The Benefits of Using a Coffee Press

A coffee press is a manual brewing method that uses an elegantly designed glass or stainless steel beaker, base and a handle with a plunger that fits into the top. Also known as a cafetiere a piston, french press pot or coffee plunger, this coffee maker can also be used to make tea and other hot drinks.

While it may seem like a lot of work to manually brew coffee without an automatic drip machine, the benefits far outweigh the effort. This brewing method produces full-bodied, robust coffee with a richer flavor than filtered coffee. This is due to the fact that the grounds are fully immersed in water, allowing for more extraction and more body than a typical brewed cup of coffee.

The French Press also requires a coarser grind size than traditional drip methods, as it is easier for the water to penetrate the beans and extract the flavors. This results in a smoother, more balanced taste that can also be adjusted to your liking by the amount of time you let it steep.

Whether you choose to brew your coffee with a metal or glass French Press, you will need to start by measuring out the ground coffee and pre-heating your water. Once you’ve added the piping hot water to your coffee grounds, give it a stir to break up any dry clumps and saturate the grounds. This is called “blooming” your beans, and it allows for a little bit of the CO2 in the beans to degas and prevent bitterness.