French Press Brewing Instructions

These instructions will get you started and then trial and error will guide you to find the best combination for you.
There are many advantages to French Press Brewing:

• No paper filters to dispose of.
• No paper filters to absorb coffee oils.
• No paper filters to impart a paper taste to the coffee. 

There are many styles of French Presses but they all function the same way. Some Examples of French Presses can be seen here.

First you need to decide how much coffee to make.  Your French press will not keep your coffee hot.  Only make the amount you can drink in 10-15 minutes or transfer your coffee into a thermos or a thermal carafe.  French press brewing gives you total control over water temperature and brew time. These are the most important variables when making good coffee. There is more sediment when using a French press but also more body and flavor.  If you allow the the coffe to remain in the press it will continue to extract and become stronger, and will also become cold.   


1. Place the French Press Pot on a dry, flat, non-slip surface.

2. Hold the handle firmly, and then pull the filter assembly unit straight up and out of the pot.

3.  For each 4 oz. cup of coffee put 1 rounded tablespoon of coarse ground coffee into the pot.   

• Cappojim uses 7.25 grams of coffee per 7 oz of water

Special Note: If you are using good quality coffee you can use a finer grind and a shorter extraction time.  You need an even grind which you will get with burr grinder. Set your burr grinder a few settings coarser than filter drip.  The key to avoid sediment is to have a fine screen filter on your press and an even grind of coffee beans. The finer the screen the finer the grind coffee you can use. But even if you do create some sediment, just remember not to take the last sip.

4.    Pour hot (not boiling) 195°-200° water slowly into the press to avoid creating a dry island of coffee grounds.  Allow the coffee to float to the surface.  Leave a minimum of 2.5cm/1 inch of space at the top of the glass.  Don’t overfill the press. Stir the water and coffee grounds with a hard plastic spoon.  Metal spoons can scratch or chip the glass beaker and cause breakage.

5.    To prevent the heat from escaping place the lid with filter assembly unit on top of the glass pot but do not press down on the filter assembly. Turn the lid to close off the pour spout opening. You can also carefully swirl the press in a circular motion (turn the glass pot to the right and then left while keeping on the flat surface) to agitate the mixture causing most of the coffee grounds to sink to the bottom. Let the coffee brew for at least 2.5 to 4 minutes. The coarser the grind, the longer the time it will take to extract the coffee.

6.    Make sure the filter assembly disc is level or straight  before you push down on the filter assembly knob or you will have grounds escaping into your coffee. Hold the pot handle firmly with the spout turned away from you while using just weight of your hand; apply slight pressure on top of the knob to lower the filter straight down into the pot. Lowering the plunger slowly with minimal pressure produces best results. If the filter clogs or it becomes difficult to push down the plunger you should remove the plunger from the pot, stir the brew and then slowly press the filter down again.

WARNING: Using excessive force can cause scalding liquid to shoot out of the pot.

7. Turn the lid to open the pour spout and then pour coffee. This coffee is best when used right away or decanted into a thermal carafe or thermos bottle.  Enjoy!

8. Unscrew and clean the filter assembly after each use.

Safety Notes
Not for stove top use.
Do not use a pot which is scratched, chipped or cracked.                               
Do not plunge with force.
Turn lid to close spout.
Keep children away while using.  Do not allow children to use this coffee maker

Photos Provided by BODUM Inc. - All Rights Reserved.