roasted coffee escape, improving flavour extraction.

You will notice the coffee expanding and bubbling slightly.

Slowly pour the remaining hot water in circular motions to ensure even saturation.

Place the lid on top without plunging yet.

Allow the coffee to steep for four minutes.

Timing is critical. Brewing too briefly creates sour and underdeveloped flavours, while brewing too long can result in bitterness.

After brewing, gently stir the top crust and skim away excess foam or floating grounds using a spoon.

This small step dramatically improves cup clarity and texture.

Press the plunger down slowly and steadily.

Avoid forcing the plunger aggressively, as this can disturb the grounds and create bitterness.

Once brewed, pour the coffee straight away.

Leaving coffee sitting in the French press continues extraction, leading to unpleasant bitterness over time.