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View Full Version : French Press -- what grind ??


expatCanuck
11-10-2008, 11:12 AM
Okay, gents.
I see some discrepancies regarding the French Press grind of choice.
Hence this poll ...
sehrgut
11-10-2008, 12:18 PM
Already you see what'll probably be the two peaks: coarse (to avoid fines in the cup) and fine (to avoid long extraction times with their consequent cooling and souring).
Rem Freeman
11-10-2008, 12:20 PM
I myself enjoy a good coffee you can really sink your teeth into....only to have your teeth bounce back.
expatCanuck
11-10-2008, 12:25 PM
Already you see what'll probably be the two peaks: coarse (to avoid fines in the cup) and fine (to avoid long extraction times with their consequent cooling and souring).I do so love a good bimodal distribution.
sehrgut
11-10-2008, 12:32 PM
I do so love a good bimodal distribution.

Yes, it provides such a lovely "us and them" opportunity, eh? *grin*
Howard Newell
11-10-2008, 12:39 PM
I haven't had much luck with a fine grind. It always escapes the filter and ends up in my mug and over-extracts. Coarse grind for me!
Scotto
11-10-2008, 04:22 PM
Coarse is king when it comes to the FP, assuming you actually want to taste the coffee. A nice slow extraction over about 4 minutes is what you want; too fine a grind and you have some dull, crappy coffee.
Straight Arrow
11-10-2008, 06:02 PM
Coarse, of course.
Suzuki
11-10-2008, 06:23 PM
Coarse is king when it comes to the FP, assuming you actually want to taste the coffee. A nice slow extraction over about 4 minutes is what you want; too fine a grind and you have some dull, crappy coffee.

Can't 'splain it any better than that.
_JP_
11-10-2008, 07:27 PM
Long extraction equals a coarser grind.
tclevela
11-11-2008, 11:10 PM
Fine grind wot a 4 minute brewing time.
If more course ground then I would cut down the brewing time.

Anyone have any different ideas about grind vs brewing time?
matt
11-12-2008, 01:59 AM
how coarse is a coarse grind?
sehrgut
11-12-2008, 06:44 AM
Fine grind wot a 4 minute brewing time.
If more course ground then I would cut down the brewing time.

Anyone have any different ideas about grind vs brewing time?

You've got that backwards. A coarser grind extracts more slowly, and must be brewed for longer. I brew a rather fine grind for four minutes, but a drip grind requires at least five, and a much coarser grind nearly seven.