1. Fill the lower chamber with freshly drawn water to the safety valve. 2. Fill the filter basket with fine/espresso ground coffee. Gently tap the filter basket to ensure there are no air pockets or gaps. Ensure the basket is full to the rim. Do not compress the grounds. 3. Remove any loose grounds from the outside rim of the basket and tightly screw on the top chamber keeping the pot upright. 4. Place the pot on a medium heat. Do not allow the water to heat too rapidly, or the coffee will be watery and will not have had time to extract the flavours in the grounds. 5. Reduce the heat to very low if the water starts to boil. When most of the water has left the lower chamber, remove from the heat. Wait for the bubbling to ease before serving.
Note: Ensure that stovetop espresso seals are not damaged or worn. If so replace with a new one.
French press, or plunger is an easy & consistent way to brew coffee. It's the method preferred by many people for it's simplicity & flavour, as it tends to brew a richer cup than pour over does.
Depending on how much brewed coffee you want, you'll need varying amounts of ground beans. We've found that for 1 and a bit cups, you'll need 20 grams (that's about 2 tablespoons of beans/ground coffee) & 300ml of boiled water.
STEP 1
Pre-heat your plunger & drop your freshly ground coffee (preferably from a burr grinder) into your plunger pot
STEP 2
Add your boiled water vigorously (or stir quickly) to wet all the grounds. Let it brew for 4 minutes. Use a timer or clock if you're a perfectionist like us!)
STEP 3
Now using 2 spoons, genty collect the ground coffee that is floating atop your brew, and discard or better still compost it. Plunge it down carefully. If you can't push your plunger down with 2 fingers, then please stop (they have been known to break under pressure and burn people).
STEP 4
Pour into warm cups and enjoy.
NOTES
If you can't push the plunger down with 2 fingers then you have ground coffee too fine, and it may not taste as desired.
If you like your coffee stronger, try using more ground coffee. A stronger brew like this can mask the more floral & delicate notes of some coffees, so apply this rule with caution!
If the coffee tastes watery or weak, try brewing it for a shorter time of 2 1/2 minutes with a finer (espresso style grind).
If the coffee tastes astringent or dry, try grinding it more coursely, or brewing for a shorter time.
Most of all experiment & see what tastes best to you.
