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Here’s how to make French press espresso! It’s easy and makes great-tasting espresso, no fancy machine required.
Espresso can seem intimidating at first, but if you already have a French press at home, you’re halfway there to a solid alternative. This French press espresso makes a delicious version that’s super close to the flavors I get out of my espresso machine.
The best part is that it’s ideal for espresso drinks. If you love a latte, cappuccino, or affogato, brewing up a French press espresso results in delicious versions of all of those coffee treats.
Start with espresso roast coffee
Other than a French press, the coffee you buy is the most important part. Go for espresso roast coffee, ground to a medium fine grind.
Here’s why these elements are important:
- Espresso roast is important to get the right dark, bitter flavor that’s typical in espresso shots. Starbucks and Intelligentsia both have a nice espresso roast.
- Medium fine grind is important for use in the French press. Espresso coffee beans are typically ground very fine for an espresso machine. If they’re too fine for a French press, they can be hard to strain, and you end up with sediment in your coffee cups.
The basic steps
Here’s the basic idea behind the quick and simple French press espresso:
- Grind the coffee. Grind ½ cup coffee beans to a medium fine grind.
- Heat the water. Heat ¾ cup + 2 tablespoons water to hot but not boiling (200 to 205°F).
- Add coffee and wait 4 minutes. Add the medium fine ground espresso coffee to the French press. Top with the hot water and stir. Set a timer and wait 4 minutes.
- Plunge. Place the lid on the French press and slowly press on the plunger all the way down.
Choosing a French press
I like the Bodum French press. It’s high quality, works well, and the brand has been making them for years. Another option is to use an insulated French press, which keeps the coffee warm for you if you’re not sipping it all right away. Either way, you’ll be using a tool that’s been around for coffee brewing since at least the 1920s.
More alternatives without a machine
French press espresso is my top method for making espresso without a machine because it has the best flavor and doesn’t require specialty equipment. But if you’re looking for some other options, here are a few more ideas:
- Manual espresso maker: This option has the best flavor for a specific tool, and they’re generally a lot cheaper than a machine and more portable.
- Aeropress: The Aeropress method is even cheaper, but you’ll sacrifice some flavor. The espresso isn’t great, but it’s decent if you’re in a bind.
This French press espresso recipe is…
Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
French Press Espresso
It’s possible to make a darn good espresso without an espresso machine. Here’s how to make French press espresso!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 2 double shots espresso 1x
- Category: Coffee
- Method: French Press
- Cuisine: Coffee
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 36 grams (½ cup beans) espresso roast coffee, medium fine ground
- 205 mL/grams hot water (¾ cup + 2 tablespoons)
Instructions
- Grind the coffee to a medium fine grounds.
- Heat the water to hot but not boiling (200 to 205°F).
- Add the espresso coffee to the French press.
- Top with the hot water and stir.
- Set a timer and wait 4 minutes.
- After 4 minutes, place the lid on the French press and slowly press the plunger all the way down.
- Pour into two espresso cups and serve immediately, or use in espresso drinks.
This was perfect for at home, i felt silly pulling out my huge french press for 105g of water. So I used my little tea steeper that is super similar to the french press and it was great!!! So happy I stumbled upon your website!
Perfect!
It’s the perfect amount of espresso for an iced Americano! Thanks!
My fancy espresso machine broke and I’m awaiting a replacement, so I needed a quick solution in the meantime. I’ve been making my French Press espresso in latte form all week and it’s really great! I appreciate the very specific measurements in grams and the water temp, so I can keep things precise. I do miss the richness and crema of a pulled shot, but this is definitely working for me in the meantime. I think I’m going to experiment with making a larger batch and keeping it in the fridge, so I don’t have to clean my FP daily. (I already occasionally microwave my latte, so I’m not a snob about having to warm it up.)
French press Bodun: Not with the new one piece filter that you don’t have to disassemble to clean. I grind my coffee Expresso and it is fabulous, better than drop in filters. Best coffee ever.
I put the grinds through the filter in my mr coffee type machine, and basically do a pour over method by pouring the water directly onto the grinds.
The French press espresso came out very well. I like this better than Moka pot or Turkish pot coffees. I did use very fine grind coffee, but there was very little sediment in the cup, much less than the Turkish pot.
I live at 5,745 ft above sea level. My water “boils” at nearly the perfect temperature for coffee extraction about 200F. Here is a chart that will show you at what temperature your water “boils”. 212F or 100c is only accurate for people living at sea level.
https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/docs/documents/1344/boiling_point_water_elevation_feet.png
This information is important for all cooking, especially if you live at higher elevations. Cakes cook differently, beans may take forever to cook without a pressure cooker, even the simple egg needs different “boiling” times.
Can I make one double shot in a french press with 18-gram coffee and 105 ml water
or should it be at least 2 double shots?
That should work fine!
Can you double this recipe?
Yes!
How much ground espresso do you use? I can’t measure how much has gone into my grinder!
Roughly 1/2 cup as well.
How many shots of espresso does this make?
2 doubleshots
Let us know if you have any questions!