Brewing the best cup every time.

The French press, also known as coffee press or coffee plunger is a coffee brewing device patented by Italian designer Attilio Calimani in 1929. Although the first press was made and used in France, it’s popularity grew with the introduction of the BODUM® by the similarly named Danish kitchenware company. It works best with coffee of a courser grind and provides a fuller bodied taste profile with a more pronounced mouth feel. French press coffee is more dense and heavy yet has its own sort of elegance. It is important to not allow the coffee to steep in the hot water for longer than the recommended time period (3.5-4.5 minutes); otherwise it will create a bitter and astringent taste experience. As with all coffee brewing methods; weights, measures, grind size and timing are all critical to creating an elevated coffee experience. Of course, let’s not forget the high quality fresh roasted coffee bean!

Step 1: Open the press

Place the pot on a dry, flat, non-slip surface. Hold handle firmly, then pull the plunger unit straight up and out of the pot.

 

Step 2: Measure up

Recommended water to coffee grounds ratio is 16:1, depending on the size of press you are using. For the BODUM® Chambord please see specs shown above. For the most popular sized 8-cup press, use 53g of coffee and 850ml of hot water.

 

Step 3: The grind

Place the press on a heat proof, non-slip surface and pour in the coffee grinds. Ensure that you freshly grind your selected coffee course. If you use too fine a grind, you can clog the filter and create high pressure.

 

Step 4: Add Hot Water and set timer

Pour the hot water in slowly (between 195 and 200 degrees Celsius). If you don’t have a thermometer, it is usually 1 minute after full boiling point is reached. Make sure you leave a minimum of 1-inch space at the top. It is IMPORTANT to pour in a SLOW and controlled manner. When finished pouring set timer between 3.5 and 4 minutes.

Step 5: Stir and position plunger top

As there may be some clumped coffee grounds or coffee not making contact with the water, a gentle stir of the top few inches will help this. Place the plunger on top of the glass press but DO NOT press down yet. This will help retain the heat. Wait for timer to reach desired brew time.

Step 6: Take the Plunge – Press down SLOWLY

Slowly press down the plunger. Be gentle. Slow and steady. It should have some resistance but not too much. If you find it not going down, stop and pull up ever so slightly and then continue down again. To minimize getting grit into your brew, stop the plunger about 1/2” to 1” from the bottom. This is the space where the coffee grounds now reside.

Step 7: Pour the Coffee

It is important to pour the coffee into the serving glassware immediately or into a serving pot. If the coffee grounds are left to steep longer, the taste will be adversely affected.

Step 8: Cleaning

Unscrew the filter assembly and clean the plunger after each use. All parts are dishwasher safe.