Why Your French Press Coffee Tastes Bad

So, your French Press coffee tastes bad? As you probably know, the French press coffee maker, also known as a cafetière or press pot, is a very popular manual brewing device. It’s used by coffee enthusiasts the world over to make a bold, flavorful cup of coffee. 

The French Press facilitates a full-immersion brewing method that highlights the natural flavors and oils from the coffee beans. 

That being said, the flavor of French press coffee is highly dependent on technique. Even minor mistakes in the brewing process can lead to a bitter taste and a disappointing cup of coffee. 

So, let’s spill the beans on some of the reasons your French press coffee may taste like crap, and how you can enjoy a better brew.

Here are 7 French Press faux pas:

1. Using Low-Quality Coffee Beans

One of the most common reasons for poor-tasting French press coffee is the use of stale, low-quality coffee beans. Since the flavors are not masked by things like milk, sweeteners, or espresso crema, the inherent quality of the coffee beans really stands out. 

Always opt for fresh, whole-bean coffee instead of pre-ground. The flavors and oils dissipate quickly after roasting, so whole beans that are ground right before brewing make a world of difference. 

The roast date should be within the last 2 weeks for optimal freshness. Go for light or medium roasts, as dark roasts tend to lose some of their defining flavors over time.

If you’re going to use a French Press, don’t skimp on quality. Spending a little more on top-notch, specialty-grade beans from a local roaster pays off when it comes to French press coffee.

2. Grind Size Is Too Fine

The right grind size is crucial for French press coffee. The full-immersion brewing process requires a coarse, even grind.

Coffee that is ground too finely can lead to over-extraction, releasing bitter compounds into the final brew. A fine grind also causes the filter to clog, preventing the coffee grounds from properly sinking to the bottom. 

Look for a grind with some grittiness or texture, similar to kosher salt. If you don’t have a burr grinder, opt for pre-ground coffee labeled as “coarse.” Avoid espresso grinds, which are far too fine.

Dialing in the right grind may take some trial and error, but it’s worth it. Finding the sweet spot makes a huge improvement in taste.

3. Water Temperature Is Too Low

When using a French Press, you need to make sure that you are brewing with hot enough water. Lower water temperatures result in under-extracted coffee that tastes weak. Hotter water helps extract the best flavors and oils from the coffee grounds. 

The ideal temperature range is between 195-205°F.

If your kettle doesn’t have a precise temperature setting, bring the water to a rolling boil then let it rest a minute before pouring over the grounds. While boiling water can produce bitter coffee, resting it after heating allows the temperature to reduce to the optimal range for French press brewing. 

Remember, good extraction relies on sufficiently hot water.

4. Not Stirring the Coffee

After adding hot water, make sure to give your French press a good stir to integrate the coffee grounds. This is an important step. If you skip it, you’ll get an uneven extraction.

Stirring agitates the grounds and ensures that all the coffee is thoroughly saturated. Using a long-handled spoon, give it about a dozen stirs while pushing the coffee grounds up from the bottom. 

The coffee should look like a thick muddy slurry. If you don’t achieve this uniform mixture, you’ll end up with weak, flavorless coffee.

Properly stirring optimizes contact between water and all the grounds.

5. Not Allowing Coffee to Steep Long Enough

When it comes to French press brewing, patience is a virtue. Cutting the steep time too short results in woefully weak coffee.

Most French presses require steeping anywhere from 3 to 5 minutes. This allows time for the coffee grounds to sink while fully infusing the hot water with flavor. 

Set a timer after adding the water to avoid any temptation of plunging too early.

If your press has a glass beaker, watch the coffee get darker and more concentrated until plunging. Again, patience, my friend. Rushing the steeping process almost guarantees poor-tasting coffee.

6. Leaving Coffee in the Press Too Long After Steeping

On the flip side, letting your French press steep for too long has its own downsides.

The recommended plunging time is about 4 minutes. Anything beyond that risks over-extraction, which means more bitter elements will seep into your coffee. 

The French press beaker is not an airtight container, so the coffee will start to cool down and lose aroma. Plunging is what stops the brewing process and separates the grounds, so it should be done in a timely manner. 

After plunging, it’s best to immediately pour the coffee out into your mug. Leaving it sitting on the spent grounds will make the coffee taste a bit off, to say the least.

7. Not Cleaning French Press Thoroughly

Like any coffee maker, your French press needs to be cleaned regularly to keep performing well. Old coffee oils and other residue left behind will make your coffee taste rancid.

Rinse out the grounds bin and filter screen after each use. Thoroughly clean your French Press with dish soap every week or two. This will remove any residual buildup that could taint your next brew. 

Additionally, scrubbing with a soft brush ensures that no clogs will form in the filter screen. Take apart all pieces of the press, if possible, to fully clean every nook and cranny where residue collects over time. 

Proper cleaning may seem like a slog, but it’s a relatively quick process. And it’s worth it. It keeps components fresh, and ensures that you’ll brew a great-tasting cup.

The Final Scoop

Indeed, making a great cup of French press coffee relies heavily on technique. With so few variables, small mistakes can have a big impact.

Focus on using fresh, quality whole bean coffee along with the right coarse grind size. Brew with sufficiently hot water and take time to stir and steep properly. Don’t leave it plunging for too long before serving. And keep all parts clean for optimal flavor. 

With attention to these details, your French press coffee will be rich and aromatic.

Before you go, be sure to check out my guide on how to make alkaline coffee if you’re looking to make your coffee less acidic and more soothing on your stomach.