# New French Press question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-french-press-question/954400>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** food-cooking\
**Created:** [November 15, 2021, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-french-press-question/954400 "2021-11-15T16:24:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Roger\_That](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roger_that/32/8505_2.png) [@Roger\_That](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roger_That)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2021, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-french-press-question/954400/1 "2021-11-15T16:24:59Z")

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Sometimes (only sometimes, maybe half the time) I find it impossible to push the plunger down (and thus pour coffee out of the Press). If I try too hard, coffee gushes out all over the counter or (as just now) I break the entire plunger part.

What causes this to happen?  
Can I do anything to prevent it? Or to speed the process along? (Usually, ten minutes or so allows me to pour coffee.  
Is this a problem with the press, with the coffee, with me, with the universe?

Any ideas?

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**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2021, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-french-press-question/954400/2 "2021-11-15T16:28:01Z")

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Coffee ground too finely, blocking the screen.

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**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2021, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-french-press-question/954400/3 "2021-11-15T16:30:57Z")

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**needscoffee** is right. If you grind your own coffee, set it to the coarsest setting possible. If you have it done at a coffee place, like Peet’s or Starbucks, ask them to set it as coarse as possible. I noticed that even their coarsest setting might still be too fine, though. But grocery stores’ coffee grinders seem to always get it right.

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**Author:** ![tofor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tofor/32/13727_2.png) [@tofor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tofor)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2021, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-french-press-question/954400/4 "2021-11-15T17:06:58Z")

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Or better, use the [James Hoffman Ultimate French Press Technique](https://youtu.be/st571DYYTR8) (Link to YouTube Video)