THE SHORT ANSWER
A French press steeps grounds directly in hot water, then separates them with a mesh plunger. Our home starting point is 30 g coffee to 480 g water and a four-minute steep.
- Starting recipe
- 30 g coffee / 480 g input water
- Grind
- Coarse and even
- Time
- About 4–5 minutes
- Temperature
- About 94°C / 201°F
What you’ll need
- French press with capacity above 500 ml
- Scale, kettle, timer
- Grinder and a serving vessel
Make it, step by step
- Warm the empty press with hot water, then discard it. Add 30 g coarse-ground coffee.
- Pour in 480 g hot water and gently stir to wet any dry pockets.
- Set the lid on with the plunger raised. Steep for about four minutes.
- Press slowly and gently. If the plunger resists strongly, stop; never force it.
- Pour all the coffee into cups or another vessel. Leave the last silty spoonful behind if you prefer a cleaner finish.
Make it yours
Our 1:16 ratio is a lighter home starting point than Blue Bottle’s published recipe. Use less water for more intensity. Decanting matters more than pressing every last drop.
These are home starting points, not lab-tested guarantees. Follow the safety and capacity guidance for your exact equipment.
Sources & further reading
Source links support the factual context. Our home recipes and tasting suggestions are identified as starting points.