French press coffee question.

[Fuzz]

What grind is best for this? I have a home grinder, should I grind fine or course or somewhere in between for a French Press?

[cwydro]

1. I was told years ago

when I bought mine, that slightly coarse is the best. But I have used all manner of grinds with no problems. Definitely the BEST way to make coffee! Was also told to let the water be just slightly off the boil when you pour it in, to avoid bitterness. I really can't tell the difference though.:hi:

[radwriter0555]

2. Espresso grind is perfect, as in fine.

Will work FINE.

[tigereye]

3. not too fine, from what I have heard

that's what my instructions say.

[Chan790]

4. Super super course

courser the better. We set our grinders at work to max (I think it's 9? I don't really look at the numbers, it's labelled (by filter method) for our convenience.) to grind french press. Espresso is the opposite extreme, super-fine.(0 or 1)

Chan, your friendly DU barista. :silly: <---I just realized this looks like me. Wow!

[Chan790]

5. Self-reply to flesh out

Looking online for a copy of our resources manual so I don't have to handtype section about press-brewing. Using too fine of a grind will result in bitter coffee and particulate matter.

I can't find it, but for any future coffee question, the defining online resource is Coffee Geek

from Coffee Geek

http://www.coffeegeek.com/guides/presspot

Factors that make a good pot of Press Pot Coffee

If there's one thing that you need to take away from this how to, it's this. Don't skimp on your grinder.

I get really irked at comments I see online, in alt.coffee, even in our consumer reviews section that say things like "it's good enough for a french press"... these are people talking about a blade grinder, or even the cheaper burr grinders like the Pavoni PA or the Braun KM30. I say to that: bull shite.

Let's think about something here. What is it about press pot coffee that makes people think the grind should be more forgiving? The bigger size of the grounds? The steep time? No, none of that. There's nothing in press pot coffee brewing that will allow for a crappy grinder to produce the same results that a good grinder can produce.

Grounds Size
Enlarge this picture (click it) and look at the bottom of the pot. All the particles are even - no dust. This is a near-perfect press pot grind.

With a press pot, particle size of the grounds is as important as it is for espresso. The difference is, you want uniform large particles, instead of uniform tiny particles. Cheap grinders can't give you either - they will give you a mixed bag of big and small chunks. Dust and boulders. It's what leads to the thing people dislike most about press pot coffee - the sludge.

[Karenca]

6. Course---otherwise you'll get grinds in your coffee ccup, or sludge

in the bottom of your cup.

[grasswire]

7. some people like sludge...

...and I'm one of them. But most "experts" say to grind coarser than for drip.

I watched an expert on Martha Stewart who said that to maximize the French Press, do this:

1. Always, always start with cold, fresh water.

2. Don't let the water boil hard -- catch it just as it comes to a boil. Otherwise you get a mineral taste.

3. Pour about half of the water into the press and let the coffee "bloom" -- and then after several minutes finish pouring your water in. And then let it sit for several minutes before you press the plunger.

4. If the press is hard to push down, your grind is too fine.

[Karenca]

8. That method is exactly right. . eom

[yvr girl]

9. We had someone from Starbucks sampling in our store this weekend

I had a conversation with him about coffee. The longer the water is in contact with the grounds, the courser they should be. Espresso is pushed through in seconds, so it should be fine. They steep together in a French Press so you should use a course grind.

[Left Is Write]

10. I don't grind for French press with my home grinder.

I have them do it at the coffee shop.

[conscious evolution]

11. good idea thanks