How to clean a French press

Rinse the press right after you pour, then take it apart and wash the beaker, plunger and filter screen with warm water and a drop of dish soap once a day. Once a week, or when the coffee starts tasting flat, do a deeper clean of the filter screen. Coffee oils build up in the mesh, and old oils taste stale and bitter in the next cup. The whole job takes about two minutes.

What do I do with the grounds first?

Do not rinse the grounds down the sink. They clog drains over time. Spoon most of them into the trash or a compost bin, then add a little water to the press, swirl, and pour the slurry through a strainer or into the bin. A silicone spatula gets the last of the sludge from the corners.

How do I clean it every day?

1. Empty the grounds as above.
2. Fill the beaker about a third with warm water and a drop of dish soap.
3. Pump the plunger up and down a few times. The water pushes through the screen and loosens what is stuck to it.
4. Unscrew the plunger assembly. Most presses come apart into a lid, a rod, a spring plate, a mesh screen and a cross plate.
5. Wash each piece with a soft sponge or brush and rinse well.
6. Let everything air dry before you put it back together.

How do I do a deep clean?

Once a week, or whenever the screen looks grey and clogged, soak the disassembled plunger parts in hot water with a spoonful of baking soda for about 20 minutes. Then scrub the mesh with a small brush, an old toothbrush works. Rinse until the water runs clear. For a stained glass or steel beaker, the same baking soda paste on a soft sponge does the job without scratching.

Dishwasher safety varies by model, so check the instructions that came with your press. We do not have brand specific guidance, and this table is by material.

What about the cracks and the rubber seal?

The spots that hide old coffee are the rim of the lid, the gap where the rod meets the lid and the edge of the plunger seal. Pull off any removable rubber or silicone ring and wash under it, since damp grounds trapped there can sour. If the mesh is bent or the seal has gone stiff, the press will let fine grounds into the cup, and replacement parts are the fix rather than more scrubbing. Store the press dry and with the lid off, so air can move through it between brews.

How do I know it is clean?

Smell the screen. If it smells like old coffee or something faintly rancid, keep scrubbing. A clean press smells like nothing. Look at the mesh against a light: you should see pinpoints of light through the whole screen. If you do not, the fine grounds are still packed in.

What should I brew once it is clean?

A fresh press deserves a coffee that suits it. The roaster labels No. 1 Common Sense for drip or French press, at 60 g per litre with water just off the boil. That works out to roughly 1 ounce (30 g) for a 16 oz press, and we do not have a longer recipe from the roaster than that. Our full walkthrough for the method is in the best coffee for French press guide, and if you like a darker cup, the Sumatran French press recipe covers that.

FAQ

How often should I clean my French press?

Rinse it after every use and wash it with soap once a day if you brew daily. Do the deeper clean of the filter screen once a week.

Can I put coffee grounds down the drain?

It is best not to. Grounds collect in pipes and can clog them over time. Put them in the trash or a compost bin instead, and use a strainer when you rinse the press.

Why does my coffee taste bitter even though I cleaned the press?

A press that looks clean can still have oil in the mesh. Try the baking soda soak. If the taste is still off, the cause may be the grind or the brew time, not the press. See why coffee tastes sour for how to read the cup. You can also browse all ten coffees or set one up on the subscription, 11% off, skip or cancel in one click.

A clean screen is the cheapest upgrade a French press has.