How to Brew French Press Coffee at Home (Without the Bitter Mud)

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You know that ritual. Kettle on, French Press waiting on the counter, bag of coffee open. Five minutes later, instead of a smooth, chocolatey cup, you’ve got something bitter and muddy that nobody really wants to finish. The good news? French Press doesn’t have to taste like that. It’s one of the simplest brewing methods if you get three things right: grind size, ratio, and time.

This guide walks you through everything step by step – no barista jargon.

Why French Press is still worth learning

French Press has a few big advantages:

  • it’s inexpensive and almost indestructible,
  • it doesn’t need filters or a special kettle,
  • it gives you a full bodied, rich cup that works beautifully with milk,
  • it can brew 2–3 mugs at once, which makes it perfect for slow weekend mornings or coffee for two.

If you drink a lot of coffee with milk, a well-dialled French Press is a very solid daily driver.

What you need

  • French Press (plunger) 350–500 ml
  • freshly ground coffee
  • kettle
  • scales or a tablespoon
  • timer
  • hot water just off the boil (around 92–96°C / 198–205°F – simply wait 30–40 seconds after the kettle clicks off)

Coffee to water ratio for French Press

For a reliable starting point, use this simple recipe:

  • 1:15 – 1 g of coffee for every 15 g of water

Examples:

  • 20 g coffee → 300 g water (stronger, great with milk)
  • 22–24 g coffee → 350 g water (standard mug, 1–2 people)

If you prefer a lighter cup, move towards 1:16.
If you want something really rich, go closer to 1:14.
If you like having a full table of ratios for different methods, you’ll find it in our coffee ratio guide.

Grind size: the real key to good French Press

This is where most people go wrong.

  • Too fine → sludge at the bottom, bitter and over-extracted.
  • Too coarse → weak, watery coffee with no real character.

Aim for a coarse grind – roughly like coarse sea salt. If you already brew moka or V60, go clearly coarser than that – French Press should usually be the coarsest grind you use at home. If your French Press tastes sharp, harsh and very bitter, grind a bit coarser next time. If it’s flat and thin, grind slightly finer.

Step by step: French Press in 5 minutes

  1. Pre-heat the French Press Pour in a little hot water, swirl it around, then pour it out. Warm glass won’t steal heat from your coffee.
  2. Add the coffee Measure 20–24 g of freshly ground coffee and pour it into the empty French Press.
  3. Bloom: pour halfway and stir Add roughly half of your water (for example 150–170 g), and stir gently so all the grounds are fully wet.
  4. Top up with the rest of the water Pour in the remaining water up to your target weight. Put the lid on, but do not push the plunger down yet.
  5. Brew time: 4 minutes Set a timer for 4:00. This is a great starting point for most coffees.
  6. Break the crust and skim if you like After 4 minutes, lift the lid slightly, gently stir the top layer to break the crust. If you prefer a cleaner cup, skim some of the foam and floating grounds off with a spoon.
  7. Press slowly Press the plunger down slowly and evenly. If it feels very hard to push, your grind is too fine.
  8. Serve immediately Don’t leave the coffee sitting in the French Press – it will keep extracting and turn bitter. Pour it straight into mugs or a separate serving jug.

    Quick clean up tip: As soon as you’ve poured out the coffee, give the plunger and metal filter a quick rinse under warm water. If you leave the grounds to dry on the mesh, cleaning the French Press an hour later becomes ten times harder.

Common problems (and how to fix them)

1. The coffee tastes bitter and harsh

Likely causes:

  • grind too fine,
  • brew time too long,
  • coffee left in the French Press after plunging.

Fix it by:

  • grinding coarser,
  • shortening the brew time to 3:30,
  • pouring all the coffee out right after you press.

2. The coffee tastes weak and watery

Likely causes:

  • grind too coarse,
  • not enough coffee (ratio too low),
  • brew time too short.

Fix it by:

  • grinding a little finer,
  • moving towards a 1:15 or even 1:14 ratio,
  • making sure you brew a full 4 minutes.

3. Too many grounds end up in the cup

Likely causes:

  • very dusty, uneven grind,
  • overly aggressive stirring,
  • plunging too hard and too fast.

Fix it by:

  • choosing a grind specifically labelled for “French Press” if you buy pre ground,
  • stirring gently, just enough to wet everything,
  • pressing the plunger down slowly and steadily.

Which beans work best in French Press?

French Press shines with coffees that have a chocolatey, nutty profile and a fuller body. From our range, these three are perfect matches:

Brazil Fazenda Pinhal 250g
Smooth, chocolate-forward comfort. Soft sweetness and hazelnut notes – ideal as an everyday French Press, especially with milk.

Guatemala Antigua 250g
More clarity and liveliness in the cup. Blackberries, chocolate and a clean finish – great if you drink your French Press black and like a touch of fruit.

Classico Blend 250g
Balanced, crowd-pleasing blend that sits between Brazil’s chocolatey richness and brighter origins. Perfect “house coffee” for a French Press on the kitchen counter.

Where to go next on your coffee journey

If you’re dialing in your French Press, these guides will help you go even further: