Making French press coffee at home and trying to figure out the best pre-ground coffee to use? Our guide is here to help!
Using a French press is an excellent way to make coffee tailored to your exact preference while also enjoying the process of making a fun and flavorful cup every day. We’re going to cover some of the basics about French press coffee, including information about the best pre-ground coffee for French presses and how to make the best cup of French press coffee!
You may be new to the French press, or you could simply be looking to try some new ways to enjoy it (I suggest trying iced coffee from your French press for some variety, as well).
As with many foods and drinks, the “best” coffee is all about preference. Although we’re sharing a lot of facts and information with you, you don’t have to agree with our suggested methods. What’s most important is that you are happy with your coffee, no matter how you make it or where it comes from!
What’s the Best Ground Coffee for a French Press?
Medium to dark toasts are generally the best choice for using a French press brewing method. (Avoid light roasts.)
Dark roasts are excellent for people who like to add milk and sugar to their coffee, as the rich, deep flavors pair well with some lighter cream or sweeter additions. (These are also excellent ways, among many others, to help make coffee less acidic without ruining it.)
For best results, use freshly ground coffee that is ground for a French press (coarse) and not a drip machine (fine). Drip machine coffee is very finely ground because the heated water that moves through the drip machine passes through quickly. The water does not have time to extract the flavors and oils of the ground beans, so the process is made more efficient and effective by providing smaller grounds.
In a French press, the grounds are coarser and thicker. French press is considered an immersion brewing technique — this means that the coffee grounds are immersed in water for a period of time. The extraction period is longer than a drip machine would be for the equivalent amount of coffee, but the result is also highly controlled.
Many people prefer the French press method because there is room to adjust the coffee to your preferences. Coffee made in a drip machine is at the whim of the product’s specifications, and the users have very little control, apart from how much coffee or water to use. Extraction time is based on the machine’s make and model, not the user’s discretion.
Immersion coffees, like French press coffees, can be modified using grind size, coffee bean type, and brew time length. It may take users a few different tries to find their exact preference, but that’s part of the fun of playing around with your coffee making style! Just as a baker might love to bake several cakes to find the perfect recipe, avid coffee lovers will delight in the experimentation phase of coffee making.
Can I Use Pre-Ground Coffee for a French Press?
Coffee must be ground before attempting to use it in a French press brewing process. A French press will not work with whole beans.
It is generally considered best practice to begin your French press coffee adventure using medium-coarse coffee grounds.
Coffee making is always a matter of preference, though, and I encourage people to explore their options and find what works best for them. Life is too short not to try some of your creative ideas with coffee!
Pre Ground Coffee vs Whole Bean Coffee
There’s not much debate when it comes to the facts about pre ground coffee.
Sadly, pre ground coffee loses some of its freshness simply because the interior of the bean is now exposed to the elements. Once you grind coffee beans, you begin the process of the coffee losing ultimate freshness. Coffee that has been ground should be used within 2 weeks for best results.
Storing the preground coffee in airtight containers does help slow this process, but nothing can truly prevent the loss of gases and oils.
Other best practice coffee storage tips include:
- Using a glass container to avoid leeching of flavors.
- Avoiding sunlight and heat.
- Transferring coffee immediately when you arrive home.
Many people believe that freezing the coffee can help, but there’s also the chance that freezing it will cause condensation, which introduces moisture to the coffee that may impact the flavor. I advise people to do this at their own risk and be aware of the possible negatives.
Grinding your beans on demand is the best way to get the freshest possible coffee. For this reason, whole bean coffee that is ground fresh is considered the best coffee money can buy.
What is the Best Coffee Bean?
There are four coffee bean types in the world: Excelsa, Liberica, Robusta, and Arabica. The most popular are the latter two.
Robusta beans are less expensive because they are pollinated naturally, through a process called cross-pollination. Winds and animal or insect activity are responsible for the reproduction of Robusta beans.
Robusta is strong and slightly bitter, with a noticeable kick to it. These beans contain more caffeine than Arabica.
Due to the availability and affordability of Robusta beans, these are the types often used in mass production by coffee companies like Starbucks. Robusta beans are often used for coffees that will use creamers or other added flavors or sweeteners. For best results, when adding creamer to your coffee, make sure your creamer is fresh and properly stored.
Arabica beans self-pollinate. Seeds are produced in smaller quantities, and new plant varieties are not created. This lack of diversity and new adaptable characteristics means that the plants are more susceptible to disease that can cause plant death or a decrease in future productivity.
Arabica beans have a sweet, aromatic, and complex flavor profile that people often liken to chocolates or fruits. These beans are usually considered higher-quality beans to produce coffee with.
All that said, coffee beans are entirely a matter of preference. I suggest trying both Arabica and Robusta beans!
How Do You Buy Ground Coffee for a French Press?
People who are totally committed to using a French press coffee maker as their primary means of making coffee swear by purchasing fresh beans and a grinder for home use. This is a great option to control every aspect of your coffee’s production after the beans hit the shelf, not to mention it provides home users with the freshest possible cup each day.
Grinding your coffee from home also allows you to expand your search for the perfect coffee. There are so many options for coffee beans online that it can be overwhelming, but it’s also pretty exciting! You can bring home coffee from trips or even ship it from anywhere in the world if you’re in an adventurous mindset.
If you’re an avid coffee drinker, you can pretty easily find an at-home coffee grinder for $15-40 online that won’t take up too much counter space.
However, this may not be practical for people who want to save time and money. Luckily, there are simple alternative solutions!
You can purchase whole beans in a bag at delis, co-ops, and grocery stores. Many grocers provide a grinder on site, so you can select your ideal beans and then grind them to your preference before leaving the store. This is a wonderful compromise, as it allows you to have freshly ground beans at the time of purchase, while also giving you the freedom to choose any kind of whole bean coffee that is available.
Another solution is to buy coffee that is already ground coarsely and available for purchase in a bag without this added step. This coffee is slightly less fresh, as it was ground at a different time and location, but it’s a reasonable solution that saves you time at the grocery store and also skips a step that some find to be a hassle. There’s no shame in saving time and money, so don’t let anyone discourage you from checking out some pre-ground beans for your French press.
My preference is to try to stay local. It may be surprising to discover, but many small towns and cities across the country have local roasters that may provide you with exactly what you are looking for, and possibly even some great new flavors or a facility tour.
I love supporting small businesses or local businesses, so my suggestion has some heart behind it, too. You could be very pleasantly surprised by what your neighbors have to offer!
But if you’re looking for specific suggestions that ship quickly, here are two medium roast, coarse ground coffee options that would work well in a French press. They’re both available on Amazon Prime and highly rated based on thousands of reviews:
You can also use dark roast coffee, of course, and buying preground coffee at a physical store will allow you to more easily check the expiration date or get information about when it was ground, helping you make a more perfect cup of coffee.
Tips for the Best French Press Coffee
Here are our 6 top tips for making even better French press coffee!
- Clean your equipment regularly to avoid flavor transfer or stale components. We love cleaning our coffee makers with vinegar, and this works for a French press as well! Soak parts in vinegar diluted with hot water, and then wash with soapy water. Rinse well. If this method doesn’t work, check out our comprehensive list of how to clean a coffee maker, which has other great methods and tips! Descale your products regardless of what type of water you use, which brings us to our next tip:
- Use filtered or bottled water. This prevents excessive limescale buildup inside the press and reduces the presence of minerals that can affect the flavor output of the coffee. High mineral content water can prevent proper extraction. Avoid using distilled water or reverse osmosis, as they will provide a weak extraction due to soft water. You do want some minerals in your water, just not an excessive amount.
- Pay attention to how hot your water is. We’re looking to brew, not burn! If you can’t measure your water temperature with a thermometer to ensure that it’s in the ideal window of between 195 and 205°F, you can boil water or bring your kettle to a rolling boil, then allow it to cool for 1 minute. Remove from the burner if you have boiled water on the stovetop.
- Mind your brew time. It is generally accepted to brew your French press coffee between 3 and 4 minutes — less time for less bitter coffee.
- Transfer your coffee to a thermal cup after brewing. Allowing your coffee to rest longer in the press will contribute to over-extraction and create a bitter coffee that may be too strong to truly enjoy. A thermal cup will keep your coffee hot while retaining the best flavor profile, which you’ll appreciate.
- Serve it with some deliciously sweet sides. Try our giant cinnamon rolls or cardamom buns, and cherry zucchini coffee cake or peach coffee cake.
How to Make Coffee in a French Press
Here’s a step-by-step guide to the perfect French press coffee:
- Prepare the water: Heat the water to 205 degrees, OR bring water to a boil, then remove from the stove or heat source and allow to rest for 1 minute.
- Add your ingredients: Place measured, freshly ground coffee into the carafe of the French press. Pour your hot water into the French press and lightly stir the coffee and water with a small spoon or chopstick to saturate. Cover and let sit for a minute, then stir again.
- Cover and steep: Allow coffee to sit, covered, for 2-3 minutes. You can do more or less time, depending on the desired strength of your coffee.
- Press the coffee: Gently press the plunger down. Pressing too hard or too fast will interrupt the process. If the plunger feels too tight, remove some pressure then gently press again. Press lightly until the plunger can not move any longer and the grounds are trapped at the bottom.
- Enjoy: Pour brewed coffee into cups and serve immediately. If you are saving your delicious coffee for later, transfer it into an insulated mug. Always remove the coffee from the French press at the appropriate time to avoid over-extraction.
You may find that the mesh filter is letting too many grounds pass through to your coffee, creating a gritty drink. If this happens, you can adjust the grind to make it coarser. If you do this, be aware that the brew time may need to be adjusted as well.
Do you love coffee as much as I do? Don’t forget to check out our ultimate coffee guide!