Coffee For French Press
To me, the smell of fresh–made coffee is one of the greatest inventions.
Hugh Jackman
Most likely, you're no stranger to the drink coffee. Whether you're familiar with it for its caffeine content, health properties, taste, aroma or texture, coffee is wonderful. But to appreciate coffee, you should know what coffee beans and the roast match your needs. The four main types of coffee beans are Arabica, Robusta, Liberica and Excelsa. Similarly, the different types of roasts available are light, medium, and dark.
Ultimately, there's no best bean or worst; it all depends on your personal preference and what your palette likes. There's no right way of choosing. However, there is a right way of consumption. Certain coffee beans taste the best based on specific brewing methods. We mean by this, not every type of coffee bean should be brewed in the same way. There are more than a handful of different ways to brew coffee; it can become exciting and overwhelming at the same time.
To help you with brewing, today we're going to focus on the French press method. To know more about different types of coffee beans, please check our top 10 list.
What is french press coffee?
Other than the french press, this type of method is commonly known under the following names: cafetière à piston, coffee press, coffee plunger, and more. It was invented in 1929 by an Italian known as Ugo Paolini.
However, today there is still some dispute around who invented it. Another legend dates back to the 1800s when a Frenchman poured some water but forgot to put his coffee into a mug. As a result, he put the coffee in and found the grounds on the top of the pot. To save the coffee, he used a piece of metal and created a French press. Unlike other coffee brewing methods, this is manual and portable. Typically, hot coffee grounds are placed in a beaker, and hot water is added. The coffee is then left for some time to steep. Afterward, a metal filter is placed in the beaker and press downwards. Once this is done, the coffee grounds are separated, and a drinkable liquid coffee is produced.
Why is it important to choose specific beans?
You can use any coffee bean for a French press, but be careful certain beans may differ in taste after the brewing experience. Some may be bitter, and others may be sweeter. Therefore, we recommend experimenting and trying different beans to know which taste suits you better. What is important about using a French press is how the beans are ground. The truth is, you can use any ground in your coffee. The risk of this is that if you have grounds that are not appropriate for the filter size, you could be drinking a coffee that isn't smooth. Plus, most of the time, instantly grounded coffee is designed for an espresso machine which will most likely fall through the filter.
So, to get a smooth and tasty coffee, you should use an medium to coarse grind beans. You can do this by either using your grinder or buying coffee beans from your local coffee shop and asking them to grind them for you. When it comes to the coffee bean itself, most people tend to choose a medium or dark roasted bean for the best French press coffee. This is because these beans tend to keep the oils and allow the taste to be stronger and full of flavor.
French press features
If you're looking for good coffee, you must know about the features a French press is renowned for, which are:
- The metal mesh filter: Unlike other brewing methods, the French press has a metal mesh filter that allows many of the coffee’s great qualities to remain. Unlike paper, it keeps the oils and natural flavor in the liquid while brewing.
- Better Flavours: The coffee grounds are steeped in water inside of the beaker for several minutes. As a result, the taste is stronger and bolder compared to other brewing methods.
- Consistent temperature: Due to the beaker itself, a French press allows the coffee to stay at the same temperature. Other brewing methods cause the coffee to heat up quickly and cool down just as quickly.
Most popular coffee beans
- Arabica beans: Due to accessibility, one of the most popular types of coffee beans for the French press is Arabica beans. They're popular as they're the ones grown the most and what you'll come across in your coffee shop. They're also dense in sugar and lipids, making their aroma, texture and taste much better from a French press. These beans derive from the Arabica plant and are commonly found in South America, Ethiopia and some parts of Asia. They're mainly found in areas of the world that are subject to lots of rainfall. One of the factors that make Arabica beans so unique and accessible is that they've grown at a high elevation and are above sea level.
- Price of Arabica beans: Arabica beans can cost different prices depending on where you're located in the world. However, if you're based in the USA, they cost around $3.710 per kilogram on average.
- Taste of Arabica beans: When drinking Arabica beans from a French press, expect a smooth and clean taste in your mouth. Due to their high sugar content, these beans, are not bitter and often have hints of chocolate and fruit while drinking. However, the sweetness and caffeine content can depend on the roast you choose for the Arabica beans.
How to choose the best coffee beans for French press?
- When choosing coffee beans for a French press, you should consider the type of beans, date they were picked, the origin, grind and the price. Generally, when using a French Press, you will want to pick whole beans over ones that have been grounded and pre-packaged. Coffee beans that are still whole are fresh will provide a better taste. Ideally, you should select coffee beans picked in the past three months and even better if you can find ones in the past six weeks.
- It's best to use a medium grind to make sure the coffee does not seep through the filter. You may also be struck by the types of blends, whether it's the mixed or single origin. What this means is that the coffee may come from different countries or one location. This usually only occurs with pre ground coffee beans.
- When you buy a French press, it can become quite daunting to find the right coffee beans to make the best French press coffee. However, all you really need to know is that whole beans are better than pre grounded and when you grind them, do it to a medium style.
Most of the time, the best beans are Arabica as they're the most accessible, and a medium roast will allow you to retain the flavors and smoothness when drinking.
FAQ
Where do coffee beans come from?
Coffee beans are grown on different types of coffee plants. You can get different types of qualities, tastes and bean textures from other countries. The common countries they grow in are Africa, Asia, Central America and South America.
How long do coffee beans last?
Generally, coffee beans that have a green color and not been roasted can last up to 2 years or longer. However, ones that have been roasted generally last between 2-6 months. Yet, the duration can vary depending on your taste preferences.
How much coffee beans per cup?
Coffee beans per cup can completely depend on your preferences and the grounds you are using. On average, for 6 ounces of coffee, you will want to use two tablespoons of ground coffee.
Can you use any coffee beans for espresso?
While you can use any coffee beans for espresso, most people tend to choose a dark roasted bean that's been finely ground. If you're still unsure, you can always ask your local coffee shop for an espresso roast.
How many coffee beans to grind for French press?
To know how many coffee beans, you will need for your French press, you will want to review the water to coffee ratio. Ideally, you should use 30 grams of coffee for every 350 grams of water you use.
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