Skip to main content
BrewMarkBREWMARK

French Press · Beginner

James Hoffmann's Ultimate French Press

A French press method that produces a startlingly clean cup by breaking the crust, skimming the fines, and never plunging through the bed.

Method by James Hoffmann. Parameters summarised by BrewMark from the original. Not affiliated with or endorsed by James Hoffmann.

Dose30g
Water500g
Ratio1:16.7
Temp201°F
GrindMedium-coarse
Time9:00

Dial in your grinder

“Medium-coarse” means something different on every grinder

This recipe sits at grind index 72 on BrewMark’s 0–100 scale. Convert that to the actual number or click count on your grinder — we support 80+ models.

Convert to my grinder →Scale this recipe

The method

  1. 0:00Add grounds, pour all the water evenly, do not stir→ 500g
  2. 4:00Break the crust with the back of a spoon, two or three slow stirs
  3. 4:30Skim the foam and floating grounds off the surface and discard
  4. 9:00Wait at least five more minutes for fines to settle
  5. 9:00Rest the plunger on the surface — do not press through the bed
  6. 9:00Pour slowly, leaving the sludge behind

BrewMark’s notes

The waiting is the recipe. Most French press bitterness comes from plunging fines back through the coffee and from serving too early. Skim properly and wait, and you get something closer to a clean filter cup than the muddy brew French press is known for.

Track how this brew actually turned out

Log the cup, say whether it was sour or bitter, and BrewMark tells you what to change next time — using your grinder’s real settings. Free on iOS.

Get the iOS app

Settings for a specific grinder

Each chart gives every brew method’s setting for one grinder, worked out from that model’s own dial curve.

All grinder charts →
← All brew guides