Nothing gets a morning started like a fresh cup of coffee, and there are several ways to prepare the delicious beverage in your home kitchen. While retail coffee makers are convenient and reliable for making larger batches, many coffee lovers prefer to make their cups in smaller doses, which tends to enhance the overall quality and flavor of your favorite joe.
The French press is one of the oldest and most popular ways to make small-batch coffee. For almost 100 years, coffee drinkers have used the French press method to make a rich cup. The best part is it’s one of the easiest brewing methods to master, but first you need to stock up on the necessary equipment, tools and of course, coffee.
Invented in Italy in 1929, the French press is a simple device with only a few elements: a glass or plastic cylindrical beaker and a tight-fitting plunger fitted with a fine-mesh strainer and a pouring filter. It’s one of several manual, full-immersion methods of preparing coffee in small batches, usually enough for one to three servings. In addition to brewing coffee, a French press is also well-suited for brewing loose-leaf tea.
French press coffee maker: A standard French press is inexpensive and can be found at many retailers, like Amazon and Macy’s.
Whole bean coffee: Although using pre-ground coffee is fine, freshly ground coffee makes for the best flavor profile and overall enjoyment. Many roasters offer subscription services so you never run out of freshly roasted coffee.
Coffee grinder: Every java fanatic should have a reliable and easy-to-use coffee grinder to prepare the freshest cup of joe. Also, French press coffee requires coarsely ground coffee, so it’s smart to have one with adjustable grind settings.
Hot water kettle: Coffee requires 200-degree water to properly brew and extract flavors, so be sure to pick up either an electric kettle or one built for the stovetop or induction cooktop.
Coffee measuring scoop: Some grinders come with a scoop for your freshly ground coffee, but you can also find a high-quality one that will last forever.
Digital scale: In order to make the perfect cup of French press coffee or for other manual methods, an accurate measurement is crucial, and a digital scale is always useful in the kitchen. Weighing coffee grounds by the gram is the best way to ensure your cup isn’t too strong or too weak.
Wooden paddle or stir sticks: In order to agitate your grounds as they steep, you need either standard wood stir sticks or a reusable bamboo paddle. If you don’t have either, a regular clean wooden spoon will do.
Timer: You can use the timer on your smartphone or stove, or you can find a digital coffee scale with a built-in timer.
Bodum Caffettiera 8-Cup French Press
Bodum is one of the most reliable and popular brands of affordable coffee equipment, but the French press is the product that made it famous. The shatterproof SAN plastic carafe is scratch-resistant and dishwasher-safe.
Where to buy: Sold by Bodum and Amazon
Bonavita 1-Liter Variable Temperature Electric Kettle
Bonavita is another trusted name in specialty coffee equipment, and this electric kettle has plenty of settings to make the perfect cup of coffee or tea.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Grinder
Just like large commercial coffee grinders, this home model has a hopper to hold plenty of whole coffee beans. It also has 12 grind settings and a slide timer for grinding 4-18 cups’ worth of coffee.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Matt Fleming writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
