Saying the french press is a popular home brewing method would be an understatement.

Comb through any lifestyle magazine, TV show, or movie and we guarantee you’ll see a french press in the kitchen. The brewer’s sleek design and easy functionality make it a great option for coffee novices and home baristas alike.

While french presses are simple to use, one tiny variable can transform your morning cup of coffee from a euphoric start to the day into a bitter, mouth puckering wake up call:

Incorrectly and poorly ground coffee beans.

That’s why it’s SO important to purchase whole bean coffee and grind right before you use a french press. Choosing the right grinder can be tricky, so we’ll tell you exactly where to start:

The JavaPresse manual grinder is the best grinder for brewing with a french press.

As baristas, we tinker around with coffee equipment all day long. When it comes to brewing with a french press, few grinders come close to the quality, consistency, and convenience the JavaPresse Manual Burr Grinder offers.

By the end of our guide, you’ll know:

• Why the JavaPresse manual grinder is perfect for the french press brew method (+ how to get one for FREE!)
• What type of grind is best for brewing with a french press
• 3 barista-approved tips for brewing the tastiest french press coffee

The JavaPresse Grinder & French Press Coffee: A Match Made in Specialty Coffee Heaven

There are a ton of coffee grinders on the market, from cheap spice grinders to world-class (and expensive) electric coffee grinders.

But when it comes to brewing with a french press, you want your coffee grounds to be as consistent as possible (we’ll show you why in just a bit.)

If the french press had a coffee grinder soulmate, it would be the JavaPresse manual burr grinder. 

Why? Because only this grinder takes the crown in these four categories:

• Grind quality and consistency
• Durability
• Portability
• Noise level

Grind Quality and Consistency

When comparing coffee grinders, the most important factor to consider is grind quality and consistency.

You need to determine if the respective grinder produces the right grind size every single time.

Traditionally, both manual and electric burr grinders have difficulty doing so at a coarse grind size due to the positioning of the burrs. (And don’t even get us started on the inconsistencies in blade grinders!)

However, in 2019, JavaPresse sought to combat this common issue by adding a new burr stabilizing cage to the manual grinder! This new feature results in a precise and repeatable grind size no matter how fine or coarse.

Durability

If there’s one thing baristas know, it’s that coffee equipment can be fragile and temperamental.  

With minimal parts and a simple design, your french press is a durable little brewer. Just be careful not to drop it!

If your brewer is durable, your grinder should be too. 

The JavaPresse manual burr grinder is made with a professional-grade conical burr and stainless steel frame, designed to withstand five times the usage of a traditional stainless steel burr! 

Chances are, this grinder will even outlast your french press when it comes to durability!

Portability

Unlike a drip coffee or home espresso machine, a french press doesn’t have any electric parts or features. You can take it camping, on a road trip, or to the office and make coffee wherever you travel to.

Only manual coffee grinders offer this same portability. 

But, not all manual coffee grinders are created equal! While they all have portability in common, only the JavaPresse grinder offers the durability and quality coffee drinkers want in a manual grinder on-the-go.

Noise Level

You know that constant loud whirring sound you hear in coffee shops? That’s the coffee grinder.

Imagine starting that sound up in the middle of the woods, on a chilly morning as you prepare to make your camping coffee with a french press. Totally ruins the ambiance!

The JavaPresse manual burr grinder is one of the quietest grinders on the market. It’s perfect for those who love making coffee in the great outdoors or need to make a french press and not wake up the entire household with the buzz of an electric coffee grinder.

Get the Top Rated Manual Burr Grinder for Free!

We’re not going to boast about this amazing grinder and not show you how to get your hands on it. (How rude would that be?)

In fact, we’re giving it away for free when you try our coffee!

But before you start making french press coffee with your new JavaPresse manual burr grinder, it’s important to know what grind size to use.

Why Grind Size is Critical for Brewing French Press Coffee

In specialty coffee, there is a principle known as extraction.

Coffee extraction refers to how much of the flavor is extracted from the ground coffee when brewing.

When water comes in contact with coffee grounds, chemical reactions occur which result in the tasty sweetness, vibrant acidity, and luscious mouthfeel in our cup. 

However, if coffee is brewed incorrectly, certain undesirable flavors are extracted from the grounds, leaving us with bitter or sour coffee. This is often the case when people use the wrong grind size for brewing coffee in a french press!

This is why baristas learn all about extraction theory and how to manipulate their brew methods (like a french press) and variables (like grind size) to produce the best tasting cup of coffee every time.

Always Use a Coarse Grind Size When Making Coffee with a French Press

Brewing french press coffee requires a coarse grind size.

Why?

Because fine coffee grinds extract natural flavors quickly, while coarse grinds take longer to extract. It’s all about that surface area!

French press coffee is an immersion brew method, meaning the grounds are immersed or steeped in water for a specific amount of time—usually around 4 minutes. 

If we used a fine grind size, the desirable flavors from the bean’s sugars, acids, and fats would be extracted far too fast. With several minutes still left in the brew time, the undesirable flavors would begin to be extracted, leaving us with super bitter coffee. 

Instead, we use a much larger, coarser grind size similar to heavy kosher salt to ensure that our coffee flavors are perfectly balanced.

But, remember—no two coffees are the same!

This means you’ll need to adjust how coarse your grind size is depending on the coffee’s roast level, age, and origin to make sure it tastes just right.

(Good thing the JavaPresse grinder has 15 different grind settings to choose from!)

3 Barista-Approved Tips For Brewing the Tastiest French Press Coffee You’ll Ever Drink

On top of getting the right grinder for the job, use these four barista tricks and tips to step up your french press game.

1. Plunge Slowly!

One way to break a barista’s heart is to slam down on a french press plunger. Do this and you’ll watch their facial expression transform from delightful to sheer horror in a split second.

The mesh filter on a french press isn’t as “catch proof” as a drip coffee filter. Sediment can still get through. 

Pushing down the plunger fast is a guaranteed way to increase the amount of coffee sediment leftover in your cup AND the size of the mess you have to clean up afterward. 

Coffee plunger + hot liquid + speed = gigantic mess.

2. Reduce the Sediment

It’s not hard to see why people adore heavy-bodied and aromatic french press coffee. One sip and you’ll be hooked, too.

But others do not enjoy the bits of sediment left in the final brew. 

Fortunately, there are a few ways around this!

First, try skimming the sediment off the top of the coffee with a spoon right before the brew time finishes. Then, gently plunge the remainder and serve. 

If this still isn’t enough, you can always strain the french press coffee through a fine mesh strainer before serving.

3. Use Your French Press to Make Other Drinks

The french press is a versatile little brewer! It can be used to brew far more than coffee.

A french press can make loose leaf tea, cold brew, lattes, and cappuccinos, too.

Wait. Lattes and cappuccinos?

You bet! Frothing milk with a french press is easy and is a quick way to make lattes and cappuccinos at home without a steam wand or espresso machine.

Read: How to Make Frothed Milk in Your French Press

Never Make French Press Coffee Without a JavaPresse Grinder Again

We’re going to let you in on a little secret… 

The JavaPresse manual burr grinder is the best coffee grinder for all brew methods!

From AeroPress coffee to pour overs to cold brew, this powerful little grinder offers supreme grind quality and consistency for smooth, delicious coffee no matter your preferred brewing method.

Step up your french press coffee game by getting yourself a JavaPresse manual burr grinder today.

Remember, we’re giving our grinders away for FREE when you try JavaPresse coffee!