My French press method was wrong for like 6 months until a barista fixed it

I kept getting bitter sludge in my morning cup (even after 4 minutes of steeping, you know?). A barista at a shop in Nashville showed me that coarse grind plus 30 seconds longer made a crazy difference in clarity and taste. Has anyone else had that moment where one tweak changed your whole routine?

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3 Comments

ryan_nelson4mo ago

Wait, have you tried heating up your mug or the carafe first? That kept my brew at the right temp and stopped the bitterness for me.

7

leo_kelly4mo ago

But nobody's mentioned that tap water minerals can mess with extraction just as much as grind size.

1

the_ben4mo ago

Tell me about it. I tried messing with grind size for weeks before realizing my hard water was the real problem. @ryan_nelson, you out here solving heat loss while we're over here fighting the periodic table in our cups.

4