jmolli Senior Member Joined: 25 Nov 2009 Posts: 15 Location: NJ Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Thu Nov 26, 2009, 10:20am Subject: Do you stir your French Press grinds after approx 1 minute of brewing time??
I'm new to French Press brewing and I've seen conflicting directions on how to properly use a French Press. Some say to stir after around a minute of brewing others don't mention anything about stirring. What do you recommend? Stirring seems to make sense as it makes the grinds float down into the water.
Posted Thu Nov 26, 2009, 10:51am Subject: Re: Do you stir your French Press grinds after approx 1 minute of brewing time??
Hi jmolli,
I don't. I just let it sit and pour it off in about 3 minutes. I have a timer on it, but I won't say it's immediate.
There are several methods people use. Some stir ... some let it sit longer (I've seen 4 mins) ... some stir and let it sit.
I actually let it sit 3 mins and then take off the top crust of coffee that is floating on the top. Scoop it all out with a spoon (well not all, but most of) before I press it.
Try a couple of different ways and see what suits you best.
Cheers, Guy :-) aka canuk_guy
“It's no wonder that truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense.” ~Mark Twain
JasonBrandtLewis Senior Member Joined: 9 Dec 2005 Posts: 6,098 Location: Berkeley, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Elektra T1 - La Valentina -... Grinder: Mahlkönig K30 Vario -... Vac Pot: Yama 5-cup Drip: CCD, Chemex Roaster: No, no, not another...
Posted Mon Nov 30, 2009, 8:08am Subject: Re: Do you stir your French Press grinds after approx 1 minute of brewing time??
John, remember above all else, there is more than one way to skin a cat, and more than one way to brew a cup of coffee. In other words, the "right" way to make coffee is the way that tastes best to you!
Some people stir after a minute or so; some don't.
Some people brew for three minutes; some for four.
Some press their plunger down through the coffee; some scoop out the coffee and then plunge.
Some start with their plunger at the top, and the coffee underneath; some start with the plunger under the coffee and pull the plunger (and the coffee) out.
The best way you can make French Press coffee is to experiment yourself, and see what method, what grind, what coffee beans works best/tastes best to you!
jmolli Senior Member Joined: 25 Nov 2009 Posts: 15 Location: NJ Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Mon Nov 30, 2009, 7:33pm Subject: Re: Do you stir your French Press grinds after approx 1 minute of brewing time??
Thanks to all who took the time to post a reply.
Jason's post is an excellent summary of all of the "press pot" variations I've come across in my web travels researching techniques. I've settled on a quick stir with a chop stick after a minute or so. Quite honestly, I can't taste any difference between stirring and not stirring.
The one sure thing I do notice is that I get a much better cup of coffee from my French Press than I ever got from my old Krups drip coffee maker!
Now I've moved on to experimenting with different coffees. I've tried various single origins and blends from Intelligentsia, Klatch Roasting, Counter Culture, Allegro (available at my local Whole Foods market) and Kickapoo. Grinding and brewing these coffees within a few days of their roast dates has opened my eyes to some of the best cups of coffee I've ever had!
Why was I drinking that bitter tasting, auto drip crap all of these years? Someone needs to educate the masses on how to make a good cup of coffee!
Posted Mon Nov 30, 2009, 8:59pm Subject: Re: Do you stir your French Press grinds after approx 1 minute of brewing time??
I stir one minute after pouring 200F water because the grounds floating on top of the coffee is mixed with the released CO2. So these grounds are not in contact with the brew water and coffee is not being extracted. Just a quick stir to wet the grounds floating on top of the coffee.
Posted Wed Dec 2, 2009, 8:02am Subject: Re: Do you stir your French Press grinds after approx 1 minute of brewing time??
GaryH Said:
I stir one minute after pouring 200F water because the grounds floating on top of the coffee is mixed with the released CO2. So these grounds are not in contact with the brew water and coffee is not being extracted. Just a quick stir to wet the grounds floating on top of the coffee.
Posted Fri Dec 4, 2009, 2:55pm Subject: Re: Do you stir your French Press grinds after approx 1 minute of brewing time??
Six seconds off a rolling boil water for me. Stir after about 1 minute. Steep for about 3:30 min.
What I found made the biggest difference in my french press coffee quality was the quality and freshness of the roast and the quality of the grind. I went from a whirley blade grinder to a fairly good Zassenhaus burr mill hand grinder and then started home roasting. The quality of my coffee noticably improved from there.
jmolli Senior Member Joined: 25 Nov 2009 Posts: 15 Location: NJ Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Fri Dec 4, 2009, 10:16pm Subject: Re: Do you stir your French Press grinds after approx 1 minute of brewing time??
Becky,
I recently started scooping the scum and grounds out before plunging. It makes for a cleaner, better tasting brew, especially when your beans are fresh and you get a lot of blooming/co2. I read about using the chopstick somewhere on the web. It was recommended since it won't nick up the glass inside your press.
I'm thinking of trying to roast my own green beans. I think it will save me a few dollars in the long run if I don't have to buy every week from a specialty roaster, Although there is an investment required to get started.
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