French Press

Chic and practical. The simplest way to brew rich and flavourful coffee for 1 - 4 person.
french press coffee recipe

French Press for a hearty brew

Coffee brewed with French Press is bold, strong and delicious. It combines infusion and straining, to give you a full-bodied coffee. This French Press coffee recipe is designed for your enjoyment, when you feel like drinking a hearty cup, or when you have guests to share. And it’s the best French Press recipe because it gives you minimal coffee sludge!

Brew your French Press coffee

Ingredients

Toys you need

French Press coffee tips

  • Adjust serving as desired, at coffee to water ratio of 60g per litre of water or 1 : 16. If you prefer a thicker body, you can use a ratio of 1 : 15 or even 1 : 14.

Here’s the coffee-to-water ratio (1 : 16) table for your quick reference.

French Press Coffee Ratio (1 : 16)
Coffee Water
20g 320g
30g 480g or 500g
40g 640g
50g 800g
  • The French Press is a very forgiving and infallible coffee maker. As such,  coffee beans of all roast profile — whether filter roast or espresso roast, light roast or dark roast, work well with the French Press brewing method. So the most important thing is to pick the coffee with the flavours that you enjoy! And we love Romance for its fruity and floral flavours!
  • Use medium grind size. We recommend the following grind sizes:
      • 4 to 5 notches for Hario Skerton +
      • 12 to 14 for Baratza Encore 
  • Brew with hot water just off the boil.
  • The ideal steeping duration is 9 to 12 minutes. To minimise astringency, we recommend to steep up to a maximum of 12 minutes (a timer is going to be very useful!). Any longer than that, your French Press coffee may taste bitter and astringent.

How to play

Step 1

Boil enough water to fill the French Press. While the water is heating, grind 30g of coffee.

step 1 grind 30g coffee

Step 2

Remove plunger from the French Press. Place the cylinder pot on the coffee scale. Tare the scale. Add 30g of coffee grounds into the cylinder pot. Then, tare the scale again

step 2 pour 30g into french press and tare

Step 3

Start timer. Pour 500g of hot water into the cylinder pot. Enjoy the aroma while your coffee is brewing.

step 3 pour hot water into french press

Step 4

At the 4-minute mark, gently stir the top of the coffee with a tablespoon to break the crust. Then, using 2 tablespoons (it’s easier than using 1 tablespoon), remove the foam and floating crust.

step 4 remove crust

Step 5

At the 9-minute mark, gently remove the cylinder pot from the scale and place it on the table. Insert the plunger and press it down until it touches the surface of the coffee.

 

Pour and serve.

*Note: Avoid pressing all the way down to touch the coffee grounds in the French Press. This is because pressing and squeezing will stir up the already settled grounds, which in turn gives you a muddy sludge in your cup.

step 5 press plunger

Smell, slurp, enjoy!

There’s always room for another great cup.

 

If you’re curious to try something new, explore our freshly roasted coffee beans in Singapore!

french press pour and serve

French Press coffee FAQ

We have tried doing this!

 

Unfortunately, coffee isn’t like tea where we can refill water repeatedly. Pouring hot water onto the grounds for a second brew didn’t give a pleasant taste — it’s literally coffee water with only astringency and bitterness. That’s because all the awesomeness has been extracted in the first brew.

 

As such, we wouldn’t recommend brewing two times with the same grounds for your French Press Coffee.

Sometimes we just want to drink more coffee than usual, but having a small French Press (e.g. 0.5 litres) seems to make things a little inconvenient.

In this case, we suggest trying out the following steps:

  1. Brew one round of French Press Coffee.
  2. After pouring out at 9 min, dispose the grounds and rinse lightly.
  3. Repeat the brew a second time with fresh grounds. Then you can let time do the work while you enjoy the first brew. Your second brew should be ready before you finish enjoying your coffee.

The suggestion above is suitable if you mostly brew a small volume for individual consumption but occasionally craves for more.

On the other hand, if you are frequently brewing more than 0.5 litres of coffee, it would be more enjoyable to get a larger French Press so that u can brew it in one go

If you can’t finish the coffee in a go, pour the remaining coffee into a mug, cover and put it into the fridge.

Now you can enjoy a cooling cup of French Press coffee anytime later in the day. And we strongly recommend finishing the coffee within the day.

[IMPORTANT!] Don’t forget to pour it into a separate pitcher (not to over-steep!) before placing the coffee in your fridge.

Absolutely! You can pre-brew your French Press coffee before your guests arrive for your party. That’s the best arrangement and a time-saving strategy.

Just a little note: The acidic taste is more prominent when coffee cools to room temperature. As such, we suggest serving it cold to minimise that.

Simply pour your freshly brewed French Press coffee into a separate pitcher (don’t over-steep!) before placing the coffee in your fridge. Serve only when your guests arrive.

Life’s a breeze with French Press!

Brew better with fresh coffee.

Know what's brewing...!

Join our email list for news, brewing tips and stories to
spice up your coffee experience!

Join our email list for news, brewing tips and stories to spice up your coffee experience!

Zen

Roast: Espresso Roast – Medium | Medium Light
Region: Peru | Indonesia Ijen
Processing: Washed | Natural
Varietal: Caturra, Pache, Bourbon | Kartika, Typica, S795

 

About This Coffee

Enjoy a serene moment with Zen, a blend of 70% Peru and 30% Ijen.

 

The creamy toffee notes of Peru blends with the refined character of Ijen, offering a cup that’s both peaceful and grounding.

 

This balanced blend invites you to slow down and embrace a moment of tranquility, bringing a sense of calm with every sip.

Power

Roast: Espresso Roast – Medium Dark | Medium
Region: Indonesia Seriburaja | Peru
Processing: Wet Hulled | Washed
Varietal: Mixed | Caturra, Pache, Bourbon

 

About This Coffee

With Power, experience the dynamic blend of Indonesia and Peru

 

This blend delivers the perfect combination of strength and harmony, making every cup a moment of energy and warmth.

 

For an extra kick, pair it with milk and let the magic unfold!

 

But hey, before you add anything, take a moment to sniff and taste the wonderful espresso in your cup!

Joy

Roast: Espresso Roast – Medium
Region: Indonesia, Seriburaja
Processing: Wet Hulled
Varietal: Mixed
Elevation: 1200 – 1400 MASL


About This Coffee

This coffee is sourced from Gayo in North Sumatra, Indonesia, and crafted using the traditional Giling Basah (wet-hulled) process.


After harvesting, the cherries are pulped, washed, partially dried, hulled at about 35% moisture, and sun-dried to 12%—a two-week process that creates its signature depth.


Behind it is Alfiner, who grew up in a coffee family and is now working with more than 170 smallholder farmers. He pays premium prices for quality cherries, supporting their livelihoods and sharing the true taste of Sumatra with the world.

Refresh

Roast: Filter Roast; Light
Region: Ethiopia, Badeyi Lot 14
Processing: Washed
Varietal: 74110, 741112
Elevation: 1950 – 1970 MASL

 

About This Coffee

REFRESH is the coffee you choose when you want something light, clean and refreshing, the kind of coffee that adds a little spark to your day.

 

This Ethiopian single origin delivers a tea-like cup that tastes clean and lifted without being sharp, and flavourful without feeling heavy.

 

It pairs beautifully with soft tropical music, slow chores, creative work or a short break, anytime you want something refreshing in spirit and bright in flavour.

Luxury

Roast: Filter Roast; Medium Light
Region: Indonesia, Ijen Highlands
Processing: Natural
Varietal: Kartika, Typica, Lini S795
Elevation: 1200 – 1500 MASL

 

About This Coffee

From the volcanic slopes of East Java’s Ijen Highlands comes a coffee that redefines luxury. Kevenka Coffees partners with local farmers, selecting only the finest cherries through meticulous quality control.

 

This season’s natural processing highlights the highland’s unique flavours, with upgraded equipment and expert hands boosting quality and taste.

 

It’s perfect for coffee lovers seeking the pinnacle of quality and indulgence!

Nostalgia

Roast: Espresso Roast; Medium
Region: Peru, Cajamarca Jaén
Processing: Washed
Varietal: Caturra, Pache, Bourbon
Elevation: 1600 – 1900 MASL

 

About This Coffee

NOSTALGIA is our Sweet and Cosy espresso roast, crafted for those who love comfort, warmth, and smooth everyday coffee.

 

Not too acidic, not too strong. Balanced and smooth.

 

A coffee that feels like a quiet moment at home.

 

Warm. Calm. Familiar.

Romance

Roast: Filter Roast; Medium Light
Region: Ethiopia, Murango Lot An
Processing: Anaerobic Natural
Varietal: 74158, 74152
Elevation: 2100 MASL

 

About This Coffee

ROMANCE is our happy, juicy coffee, the kind that makes you smile when you take the first sip.

 

From the highlands of Uraga in Ethiopia’s Guji region, this coffee is grown by smallholder farmer Nigusse Nare and his family, who tend heirloom trees under native forest shade using traditional methods passed down through generations.

 

Naturally processed using anaerobic fermentation and careful small-lot handling, our roasting brings out its vibrant sweetness and distinct character.

 

If you like coffee that is fruity and satisfying sip after sip, ROMANCE will steal your heart!

Filter roast

Light and flavourful. For the connoisseur of sweet hand brew.

Espresso roast

Chocolatey and roasty. Perfect for espresso, long black and coffee with milk!