How to Make Espresso in a French Press the Easy Way

By
Samanta Fryer
Samanta Fryer
Writer
Samanta Fryer is our senior editor and content writer, at CoffeeVibe. Apart from writing and reading, she’s fond of the coffee brewing process and enjoys tasting new coffe read more
reviewed
Reviewed By
Ryan Hendricks
Ryan Hendricks
Expert
Ryan Hendricks is our tester, who puts products through their paces. He used to be a barista and is now a full-time coffee enthusiast. He’s always testing out new gadgets, read more
Last updated: September 20, 2023
CoffeeVibe is reader-supported. We may earn a commission through products purchased using links on this page. Learn more about our process here

If you love coffee, you probably love to have a strong and flavorful cup of it in the morning or in the afternoon for a pick-me-up. For those who are in the know, French press espresso is some of the most delicious coffee around. If you have been wondering how to make espresso in a French press, you are not alone. The French press is often associated with a sense of mystery that is not actually really necessary.

Making espresso in a French press is easier than you might think, and learning how to make espresso with a French press is simple. Once you know how to make coffee in this way, you will want to stop drinking boring coffee at home every day. There is nothing quite like the flavor and full-bodied nature of a cup of coffee made by a French press and you will have a hard time going back to regular coffee once you have tried using a French press to make your morning coffee.

French Press Espresso vs. Traditional Espresso

The first thing that you need to know about espresso in a French press as compared to regular espresso is the way that each of these different kinds of coffee are made. Traditional espresso is made when hot water is pushed through tightly packed and finely ground coffee beans. The standard way to do this is to use at least nine bars of pressure. A French press does not use this much pressure, which changes the nature of the flavor and texture of the coffee that is made.

The difference in how these coffees Trusted Source Is coffee good or bad for your health? Although early studies of coffee suggested that it could lead to health problems, recent research provides strong evidence that drinking coffee actually has a variety of health benefits. www.hsph.harvard.edu are made is a big argument for why you would want to make espresso with a French press, and the smoothness and fullness of the French press coffee cannot be equaled anywhere else.

How to Make Espresso in a French Press the Easy Way
The process of making an espresso in a French press doesn’t utilize the regular nine bars of pressure, making the nature of the flavor different.

Making Espresso with French Press

The ratio of espresso beans when using a French press is important, and this is one of the parts of the process that you have to get right. You will want to be sure that you know how many espresso beans to use with your French press so that the results are good for your brew. Knowing how to use your particular French press also matters, and you should not hesitate to look at the instructions for the design of your press.

Preparations

These are the steps that you need to take to make sure that you are going to be ready to make the most of your French press coffee-making process. Preparation is important, and it is how you can make sure that you get a good result from your coffee brewing efforts. The more prepared you are, the better since you can actually steep your coffee for far too long by being unprepared and needing to get something that you have missed.

Making sure that you have the right amount of coffee beans that are ground properly as well as the right amount of water can make a big impact on the ease with which you use the French press.

1. Grind and measure your beans

For French press coffee Trusted Source IS MODERATE COFFEE DRINKING GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH? Recent research suggests major health benefits to consuming coffee—even increasing longevity. However, more data and continued moderation are necessary. nexus.jefferson.edu , you need a medium grind that does not go through the filter in the machine. This is not the grind that is common for traditionally brewed coffee, so be sure that you pay attention to the coarseness of your grind. Classic espresso is ground very fine, but you will want to leave your coffee more coarse for your French press.

You will want to be sure that you use double the ratio of coffee grounds to water. This is about 2 tbs of grounds to water. Make sure that you check the manual for your French press just to make sure that the recommended brewing amount of beans is not different than you expected. Most French presses are made to hold the same amount of water and beans, but it never hurts to verify what the recommended process is for brewing with this tool.

2. Pre-warm your French press with water

The biggest tip that can make a big difference in the longevity of your French press is to pre-warm the press so the glass doesn’t eventually crack. You can pour hot water into the glass part of the container to let the glass warm up for a bit before you use it. If you pour very hot water into this tool you could actually break it the first time that you use it, so pre-warming is an essential part of the process of keeping your French press from breaking.

3. Boil the water

Boiling the water is the next step, and you will want to have the water that you use for your brew to be just below boiling temperature. This is around 195 degrees F, or 90 degrees C. Boiling the water and then removing it from the heat for a few seconds is usually sufficient. You can test the temperature with a thermometer the first few times that you are preparing coffee in this way if you want to be sure about what the temperature of the water is. Knowing how long to wait can help you to get the right brew each time you use your French press to make coffee.

4. Put the coffee ground into the French press

How to Make Espresso in a French Press the Easy Way

At this step, you will put your coffee grounds into the press. Then you will pour about half the boiling water into the press and let the coffee bloom for about a minute. This is essential to the rich and full-bodied taste of the coffee.

5. Add a little water

Add some more water and stir gently. You will want to let the coffee steep for as long as you prefer. You might have to make coffee in your French press a few times before you discover the time that is just right for your preference. Some people do not prefer a really dark brew, so you will have to figure out how long to let your coffee steep when you are preparing it with your French press.

6. Add the rest once your coffee blooms

Add the rest of the water and let your coffee rest for at least three minutes. You will not want to press the plunger as the grounds are steeping.

7. Stir

How to Make Espresso in a French Press the Easy Way

Always stir your coffee Trusted Source Drinking coffee could lead to a longer life Whether it’s caffeinated or decaffeinated, coffee is associated with lower mortality, which suggests the association is not tied to caffeine news.usc.edu gently so that you do not disrupt the process of it steeping or agitate the grounds enough that they slip through the filter into the cup of coffee that you are going to pour.

8. Place the lid

Place the lid carefully and make sure that you are not agitating the coffee grounds too much as you do so.

9. Press down slowly

Press down the plunger on the lid with slow and even pressure. You will want to plunge halfway, then raise the plunger to the top again before plunging all the way to the bottom to finish the press. These steps are essential to get a good result from your efforts to make coffee using this tool.

10. Enjoy!

How to Make Espresso in a French Press the Easy Way

You will want to enjoy your French press coffee right away for the best taste experience. You can pour it into a cup and serve it right away. Most people do not add anything to the coffee that they have brewed using their French press, but you are welcome to dress up your coffee in any way that you prefer. You will find that the flavor of French press coffee is excellent, and this can make it unnecessary to add anything like sugar or cream to the mix as you would normally do.

FAQ

What is the best grind for espresso?

You will want to be sure to use a finely ground coffee for espresso made in the traditional way for the best flavor. Having too large of a grind will make it hard to create a true traditional espresso that is full-strength Trusted Source Caffeine & Long Work Hours | NIOSH | CDC Roughly 80% of U.S. adults consume caffeine every day (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). www.cdc.gov and full of flavor. Espresso cannot be made without this fine ground coffee due to the way that the water needs to be pressed through the beans that are used to make the brew.

What happens if you leave coffee in a French press for too long?

When you leave your coffee in the French press for too long, it can become too bitter and acidic to be enjoyable. This is true of any coffee that is steeped for too long. Steeping coffee for too long is what gives it a sharp and bitter taste that is familiar to lower quality coffee and to those who have had coffee that was made in a pot and allowed to sit for too long. Your French press makes coffee that is really strong already, so allowing it to steep for too long can ruin the flavor of the cup and make it unpleasant to drink.

Final Thoughts

Strong coffee can be just what you need to get your workdays off to a good start or to enjoy your morning on the weekend. If you love coffee, you probably have always wanted to know how to make espresso in a French press or how to make French press coffee the traditional way.

This guide should have shown you that you can easily make either kind of traditional coffee at home using your French press. This is one of the best ways to make bold and flavorful coffee and you will not be sorry that you have learned to make your coffee using this tool. A French press can make a very delicious cup of coffee and you will find that this is one of the best coffee brewing methods for that authentic taste you have been craving.

References

1.
Is coffee good or bad for your health?
Although early studies of coffee suggested that it could lead to health problems, recent research provides strong evidence that drinking coffee actually has a variety of health benefits.
2.
IS MODERATE COFFEE DRINKING GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH?
Recent research suggests major health benefits to consuming coffee—even increasing longevity. However, more data and continued moderation are necessary.
3.
Drinking coffee could lead to a longer life
Whether it’s caffeinated or decaffeinated, coffee is associated with lower mortality, which suggests the association is not tied to caffeine
4.
Caffeine & Long Work Hours | NIOSH | CDC
Roughly 80% of U.S. adults consume caffeine every day (U.S. Food and Drug Administration).

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *