# Help me fine tune my coffee making via french press **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** coffee\ **Created:** [January 5, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fine-tune-my-coffee-making-via-french-press/479959 "2009-01-05T17:23:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![xanthous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/53a042/32.png) [@xanthous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanthous)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fine-tune-my-coffee-making-via-french-press/479959/1 "2009-01-05T17:23:26Z")
I have a 20 oz. glass press I use 4 tbsp burr ground (med-coarse) fresh locally roasted organic coffee (I have one of those awesome [coffee bean vac containers](http://www.amazon.com/Exceptional-Designs-Bean-Vac-%2528ED150%2529/dp/B000KEMYVO/ref=tag_tdp_sv_edpp_i)) I use 195° filtered water out of our temp-controlled water dispenser (it’s as hot as I can get it out of there) I swirl until I get bloom I let sit for 4+ minutes …and it seems like it’s not quite “bold” enough for me. Even when I pour it into the cup, it looks blonder with light coming through the stream than coffee I brew in my drip pot. Tomorrow (no time today) I will measure the temp of the water after I pour it into the beaker- I suppose it could be that the 195° water that my dispenser tells me I’m getting (it has a temp readout as the water heats and cools) isn’t actually 195°… Is there anything else that seems amiss here? Should I let it steep for longer? Less coarsely grind the beans? (however if I do that, we’re getting close to the grind I use for the drip pot, which seems incorrect…) ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fine-tune-my-coffee-making-via-french-press/479959/2 "2009-01-05T17:42:08Z")
Use more grounds? I use a French press to make decaf Vietnamese iced coffee, and I find I have to use plenty of grounds to get it strong enough for my taste - about 4 tablespoons for a little 3/4 cup press. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fine-tune-my-coffee-making-via-french-press/479959/3 "2009-01-05T18:09:45Z")
Buy unroasted beans and roast them directly before grinding. ---
**Author:** ![redtail23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fine-tune-my-coffee-making-via-french-press/479959/4 "2009-01-05T18:21:24Z")
I’d agree, you probably need more coffee. IIRC, the general rec is for 2 TBSP per 6 oz cup, so for your 20 oz press, you’d need around 7 TBSP. ---
**Author:** ![xanthous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/53a042/32.png) [@xanthous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanthous)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fine-tune-my-coffee-making-via-french-press/479959/5 "2009-01-05T19:26:46Z")
> [@redtail23](#): > > I’d agree, you probably need more coffee. IIRC, the general rec is for 2 TBSP per 6 oz cup, so for your 20 oz press, you’d need around 7 TBSP. If this is true, I’d be kinda bummed—I use 6 tbsp for 3/4 pot of drip-brewed coffee. I get 3+ mugs of coffee from that, and only 1 2/3 mugs from the press pot. My reason for going the press pot route is because I’d love to drop $250 for a [Technivorm coffee maker](http://www.boydscoffeestore.com/brewing/options/9910-graphite.php) but I’m told press pot coffee is equal in quality. If I’m using expensive beans and I’m using _more_ for press pot coffee, then my argument against the Technivorm is weakening! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Omgalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/41988e/32.png) [@Omgalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omgalion)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fine-tune-my-coffee-making-via-french-press/479959/6 "2009-01-06T05:36:36Z")
A finer grind of coffee might help. I use a coffee plunger (french press) all the time, and using medium or coarse ground beans makes the coffee too weak for my taste. ---
**Author:** ![Fritz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@Fritz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fine-tune-my-coffee-making-via-french-press/479959/7 "2009-01-06T13:33:00Z")
> [@xanthous](#): > > If this is true, I’d be kinda bummed—I use 6 tbsp for 3/4 pot of drip-brewed coffee. I get 3+ mugs of coffee from that, and only 1 2/3 mugs from the press pot. > > My reason for going the press pot route is because I’d love to drop $250 for a [Technivorm coffee maker](http://www.boydscoffeestore.com/brewing/options/9910-graphite.php) but I’m told press pot coffee is equal in quality. > > If I’m using expensive beans and I’m using _more_ for press pot coffee, then my argument against the Technivorm is weakening! 😃 I recently splurged on the Technivorm (and it’s a very _very_ fine coffee maker), but coffee made via French press is different than that made from the Technivorm. Depending on your taste, it’s not necessarily better, just different. To me, the coffee has more body and depth of flavor when made in the press, but my wife prefers the Technivorm. I’ve been roasting beans for some time now, and I regard the press as the “Gold Standard” when I want the full impact and taste of a freshly roasted coffee. To the OP, I would only suggest that you do check the temp of the water - that’s critical. Also keep in mind in a press, the grind must be fairly coarse to avoid sediment. It’s possible to use a much finer grind in a filtered drip machine and a finer grind may allow better extraction and stronger coffee. That last is just a guess, but it seems logical. ---
**Author:** ![xanthous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/53a042/32.png) [@xanthous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanthous)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fine-tune-my-coffee-making-via-french-press/479959/8 "2009-01-06T23:24:15Z")
While I was doing my french press research, I googled “how to make perfect french press coffee” and the first return had this as its first step: > [@](#): > > 1. Check with your doctor. Studies have shown that unfiltered coffee can increase LDL levels in cholesterol. And upon further googling, I found this repeated in many places ([one such article](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6242467/)). I already struggle to keep my LDL at a healthy level…☹ ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fine-tune-my-coffee-making-via-french-press/479959/9 "2009-01-06T23:37:07Z")
> [@xanthous](#): > > 1. Check with your doctor. Studies have shown that unfiltered coffee can increase LDL levels in cholesterol. Buh. Does “unfiltered coffee” include espresso? I suppose it does. Damn! ---
**Author:** ![Influential\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Influential\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Influential_Panda)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fine-tune-my-coffee-making-via-french-press/479959/10 "2009-01-06T23:40:34Z")
I attended a lecture by Dr. Joe Vinson, a researcher UPenn Scranton and expert on antioxiants, coffee, chocolate, etc. He said that the French Press is the singly worst (health-wise) way to get your caffeine, and that instant crap in a can through a Mr Coffee is the single best. _sigh_ ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fine-tune-my-coffee-making-via-french-press/479959/11 "2009-01-07T00:22:23Z")
Oh, well. We’re not giving up our French press. We boil our water, then let it set for 15 seconds before pouring it over the grounds. We also don’t grind the beans (we use the coarse setting) until just before we make the coffee. re: the article, it says drinking six cups of unfiltered coffee a day raises your LDL. I would submit if you’re drinking six cups of coffee a day, you have other issues to worry about. ---
**Author:** ![xanthous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/53a042/32.png) [@xanthous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanthous)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fine-tune-my-coffee-making-via-french-press/479959/12 "2009-01-07T00:33:45Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > re: the article, it says drinking six cups of unfiltered coffee a day raises your LDL. I would submit if you’re drinking six cups of coffee a day, you have other issues to worry about. Nope, I drink 2.5 cups a day, religiously. Hope that means I’m safe! ---
**Author:** ![Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ass_For_A_Hat)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fine-tune-my-coffee-making-via-french-press/479959/13 "2009-01-07T02:30:02Z")
> [@xanthous](#): > > I have a 20 oz. glass press > I use 4 tbsp burr ground (med-coarse) fresh locally roasted organic coffee (I have one of those awesome [coffee bean vac containers](http://www.amazon.com/Exceptional-Designs-Bean-Vac-%2528ED150%2529/dp/B000KEMYVO/ref=tag_tdp_sv_edpp_i)) > I use 195° filtered water out of our temp-controlled water dispenser (it’s as hot as I can get it out of there) > I swirl until I get bloom > I let sit for 4+ minutes I add one additional step when I make mine. I take the lid off and give it another stir at the two minute mark. ---
**Author:** ![xiix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d6d6ee/32.png) [@xiix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xiix)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fine-tune-my-coffee-making-via-french-press/479959/14 "2009-01-07T02:38:18Z")
> [@xanthous](#): > > I have a 20 oz. glass press Serious coffee enthusiast chiming in (I exclusively alternate my home beans between Hawaiian Kona, Jamaica Blue Mountain and Kopi Luwak): In my opinion, thermal (insulated) presses are far superior to glass alternatives that let the heat out over the course of the 4 min. ---
**Author:** ![xanthous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/53a042/32.png) [@xanthous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanthous)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fine-tune-my-coffee-making-via-french-press/479959/15 "2009-01-07T07:00:59Z")
> [@xiix](#): > > Serious coffee enthusiast chiming in (I exclusively alternate my home beans between Hawaiian Kona, Jamaica Blue Mountain and Kopi Luwak): In my opinion, thermal (insulated) presses are far superior to glass alternatives that let the heat out over the course of the 4 min. **xiix,** I do hope you’re doing a demo at _my_ house tomorrow morning! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fine-tune-my-coffee-making-via-french-press/479959/16 "2009-01-07T07:16:33Z")
I don’t have a fix for you, but I love my french press. After pairing it up with a Thermos, I hardly ever bother with coffee houses anymore - except to buy beans. I really like having my classic green Stanley thermos on campus when everyone else has their paper cups. ---
**Author:** ![Frazzled](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frazzled/32/3368_2.png) [@Frazzled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frazzled)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fine-tune-my-coffee-making-via-french-press/479959/17 "2009-01-07T15:13:13Z")
> [@xiix](#): > > Serious coffee enthusiast chiming in (I exclusively alternate my home beans between Hawaiian Kona, Jamaica Blue Mountain and Kopi Luwak): In my opinion, thermal (insulated) presses are far superior to glass alternatives that let the heat out over the course of the 4 min. Kopi Luwak? Even knowing how it’s “processed”, I still want to try it. Where do you find it? ---
**Author:** ![xiix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d6d6ee/32.png) [@xiix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xiix)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fine-tune-my-coffee-making-via-french-press/479959/18 "2009-01-07T19:01:28Z")
Frazzled: Indeed I am familiar with the unique ‘processing’ of Kopi Luwak, but I have read that ultimately Kopi beans have on average less bacteria than your average bean from Starbucks…cite (University of Guelph study): [http://www.uoguelph.ca/news/archives/005780.html](http://www.uoguelph.ca/news/archives/005780.html) I get my Kopi (and all other beans) from Coffeeholic in Toronto [http://www.yelp.ca/biz/coffeeholic-toronto](http://www.yelp.ca/biz/coffeeholic-toronto) . They also brew individual cups of Kopi ($20 a shot) and use an interesting ‘hand-drip’ method which involves meticulously pouring water over the freshly-roasted grounds in a slow concentric pattern for a few minutes per cup. If you have trouble finding Luwak locally and don’t wish to purchase off the web I’d be happy to speak to the owners and help arrange a small purchase via courier. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fine-tune-my-coffee-making-via-french-press/479959/19 "2009-01-07T20:19:42Z")
May I ask what kind of french press you use and if you use it every day? I have broken three (different brands) in a year. The screen thingie usually detaches from the plunger rod thingie, or goes sideways or just breaks off. I’d love to find an industrial strength french press that can take my kind of (apparent) abuse. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fine-tune-my-coffee-making-via-french-press/479959/20 "2009-01-07T21:10:14Z")
I use a Bodum Chambord nearly everyday, and it’s held up just fine. I’ve heard that if your grind is too fine it can be rougher to plunge - maybe that could lead to wear and tear. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fine-tune-my-coffee-making-via-french-press/479959.md?page=2)