Plunger/French Press:
Great Coffee!!
Here's how to get great coffee out of your plunger/French press...
Making coffee in a plunger/French Press is a convenient way of producing two or three ( or more, although I do not recommend that) cups of coffee in one go.
A good French Press is made from glass/clear ceramic or stainless steel.
Its walls are straight, and it has a pouring spout; its plunger fits snugly and can be pushed right down to the bottom.
The lid should fit tightly, and the handle should allow you to hold it firmly and stabilise it while you push down the plunger.
As with all coffee, to get the best flavour it is best to make small quantities at any one time; if you need more than a few cups, simply make another batch.
Therefore, a small press of 2 or 3 cups capacity would be ideal; personally I never use a press which is bigger than a 4 cup-capacity.
Step by step:
- Grind your coffee medium coarse; too fine a grind will clog up the filter mesh of the press and you will end up not being able to push the plunger down.
- Allow a heaped tablespoon of coffee for each cup, plus one for the pot.
- Bring the water to the boil; once boiling, remove the kettle from the heat.
- after 30 seconds, pour the water into the press until it about 1/3 full.
- wait until the bloom has formed, then stir briefly.
- add the rest of the water, and stir for about 1 minute.
- Put the plunger and the lid on the press, and
- sit the base of the plunger just on top of the coffee mixture in the press.
- after about 5 minutes slowly push the plunger down;
- pour the coffee immediately: any coffee left sitting on the grinds WILL get bitter.
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