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Steel french press, burr grinder - how to make nice and not bitter coffee?

  • 11-05-2022 05:35PM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 804 ✭✭✭


    Hello,

    So I have a big steel french press, it comfortably makes two full mugs and its full capacity was listed (by the seller on Amazon) as 1.2 L. I really like steel because glass cracks easily in the dishwasher.

    I also have a Krups burr grinder. So I expected some nice coffee - but am failing to make it. Instead, it's either watery or bitter.

    The Internet (tm) says use coarser grinds, somewhat large amounts of coffee, limit brewing to 5 minutes. But it gets bitter. Smaller amounts with a coarse grind get watery; with a finer grind, bitter again.

    I did also start preheating the steel french press first by keeping some freshly-boiled water in it, covered, for a minute while rocking the press. Things got somewhat better but not a lot.

    So what's the secret here? How can I work out the formula for coffee that would be full-bodied but not bitter?



Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,527 ✭✭✭✭Darkglasses


    Have you tried James Hoffmann's French Press recipe?


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st571DYYTR8



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,924 ✭✭✭Hodors Appletart


    Somewhere between 50-60g per litre, and you need a decently coarse grind, 3 to 4 minute brew time

    I don't know what's going wrong for you, and I can't comment on your grind size because I don't know about your grinder.

    Do you do any other methods using the same grinder?

    Aeropress?

    only thing I can say is that I use the same grind setting for Clever Dripper as French, but a bit finer for Aero



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 804 ✭✭✭MichaelR


    Ultimately, I got a variable temperature kettle, a glass press, and switched to 2-3 minutes steep times. Now there is a balance between body and bitterness that at least appears within reach.



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