Table of Contents
Introduction
If you are a coffee lover and want to start your day with a bold and strong sip of French press coffee but somehow get a weak and tasteless cup of coffee, then you are not the only one. Many people are facing this issue and searching about how to make french press coffee stronger.
In this article, we are going to explore this query, find out the methods of how to make french press coffee stronger and get all the important details regarding it.
Why people want a strong French press coffee
In order to understand how to make french press coffee stronger, let’s start by understanding why people want a strong French press coffee cup.
Coffee lovers are of two types. Some coffee drinkers want a smooth, mild taste of coffee, but on the other hand, there is a group of people who want a dark, bold and strong cup of coffee. Usually, persons who love French presses belong to the 2nd type.
Although there is also a factor due to which people love to drink French press coffee and that is the high caffeine kick. As compared to other coffee, French press keeps some more natural oils and caffeine, which enhance the overall profile.
Difference between a strong and a bitter coffee
A myth regarding bitter and strong coffee is very common and you must be aware of it in order to understand how to make french press coffee stronger. The myth is that strong coffee is always bitter in taste.
| Strong coffee | Bitter coffee |
| Coffee is considered to be strong if its concentration is high. Coffee that contains more coffee grounds while taking a longer extraction time produces an extreme and bold taste called strong coffee. | As compared to strong coffee, bitter coffee is something else. The taste of coffee becomes bitter due to several reasons, like using stale coffee beans, exposing it to heat for too long or over extraction. These factors ruin the profile of coffee and make it bitter. |
In the case of French press, the taste should always be strong, not bitter and that is why it is necessary to understand the factors that contribute to strengthening the flavor.
Factors that affect the coffee flavor
In this section, we are going to find out the factors that are strengthening the coffee profile. To understand how to make french press coffee stronger, you must understand these factors first. So, the factors are as follows
Coffee bean type and roast level
There are so many types of beans present in the market. For a perfect, strong cup of coffee, always select the coffee beans that have all the necessary elements, especially coffee caffeine.
Also, to get strong coffee, it is necessary to select the perfect roast level depending on the bean type. Select dark roasts if your selected beans have slightly less caffeine, but if your selected beans have high caffeine then you may go towards a lighter roast.
Coffee and water ratio
The 2nd most important factor is coffee water ratio. For strong coffee, you have to select a higher coffee to water ratio. This means more coffee beans are extracted in less wate and the result will be a strong profile.
For an ideal strong cup, the coffee to water ratio should be 1:10 or 1:12 grams, respectively.
Grind size
Grind size also plays an important role in coffee flavor. It decides how fast the flavor extracts from coffee beans. Usually French coffee requires coarse sized beans, but if you find that the coffee tastes weak then you can slightly reduce the grind size for more flavor extraction but be aware. Too fine a grind can cause over extraction.
Ideal temperature of water
Using water with an accurate temperature is also necessary. If you are using water that is too hot then it will burn the coffee and a bitter taste will be produced instead of a strong flavor. And if it is too cold then it will cause under extraction and the result will be a weak taste.
For perfect extraction, the range should be 195°F to 205°F (90°C to 96°C).
Brew timing
Brewing time is also a factor that can ruin your coffee profile if you do not take it seriously. The more you steep, the more the flavor and caffeine are extracted but there is a limit. Too long steeping can cause over extraction and the result will be bitter.
Ideally for a strong French press profile, steeping time is 5 to 8 minutes.
Steps guide of how to make french press coffee stronger
Now, in this section we are going to find out the steps of how to make french press coffee stronger. These following steps are the same replication of the above mentioned factors.
Choosing the right coffee beans
The first step of how to make french press coffee stronger is choosing the right coffee beans. As discussed in the above section, strong French press requires beans with a large amount of caffeine.
Two types of beans named Robusta and Arabica are considered to be good for creating a strong taste. With just a slight difference in caffeine quantity, both beans contain all the necessary elements that are required for extreme flavor.
Adjust coffee water ratio
After selecting coffee beans, the next step is selecting the amount of coffee and water. As discussed in the above section, the ideal ratio is 1:10, meaning 1 gram of coffee beans for 100 ml of water or 1:12, meaning 1 gram of coffee beans for 120 ml of water.
Select a perfect grind
The third step is selecting a perfect grind size. French press usually requires a coarse grind size, as we mentioned above. But if you feel that the output taste is not as per your desire then you can select a medium coarse grind size of coffee beans. But don’t select too fine a grind size.
Steep time
Steeping time is high, more flavors are extracted. Steeping time is minimal, less flavor will be extracted. So, for an ideal strong cup of coffee, the perfect steeping time should be 5 to 8 minutes but do not steep for too long.
French press preheating
For maintaining the right brewing temperature, it is good to preheat your French press. First you have to take an empty French press and pour hot water in it. After that, swirl it and lastly, discard it before brewing.
Gently stir
Stirring gently is also an important step in how to make french press coffee stronger. It can prevent coffee grounds from unsaturation and uneven extraction and ensure complete release of oils and other components.