French Press/ Plunger

What is it?

The plunger is one of the most straightforward brewing methods. It consists of a cylinder—usually made of glass—and features a metal mesh filter.

 

Why we love it!

Great for brewing for a group of people

Easy to produce consistent results

A common and accessible brewing method found in many homes.

 

What you need

  • French press/ plunger
  • kettle and scales

Recipe

Plungers come in many different sizes;

the steps below are for a 750ml plunger.

Makes approximately three 215ml servings

Coffee: 50g

Water:750g

Ratio: 1:15

Total brew time: 4mins

Grind size: coarse

Steps

  • Begin with at least 1 liter of fresh water and bring it to a boil.
  • Swirl some hot water in the plunger to warm it up, then discard the water.
  • Add your coffee grounds to the bottom of the plunger, then place the plunger on the scales and reset it to zero.
  • Start your timer and pour 750 grams of freshly boiled water into the plunger. Allow it to brew for 1 minute, then stir well. Let it brew for an additional 3 minutes.
  • Carefully plunge down and pour immediately to enjoy.

Tips!

Plunger coffee should be poured immediately after you’ve reached the total brew time to prevent the coffee over-extracting and becoming bitter.

If you have a different size plunger, simply adjust your water and coffee using the ratio of 1:15-1:16 (i.e.a 250g plunger would need around 16g coffee).

Is your drink gritty or is the plunger hard to press down? try a coarser grind.

Note: If you enjoy your plunger coffee black, using a filter is ideal as it will enhance the floral, fruity, and sweet notes in the coffee. On the other hand, an espresso roast is a fantastic option if you like your plunger coffee with milk or prefer a bolder flavor, as it offers lower acidity and a fuller body.