French Press Coffee

French Breakfast Recipes

ground coffee water You'll need: French Press Coffee Maker

Don't be intimidated by the French press - it's not really that complicated. And such a good cup of coffee! What is a French Press? A glass carafe, usually with a removable handle, is where the coffee goes. A plunger-filter slides down the middle of the carafe. It's a mesh disc with a little spring ringing around the top of the outside. The key is in the proportions: 2 Tbsp. + 1 8oz. cup water This proportion works for any method of making coffee - but the pitcher of the drip coffee maker that marks how many cups? Not the same as the cups that you measure out with your Pyrex measuring cup. Heat the water (either on the stove or in the microwave) to boiling. While the water is heating, measure out the coffee. Pour the hot water over the coffee. Pour slowly enough so that the grounds don't splash up the sides. Put the filter plunger straight in the top just far enough so that the filter part rests right on top of the water. (Don't let it get crooked or sometimes the grounds splash up and you have to market it as "Turkish Coffee.") Let stand 4 min. Slowly depress the plunger as far as it goes. Pour and serve immediately.

Submitted by Gretchen Grant
Contributed on: Sunday November 11th, 2007 and modified on Tuesday March 4th, 2008