Tools and Tips for Better French Press Coffee

In our May/June 2025 issue, writer Miranda Rake explores the history and evolution of the iconic French press. While the popularity of the French press brewing method has ebbed and flowed over the decades, the simple coffee maker remains a favorite among many industry pros for producing quality coffee with minimal effort. Here, British barista champion, coffee educator, and French press fan James Hoffmann offers his insights on the style and tips for brewing the best possible cup of French press coffee.

Grinder

Regardless of brewing method, the first thing you can do to improve your coffee is grind the beans fresh. Because a French press brews through full immersion of the ground coffee, you’re going to use a coarser grind than for other methods—too fine, and the grinds will pass through the filter, resulting in a muddy cup. Hoffmann recommends a medium-coarse grind for a fuller-bodied, silky cup (and a little patience as the finer particulates settle—more on this later). 

A consistent, uniform grind is key, and for that, a burr grinder works best. The classic Baratza Encore is a reliable workhorse for everyday use, and the Fellow Opus is a favorite for precision and user experience. Even a manual grinder, like the TIMEMORE Chestnut, will get the job done.

Scale

While a scale is not an absolute necessity, measuring your coffee and water by weight will deliver the most precise ratios for brewing. And, as Hoffmann notes, it’s the best way to replicate a great cup of coffee and improve a not-so-great cup. You can dial in your preferred ratio to taste, but Hoffmann suggests starting with 60 to 70 grams of coffee per liter (1,000 grams) of water. 

For basic weight measurement, any standard kitchen scale will work, and the Escali Primo digital scale is an affordable favorite among chefs and baristas. If you plan to use the scale for pour over as well, coffee-specific scales such as the Tally Pro from Fellow offer more specific functions, including a guided brew assist mode.

Brewer

While the French press brewer, or cafetiere, has certainly evolved over the decades, the mechanics of the process remain the same. In fact, Hoffmann is rather egalitarian when it comes to choosing a French press. “The French press doesn’t get better when you spend more money on it,” Hoffmann says. “Whether you buy a $10 French press or a $200 French press, the coffee is almost indistinguishable.”

To that end, there are still numerous factors that can be considered, from material to heat retention to cleaning and overall aesthetics. For the French press platonic ideal, reach for the Bodum Chambord with its glass carafe and minimalist stainless steel frame. A more rough-and-tumble option for those who like to take their French press camping or on the road, the YETI Rambler includes features like double-walled insulation and a twist-and-lock lid. For countertop aesthetics, Le Creuset offers a rainbow of colors in its signature, heat-retaining stoneware. 

Clean Up

By far, the biggest complaint about the French press comes after the coffee is gone: The brewer is a pain to clean. The hassle of scooping wet coffee grounds from the carafe and rinsing them from the filter is enough to dissuade some coffee drinkers altogether. Fortunately, some advancements in equipment have made things easier. Many French press models, such as the Fellow Clara, have a non-stick lining that helps the carafe rinse clean with ease. Or grab a simple accessory like a silicone spatula scoop to whisk away soggy grounds. 

Time

Alas, the final, crucial element to making good French press coffee is not a gadget that can be purchased: It’s time and patience. After you’ve ground your beans and boiled your (filtered) water, the time required is nine minutes. This involves allowing the coffee to steep for four minutes, giving the grounds a gentle stir and skimming any foam and particulates off the top, then steeping for five more minutes.

The patience is necessary because there is nothing else required of you during those nine minutes but to simply wait. As Hoffmann advises in his full video for the Ultimate French Press Technique, “I want you to do nothing at all for at least five minutes.” Because isn’t that the ultimate luxury of French press coffee?