French press coffee, coarsely ground

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French press coffee needs a coarse grind. In a French press, also called a cafetière, the coffee steeps freely in hot water for a few minutes before a metal mesh plunger pushes the grounds to the bottom. That mesh only holds back coarse particles: grind finer and you get silt in the cup, a plunger that is hard to push and a bitter taste. Every coffee on this page is our own, roasted in our own roastery and coarsely ground once you have ordered. The ratio and steeping time are below the products; the full method is in our guide to brewing French press coffee.

Why a French press needs coarse ground coffee

A French press needs coarse ground coffee because only a metal mesh separates the grounds from the drink. Fine particles slip through the mesh and settle as sludge at the bottom of the cup, and the plunger meets so much resistance that pressing becomes hard work. Fine coffee also releases its bitter compounds faster, so after four minutes it tastes over-extracted. A coarse grind is made for that long contact time and rewards it with a rounded, full-bodied cup.

French press ratio and steeping time

Use about 60 to 70 g of coarse ground coffee per litre of water, which is roughly 30 to 35 g for a 500 ml French press. Pour on water just off the boil, around 93 to 96 °C, let it steep for 4 minutes and then push the plunger down slowly. Wondering how the result compares with a drip machine? What's the difference between French press and filter coffee? sets out the differences.

Picking a coffee for the French press

Strength. A French press brings out the full body of a coffee, so a coffee from the middle of our strength scale of 1 to 13 already makes a robust cup.
Origin. Single origins such as Kenya, Ethiopia or Guatemala keep their character in a French press, because there is no paper to hold back the oils.
Coarsely ground to order. Set the Coffee type to 'Freshly ground - Cafetière' and the grinder only runs once your order is in. Our coffee comes in resealable 250 g, 500 g and 1 kg bags with an aroma valve.
Beans for your own grinder. Prefer to grind yourself? Pick the beans option of the same coffee and set the grinder to coarse, or browse all coffee beans.

Medium-coarse and finer: other methods

Brewing through paper? The medium-coarse Chemex coffee or filter ground coffee for a drip machine will suit you better. An AeroPress, which steeps briefly and then presses, takes a finer grind: see AeroPress coffee. A moka pot, often sold as a percolator, is no place for coarse coffee either: it needs a fine to medium-fine grind, found on percolator coffee.

Frequently asked questions about French press coffee

What grind do you use for a French press?

A French press needs a coarse grind, with particles about the size of coarse sea salt. The coffee steeps loose in the water and a metal mesh is all that holds it back, so fine particles would end up in your cup and make the plunger stiff. A coarse grind also stands up to the four-minute steep without turning bitter. All coffee on this page is ground that way.

How long do you leave coffee in a French press?

Four minutes is the standard steeping time for a French press; after that, lower the plunger gently. Much shorter, and the brew tastes thin; much longer, and bitterness creeps in, especially with a grind that is on the fine side. Once pressed, pour the coffee straight away rather than letting it stand on the grounds, where it keeps extracting.

Why is there sludge in my French press coffee?

Sludge in French press coffee almost always comes from a grind that is too fine. Small particles pass through the metal mesh and sink to the bottom of the cup. Switch to a properly coarse grind, press slowly so the grounds are not stirred up, and leave the last few centimetres in the pot. A little sediment is normal for a French press, since there is no paper filter.

How do you make French press coffee?

Put about 60 to 70 g of coarse ground coffee per litre into the French press, pour on water just off the boil, stir once and let it steep for 4 minutes. When the time is up, lower the plunger gently and serve. Our step-by-step guide, Brewing French press coffee, how do you do that?, covers the details, from preheating the jug to cleaning it.

Coarsely ground coffee for your French press

Why a French press needs coarse ground coffee

French press ratio and steeping time

Picking a coffee for the French press

Medium-coarse and finer: other methods