There’s nothing quite like kickstarting your day with a rich shot of espresso. Luckily, you don’t need an expensive or dedicated machine. You can make a delicious espresso using a brewer you probably already own: a French press.
Start by taking the lid and filter out of your French press. You’ll want the filter pushed up to the lid.
Put the water on to boil. You want it to be just below boiling temperature, around 195° F, when you add it to the French press. To easily achieve this, you can let the water boil and then take it off the heat to cool for a few seconds.
While the water is boiling, you may want to pre-warm your French press so that the glass doesn’t crack. Pour warm to hot water into the glass container and let it sit for a few minutes.
Grind your beans to a medium-fine consistency.
For espresso-strength French press coffee, you’ll want to double the ratio of coffee grounds to water. This will be about 2 tablespoons of grounds for each cup of water.
Pour a little hot water onto your beans, moving in a circle. Wait a few seconds to allow them to bloom, releasing their delicious oils and aromas.
Pour in the rest of the water. Don’t stir, as this can cause your grounds to fall out of suspension and alter the extraction.
Rest the lid and filter on top of the French press. Make sure the filter is above the grounds and water. Leave the espresso to brew for three or four minutes. If you want it even stronger, you can leave it to brew for longer, but don’t leave it too long, or it may become over-extracted and bitter.
When your espresso has finished brewing, plunge the filter down halfway. Then pull it back to the top and plunge it to the bottom. This will create a small layer of foam on the top of the espresso, approximating the crema found on a traditional espresso shot. Pour it into two espresso cups and drink it right away.
Notes
If you prefer less mouthfeel, you can pour your espresso through a paper or cloth filter, but keep in mind that this may alter the flavor.
Nutrition
Calories: 5kcal
Keyword French press espresso, how to make espresso in a french press