Why French Press Coffee Does Taste Better (Recipe)

Have you ever wondered why french press coffee tastes better? Or maybe you have not tried it yet and are curious about its popularity. In this post I will explain what makes it so much better and give you tips along with an easy recipe to help you become an at home barista, making a great french press coffee! Because who doesn’t love the aroma of coffee first thing in the morning? The smell alone will drag you out of bed! Who needs caffeine? Well my friend, I do. Enter my french presses.

​Coffee has been around since the beginning of time, dating back to 575 AD, when the turks were known for making their brews. With its distinct smell and variety of flavors, it is no wonder why we have been trying to perfect the best brewing methods for optimal bold flavors.

Some french press models have worked beautifully and have earned their signature name, aka the French Press, and some models have been swept under the rug never to be seen again for their lack in performance, and fear of more coffee grinds at the bottom of the cup! One thing I’ve learned about coffee enthusiasts, they are a lot like wine enthusiasts, we take our coffee very seriously! And rightfully so!

What is a french press?

 A french press coffee maker, also known as a cafetiére, or a plunger, is a cylinder shaped glass carafe, that you add coffee grounds to along with boiling water and allow it to seep. Once ready, you press down on the coffee plunger that contains a metal mesh filter to separate the grinds from your fresh brew. Et voila–Heaven! Find my favorite french press here!

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French press history.

In 1852 two Frenchmen, Mayer and Delforge, came out with the first known design of the french press. Unfortunately, this model was not ideal because it did not contain a seal to separate the grinds from the coffee.

The patent that closely resembles the ones that are used today, made its debut in the US in 1929 by two Italians, Attilio Calimani and Giulio Moneta, however, the most popular design was patented by a Swiss man named Faliero Bondanini, in 1958. This coffee press became widely popular in France where it was known as “chamber”. This is how it earned its most commonly known name as the “french press”.

Why French Press Coffee does taste better and is better?

• Now, in our fast paced world, we need things right away, so the little enjoyable things have taken a hit! When you take the time to make a coffee using a french press, the taste is so much better! Sure that first cup of coffee is good from coffee pots, but what about the second? Burned and over cooked! Seriously–cigarette water! Not to mention the added toxic estrogens you get from the heated water running through the plastics! Sure pushing a button is much easier, but it is the little things in life that make life so much more pleasurable, and the adjustment to your routine will only take a few days and will be totally worth it! 

• The method of the french press allows for more of the bean oils to stay in the coffee, because the grinds stay submerged under the water during the brewing process. This seeping creates a full-bodied coffee, giving it a more desirable flavor profile and a richer taste that we all are on the hunt for. The lack of the paper filters that are used in a drip coffee maker, help the coffee’s oils to make it into the brew as well.

• You save money by not buying disposable filters. I know, big deal right? Well every little bit adds up! Less waste, less money, and by using a french press you are skipping out on whatever chemicals were added to the paper. No, thank you.

• If you like using coffee pods, they ARE expensive! Not to mention, the plastic being heated by hot water is a worry.

• A french press coffee maker is a fraction of the price compared to other drip pots. You can buy one for under $10!

• Because you have control over the water temperature and the brew time, you have full control over how your coffee tastes compared to drip coffee machines. 

• It is so compact that it is conveniently portable! You can have a french press coffee brewing in your hotel room, and have good cup of coffee no matter where you are traveling to!

The Cons to a French Press Coffee Machine.

• If grinds at the bottom of your cup have you shrieking, then maybe this type of brewed coffee is not for you! Although, some sediment might make its way to the bottom of your cup, clumps are not normal. Something could be wrong with your mesh.

• It can be a bit more of a hassle to clean. You do want to wash your mesh plunger often because it can influence the taste of your coffee if it is dirty. It’s also a lot easier to grab a paper filter full of wet grinds and throw them out, rather than cleaning them out from the bottom of a french press. 

• It is a bit more time consuming, at first. Following the steps can be a drag for the first few brews but once you get the hang of it, in little time, you will find its ease of use.

Tips for the french press:

1. Make sure that when heating the water it reaches the right temperature. You want it at about 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Too hot will give you more of a bitter taste and too cool of water temperature will not extract the coffee oils correctly and you’ll be lacking that vibrancy.

2. Grind size matters! Coffee that is too fine of a grind will cause your plunger to be difficult to push down. On the flip side, if the coffee grinds are laying down on the bottom of the french press coffee maker and the plunger moves too quickly, then the grinds are too coarse. With a quality burr grinder (not a blade grinder) a medium-coarse grind should give you the best results. Save the fine grind for the espresso machine!

3. Follow brewing time. I usually only will brew my coffee for 4 minutes. Sometimes I have forgotten and have had a really strong, bitter coffee because of it. And, of course, since it is not on a heating device it will start to lose its heat.

4. Cleaning the stainless steel filter often is highly recommended. There can be build up on it which will cause it to clog, and it can alter the flavor of your coffee with old brews! Yuck! 

5. Although you can find french presses in various sizes, the most common are about 16 ounces. This will serve you and someone else. If you are making two cups of coffee, fill the carafe with the hot water to the bottom part of the stainless steel line located at the top of the maker, that way when you go to plunge, the coffee does not plunge out!

6. Invest in a good ground coffee! I’m always looking for a specialty coffee with a rich taste. 

7. A common coffee-to-water ratio is 1:15 (grams). So, the formula is: grams of coffee divided by the grams of water you are going to use. Or you could also start with 2 tablespoons per every 6 to 8 ounces of water. These are good starting points then adjusting the grams or tablespoons of coffee for your perfect cup!

8. Use filtered water! This will make your coffee taste so much better!

What you will need for the French Press Method:

16 ounces of filtered water

3 tablespoons ground organic coffee (for a stronger brew, you can always substitute for dark roasts).

A wooden spoon.

A pot or tea kettle to heat the water.

Filtered or purified water.

Why French Press Coffee Taste Better (Easy Recipe).

Serving for 2

Bring 16 ounces of filtered water to a boil, until it reaches 200 degrees. 

Grind coffee beans on a medium-coarse setting, preferably organic or a good quality coffee.

Place 3 tablespoons of the coffee grounds at the bottom of a clean french press coffee maker. 

Once the water has reached 200 degrees, carefully pour a couple of ounces of water (you want to double the amount of water to grounds) for the “bloom”. 

Stir for 20 seconds.

Pour in the rest of the water making sure that it is just under the top of the stainless steel line on the french press.

This will keep the water from coming out when it is time to plunge. Place the plunger on the carafe (Do not push it down yet!) and align the two openings so that it is ready to serve when the brew time is up.

Allow the coffee sit and steep for 4 minutes. 

Gently press down the plunger slowly and steadily, until it reaches the bottom of the french press machine.

Pour your coffees into two clean mugs. Drink them black or add in raw grass fed cream or a splash of raw milk. Enjoy!

Do you have a Breville Barista Espresso Machine and are curious as to know to clean it? Check out my post on How to Clean a Breville Barista Espresso Machine. 

Interested in learning about the benefits of raw milk? Check out my post on 13 Health Benefits of Raw Dairy Milk Consumption.

Check out my post on Why We Love Raw Milk and where you can find it in your area.