FRENCH PRESS - LIGHT ROASTS
THE BREAKDOWN:
To get a clear lowdown of why there's different recipes for different roasts, it's essential to understand where the flavour of coffee comes from.
Coffee flavour gets decided by two key factors - the bean and the roast.
While the bean is influenced by whatever was in its surroundings while it was growing, the roast is what we bring to the table. It wouldn't be fair to say roasting adds flavour - its a process that involves fire so it never adds, it only subtracts.
The only question is how much of the natural flavour do you want to remove?
By the way in this case, natural flavours don't always mean good. Some can be very vegetal and unpleasant.
LIGHT ROASTS - Mostly natural notes with a hint of roasted notes
MEDIUM ROASTS - Balanced mix of natural flavours and roasted notes
DARK ROASTS - Mostly roasted notes with a hint of the natural notes
Since they're on the fire for a short period - Light to Medium roasts have more natural flavours. The dense bean is caffeine packed and loaded with flavours that are relatively new to coffee. For the longest time, the idea of Light to Medium roasted coffee was never really around.
It took a whole scientific revolution to popularise and track down Light roasts and diversify the whole range of flavours that constitute coffee. Many of the new floral, fruity and vegetal flavours associated with coffee today come from these roasts.
FRENCH PRESS - Light To Medium Roasts
Coffee: 20.8g's
Grind Size: Coarse
Water 250ml at 91º C
Brew Time: 5 mins
STEP BY STEP:
- Grind 20.8 g's of coffee to a coarse size. Coarse ground coffee has a consistency similar to sea salt. If your coffee is pre-ground go ahead to 2.
- At room temperature, the French Press will absorb heat from the hot water faster. To keep it even and steady, preheat the press by pouring in some hot water and stirring it about. Remove the water after a bit.
- Add in the coffee and slowly pour in 250 ml of water in a spiral that starts from the centre. This’ll make sure your water spreads and wets all the beans evenly.
- Stir the brew up and down vigorously for 10 sec
- Put the plunger on the top and let it sit for the coffee can brew for 4 min
- Slowly push the plunger down.
- And boom! You just brewed some dope coffee.