Starbucks is known as a world-famous coffee brand. Therefore, the recipes or information on how to make coffee drinks here are of great interest to many people, especially the “French press”. French press coffee is a classic French coffee brewing method that appeared in 1850. The advantage of this method is that it is not too sophisticated but still retains the full inherent rich flavor of the coffee. If you are not sure about this recipe or can’t mix the standard Starbucks flavor even if you own Starbucks’ own facebook posts, don’t worry. Let’s discover together how to use a starbucks french press and you will be surprised how easy it is.
French Press
If you love strong coffee with great layers of flavor, then a coffee press is a suitable choice. Howard Schultz, President, and CEO of Starbucks, once mentioned in his book Onward that the French press was his favorite dispensing tool. Simple but not monotonous, the French press does not require sophisticated techniques, so it is very suitable for amateur coffee makers.
Structure Of The French Press Coffee Maker
Talk a little bit about the structure and design of the French press. The French press coffee maker is structured like a coffee press. The French press body is made of heat-resistant glass with a handle to avoid hot hands. The lid is made of metal or plastic. Inside the tank is a piston made from stainless steel and wound with a steel spring to fit the glass cylinder body. Fine steel mesh filter set with tiny holes to filter coffee.
The Principle Of The French Press Coffee Maker
The pot uses the principle of compressing coffee down similar to a piston. Under the action of compression from the piston, coffee will be extracted through the filter. Therefore, the French press method of making coffee can control the strength or lightness of the coffee. In addition, a plus point for the French press is that there is no need to use a paper filter like when using other manual coffee brewing methods.
Bodum Chambord. French Press Coffee Maker
Starbucks now uses the French press Bodum in its stores and has also exclusively sold its French press products since November 2016. Up to now, Starbucks’ website is still selling Bodum French press products, If you are looking to buy a French press coffee machine, you can refer to Starbucks’ sales website.
French press Bodum Chambord has long been known for its durability and sleek look. According to the company’s announcement, all materials are BPA-free, non-staining, and temperature-resistant. The glass part of the French press can be used in the microwave and is suitable for today’s dishwashers.
Bodum pistons are made of high-strength magic, always with a rubber gasket around the edge of the filter. This clever design significantly reduces the number of coffee grounds that pass through the filter.
Instructions For Using French Press Starbucks
Most French press coffee makers today are measured in European sizes: 1 European cup = 4 ounces ~ 113g. Starbucks French press will usually be specified as 8 cups corresponding to 34 ounces ~ 964g.
Below are the specific steps for using Starbucks’ French press. These instructions are published in the Starbucks manual:
- Step 1: Heat filtered water to about 90-95ºC or let it cool for 30 seconds after boiling the water
- Step 2: Grind 54g (about 8 tablespoons) of coffee. Note that you should grind evenly and coarsely, do not grind too small, properly ground coffee will have the same consistency and size as sea salt.
- Step 3: Add freshly ground coffee into the French press and pour hot water up to the indicated line. Add a spoon and stir quickly and gently to ensure saturation of the mixture.
- Step 4: Gently place the piston on top but the drill is pressed down. Leave it on for 4 minutes
- Step 5: After 4 minutes, slowly push the piston down. Control pressure for the best filtering.
Tips To Use The French Press Coffee Maker More Professionally
Preheat
For the best final results, preheat the French press by rinsing it with hot water from the kettle. This helps the coffee to be infused at the optimal temperature of 90-95ºC.
The Size Of The Grain To Be Milled
One of the biggest disadvantages of the French press is that the coffee, if ground too well, can pass through the filter. Make sure the coffee blend you’re grinding is the right size and prevents it from escaping the filter into your coffee cup.
Soak In Water For 4 Minutes
The ground coffee used here is coarse ground coffee that has a smaller surface area in contact with the water than ground coffee. Therefore, it is not advisable to skip the soaking stage in the French press so that the coffee is infused and retains its full flavor of the coffee.
Clean
Cleaning is really a top priority when it comes to coffee making. Clean often and really thoroughly as coffee grounds tend to get stuck in the filters. If not cleaned thoroughly, it will affect the taste of the next coffee making. Most filters are designed to be removable for easier cleaning.
Should The Lid Be Closed During Incubation?
According to the instructions from Starbucks, it is recommended to cover it to prevent the top of the extract from evaporating. However, according to a recent new study, leaving the lid on will give a higher extraction efficiency. The explanation for this is that there is a temperature difference between the top and bottom of the tank, so when the piston is pressed, it will create a convection flow from the bottom of the tank up. Therefore it is possible to increase the extraction efficiency from 19.7% to 22.1%.
Some Suggestions On Starbucks Coffee Beans Suitable For The French Press
- Starbucks French Roast Whole Bean Coffee
- Starbucks Sumatra Dark Roast
- Starbucks Café Verona Coffee Beans
- Starbucks Breakfast Blend K-Cups
- Starbucks Decaf Pike Place Coffee
- Starbucks Brazil Blend Whole Coffee Beans
In general, there is no difference in design and principle between different types of the French press. Using the French press is quite easy and does not require much in terms of technique. This brewing method is suitable for beginners or those interested in craft coffee.