God bless,
brian.

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Blogger’s boot up blend. “‘Blogging Rocks.’  Log on to an amazing medium blend of African, Central and ……

Beth

1. Not all “burr” grinders are actually better than a blade grinder. Look at the burrs themselves if at all possible. If you see several sharp surfaces that appear as though they are designed to CUT, rather than grind, you’re in business. If there are no sharp surfaces at all, or if the edges are quite dull, what you have is a bean crusher, not a bean grinder. There is a distinct difference of quality in the cup between the two.

Generally, expect to spend at least $100 for a capable grinder. Expect at least twice that for an espresso-capable grinder.

2. Brewing time for a french press will vary on several factors. Water temperature, grind particle size, and total volume of coffee being made.

Finer grind = less time
Coarser grind = more time
Hotter water = less time
Cooler water = more time

It is also worth mentioning that a lighter-roasted coffee is more resliliant to brewing than a darker roast. Meaning, a higher temperature works better for a lighter roast than for a coffee roasted into full city + and beyond.

For a 1-cup french press, I wouldn’t let it brew for more than 3-4 minutes.
For a 6-cup french press, I would go 4-7 minutes.

The more you use this method, the better you’ll be able to “feel it out”. That’s part of the charm of the French Press method.. it’s so unscientific with great results.. very romantic.