French Press Brew Guide

Fidalgo Coffee is traditional drum-roasted specialty coffee. We roast and develop the coffee to bring out its rich and smooth flavor. This style of coffee is perfect for brewing using a French Press. Our way of brewing French Press is much quicker than you might find from others in the industry. This is because we think of French Press as part of the Espresso family. This type of brewer is mesh-filtered using a metal screen, and the plunging action applies pressure to extract the coffee. For this reason, we are grinding finer than most and speeding up the process. This means you get a cup of coffee in about 90 seconds once you start pouring water into the coffee maker.

We love the classic Bodum 8-cup French Press, which is the basis for this brew guide. The fact that Bodum calls this an 8-cup coffee maker is another reason for our designating the French Press with the Espresso family. Bodum’s eight cups must be eight demitasse cups. A demitasse cup is a little coffee cup for Espresso, Turkish coffee, etc. Demi = half size.

Step-by-Step Guide to Brewing Coffee with a French Press

STEP 01

Prepare the French Press

Get everything together: French Press, kettle, water, coffee, grinder, mug and/or pitcher, any milk or cream, sugar, garnish
(optional) Preheat the French Press: Pour hot water into the French press to preheat it. This helps maintain the brewing temperature. Discard the water after a minute.

STEP 02

Weigh and Grind the Coffee

Measure the Coffee: Measure out 3/4 cup (~50 grams) of coffee beans.
Grind the Coffee: Grind the coffee beans to a semi-coarse consistency, similar to kosher salt. A burr grinder is best for this.

STEP 03

Add Coffee and Water

Add Coffee Grounds: Place the ground coffee into the preheated French press.
Add Water: Pour 202°F (Fidalgo's recommended brew temperature for all hot brewing methods) water over the coffee grounds until near the top - but save a little room.
Let Coffee Grounds Bloom: The water will cause the coffee to swell up towards the top. Allow this to happen before adding more water (next step)

STEP 04

Stir and Steep

Stir and Add More Water: Use a wooden or plastic spoon to stir the coffee and water mixture gently. This helps ensure even extraction. Once done, top off with water to the top.
Place the Lid: Place the lid on the French press with the plunger pulled all the way up. This helps retain heat.
Steep: Allow the coffee to steep for 30-60 seconds. This time can be adjusted slightly based on your taste preference.

STEP 05

Press the Plunger

Press Slowly: Apply steady pressure to avoid agitation, which can cause over-extraction.
Stop at the Grounds: Press until the plunger reaches the coffee grounds at the bottom. Do not force it further.

STEP 06

Serve and Enjoy

Pour the Coffee: Immediately pour the brewed coffee into your cup or a serving carafe to prevent over-extraction.
Enjoy: Savor your freshly brewed French press coffee. The French press typically yields a full-bodied and rich cup of coffee.

Brew with Fidalgo Coffee

Additional Tips

Water Quality: Use filtered water for the best taste.
Coffee Freshness: Use freshly roasted and ground coffee for optimal flavor.
French Press Care: Clean your French press thoroughly after each use to maintain the quality of your coffee.