French press Facts for Kids

A French press is a cool tool for making coffee! People also call it a press pot, coffee press, coffee plunger, or cafetière. It's a simple machine to use, and it makes coffee that's often stronger than coffee made in other ways.

How a French Press Works
Different Names Around the World
Why French Press Coffee is Special
Grinding Coffee for a French Press
French Press for Travelers
French Press Popularity
Images for kids
See also

How a French Press Works

A French press has a round container called a jug. This jug is usually made of glass or clear plastic. It comes with a lid and a special part called a "plunger." The plunger fits perfectly inside the jug. It has a filter, often made of steel or plastic mesh.

To make coffee, you put ground coffee and hot water into the jug. You let them sit together for a few minutes. Then, you slowly push the plunger down. This pushes the used coffee grounds to the bottom of the jug. This way, the coffee liquid is separated and ready to drink!

Different Names Around the World

The French press has many different names depending on where you are!

In Australia, South Africa, and Ireland, it's known as a coffee plunger. The coffee made with it is called plunger coffee.
In France, its name is cafetière à piston.
Sometimes, people also call it a melior or a Bodum, which are names of old brands that made these coffee pots.
In the UK, it's simply called a cafetière, which is the French word for "coffee pot."

Why French Press Coffee is Special

When you make coffee with a French press, the coffee grounds stay in direct contact with the hot water. This means the coffee gets more of its natural flavor and oils. These oils often get caught in paper filters used by other coffee makers.

Because of this, French press coffee is often stronger and feels thicker. It might also have tiny bits of coffee grounds at the bottom. It's best to drink French press coffee soon after it's made. If it sits too long, the coffee grounds can make it taste bitter.

Grinding Coffee for a French Press

For a French press, you need to use coffee that is ground quite coarsely. This means the coffee bits should be bigger. If the coffee is ground too finely, it can pass through the filter. This would make your coffee cloudy and gritty.

A special grinder called a burr mill grinder works best for this. It grinds the coffee more evenly than other types of grinders. The coffee should be coarser than what you'd use for a regular drip coffee maker. It should be much coarser than the coffee used for espresso.

You can also use a French press to brew loose tea! It works just like a tea infuser.

French Press for Travelers

French presses are often easier to carry around than other coffee makers. There are even special versions made for people who travel a lot. These are often made from tough plastic instead of glass. They also have a lid that seals tightly and a drinking hole that can be closed.

Some French presses are made for hikers and backpackers. These people like them because they don't have to carry a heavy metal percolator or a drip coffee maker with filters.

French Press Popularity

Even though it's called a "French press," this coffee maker isn't more popular in France than in other countries. In most homes in France, people make coffee using an electric drip coffee maker with paper filters. In cafes and restaurants, they usually use an espresso machine.

Images for kids

French Press in the starting position. The press contains water and ground coffee. The ground coffee has been left in the press for a few minutes.
Pushing the handle down will separate the ground coffee from the water.
Once the water is separated, the freshly made coffee can be poured into cups.