Break and clean method for French press
I think this could be why I like the break & clean method so much - when you press there is no resistance and relatively there is very little overextraction resulting from the pressing action.another_jim wrote:If you all stopped pressing down on those presses, you could get a cheaper grinder and better coffee. I always wondered why the coffee I cupped invariably tasted better than when I did the same one FP. Turns out that pressing down adds a lot of overextracted instant coffee bitterness to the cup. If you use an Eve Solo or decant the brew through a sieve, the fines don't matter and the cup tastes better. In fact, I believe most of the apparent grinder differences for brewed coffee go away if the grinds aren't overly disturbed
...split from A hunt for a drip/French press grinder by moderator...
- another_jim
- Team HB
Talk about blind spot.
I've never broken the crust and cleaned before pressing down with an FP. That'll obviously do the trick too.

Jim Schulman
It works very well, I find it very consistent and with a combination of tongue and TDS I've pretty much dialled the grind in to get exactly what I want from a coffee. My favourite brewing method by a mile.
- shadowfax
It's not my favorite brewing method, but I was intrigued by James' technique video when I saw it, and I've been using his cupping-style breaking of the crust and cleanup prior to pressing since I saw it. I don't make FP enough to really talk up the method as the best, but it works for me and the video is worth checking out.
Nicholas Lundgaard
- JohnB.
- Supporter ♡
That would explain why I always get a better(sweeter) tasting cup when I brew in the cup using a Finum filter instead of using my fp.another_jim wrote:If you all stopped pressing down on those presses, you could get a cheaper grinder and better coffee. I always wondered why the coffee I cupped invariably tasted better than when I did the same one FP. Turns out that pressing down adds a lot of overextracted instant coffee bitterness to the cup. If you use an Eve Solo or decant the brew through a sieve, the fines don't matter and the cup tastes better. In fact, I believe most of the apparent grinder differences for brewed coffee go away if the grinds aren't overly disturbed
LMWDP 267
- dsc
Hi guys,
I do the break and clean but still I get a lot of fines in the cup and on the bottom of the PF. It just goes to show how much fines my Macap produces I guess. Of course I get similar problems with drip as well as the fines clog up the paper filter and screw up the extraction.
Regards,
dsc.
I do the break and clean but still I get a lot of fines in the cup and on the bottom of the PF. It just goes to show how much fines my Macap produces I guess. Of course I get similar problems with drip as well as the fines clog up the paper filter and screw up the extraction.
Regards,
dsc.
I use this method also. Is there any way, though, to use the break and clean method with a finer grind/shorter steep time? Usually, by the time my steeping is done, a "crust" is not there as it is with a coarser grind/longer steep time. Any thoughts on combining the two?HB wrote:I follow Sweet Maria's French Press Brewing Instructions, which calls for shorter steeping time and finer grind setting.
LMWDP #263
- erics
- Supporter ★
And, for the "best of both worlds", you could always try this product:
http://www.teavana.com/Loose-Leaf-Teas/ ... r-16oz.axd invented by these guys: http://www.abid.com.tw/index.html and further described here: http://www.google.com/patents?id=t4UYAAAAEBAJ
http://www.teavana.com/Loose-Leaf-Teas/ ... r-16oz.axd invented by these guys: http://www.abid.com.tw/index.html and further described here: http://www.google.com/patents?id=t4UYAAAAEBAJ
- SlowRain
I have to check this out. My local coffee shop/roaster has some Abid things for sale. I'll have to see what he says about it.erics wrote:invented by these guys: http://www.abid.com.tw/index.html
Since I haven't been able to find my french press ... I've been using a stainless frothing pitcher and letting things steep in there. Then using a melitta brown flavor pore filter with a pour over maker from sweet marias to filter. Gives a pretty clean cup!