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International · French

French press coffee

Vegetarian

Coarse coffee steeped in near-boiling water for four minutes and pressed through a mesh filter, giving a rich, full-bodied cup with natural oils left in.

French press coffee is an International hot drink, ready in about 8 minutes and made with finely ground coffee. It serves 2 and is rated beginner to cook.

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Close-up of a French press, sugar jar, and coffee cup on a wicker tray.
Photo: Alexey Demidov / Pexels · Pexels License
Prep
3 min
Cook
5 min
Total
8 min
Serves
2
Level
Beginner
Calories
5

Ingredients

2 mugs

Equipment

Method

  1. Step 1

    Boil the water and let it stand 30 seconds (93–96 °C). Rinse the French press with a little of it to warm the glass, then discard.

  2. Step 2

    Weigh in the coarse coffee, pour in all the water in a steady spiral so every ground is wet, and start a 4-minute timer.

  3. Step 3

    At 4 minutes, stir the floating crust so the grounds sink, and skim off any remaining foam with two spoons for a cleaner cup.

    • 4 min

  4. Step 4

    Put the lid on and press the plunger down slowly and evenly, then pour immediately — coffee left on the grounds keeps extracting and turns bitter.

    • 1 min

    Decant what you won't drink right away into a warmed jug.

  5. Step 5

    Add milk (opens in a new tab) to taste.

    About this dish

    Origin
    Not attributed to one place · Origin disputedPlunger pots were patented in both France and Italy in the early 20th century; the device is now used worldwide.Also popular in United Kingdom, France, United States, Denmark, New Zealand
    Dish
    Breakfast · Brunch · Hot drinks
    Cooking method
    Boiled
    Taste
    bitter, rich, earthy
    Diet
    Vegetarian (lacto-ovo) · No gluten ingredients · No nut ingredients · Low-carb
    All labelsVegetarian (lacto-ovo) · Eggetarian · Lacto-vegetarian · Pescatarian · Flexitarian-friendly · Whole-food focused · No gluten ingredients · Egg-free · No nut ingredients · No added sugar · Alcohol-free · Pork-free · Beef-free · Low-carb · Low-fat · Low-sodium · DASH-style
    Without the optional extras: Vegan, Plant-based, Ovo-vegetarian, Paleo-style, Dairy-freeWorked out from the ingredients. How labels work
    Good for
    Everyday · Budget-friendly
    Cook more with
    Finely ground coffee
    Techniques
    Boiling

    Allergens

    • Contains, can be adapted: Milkfrom milk

    Based on typical versions of these ingredients and not verified allergen-free. Brands differ and cross-contact happens, so always check labels. For severe allergies, follow your clinician’s advice.

    Nutrition

    5 kcal per serving

    Estimated

    1 serving ≈ 252 g · recipe makes 2

    Where the energy comes from

    • Protein 15%
    • Carbohydrate 85%
    • Fat 0%
    Nutrition per serving and per 100 g
    NutrientPer servingPer 100 g*
    Energy5 kcal2 kcal
    Protein0.2 g0.1 g
    Carbohydrate1.1 g0.4 g
    Net carbohydrate1.1 g0.4 g
    Sugars0 g0 g
    Added sugars0 g0 g
    Fibre0 g0 g
    Fat0 g0 g
    Saturated fat0 g0 g
    Trans fat0 g0 g
    Cholesterol0 mg0 mg
    Sodium6 mg2 mg
    Salt equivalent0 g0 g
    Vitamins & minerals per serving
    Potassium
    53 mg
    Calcium
    27 mg
    Iron
    0.1 mg
    Magnesium
    10 mg
    Vitamin A (RAE)
    0 µg
    Vitamin C
    0 mg
    Vitamin D
    0 µg
    Vitamin B12
    0 µg
    Folate (DFE)
    0 µg

    How these numbers were made

    • Calculated from USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy) per-100 g values and the listed quantities.
    • *Per 100 g of combined raw ingredients; the cooked dish may weigh more or less.
    • Optional ingredients are not included: milk.
    • Finely ground coffee: Instant coffee powder used as a stand-in for the soluble part of roasted ground coffee; list the grams actually consumed with consumedGrams.
    • “—” means the value isn’t known for enough of the ingredients; it is never zero by default.
    • Values are estimates for guidance, not for medical dosing. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. fdc.nal.usda.gov.

    Good to know

    Tips

    • If plunging is hard, the grind is too fine; if the coffee is thin and sour, grind finer or steep a minute longer.

    Common mistakes

    • Fine grinds clog the mesh and leave a muddy cup.

    Storage

    • Best fresh; do not leave in the press.

    Variations

    • Long steep: Leave the crust undisturbed for 8–9 minutes, then skim and pour gently without pressing fully, for a very clean cup.

    Original editorial recipe · FriendsPantry editorial · Not yet independently reviewed · Added · Updated

    Recipe DNA

    How this dish is built

    Customise in Sip & Blend

    Grouped by each ingredient’s role in the dish. Each band’s width is its share of the dish by weight. Choose a component to see what it does.

    What the dish is built around

    Main ingredient

    • Milk (optional)60 ml · 62 g
    Used in step 5

    Less sweet, dairy-free, caffeine-free or for more people — the original stays as it is.

    Customise in Sip & Blend

    Reviews & corrections

    Reviews come from signed-in cooks and appear after a moderator checks them. We never show made-up ratings.

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