A French press delivers a bold, rich taste that appeals to many coffee connoisseurs and novices alike. The coffee-making process is simple and convenient with this innovative device. But how exactly should you steep your coffee in a French press?
To prepare coffee in a French press, add coarsely-ground coffee beans to your press and then pour hot water in. For a balanced coffee, use a coffee-to-water ratio of about 15g of coffee per 1 8oz cup of water. Let the coffee steep for 3-4 minutes, then plunge and serve.
Using a French press is a breeze, but there are a few important things to keep in mind so that you get a tasty cup of joe every time. Let’s take a closer look at the process, including how long to steep your coffee and what happens if you leave it for too long.
How Does a French Press Work?

A French press brews coffee by immersing the coffee grounds in hot water for a few minutes. Then, a plunger is used to separate the coffee grounds from the water — hence the name “French press.”
The French press has a reputation for being quick and convenient, making it the perfect cost-effective tool for preparing quality coffee. Here’s a brief guide on how to use one:
- Prepare the Equipment: You’ll need a measuring cup, a kettle, a mug in which to pour in the final product, and of course, a French press (on Amazon). Since you’re going to be pouring all the water at once, a reliable wide-mouth kettle (on Amazon) will be fine.
- Pour Coffee Into the French Press: Using a measuring cup, pour the appropriate quantity of coffee grounds into the French press. For this method, you want to opt for coarsely-ground coffee and a ratio of 1:15.
- Boil the Water: Boil filtered water in your kettle. Once the water’s done boiling, wait for 2 to 3 minutes before you add the water to the press.
- Let It Steep: This is the most important step. The coffee grounds will need to steep for 3 to 5 minutes to allow the hot water to thoroughly extract all the flavors. Once that’s done, slowly push the coffee grounds to the bottom of the French press using the built-in plunger.
- Serve: Lastly, empty the final product into the mug and customize it to your liking using milk, sugar, or other add-ins.
How Long Should a French Press Steep?
As with any other coffee-brewing method, the brew time is a key factor in producing tasty coffee. The ideal brew time for French-pressed coffee is 3 to 5 minutes.
Under-extracted coffee is every coffee drinker’s worst nightmare, and as the name suggests, it happens when you don’t let your coffee brew long enough. As a result, only a portion of the acids and flavors are pulled from the coffee grounds, leading to a sour and unpleasant finish.
Several other factors can leave you with under-extracted coffee. Not using enough water, using water that’s not hot enough, or using coffee grounds that are too coarsely ground are other mistakes to look out for.
What Happens If You Steep It for Too Long?
Over brewing, on the other hand, can result in a bitter and dull coffee. Coffee beans naturally have bitter characteristics. How much of that ends up in your cup depends on how long you steep your coffee. The longer you leave the coffee grounds submerged in water, the more of that bitter taste is extracted.
The trick to making a flavourful and balanced coffee minus the bitterness is finding the sweet spot for brewing time.
Other Ways to Prevent Bitter or Poor-Tasting Coffee

Once your coffee turns bitter, there’s very little you can do to reverse it. Diluting it with water will only turn the flavor dull without actually getting rid of the bitterness. That’s why it’s important to hit the right flavor the first time around.
Here’s how you can steer clear from poor-tasting or bitter coffee:
- Use Filtered Water: Using filtered water to brew coffee is an often-overlooked technique. The particles in tap water contribute to your coffee’s flavor and, more often than not, the results are disastrous.
- Opt for Fresh Beans: What most people don’t know about coffee beans is that once they go through the grinder, they begin to lose their aroma and natural oils at a very rapid pace.
- Mind the Water Temperature: For the perfect brew, you to use water that’s hot enough but not too hot or too cold. The ideal temperature is roughly 10 degrees from boiling point.
The Final Word
There’s no denying that the French press is a simple device that produces very rich coffee. It’s popular among coffee drinkers because it requires very little effort and skills, but there’s also a downside: One simple mistake can ruin everything, leaving you with a sour or bitter cup of joe.