The French Press is a fantastic way to brew rich coffee with a thicker mouth feel and bold flavors. It is our favorite camping method due to the ease of use and the ability to brew plenty to share with the campers around you.

How much coffee and water do I use?
5 rounded "coffee scoops" that come with the French Press typically come out to the right amount for an 8 cup press.

How long do you brew?
We have found that coffee brew time in a French Press greatly varies based on the roast, the grind and the water temp. It can be 3 minutes or it could be 5 minutes based on the variables. Since we generally use this camping we've come up with an easy method to tell when it is ready: Push the plunger down 1/2" and then slowly pull it back up. If 85-90% of the floating coffee grinds settle at the bottom you are ready to brew. The coffee has infused as much as it needs to and will only grow more bitter after this point.

Other tips?
Buy a glass press so you can see what is going on inside. When the coffee is done brewing and you have pressed down the plunger be sure to remove the coffee from the press. It will keep brewing if you leave it in the press. While insulated presses are great for keeping the brew temp hot we feel they are not the appropriate place to leave your coffee that won't fit in your mug. Find someone to share with and brew again when you are ready! Or put your extra in a preheated thermos to keep it warm if you must.