French Press Coffee Makers

5 Things to Be Aware of When Buying

A French press is relatively straightforward and doesn't have any advanced features, requiring no installation, making it a fairly easy purchase when it comes to options.

However, there are a couple of things you might want to consider before buying, to ensure the French press is the best fit for you.

#1 The Size of the Jug

French presses come in various sizes, allowing you to easily brew coffee for as many people as you need.

There are French presses that can make up to around 12 cups of coffee at a time, just like some of the larger coffee machines can.

If it’s just you and you don’t have much space in your kitchen, there are also small French presses that can make a few cups and don’t take up much space.

Some French presses are so small that they can only make what amounts to 3 cups of coffee, so they don't take up much room in the kitchen.

#2 French Press Material

French presses are usually made of glass, where the glass sits in a steel frame, but there are also French presses made of other materials.

For example, there are French presses made entirely of stainless steel and others made, among other things, of plastic, with a kind of thermos effect, making it both a French press and a thermos.

#3 Dishwasher Safe

If you want easy cleaning of your French press after use, you should check that parts of your French press, such as the jug and plunger, are dishwasher safe.

There are indeed a few different parts that need to be cleaned after use, which makes it a bit easier for you to clean, so you don’t have to wash all parts by hand.

#4 Double-Walled

There are very few French presses that are double-walled, but they do exist, and they have the good function of keeping the heat better.

In a way, it works a bit like a thermos, where the extra layer of glass keeps the heat in your French press coffee longer.

However, it's not just glass French presses that are available as double-walled; steel presses are also often double-walled.

#5 Design

You might also want to consider which design you prefer, as French presses come in various designs and colors, so you can find one that fits your home perfectly.

Of course, not everyone cares about the design, but if you do, there are good options.

Some manufacturers have made an extra effort to create a different design in colors, deviating from the typical glass French press in a stainless steel frame.

Accessories for French Press

There are a variety of things you might choose to add alongside your French press if you want to brew a really good cup of French press coffee.

The taste of the coffee depends, among other things, on the coarseness of the coffee, the water temperature, and how much coffee you’ve used.

Here is a list of useful accessories:

• Electric Kettle
• Coffee Grinder
• Coffee Scale

Electric Kettle

You may already have an electric kettle, another kettle, or boil water in a pot, but an electric kettle is by far the quickest way to boil water.

French press coffee also turns out best if the water is at the right temperature of around 90 degrees, so an electric kettle with a thermometer or temperature control can be a great help.

So if you want your French press brewing to be a bit quicker and have a more precise temperature, an electric kettle (with thermometer) is a great addition to the French press.

Coffee Grinder

To get coffee grounds with the right coarseness for the French press, it's a good idea to grind the coffee yourself.

French press coffee is best when the coffee is ground to a medium-coarse consistency, to give the best flavor with this brewing method.

Besides getting the right coarseness by grinding the coffee yourself, you also ensure that the coffee is completely freshly ground, which provides a better taste for the coffee.

In general, a coffee grinder is a great accessory for anyone who wants super good coffee taste, no matter if you’re making coffee in a French press or a coffee machine.

Coffee Scale

A coffee scale is the accessory for anyone who wants to make a good cup of coffee every time and is willing to take a little time to enjoy the process.

When you weigh your coffee, you can ensure that you always use the same amount of coffee, so you get just the flavor you like every time.

Again, the coffee scale is also for anyone who wants to make a good cup of coffee again and again, by weighing the right amount each time, and is a great accessory for the French press or coffee machine.

How to Use a French Press

The French press is a relatively simple way to brew coffee and does not require electricity like many coffee machines do, for example.

Here you get a quick overview of what you need and a more detailed method below. 

What You Need: 

• French Press
• (Coffee Grinder)
• (Coffee Scale)
• 6-8g medium coarse coffee grounds per 1.5 dl (1 cup)
• 90-94 degrees warm water

First and foremost, you'll need coffee grounds, boiled water, and of course your French press.

Optionally, you may choose to grind your coffee beans yourself and weigh out the coffee amount, in which case you will need a coffee grinder and a coffee scale.

The coffee grounds you use should be of medium coarseness, not too finely or coarsely ground.

You typically use around 6-8 g of coffee per cup; it’s a matter of taste, but many believe that 7g is just the right amount of coffee for a French press coffee.

So you can adjust the amount based on how strong or weak you want your coffee.

A cup of coffee is approximately 1.5 dl, so you should use about 7 g of coffee for 1.5 dl of water to brew one cup of coffee in one French press.

The temperature of the water should be just around or slightly above 90 degrees, so if you can measure the temperature, it’s a good idea for a balanced French press coffee.

Once you’ve poured the coffee and water into the jug, place the lid on, but do not push the plunger down before the coffee has steeped for about 4 minutes.