When you are purchasing a French press, you will find out there are many sizes, such as small size French press, medium size French press, and even large size French press, some merchants will introduce the size of the cup of coffee and suit for how many people to use. But when you finish making coffee, you find that the serving said by the merchant is not the same as what you thought, why is that? How should we choose the right French press pot? Let's continue.
Common French Press Sizes
Before we find out how to choose the right French press, let's see what are the common sizes of the French press.3 cups (0.35 liters or 11.8 ounces)
4 cups (0.5 liters or 17 ounces)
8 cups (1 liter or 33.8 ounces)
12 cups (1.5 liters or 50.7 ounces)
Why Does The Size Of Your French Press Matter
When you look at the capacity of a French press and find that it is different from what you think the volume of the liquid is, you may think that 8 ounces equal one cup of coffee, but that is not the reality, why is this?This is because the measurements of coffee machines have been adjusted by the industry to accommodate the standard size of coffee machines and the volume of coffee cups. Many coffee companies consider a cup to be equivalent to four ounces, which is why a 3 cup French press is only 11.8 ounces.
What does this mean? A three-cup French press can't certainly brew 3 full cups of coffee as you think it should. Think about the cup you normally drink coffee in, how many ounces does it hold? Most of our common coffee cups are around 13 ounces, so if we brew with a 3-cup French press, we end up with a full cup of coffee.
When you want to make a good cup of coffee, you must control the ratio of coffee powder to water. For a French press that uses steep extraction, the powder-to-water ratio is even stricter. Therefore, it is especially important to know the size of the French press and the capacity of the coffee liquid.
3 Points To Note About French Press
Before selecting a French press of the right capacity, we also need to know several differences between a French press.#1 Size
As we mentioned above, if you are a disciplined coffee drinker and only drink one cup at a time, maybe a 3-cup French press is perfect for you. A single brew is about 12 ounces, which is just right for the moderate coffee drinker.If you often share coffee with others or like to drink several cups at a time, then a 4 to 8-cup French press is right for you. 33.8 ounces of coffee, enough to fill two large coffee cups, is especially good for spending time chatting with friends.
If you need to make coffee for the whole family, then a 12-cup French press is great, brewed once and enjoyed at the same time.
It is important to be aware that our coffee cannot stay inside the French press for a long time, so you should buy according to your actual use when shopping. Of course, you can also put the rest of the coffee into a thermal mug, which can avoid over-extraction in addition to keeping the coffee temperature.
Looking for more French Press guides?
- How To Keep French Press Coffee Hot?
- How to choose the best French press?
- How Long Does To Steep French Press?
#2 Material
French press makers are commonly made of high-temperature-resistant glass, food-grade stainless steel, or ceramic.Glass is the most popular material, which is not only durable and easy to clean, but also allows you to enjoy watching the entire production process.
Stainless steel is also a good choice, as the outer wall is insulated, has an insulating effect, and does not absorb the flavor of the coffee. It is especially suitable for cold weather use.
Ceramics was a very popular material in the early years, but the material is fragile, easy to absorb the taste of coffee, and slowly withdrew from the leading position.
#Filter Effect
Judging a French press maker to be qualified depends on whether its filter layer is up to standard.If the filter is not up to standard, it will result in the pot being full of coffee grounds, even if you have pressed down cautiously, the poured coffee liquid still retains a lot of coffee grounds, which will greatly reduce your desire for this cup of coffee.
Common filters are made of stainless steel and edible-grade silicone.
- Stainless steel filters need to do 3 layers of filters to better filter coffee grounds, and some stainless steel filters can do 4 layers of filters.
- The benefit of silicone is that it protects the inside of the French press very well, and the allowance is especially great to prevent coffee grounds from seeping through the cracks in the inside wall.
All French Press Size Explained
So, let's learn in detail about the use of different sizes of French press pots, and I believe that after reading it, it will be clearer for you which size of the French press to buy.3-Cup French Press
It is the smallest size French press on the market for those who want to drink single servings of coffee or tea.It is the perfect size for those of you who want to use it outdoors, for picnics and camping, or for travel.
4-Cup French Press
With 17 ounces, this French press is especially suitable for office use, with a small size and just enough capacity to share with friends or coffee lovers - those of you who need to drink more than two cups at a time.Although slightly larger than the 3-cup French press, it won't get in the way of your luggage, making it ideal for family picnics.
8-Cup French Press
The 8 Cup French Press, as the name implies, makes twice as much coffee as the 4 Cup French Press, making eight cups of coffee at a time.This size of the French press is especially suitable for multi-person dinners, such as say family dinners, friends dinners, etc. However, it is important to note that you must control the ratio of coffee powder to water, otherwise, you will need to make it again.
12-Cup French Press
As the largest capacity French press, it is also the largest in size and takes up the most storage space.This capacity is especially suitable for cafes or restaurants, and it is especially convenient to make several orders at the same time.
French Press Sizes: The Bottom Line
Buying the right size French press is the first step to making the perfect coffee.Now that we know the four most common French press sizes (3, 4, 8, and 12 cups), you can purchase one based on your actual use.
If there is one size that is the most popular? It would definitely be the 4-cup French press!
