Make the grind coarser first. If the coffee is still bitter, cut the steep to 4 minutes, then drop the water slightly below a full boil, then check your dose against 60 g of coffee per litre (about 30 g for a 17 oz press). Bitterness in a French press is nearly always over-extraction, and these four changes, in this order, fix it.
In what order should you change things?
Change one thing per batch, or you will not know what worked. This is the order we would go in, from the change with the most effect to the least.
| Step | Change | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grind coarser, like coarse sea salt | Fine grounds give up bitter compounds fast and slip through the mesh |
| 2 | Steep for 4 minutes, not 6 or 8 | Less time in the water, less extraction |
| 3 | Water just off the boil, roughly 200°F (93°C) | Boiling water pulls out harsher flavors |
| 4 | Use 60 g per litre | Too much coffee for the water can taste bitter and heavy |
| 5 | Pour it all out when you plunge | Coffee left on the grounds keeps steeping |
How much coffee is right for your press?
The roaster's own recipe for Common Sense uses 60 g per litre, and we use the same figure for the whole line. Here is that dose for common sizes, with level tablespoons at 5 g each.
| Press size | Water | Coffee | Level tablespoons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 oz | about 355 g | 21 g | 4 |
| 17 oz | about 500 g | 30 g | 6 |
| 34 oz | about 1,000 g | 60 g | 12 |
If you want stronger coffee without bitterness, do not add more coffee first. The sizes and strengths are on French press coffee ratio for every size, and the general math is on the how much coffee per cup page.
Is it the press and not the recipe?
Sometimes. Old coffee oils build up in the mesh and the lid, and they can leave a stale, bitter edge in the next pot. If you have not washed yours in a while, follow how to clean a French press. A burr grinder with leftover fine grounds can also skew the grind, so how to clean a coffee grinder is worth five minutes.
Which coffee is forgiving in a French press?
Start with No. 1 Common Sense. The roaster suggests it for drip or French press at 60 g per litre, and it takes milk without falling apart. Its label notes are cocoa, red apple and brown sugar, and the roast is medium.
No. 6 Hegemony is the second choice. The roaster describes low acidity and heavy body, which makes it very hard to ruin, so a slightly long steep will hurt it less. Its label notes are cocoa and smooth.
Our pick
No. 1 Common Sense
Huila and Medellin-Antioquia, Colombia · 1,300 to 1,500 m · Fully washed, solar dried · Castillo, Caturra, Colombia, Typica · Medium
Cocoa, red apple and brown sugar on the label, suggested for drip or French press at 60 g per litre.
What if it is still bitter after all that?
Try the other direction on one variable only. Coarser grind, shorter steep, a 30 second cooler pour. If a fresh coffee at the right dose is still bitter, the coffee may simply not be to your taste, and that is useful to know. Look at the label notes of all ten coffees and choose a bag that sounds sweeter to you.
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How do you know which fix worked?
Taste the cup when it is warm, not scalding. Bitterness shows up as a dry, harsh finish that lingers on the tongue. A fixed cup finishes clean and a little sweet. If it turns sour or thin instead, you have gone too far the other way, so move one step back, for example to a slightly finer grind or a 4 minute steep, and keep the rest as it was. Write the grind setting and the time on a sticky note by the press for a week, and you will have your own recipe.
What should you not change?
Do not press harder to compensate for a weak cup, and do not stir for minutes. A gentle stir after pouring, a lid on, and a steady 4 minutes is all the method asks for. Plunge slowly, and pour right away.
Change one thing at a time, and the cup will tell you what it needed.
Questions people ask
Why does my French press coffee taste bitter?
Most often the coffee is over-extracted: the grind is too fine, the steep is too long, or the water is too hot. Fix them in that order, one change per batch.
How long should I steep French press coffee?
Start at 4 minutes. If it is still bitter, go to 3 minutes and make sure the grind is coarse. If it tastes sour or thin, go back toward 4.
Does coffee left in the French press get more bitter?
Yes, because the grounds keep steeping as long as they sit in the water. Pour all of it out as soon as you plunge, into a mug or a thermos.
Free printable
Keep the ratio chart on your fridge
One page with grams, level tablespoons and scoops for every cup size and for coffee makers from 2 to 14 cups. Leave your email and the download link appears right here.