Using a french press coffee pot isn’t difficult, but it does demand a little understand of the craft in order to produce a well extracted cup of coffee.  You need water at the right temperature, coffee grounds that are of the correct consistency, and an understanding of the process in general if you are to create a stunning cup of well extracted java.  Here is a step by step guide for getting the most out of your french press.

• Set water on the stove and heat it to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, not boiling.  It is recommended that you use a thermometer so you can get the temperature as close to correct.  As I detailed in an article I recently wrote, experimentation is always advised so after you have made a few pots of french press coffee feel free to try out varying temperatures to see what gives you the best flavor.
• Grind your coffee beans to a very course grind setting.  The reason for this is that you don’t want coffee grounds to be able to escape from the wire mesh after you plunge it down.  If they do then you will have coffee grounds in your coffee – which you do not want.  So aim for a very course grind setting and you will be fine.
• Pour the coffee grounds into the french press and pour the hot water over them immediately.  The longer you wait before pouring the water, the more flavor has the opportunity to escape from the coffee grounds.
• After one minute of steeping, lift the lid of the french press and stir up the coffee grounds.  There will be a lot of foam at the top, so it’s critical to stir it up in order to get a good extraction.
• After another three to four minutes you are ready to plunge the wire mesh down into the coffee, trapping the coffee grounds below and leaving nothing but delectable french press coffee above.

That’s all you need to know to have high quality french press coffee at home.  It is very simple to make and doesn’t take much time or energy to master.