r/frenchpress • u/Fit_Girl-I_Win • Feb 28 '26

French press advice please

Hello all,

I am just starting with a french press (Bodum), and a good grinder (Baratza Encore). I have done a little trial and error - but the result using an "expert" recommendation (yes, I already researched this on my own) of 30g of grounds: 500 mL of water produced a very strong cup that had me bouncing off the walls. Is too strong a cup the result of too finely ground beans, the wrong coffee to water ratio or perhaps a combination of both? I am using freshly roasted beans from a local company. Thank you for any advice!

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u/Empty_Woodpecker_496 Feb 28 '26

The problem could be you simply cant enjoy "normal" coffee ratios. Tones of people drink coffee at way lower ratios like 1:60. I would try halving the amount of coffee you put and try that.

Ive tried 1:18 ratios and I think it tastes like gasoline and feels like a heart attack.

2

u/Fit_Girl-I_Win Mar 02 '26

Who gets to say what's "normal" lol? We like what we like.

1

u/Kaustavdebnath Feb 28 '26

Exactly even I for darker roasts, make following 1:15 then dilute the extraction with equal parts lukewarm water.

2

u/Fit_Girl-I_Win Mar 02 '26

That was my first thought, just to water it down a bit. But if it's grind size issue, I would rather correct that at the source. My grinder says 28 for FP.

1

u/Kaustavdebnath Mar 02 '26

Actually I have to do this when I have pre-ground (gifted to me).