Anyone use a French press?

[George]

I somehow wound up with two for Christmas, and after hearing for years that they're the way to go - and having had many good cups of French press brew in the past - I've yet to make an enjoyable cup for myself. I don't know if it's the coffee:water ratio, water temp, grind, duration of the brew, or all of the above. Given the work involved I'd walk away from the whole thing and never look back if I didn't know they work so well when done right.

That, and I just don't want to be defeated by something so simple.

Any advice?

[Blue Heaven]

Wish I could help as I love coffee. I have no experience with a press but I have found that a percolator makes a better cup than a traditional coffee maker.

[Spiritof96]

Try this as a baseline to troubleshoot. https://www.craftcoffee.com/how-to-m...ess-brew-guide

I don't use one much anymore but when I got my first I messed up grind, ratio, and time.

The guide in the link sees spot on to me.

[surveyor]

I've got two french presses. One is a simple Bodum glass 32 oz press. The other is a Bodum insulated stainless steel carafe 32 oz press.

The glass press is simpler in that the screen has no sealed edge, so any residual silt can get past the screen to the cup. The stainless carage has a fixed screen with a nylon squeegie type seal that keeps residual silts out of the coffee.

A number of impacts on flavor:
1. Use a bur grinder instead of a blade grinder. Blade grinders are fine for auto drip makers or any other coffee maker that utilizes paper filters. They're less suitable for pressed coffee due to the inconsistency of grind - lots of fine particles that get through the screen. Bur grinders produce an even, consistent grind. Use a coarse grind.

2. Use water just short of boiling. After it begins to boil, turn it off and let it sit for 30 seconds. Pour the water into the carage, stir, place top on carafe and let sit for 4 minutes. After 4 minutes slowly depress the plunger to the bottom.

EDIT: I use 2 tlbs of coffee per 6oz of water.

[Dwight Schrute]

I've tried every suggestion I've seen, and I've never gotten suitable results from a French press either. I have a pour-over coffee pot that I love, but it's a pain in the arse to use.

[Spiritof96]

I've got two french presses. One is a simple Bodum glass 32 oz press. The other is a Bodum insulated stainless steel carafe 32 oz press.

The glass press is simpler in that the screen has no sealed edge, so any residual silt can get past the screen to the cup. The stainless carage has a fixed screen with a nylon squeegie type seal that keeps residual silts out of the coffee.

A number of impacts on flavor:
1. Use a bur grinder instead of a blade grinder. Blade grinders are fine for auto drip makers or any other coffee maker that utilizes paper filters. They're less suitable for pressed coffee due to the inconsistency of grind - lots of fine particles that get through the screen. Bur grinders produce an even, consistent grind. Use a coarse grind.

2. Use water just short of boiling. After it begins to boil, turn it off and let it sit for 30 seconds. Pour the water into the carage, stir, place top on carafe and let sit for 4 minutes. After 4 minutes slowly depress the plunger to the bottom.

EDIT: I use 2 tlbs of coffee per 6oz of water.

+1 on the bur grinder. It makes a difference.

[Uncle Dave]

Having spent ALOT of time in Seattle visiting my daughter, she and her hubby have turned me into an unforgiving coffee snob. Lots of good advice above particularly about the grinder. My press seems idiot proof which is always helpful. I use a Via Venezia press and a Baratza Virtuoso grinder. The water is heated by the machine so I don't use a thermometer. I grind my beans, fill the shot, and off I go. Doesn't take long and man is it good. Whole bean is MUCH better than pre-ground. Both color and flavor are better. Lately, I've been fixing a Mocha with just a touch of Monin Almond or Vanilla flavor. I pull a double shot and mix with just a bit (1/4 cup) of milk then re- heat that for 40 seconds in the micro wave. Works everytime!!!

[George]

Try this as a baseline to troubleshoot. https://www.craftcoffee.com/how-to-m...ess-brew-guide

I don't use one much anymore but when I got my first I messed up grind, ratio, and time.

The guide in the link sees spot on to me.

Thanks. I hadn't seen that guide. Trying it out this morning.

[George]

I've got two french presses. One is a simple Bodum glass 32 oz press. The other is a Bodum insulated stainless steel carafe 32 oz press.

The glass press is simpler in that the screen has no sealed edge, so any residual silt can get past the screen to the cup. The stainless carage has a fixed screen with a nylon squeegie type seal that keeps residual silts out of the coffee.

A number of impacts on flavor:
1. Use a bur grinder instead of a blade grinder. Blade grinders are fine for auto drip makers or any other coffee maker that utilizes paper filters. They're less suitable for pressed coffee due to the inconsistency of grind - lots of fine particles that get through the screen. Bur grinders produce an even, consistent grind. Use a coarse grind.

2. Use water just short of boiling. After it begins to boil, turn it off and let it sit for 30 seconds. Pour the water into the carage, stir, place top on carafe and let sit for 4 minutes. After 4 minutes slowly depress the plunger to the bottom.

EDIT: I use 2 tlbs of coffee per 6oz of water.

This is the one I have. Haven't touched the second one I received, but it doesn't appear to be any different/better than the Bodum. Others have recommended a burr grinder (currently only have blade), and besides that I've pretty much done everything else you've said to a T. Bean quality might be a problem, too. I bought some cheap stuff at first just to experiment with all the variables, and when I ground some and tried it through my drip it tasted pretty much as weak as it did when I thought I'd done everything right in the FP.

Like Dwight, I've tinkered with lots of variables thus far to no real success. Better beans are next, and maybe a burr down the road. At that point, though, it becomes a question of return on the investment.

[George]

Having spent ALOT of time in Seattle visiting my daughter, she and her hubby have turned me into an unforgiving coffee snob. Lots of good advice above particularly about the grinder. My press seems idiot proof which is always helpful. I use a Via Venezia press and a Baratza Virtuoso grinder. The water is heated by the machine so I don't use a thermometer. I grind my beans, fill the shot, and off I go. Doesn't take long and man is it good. Whole bean is MUCH better than pre-ground. Both color and flavor are better. Lately, I've been fixing a Mocha with just a touch of Monin Almond or Vanilla flavor. I pull a double shot and mix with just a bit (1/4 cup) of milk then re- heat that for 40 seconds in the micro wave. Works everytime!!!

As delectable as that sounds, are we talking about the same thing?

[surveyor]

As delectable as that sounds, are we talking about the same thing?

I think Dave is referring to an espresso machine rather than a french press.

[George]

I think Dave is referring to an espresso machine rather than a french press.

I think so, too. But when I Googled the machine he referred to, I found a great deal!

[Uncle Dave]

I think so, too. But when I Googled the machine he referred to, I found a great deal!

Surveyor, my hero, is right. Sorry.....I got excited. FWIW, I got my reconditioned machine from Seattle Coffee Gear. Great experience. Not sure about my grinder. I also purchased a reconditioned pasta maker(Phillips 2357) from them. Both work really well. Look up Seattle Coffee Gear on You Tube...they have lots of "how to" videos. The thing about "artisan" coffee is......it's something I savor every morning. I used not to do that with coffee.

[Dwight Schrute]

I've been thinking about giving the aeropress a shot. The coffee subreddit (reddit.com/r/coffee) loves this thing, and it's cheap to boot.

[George]

Surveyor, my hero, is right. Sorry.....I got excited. FWIW, I got my reconditioned machine from Seattle Coffee Gear. Great experience. Not sure about my grinder. I also purchased a reconditioned pasta maker(Phillips 2357) from them. Both work really well. Look up Seattle Coffee Gear on You Tube...they have lots of "how to" videos. The thing about "artisan" coffee is......it's something I savor every morning. I used not to do that with coffee.

That's where I found the good deal on your espresso machine. And thanks for the tip!