The French Press is an immersion-style glass brewer where coffee grounds are fully immersed in hot water for the duration of the brew, resulting in a rich and full-bodied cup of coffee with a wide range of flavors. The French Press is suitable for most types of coffee, and its ease of use makes it a versatile and user-friendly brewer. However, the French Press is often criticized for producing a slightly "muddy" cup due to its coarse mesh filter that lets small particles through. The Espro French Press addresses this issue with its ultra-fine and fine micro-mesh filters, which allow for a wider range of grind sizes.

Golden Cup Standard:

The Golden Cup Standard is an excellent baseline for any brewing method, including pour-overs. The standard recommends a coffee-to-water ratio of 1:17 to 1:18, meaning you would use 17 grams of water for every 1 gram of coffee grounds.

Some may find this ratio to be a bit weak, resulting in a slightly watery cup of coffee. The Golden Cup Standard is particularly well-suited to those seeking clarity in their coffee, light roast enthusiasts, or those who prefer single-origin coffee.

Starting with the Golden Cup Standard is an excellent idea, even though it is a bit mild. You can then gradually increase the coffee-to-water ratio to achieve a stronger brew.

Our Recommendation for Brew Ratios:

We suggest three different coffee-to-water ratios for French Press, depending on whether you prefer a mild, average, or robust cup of coffee.

Mild (high clarity): 1:17 or the SCA Golden Cup standard

Average: 1:15

Robust (high body): 1:13

You can use these ratios as a starting point and then adjust the ratio up or down to achieve the desired level of clarity or body. Our coffee calculator provides exact measurements, and please note that all ratios are based on 1 gram of coffee to "x" grams of water.

The recommended temperature range for brewing hot coffee, regardless of the method, is between 197-205 degrees Fahrenheit. Using a kettle with a thermometer is the best way to achieve this temperature range, but alternatively, you can boil water and let it sit for 30 seconds to 1 minute to cool to the optimal temperature.

The temperature of the water used for brewing can greatly affect the taste of the coffee. If the water is too hot, it can result in a bitter or burnt taste, while water that is too cool can result in a flat and weak cup of coffee.

Ideal brewing temperature for light-roasted coffee:

The ideal brewing temperature for Light Roast Coffee is right off boil or between 203 – 212 degrees Fahrenheit. The higher temperatures help prevent sourness, and high acidity is lighter roasted coffees.

Ideal brewing temperature for medium-roasted coffee:

The ideal brewing temperature for Medium Roast Coffee is about 30 seconds off boil or between 194 - 203 degrees Fahrenheit. The moderate brewing temperature helps keep the medium-roasted coffee balanced and rich.

Ideal brewing temperature for dark-roasted coffee:

The ideal brewing temperature for Dark Roast Coffee is about 1 minute off boil or between 185 – 195 degrees Fahrenheit. The lower temperature helps to rid bitterness and highlight the sweetness in the dark roasted coffee.

Most French Press recipes fall within the 4:00 – 5:00 minute range. You will see 4:00 minutes mentioned often as the target time but don’t be afraid to test a French Press brews that are faster or slower than that target time.

It is recommended that you grind slightly coarser than you would for a standard pour-over or Chemex coffee but be careful not to grind too coarse as you will be left with a sour-tasting coffee.

The French Press is an immersion-style glass brewer where coffee grounds are fully immersed in hot water for the duration of the brew (usually 4:00 minutes), resulting in a rich and full-bodied cup of coffee with a wide range of flavors.