photonick Senior Member Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 32 Location: burbank Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Sun Apr 20, 2008, 5:13pm Subject: French press brew questions
I've been trying to master my french press brew, I've got it pretty close but i think i could improve on it even more. I'm using a chambord and an antigua grinder with high quality beans. Lately I have been brewing my 16oz cups with about 35-40 (4-5 heaping bodum scoops) grams of coffee and steeping it for 4 minutes. My question to you guys is how many grams of coffee do you guys put in? I read for every 4oz of water one heaping scoop or about 8 grams of coffee. I noticed sometimes when i used 4 scoops of coffee the brew is a bit watery, which more scoops be the best way to solve this or a finer grind?
Posted Sun Apr 20, 2008, 5:52pm Subject: Re: French press brew questions
The recommendation ( 8g of coffee/ 4 oz. water) is a good starting point and should give you a tasty brew. I would try grinding a bit finer rather than adding more and more coffee. Like with espresso, it's always a good idea to try and only vary one thing at a time.
FWIW, I go with 32 g. of coffee for my 16 oz. Bodum and it makes very rich coffee which is strong enough for most people.
For a small French Press like this, a 3 minute steep should be plenty-
I was a bit surprised when i got my antigua grinder i set it to the french press setting and the grind was HUGE i have it at the little drip coffee icon and it seems iike i get more flavor.
Also I've been weighing my coffee in bean form before i grind it, is there any downside to this, i like to dump the ground beans right from the grinder into the coffee asap after grinding so i try and find the perfect amount beforehand.
I was a bit surprised when i got my antigua grinder i set it to the french press setting and the grind was HUGE i have it at the little drip coffee icon and it seems iike i get more flavor.
On your second question - that's exactly what I do. It's more convenient and the difference in weight (before and after grind) is insignificant for a FrenchPress.
I know, however, a lot of people prefer a coarse grind and a longer steep time (as long as 4 or even 5 minutes).
For me, I've tried just about every grind/steep time combination and settled with a grind between drip and coarse (a 28 out of 40) on my Baratza and a 3 minute steep.
I would experiment until your taste buds let you know what you like the best. The finer the grind, the shorter the steep time.
As mentioned, I wouldn't vary the amount of coffee or water.
I just notice sometimes especially with those pikes place beans from starbucks the coffee tastes more like coffee flavored water than coffee, i don't get that richness.
Maybe a better way to think about it is, figure out what your sludge tolerance is, and grind the coffee until it's almost that fine. :-) That's what I do. Finer coffee, more flavor, more sludge.
goschool Senior Member Joined: 31 Dec 2006 Posts: 45 Location: Los Angeles, CA Expertise: I love coffee
Grinder: Baratza Virtuoso Drip: Bodum French Press,...
Posted Fri May 16, 2008, 12:01pm Subject: Re: French press brew questions
photonick Said:
I just notice sometimes especially with those pikes place beans from starbucks the coffee tastes more like coffee flavored water than coffee, i don't get that richness.
If you live in Burbank, CA, you must quickly use up the Starbucks coffee and head to Supreme Bean. You're too close to too good a roaster to use SBX.
My press pot method goes as follows: I use 29/40 on my Baratza, which is maybe five clicks finer than they recommend (experiment a little, the grind too fine when it's noticeably difficult to plunge). I pour the water, I do not stir, and I place a saucer on top as the lid. After a minute I break the crust, gently stir, and I put the press pot's top on. I wait another two minutes, then I plunge, and pour.
Symbols: = New Posts since your last visit = No New Posts since last visit = Newest post
Forum Rules: No profanity, illegal acts or personal attacks will be tolerated in these discussion boards. No commercial posting of any nature will be tolerated; only private sales by private individuals, in the "Buy and Sell" forum. No cross posting allowed - do not post your topic to more than one forum, nor repost a topic to the same forum. Who Can Read The Forum? Anyone can read posts in these discussion boards. Who Can Post New Topics? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post new topics. Who Can Post Replies? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post replies. Can Photos be posted? Anyone can post photos in their new topics or replies. Who can change or delete posts? Any CoffeeGeek member can edit their own posts. Only moderators can delete posts. Probationary Period: If you are a new signup for CoffeeGeek, you cannot promote, endorse, criticise or otherwise post an unsolicited endorsement for any company, product or service in your first five postings.
= No New Posts since last visit 