How to Brew French Press Coffee at Home

French press is one of the most forgiving and satisfying ways to brew coffee. No paper filters, no complicated technique — just coffee, hot water, and time. The result is a full-bodied, rich cup with more texture and weight than most other methods. If you like your coffee to feel substantial, this is your brew.

The immersion style of a French press means the grounds steep directly in the water, extracting more oils and body than a pour-over. That makes roast selection important. At Kos Coffee, Still Hour and The Draw are naturals here — their depth and richness come through beautifully. Gather is a great middle-ground option if you want something a little more balanced.

What You'll Need

  • A French press (any size — 350ml, 600ml, or 1L all work the same way)
  • A burr grinder
  • A kettle
  • A kitchen scale (optional but helpful)
  • Fresh whole bean coffee — we recommend Still Hour, The Draw, or Gather
  • Water heated to 93–96°C (200–205°F)

The Ratio

Use a 1:15 ratio — 1 gram of coffee for every 15 grams of water. For a standard 350ml French press, that's about 23g of coffee. For a 600ml press, aim for 40g. Scale up or down to taste.

Grind Size

French press needs a coarse grind — think coarse sea salt or rough breadcrumbs. This is coarser than pour-over. A finer grind will slip through the mesh filter and make your cup muddy and over-extracted. When in doubt, go coarser.

Step-by-Step

  1. Preheat your press. Pour a splash of hot water into the empty French press, swirl it around, and discard. This keeps your brew temperature stable.
  2. Add your coffee. Add your coarsely ground coffee to the press.
  3. Start your timer and add water. Pour hot water over the grounds, making sure all the coffee is saturated. Fill to about 1cm below the top. Give it a gentle stir to make sure everything is evenly wet.
  4. Place the lid on — don't plunge yet. Set the plunger just on top without pressing down. This traps heat while the coffee steeps.
  5. Steep for 4 minutes. This is the sweet spot for most coarse-ground coffees. You can experiment with 3.5 or 4.5 minutes depending on your taste.
  6. Plunge slowly. Press the plunger down with steady, even pressure over about 20–30 seconds. If it feels like you're forcing it, your grind is too fine. If it drops with no resistance, go a little finer next time.
  7. Pour immediately. Don't let the coffee sit in the press after plunging — it will keep extracting and turn bitter. Pour it all out into your cup or a carafe.

Which Roast to Use

French press rewards roasts with body and depth. Still Hour is an excellent choice — its quiet, layered character fills out beautifully in immersion brewing. The Draw brings bold, full-bodied richness that suits the method perfectly.

If you prefer something a little lighter and more versatile, Gather holds up well in a French press without losing its balance. And if you're curious how a lighter roast translates — First Light in a French press is a different experience, softer and more delicate, worth trying at least once.

A Few Tips

  • Don't skip the coarse grind. It's the single biggest variable in French press. A burr grinder makes a real difference here over a blade grinder.
  • Pour it all out right away. Leaving coffee in the press is the most common mistake — it keeps extracting and goes bitter fast.
  • Clean your press thoroughly. Coffee oils build up in the mesh filter and affect flavour over time. Rinse it well after every use and do a deeper clean weekly.
  • Experiment with steep time. Four minutes is a starting point, not a rule. A shorter steep gives you something brighter; longer gives you more body and intensity.

French press is the kind of brew that rewards a little attention without demanding perfection. Once you've dialled in your grind and ratio, it's one of the easiest ways to make a genuinely great cup — every morning, without much fuss.

Back to blog