french press

For several summer seasons now, it has enjoyed immense popularity on café terraces, yet preparing it at home and enjoying it from the comfort of your balcony is just as effortless. Every lover of good espresso is familiar with cold brew in the summer—especially when temperatures climb toward thirty-five degrees and an icy alternative is essential. Discover more about this beverage and try preparing it in your own kitchen using our straightforward recipe. Where does cold brew originate? It might seem as though cold brew took over seasonal beverage menus only a few years ago. However, its origins trace back centuries and are linked to tea leaves. As early as the sixteenth century, the method of brewing tea using cold water dripping became established in Japan. Later, in Kyoto, this evolved into a method for cold-dripping coffee as well, giving rise to the very first cold brew. Today, we would refer to it as a cold drip, though the path to strict technological distinctions took another four centuries until steeping became the most widespread method of preparing cold coffee. Slow and cold Two critical factors play a key role in preparing cold brew: water temperature and steeping duration. To ensure the cold brew is genuinely refreshing, coarsely ground coffee is infused with cold filtered water and left to steep for 12 – 24 hours. If there is ever a case where more is truly more, this is it. The longer the coffee is allowed to steep, the more intense the flavor profile delivered to your cup. The steeping vessel offers ample room for experimentation, so do not hesitate to adjust extraction times and discover your ideal brew ratio. We recommend starting with a ratio of 1:10. The chemistry between the beans and water will take care of the rest. Thanks to the extended cold extraction, you will enjoy a beverage on your balcony featuring a robust body, rich chocolate notes, and a delightful fruity sweetness. And do you know what certainly will not be missing from your glass? A potent dose of caffeine. Caffeine extracts exceptionally well during extended steeping, making cold brew a remarkably strong coffee drink. Equipment needed for home preparation: French press, kitchen scale, 1 liter of cold filtered water, 100 grams of freshly ground coffee (coarse grind) Instructions: Step 1: Grind the coffee coarsely, selecting a grind coarser than for a standard French press. Step 2: Place the French press on the scale and add 100 g of ground coffee. Step 3: Pour 1 liter of cold filtered water into the French press and stir thoroughly. Step 4: Cover from the top. Step 5: Allow to steep in a cool, dark place for at least 12 hours. Step 6: Once the chosen time has elapsed, filter the coffee. Step 7: Serve over ice cubes. Our tip: Add tonic water and a slice of your favorite citrus fruit. Try crafting the perfect Cold brew using our coffee

If there is one coffee brewing method that can be found in almost every second household, it is the French press. It is often this very "pot with a plunger" that serves as the gateway into the world of Specialty coffee. Yet many underestimate it or use it incorrectly. However, the French press offers something that fine paper filters cannot deliver – a robust body and a rich texture. Because the coffee steeps in the water for the entire time and the metal mesh allows the coffee oils to pass through, you get a truly intense experience in your cup. Whether you are rushing through the city before work or enjoying a slow weekend morning at the cottage, the French press is a dependable partner. A Brief History: A French Name, an Italian Patent Although the name "French press" clearly points to France, its origin is not quite as straightforward. While the first mentions of brewing coffee by pushing a plunger through a filter appeared in France in the mid-19th century, these devices did not seal properly and the coffee was full of sediment. Paradoxically, the design of the French press as we know it today was patented by an Italian. It was the Milanese designer Attilio Calimani in 1929 who perfected the plunger's seal. Since then, this iconic design has remained virtually unchanged and has become the global benchmark for simple home coffee brewing. Expert Perspective Why should you give the French press a chance, even if you are a fan of the V60? Šimon Janík, Slovak Barista Champion, who oversees B2B relations and sales at Goriffee, shares his thoughts: "The French press is often unfairly pushed to the sidelines, but to me, it is the king of full-bodied flavor. Unlike the V60, where the paper filter captures most of the oils and sediment, the French press allows them into the cup. The result is a coffee with a heavier, creamier body and a longer-lasting aftertaste. It is the ideal method for people transitioning from traditional unfiltered coffee to Specialty coffee and looking for something bold in flavor, but without the grounds between their teeth. The key to success, however, is a quality grinder – you need a consistent coarse grind, otherwise the coffee will be bitter and murky." Recommended French Press Recipe Forget about immediately plunging after pouring the water. The secret to a clean French press lies in patience and skimming off the foam. Coffee: 30 g (freshly roasted Specialty coffee) Water: 500 ml (soft, filtered) Water temperature: 98 °C (just off the boil) Grind size: Very coarse (consistency similar to coarse sea salt) Total time: 4 – 8 minutes Instructions: Preheating: Rinse the French press with hot water to warm up the glass. Discard the water. Pouring: Add 30 g of coarsely ground coffee. Pour in the entire volume of water (500 ml). Make sure all the coffee grounds are thoroughly saturated. Steeping: Let the coffee steep for 4 minutes. Do not touch it in the meantime; leave the plunger aside. Breaking the crust: After 4 minutes, a "crust" of coffee grounds will form on the surface. Take a spoon and gently stir the crust. Most of the coffee will begin to sink to the bottom. Skimming: Foam and a few floating particles will remain on the surface. For a cleaner taste, skim them off with a spoon and discard them. Plunging (or rather, filtering): Place the plunger on top. You now have two options. You can either push the plunger all the way down (slowly!), or press it just below the surface of the coffee so that it serves merely as a strainer when pouring. The second method guarantees less sediment in your cup. Serving: Pour the coffee immediately into cups or a separate server to prevent further extraction. A final tip: Do not drink filtered coffee immediately after brewing; wait about 2-3 minutes until it cools slightly. The flavors develop best at around 70-60 degrees. Serve the coffee immediately after brewing; do not leave it in the French press "for later". Unless you separate the coffee from the water, extraction will continue, which may result in an unpleasant taste. Cheers! :) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 1. Why is my French press coffee full of "mud" and sediment? The issue usually lies with the grinder. Inexpensive blade grinders chop coffee unevenly – creating both large chunks and fine dust. It is precisely this fine dust that passes through the metal mesh and forms sediment at the bottom of the cup. The solution is a quality burr grinder and a coarse grind setting. 2. How long can I leave the coffee in the French press after plunging? You should pour the coffee immediately after plunging. As long as the water is in contact with the ground coffee (even when pressed to the bottom), extraction continues. If you leave it there for 10 minutes, the coffee will become bitter and over-extracted. 3. Can I also brew tea in a French press? Technically yes, but we do not recommend doing so in the same vessel you use for coffee. Coffee oils settle on the mesh and the glass, and they are very difficult to wash away completely. Your delicate green tea could easily take on the stale flavor of old coffee. 4. Is the French press suitable for light roast coffee as well? Absolutely. Although it is often associated with darker roasts, a light roast Specialty coffee shines beautifully in a French press. You will achieve a sweet cup with a full body that will be distinct from a V60, yet still exceptional. For lighter roasts, we recommend using boiling water and a longer steeping time. 5. How do I maintain my French press? It should be disassembled after every use. Rinsing it is not enough. Unscrew the mesh from the plunger, as old oils accumulate between these metal parts, which turn rancid over time and spoil the taste of every subsequent brew.