What is the ideal water temperature for regular French press coffee?
The National Coffee Association says French press water should be 93 C, give or take 3 C (90 to 96 C). Our conversion is about 194 to 205 F. Boil the water, take it off the heat and let it rest about 30 seconds before pouring.
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In this article
- How hot should water be for French press?
- How do you get water to that temperature without a thermometer?
- What happens if the water is too hot or too cool?
- How long should it steep and how much water do you need?
- What is the best water temp for French press, and is boiling water too hot?
- Can you change the temperature to your taste?
How hot should water be for French press?
The National Coffee Association gives 93 C, plus or minus 3 C, checked with a thermometer. That is 90 to 96 C. Converted to Fahrenheit (our calculation), it is about 194 to 205 F.
How do you get water to that temperature without a thermometer?
The NCA steps start with boiling the water, taking it off the heat and letting it rest about 30 seconds before you check the temperature or pour. We found no official source that gives a rest time for a specific kettle, so a thermometer is the only sure way.
What happens if the water is too hot or too cool?
The NCA does not link specific temperatures to flavor problems. It does say that if the coffee tastes bitter or sour you should grind coarser, and if it tastes flat or watery you should grind finer. So grind size is the first thing to adjust.
How long should it steep and how much water do you need?
- Ratio: 1 gram of coffee to 10 to 16 grams of water (1:10 to 1:16).
- Grind: coarse, like rock salt.
- Steep: about 4 minutes of contact. Stir gently after about 1 minute to break the crust, then let it steep about 3 more minutes.
- Serve: press the plunger down fully and serve right away, because coffee left in the press turns bitter.
For a 500 g (about 17 fl oz) pot, 1:16 means roughly 31 g of coffee (our calculation).
What is the best water temp for French press, and is boiling water too hot?
The National Coffee Association’s French press page gives one temperature: around 93 C, plus or minus 3 C. Its steps are to bring water to a boil, take it off the heat and let it rest about 30 seconds before brewing. It adds that boiling on the stove or in the microwave makes the temperature harder to control, which can affect the quality of the coffee.
Our conversion of 93 C plus or minus 3 C is about 194 to 205 F, centered near 199 F. The page gives no Fahrenheit values and no advice on water that is too hot or too cool.
Can you change the temperature to your taste?
Yes. The NCA step says to confirm the water is around 93 C “or your preferred temperature”.
People also ask
What temperature should water be for French press coffee?
The National Coffee Association says 93 C, plus or minus 3 C (90 to 96 C, about 194 to 205 F by our conversion).
Can you use boiling water for French press?
The NCA method boils the water, removes it from the heat and lets it rest about 30 seconds before pouring, rather than pouring it straight off the boil.
How long should French press coffee steep?
About 4 minutes in total: stir after about 1 minute, then steep about 3 more minutes, then press and serve right away.
What temperature should water be for French press?
The National Coffee Association says around 93 C, plus or minus 3 C. Our conversion is about 194 to 205 F.
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