French Press 3 Cup French press
Bloom and Break
by Specialty Coffee Association
Cupping-inspired method for a 3-cup French press. A bloom phase, crust break, and surface skim produce a remarkably clean full cup.
Parameters
- 20 g
- Coffee
- 300 g
- Water
- 1:15
- Ratio
- 96 °C
- Temp
- 7 medium-coarse
- Grind
- 10:20
- Total
- 1
- Servings
Method
-
0:00 01Pour
Pour 60g of water to bloom. Let grounds swell for 30 seconds.
To 60g 5s Slow -
0:30 02Pour
Pour remaining 240g of water for 300g total. Do not stir.
To 300g 10s Slow -
4:00 03Swirl
Break the crust by stirring the surface 3 times with a spoon. Scoop off foam and floating grounds with two spoons.
-
5:00 04Wait
Wait 5 minutes for fines to settle. Do not disturb.
-
10:00 05Wait
Press plunger to the liquid surface only. Pour gently into your cup.
-
10:20 06Done
Clean, full-bodied cup with cupping-level clarity.
Notes
Original source
Recipe by Specialty Coffee Association, published at sca.coffee.
More French Press 3 Cup recipes
See all French Press 3 Cup recipes →- 01 Six-Minute Steep byCounter Culture Coffee Counter Culture Coffee's French Press recipe. All water at once, stir at 30 seconds, steep for 6 minutes total. The extended steep with medium-coarse grind produces a sweet, full cup. Ratio 1:17.9 Time 6:15
- 02 Cold Brew Concentrate bySpecialty Coffee Association Overnight cold brew in a small 3-cup French press. Produces a smooth, low-acid concentrate for one or two iced drinks. Ratio 1:6 Time 12h
- 03 Hot Concentrate bySpecialty Coffee Association High-dose concentrate brewed in a small press, diluted with hot water to yield two cups. Excellent for iced lattes when poured over ice and milk. Ratio 1:8.6 Time 5:30
- 04 Cupping-Style French Press bySpecialty Coffee Association French Press brewed using SCA cupping protocol techniques. No press — just break the crust, skim, and pour carefully. Produces the cleanest possible French Press cup. Ratio 1:16.7 Time 10:10
- 05 Dark Roast bySpecialty Coffee Association Adapted for dark roast beans in a small French press. Lower temperature and shorter steep time prevent over-extraction and bitterness. Ratio 1:17.9 Time 3:20
More by Specialty Coffee Association
View all recipes by Specialty Coffee Association →- 01 Bloom and Break French Press 12 Cup Ratio 1:15.4 Time 12:30
- 02 Cold Brew Concentrate French Press 12 Cup Ratio 1:8 Time 18h
- 03 Cold Brew Large Batch French Press 12 Cup Ratio 1:6 Time 18h
- 04 Large Cupping-Style French Press French Press 12 Cup Ratio 1:16.1 Time 10:10
- 05 Dark Roast Large Batch French Press 12 Cup Ratio 1:18 Time 3:30
Other French press models
View all French press models →Learn the fundamentals
Definitions, ratios and protocols behind this recipe.
- French press The French press is the cleanest expression of the immersion idea: ground coffee, hot water, a metal mesh, and time. The mesh holds everything bigger than ~150 microns; everything smaller — fines and oils — passes into the cup. That single design choice is what gives the French press its character.
- How coffee is roasted Roasting is the chemistry that turns a green seed into something that tastes like coffee. A green bean is dense, vegetal, and sour — undrinkable in any meaningful sense. Heat applied for the right amount of time transforms it into the aromatic, brown, brewable thing on the shelf. Almost everything you taste in a finished cup was either created or shaped during the eight to fifteen minutes the bean spent inside a roaster.
Next step
Let Gota run the timer.
Step-by-step coaching with haptics at every pour, and a brew log that remembers the cup.