French Press Espresso - Recipe
Traditional espresso is prepared by pushing hot water through finely ground, tightly packed coffee with at least nine bars of pressure. A French Press does not exert this kind of pressure, but it can still make a smooth, strong and dark shot.
Equipment
- French press
- Mug or cup
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Espresso grounds coarse grind
- 250 ml Boiled water
Instructions
- As we mentioned above, you’ll need a coarser coffee bean blend to make French press espresso. If you have a good quality grinder, you can adjust your grinder settings, otherwise, you will need to gauge it for yourself and experiment a little. Remember, that the quality of your coffee beans will also influence the flavor and consistency of your espresso. The best quality beans will impart a strong, smooth flavor that is not harsh.
- Thermal stability and temperature are essential to make a good quality espresso shot. If you’ve used an espresso machine, you may have learned to keep the portafilter in the machine as it is heating up. Since a French press is different, you will need to warm it separately. Fortunately, this is quite simple. All you need to do is fill the press with some warm water and allow it to sit for a few minutes. This provides the ideal time to heat the water to make your espresso. Heat the water as you would if you were making a cup of tea. You’ll need at least 195ºf.
- Next, you’ll need to put the coffee grounds into your French press. Since the grind is more coarse than with an espresso machine, you will need more coffee to get the same strong, smooth shot. A good ratio is two tablespoons of coffee for each cup of water. However, if you’re wondering how much coffee to put in a French press to make a double shot espresso, simply double the quantity. Add a small amount of water that will allow the coffee to “bloom”. This provides an opportunity for the coffee to release all the natural oils and develop a strong flavor.
- Once the coffee has bloomed, you can then add the rest of the water and stir the contents. You can then add the lid and allow the coffee to steep for at least a few minutes. If you like a stronger coffee, leave it brewing for longer. Putting the lid on the French press will prevent heat escaping, in fact, the best French press models have an excellent seal. But, regardless of your press, do not press down the plunger at this point. After three to five minutes, you can press the plunger down slowly and steadily. Your espresso is then ready to drink.
