French Press / Cafetiere Brew Guide & Recipe Calculator

Q: Step-by-Step Overview

Boil water and grind _ grams of coffee (coarse grind size). Add coffee to the French press and pour _ ml of hot water. Let it brew for 4 minutes without stirring. Break the crust with a spoon, then optionally skim off floating foam and particles . Place the lid on and let the coffee settle for 3–5 minutes . Press the plunger down slowly, stopping just above the coffee bed to avoid disturbing the grounds. Pour and enjoy .

Our guide to a Smooth and Balanced Brew.

Mastering the french press

Immersion Brewing, The Key to Rich, Full-Bodied Coffee

French Press / Cafetiere : Brew Guide & Calculator

The French press or Cafetiere is one of the most popular and accessible ways to brew rich, full-bodied coffee. Its simple design allows for full immersion brewing, extracting deep flavors and oils that other methods might filter out. However, achieving consistent results can be tricky—factors like grind size, steep time, and coffee-to-water ratio all play a role in the final taste.

To help you brew the perfect cup every time, we’ve created a French Press Brew Guide & Calculator. The guide offers a structured approach to dialing in your grind size, brew time, and water ratio, while the calculator adjusts the recipe based on your preferred press size and coffee strength.

While this is a great starting point, remember that small tweaks can bring out new flavors and nuances in your coffee.

Not sure where to start?
Use the calculator below and follow our Quick Brew Guide, or check out the Step-by-Step Instructions for more detailed techniques.

Water:
ml

Coffee:
g

Show advanced ratio settings

Brew Strength:

Brew Timer:

4:00

Your instructions update live based on your selections in the calculator above!

Quick Brew Guide

Step-by-Step Overview

Boil water and grind _ grams of coffee (coarse grind size).
Add coffee to the French press and pour _ ml of hot water.
Let it brew for 4 minutes without stirring.
Break the crust with a spoon, then optionally skim off floating foam and particles.
Place the lid on and let the coffee settle for 3–5 minutes.
Press the plunger down slowly, stopping just above the coffee bed to avoid disturbing the grounds.
Pour and enjoy.

V60 Brew Calculator Instructions

How to Use the French Press Calculator

This calculator helps you dial in the perfect French Press brew. You can start with a fixed amount of water, coffee, or brew strength and adjust as needed to suit your taste.

1. Choose Your Starting Point

Water: Select one of the preset volumes (3-cup, 4-cup, 8-cup, or 12-cup) or enter a custom value. The calculator will automatically update the coffee amount based on the default brew strength.
Coffee: If you have a fixed coffee dose (e.g., 20g), enter it and the calculator will adjust the water volume accordingly.

2. Customize Your Brew (Optional)

Use the brew strength slider to adjust the coffee-to-water ratio—from a bolder, more intense brew to a lighter, more delicate cup.
You can also reveal and tweak the advanced ratio settings for further experimentation.

3. Review Your Recipe

The calculator will display the precise water and coffee amounts based on your inputs.

Additional Features

A built-in brew timer helps you keep track of your steeping time for optimal extraction.

For brewing a great French press

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Your instructions update live based on your selections in the calculator above!

Detailed Step-by-Step Guide

Prepare & Preheat

Boil ml of water, and meanwhile, preheat your French press by rinsing it with some hot water to stabilize the temperature.

Preheating helps to maintain a stable temperature for better extraction.

Grind coffee

Grind -- grams of coffee to a coarse, uniform consistency, similar to coarse sea salt or breadcrumbs.

A burr grinder is ideal for consistency.

Assemble Your Brew

Add the freshly ground coffee into the French press. Then, pour in _ ml of boiling water evenly over the grounds. Make sure all the grounds are saturated, but do not stir it.

Make sure all the coffee becomes saturated with water

Let It Brew

Let the coffee steep undisturbed for 4 minutes. This resting period allows the coffee to extract evenly without unnecessary agitation.

Avoid stirring at this stage to maintain a cleaner, more balanced brew.

Break the Crust & Let It Settle

After 4 minutes, use a spoon to gently break the crust that has formed on top, allowing the coffee grounds to fall to the bottom. We recommend skiming off any foam or loose particles for a cleaner cup.
Then, place the lid on the French press, but don't press down! Let the coffee settle for another 3–5 minutes.

Letting the coffee settle before plunging helps minimize fine sediment in your cup.

Plunge & Enjoy

Slowly press the plunger down, stopping just above the coffee bed to avoid disturbing the grounds. Pour immediately and enjoy your freshly brewed French press coffee.

A slow and even plunge results in a smoother, less silty cup.

Troubleshoot my brew

Why does my coffee taste bitter or over-extracted?

If your French press coffee is too strong or has an unpleasant bitterness, it may be over-extracted.

Solution: Use a coarser grind to slow extraction and reduce bitterness. Aim for a texture similar to coarse sea salt.
Check: If the coffee was stirred too much at any stage, this can lead to over-extraction.

You can also experiment with using a different coffee or brewing with slightly cooler water.

Why does my coffee taste weak or sour?

This is rare in a French press, but if your coffee tastes weak or overly acidic, it may be under-extracted.

Solution: Use a slightly finer grind to help improve extraction.
Check: Try using our brew calculator and experimenting with a recipe that includes a higher coffee dose.

Why is there too much sludge in my cup?

A gritty or silty texture happens when too many fine particles pass through the mesh filter.

Solution: Use a coarser grind to prevent excess fines from getting through.
Check: Ensure your French press filter is clean, properly fitted, and not worn out, as an old mesh can let more fine particles through.

Why does my coffee cool down too fast?

French press coffee can lose heat quickly, affecting both flavor and enjoyment.

Solution: Preheat your French press with hot water before brewing.
Check: Pour your coffee into a thermal carafe if you're not drinking it immediately or consider using a double-walled French press to retain heat longer.

Find your next coffee to try