Skip to main content
Coffee Guides

How Much Coffee for French Press

Wondering the amount of coffee to use when brewing coffee with your French press? In this guide, you’ll learn more about the correct proportions when mixing coffee and water to make coffee with your French press.

French press coffee amount

French presses make it effortless to brew several cups of coffee at once. They can brew coffee within 4 minutes. Besides, French presses are plastic-free, making them environment-friendly. Their plastic-free design also means that they don’t pose any health risks.

The Functionality of a Standard French Press

French presses brew coffee by soaking coffee grounds in very hot water. The grounds are separated from the brew by pressing them against the filter.

Brewing takes 4 minutes. The recommended water temperature is between 195 degrees Fahrenheit and 250 degrees Fahrenheit. The best grind size is a coarse grind.

Use the recommended amount of coffee and water to make the best tasting coffee with your French press.

Cup Measurements

Essentially, French presses come in different sizes, ranging from 12 ounces to a maximum of 51 ounces. The size of your French press or the number of cups of coffee you want to make will determine the exact amount of coffee to add.

However, you should note that the measurements may be a little confusing depending on the standards of different locations. For instance, a standard US cup differs from a French press cup. A standard US cup measures 8 ounces, which is equivalent to 4 ounces of a standard French press.

Here’re the standard measurements when making coffee with your French press:

  • 3 cups French press- Brews 12 ounces coffee
  • 4 cups French press- Brews 17 ounces coffee (2 US cups)
  • 8 cups French press- Brews 34 ounces coffee (4 US cups)
  • 12 cups French press- Brews 51 ounces coffee (6 US cups)

Measuring the Amount of Water and Coffee for French Press

The general ratio of mixing coffee and water for French press is adding 2 tablespoons coffee to 8 ounces water. You can use different proportions to achieve your desired taste.

The recommended measurements are as follows:

  1. Measurements for a bold, strong coffee brew:
  • 1 US cup: Mix 8 ounces water & 2 tablespoons coffee
  • 2 US cups: Mix 16 ounces water & 4 tablespoons coffee (makes 4 French press cups)
  • 3 US cups: Mix 24 ounces water & 6 tablespoons coffee
  • 4 US cups: Mix 32 ounces water & 8 tablespoons coffee (makes 8 French press cups)
  • 5 US cups: Mix 40 ounces water & 10 tablespoons coffee
  • 6 US cups: Mix 48 ounces water & 12 tablespoons coffee (makes 12 French press cups)
  1. Measurements for a medium strength coffee brew:
  • 1 US cup: Mix 8 ounces water & 1 ½ tablespoon coffee
  • 2 US cups: Mix 16 ounces water & 3 tablespoons coffee
  • 3 US cups: Mix 24 ounces water & 4 ½ tablespoons coffee
  • 4 US cups: Mix 32 ounces water & 6 tablespoons coffee
  • 5 US cups: Mix 40 ounces water & 7 ½ tablespoons coffee
  • 6 US cups: Mix 48 ounces water & 9 tablespoons coffee
  1. Measurements for making French press cold brew

French presses are also ideal for making cold brew. In this case, coarse ground coffee is steeped in cool or cold water in the carafe. The mixture is refrigerated for about 12-24 hours. The recommended measurements are:

  • 17 ounces press: Mix 3 ounces coarse ground coffee & 2 cups (or 16 ounces) cool water
  • 34 ounces press: Mix 6 ounces coarse ground coffee & 4 cups (or 32 ounces) cool water
  • 50 ounces press: Mix 9 ounces coarse ground coffee & 6 cups (or 48 ounces) cool water

 

Related Articles

Is French Press Coffee Bad For You?

How to Use a French Press?

How Much Coffee Grounds Per Cup French Press?