coffee, food, How To, products —

French Press Coffee

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The French Press coffee brewing method produces some of the best coffee on the planet via a very simple, non electric, process.   High quality coffee is a staple of my Italian life and, in moderation, the golden liquid has proven to have some excellent health benefits, including:

  • Coffee seems to protect men from Parkinson’s disease
  • Coffee drinkers may be half as likely to develop Diabetes
  • Coffee might have anti-cancer attributes
  • Coffee may not increase blood pressure as previously thought

(Source: Harvard Health Letter)

Regardless of health benefits most folks enjoy coffee because of:

  1. caffeine energy jolt
  2. taste
  3. ritual.

Making Coffee Via the French Press Method

I like to prepare my morning coffee in a traditional French press pot - Bodum makes a high quality pot (I’ve had the 4-cup model for about 5 years and it’s worked great) or a Clever coffee dripper.

Grinding your own beans is also essential.  Burr grinders are ideal (they grind beans in uniform size) and I use the inexpensive but highly functional Hario slim mill to grind my coffee beans.  The Hario produces and even grind and will elevate the way your coffee tastes.

I use the following bean to hot water ratio:

  • Two tablespoons of coffee for every six ounces water.

Once your water has finished boiling (I use the Krups Electric Water Kettle and it boils water in record time, plus it’s an energy saver versus using your gas or electric stove!), poor the water directly over the ground beans.  Place the lid on the French pot but do not plunge the filter mechanism down.  Let the water and beans sit for about 4 minutes.  4 minutes is perfect for extracting all of the good flavors out of the bean.  Once the time is up you can gently plunge the lid and enjoy your first cup!

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Author: Lead Italophile (and/or lover of all things Italian).
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  • Lois

    Thanks for all your posts regarding coffee! I’ve learned a lot from you and therefore saved money by making better coffee at home. I have especially liked making french press coffee – after reading your instructions, I finally put to use a french press that had been a Christmas present many years ago.
    My question is this: how do you clean your press? What do you do with the grounds (do they go in the garbage disposal, wastebasket, garden…? Do you use soapy water or just plain hot water to clean the parts? How about cleaning and maintaining other coffee appliances/tools like espresso maker, grinder,…?
    I am a fan of your blog – you’re doing a good job!
    Also, congratulations on your new adventure into parenthood – enjoy!

  • http://www.scordo.com/ Vincent Scordo

    Thanks, Lois! Cleaning the french press is fairly easy. First remove the press device and rinse it over cold water in the sink (I like turning the handle so that the grind come off the filter). Then fill the glass container with enough water so that the old grinds are covered and then simply dump into your garbage or if you have a backyard through into your soil (it makes for great compost material). I like to clean with soap every week or so.
    You can use a brush to clean your coffee grinder (don’t use water).
    Thanks for reading the blog and the congrats on the new baby!
    Vince

  • Lois

    Thanks for the reply, Vince! I appreciate the tips.
    I am now throwing the grounds in the backyard & garden. However, I will probably start putting them in the garbage when the ground freezes and the snows come – I live in Minnesota. :)
    My husband recently got out our little percolator that we used for making coffee over the fire when we went camping. We haven’t gone camping for a few years but he wanted to try that percolator on the stove. It was good! Now we have one more method to use once in a while. It’s interesting how each method has its own charms.
    thanks again – keep blogging, I really like reading your posts
    Lois

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