Coffee maker
French press
A full-immersion manual brewer using a metal mesh plunger, producing a fuller-bodied cup than paper-filtered methods.
How it works
Coarse grounds steep fully immersed in hot water; a metal mesh plunger separates grounds from brewed coffee, retaining oils and some fine sediment.
Who it suits
- beginners wanting a simple, low-cost, full-bodied cup
- users who don't mind some sediment in the cup
Who it may not suit
- users who want a perfectly clean, sediment-free cup
- users wanting espresso-style drinks
- Starting dose
- 15g
- Starting water
- 240ml
- Coffee-to-water ratio
- 55–70 g per litre (typically 63)
- Grind
- Coarse, similar to sea salt or breadcrumbs.
- Capacity
- 2-8 cups
- Brew time
- 4-5 min
- Skill level
- beginner
- Noise
- quiet
- Space
- compact
- Cleaning burden
- low
- Convenience
- medium
- Manual control
- medium
Descriptive grind labels like this are illustrative starting points, not precise measurements — the same label can mean different particle sizes on different grinders. See the grind size guide for how to dial this in on your own equipment.
Uses the French press brewing method.
Equipment
Requires a separate grinder.
Advantages
- low cost, no electricity needed
- full-bodied cup
- simple to learn
Disadvantages
- some sediment in the cup is normal
- no built-in temperature control
- not suited to espresso-style drinks
Steps
- Add coarsely ground coffee to the empty press.
- Pour in hot water and stir once to saturate all the grounds.
- Place the lid on with the plunger raised and steep for about 4 minutes.
- Plunge slowly and steadily, then pour immediately.
Cleaning & maintenance
Disassemble and rinse all mesh layers after each use.
Replace the mesh filter or gasket if it no longer seals against the carafe.
Consumables: replacement mesh filter/gasket (occasional)
Common faults
- gritty sediment in the cup
- muddy or flat taste if left to steep too long after plunging
Cost
Purchase cost band: budgetWidely available at a low price point across glass and stainless-steel options.
No filters or pods needed — ongoing cost is only beans.
Suitable roast levels
Skills for this machine
The individual techniques this device asks of you, each with its own adjustments and failure modes.
- Frothing milk without a steam wandGet a usable milk foam using an electric frother, a whisk, a French press or a jar, and know what each can and cannot produce.
- Adjusting grind sizeMove the grind in the right direction by a useful amount, and know what to expect from the change.
- Comparing two coffees side by sideTrain perception using difference, which is far easier to notice than any absolute quality.
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Related guides
Not sure if this is right for you? Try the coffee-maker selector.