Buzz
Brewing coffee with a French press is often considered one of the simplest methods—you just add hot water to coffee grounds, wait, then pour the coffee out. There's no need for percolators, slow drips, or portafilters. This simplicity might be why it’s a favorite for so many coffee enthusiasts (myself included). However, even if you've made it countless times, you may still be missing the final, yet most important, step: decanting.
The Importance of Decanting Your French Press Coffee
Unlike drip coffee, espresso, percolator coffee, or pour-over coffee, which each separate the brewed coffee from the grounds, French press coffee presents a unique situation. The grounds are pressed to the bottom of the container, yet some brewed coffee continues to circulate through them, not fully separated.
If you pour a perfectly brewed cup of coffee and leave the rest in the French press, two things begin to happen: The coffee beans risk over-extraction, leading to bitter and harsh flavors in each additional cup. Also, your hot coffee starts to lose heat.
The Ideal Way to Brew French Press Coffee
To prevent your coffee from turning bitter and cold, decant it. Allow the coffee to steep for four to eight minutes (depending on your preferred grind size and strength), then transfer the entire batch into an insulated container. This halts the brewing process and keeps your coffee hot for longer.
Don’t be misled by insulated French presses—they tend to be costly and only tackle heat retention. They don’t fix the issue of coffee grounds continuing to extract in the hot liquid. Your $12 French press will work just fine. Instead, use a stainless steel, double-walled, vacuum-insulated bottle. I’ve become quite fond of mine. Yes, I’ve started a collection, which might seem a little quirky, but you’ll understand once you see how well they work. We’re talking about coffee that stays hot for 12 hours.
My go-to brands for this are Klean Kanteen and Yeti. They offer a variety of sizes and styles, but these two are excellent for holding a solid amount of coffee. Plus, these insulated containers are perfect for both hot and cold beverages. Finish your coffee, rinse it out, and use it for an Arnold Palmer at a friend’s picnic later in the day.
