The Perfect Cup of French Press

There is nothing that can greet you in the morning like a wonderful cup of coffee. As I write this, I'm still sipping on my first cup of absinthe-flavored coffee. There are few things that can start your day off quite like a strong cup o' joe and it's important to know how to do it right! Don't be disillusioned - we don't make French press or espresso every morning of the week. We're normal and have a coffeemaker where we can preset the time it brews, the night before. Before that, we had a little 4-cup coffeemaker that wasn't even capable of being preset. But we certainly do enjoy making more specialty coffees, particularly on the weekends! Below you will find the instructions for making a wonderful brew of French press coffee, with step-by-step pictures (don't get used to that - this was easy to take pictures of along the way; I'm not usually that coordinated!).





The Perfect Cup of French Press (adapted from The Kitchn; serves 2)
Fresh-roasted coffee beans
Water (heated)
Tools
Electric kettle
Coffee grinder
French press

Heat your water in the kettle - it should get to just before boiling. I usually let it boil fully (since our electric kettle is super simple and only has two settings - on and off) and then allow the water to sit for 2-3 minutes before using it, so it can cool down slightly.

Measure out 1/2 cup of coffee beans, then grind as coarsely as possible. We have a blade grinder, so working in sharp pulses gets it as coarse as possible. The coffee grinds should look evenly-coarsed. Pour the coffee grinds into the French press (see picture above). Pour in hot water, leaving about 1 inch at the top. Stir fairly vigorously with a plastic/rubber/wooden spoon/mini spatula (not metal!), using an up-and-down motion to mix evenly.

Steep for 4-4 1/2 minutes (the longer amount of time equals a more robust cup). When the timer goes off, you'll immediately want to press the coffee (see picture below). Be careful to make sure that the grate where you'll eventually pour the coffee out, is not facing the spout - otherwise your coffee will start to spew while you press! Once pressed, pour for immediate enjoyment! You can also make Moroccan Spiced Coffee with your French Press.

Recipe inspiration: The Kitchn: How to Make Perfectly Robust French Press