This is for brewing a cup of coffee, not espresso. To truly brew the best coffee you have to start with the best beans. Buy only whole beans and make sure the beans have been roasted in the last 3-5 days. When storing your coffee beans, keep them in the fridge. They will last about 2 weeks in there before they go stale.
Next, you are going to need a French press. You can get one at Marshalls or similar stores like the Home Goods Store for cheap. Usually they cost about 10 bucks.
A French press or press pot uses a wire mesh or nylon filter rather than a paper filter. This allows the natural oils in the coffee to stay in the coffee and not be removed by the paper filter. These oils add tremendous flavor and complexity to coffee.
Next you are going to need a grinder. Specifically you need a burr grinder. If you grinder has big blades on it, it is not ideal for coffee but will work for the time being. A burr grinder, however, gives a very consistent grind, while one with big blades gives you a grind of all different sizes. This leads to a sludge of small particles at the bottom of the coffee. Not very appetizing!
Before you grind, get your water heated. The ideal temperature is about 200 degrees. If you don't have a thermometer, simply bring the water to slight boil and then take it off the heat. Leave it there until you have ground your beans.You can get a French press in all different sizes so keep in mind you want two rounded tablespoons of grounds per 1 cup of coffee (8oz).
Once the water is heated, put the coffee beans in the grinder and grind until you have the beans down to the size of a half-a-grain of rice or just slightly smaller. Add the grounds to the press right after grinding. The longer they sit out, the staler they will become. Add the water. All the grounds should rise to the top. Use chopsticks or a wooden spoon to stir the grounds a couple of times. This brings out the bloom or the foam at the top. Place the top of the French press on but do not push the plunger down yet.
Start your timer. My French press is about 3 cups and I give it four minutes. If yours is smaller you only need about 3 and a half minutes. While your coffee is steeping, put your coffee cups in the microwave (if they are microwave safe) for about 30 seconds to a minute just to warm them up. Pouring coffee into a cold cup can produce a sour note in the coffee. If your cups are not microwave safe, use a warming drawer or run them under warm water for a few seconds and dry.
Once the time is up, push the plunger down slowly and evenly. Do not let the rod move sideways at all or some of the grounds will escape above the filter and you will have grounds in your coffee.
Make sure to hold on to the lid as you pour, as it is not secure on a French press. Walla...you have a perfect cup of coffee. Enjoy a much more flavorful coffee than your coffee maker could ever hope to produce.
