Can you really get that rich, bold espresso flavor without an expensive espresso machine? The short answer is yes—and your French press is the secret weapon you probably already own. While a French press won’t produce true espresso (that requires 9 bars of pressure), you can absolutely make espresso-like coffee with a French press that’s strong, concentrated, and perfect for lattes or just sipping straight.
If you’ve been craving café-quality intensity but don’t want to invest in specialized equipment, this guide walks you through everything you need to know. You’ll learn the right grind size, coffee-to-water ratio, brewing technique, and a few tricks to get as close to espresso as possible with your trusty French press.
What Makes Espresso Different From Regular Coffee
Before diving into the method, it helps to understand what you’re trying to replicate. Espresso is a concentrated coffee brewed by forcing hot water through finely ground coffee at high pressure. This process extracts oils, flavors, and a small amount of crema—that golden foam on top.
A French press works differently. It’s an immersion brewer, meaning coffee grounds steep in water before being separated by a metal mesh filter. There’s no pressure involved, so you won’t get authentic crema. However, you can still achieve:
- A strong, concentrated brew with bold flavor
- Rich body and mouthfeel thanks to the metal filter letting oils through
- Enough intensity to use as a base for milk drinks
Think of it as “espresso-style” rather than true espresso. For most home coffee lovers, the difference is barely noticeable in a latte or americano.
Equipment and Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of this method is its simplicity. You don’t need fancy gear—just a few basics done right.
Essential Equipment
- French press – Any size works, but smaller presses (12-17 oz) are ideal for concentrated brews
- Burr grinder – Blade grinders work in a pinch, but burr grinders give consistent results
- Kettle – A gooseneck kettle offers better control, though any kettle will do
- Kitchen scale – Measuring by weight is far more accurate than volume
- Timer – Your phone works perfectly
Ingredients
- Fresh coffee beans – Dark roast works best for that classic espresso taste
- Hot water – Just off the boil, around 200°F (93°C)
A quick tip: freshly roasted beans (within 2-4 weeks of roasting) make a noticeable difference. Stale beans produce flat, lifeless coffee no matter how perfect your technique is.
The Best Coffee-to-Water Ratio for Espresso-Like Strength
Here’s where most people go wrong. Regular French press coffee uses roughly a 1:15 ratio—one part coffee to fifteen parts water. For espresso-like intensity, you need to concentrate things significantly.
Use a 1:6 or 1:7 ratio instead. In practical terms:
- 30 grams of coffee to 180-210 ml of water
- Or about 2 heaping tablespoons of coffee to 6-7 oz of water
This produces roughly 4-5 oz of strong, concentrated coffee—similar to a double shot of espresso in terms of intensity. You can adjust based on taste. If it’s too bitter or harsh, try 1:8. If it’s weak, go down to 1:5.
For example, imagine you want to make a latte. Brew 30 grams of dark roast with 180 ml of water using this method. The result is strong enough to stand up to 6-8 oz of steamed milk without tasting watered down.
Step-by-Step Brewing Method
Now for the actual process. This technique differs slightly from standard French press brewing to maximize extraction and strength.
Step 1: Grind Your Coffee Fine (But Not Too Fine)
For espresso-like results, grind finer than typical French press but coarser than true espresso. Aim for a texture like table salt or fine sand. Too fine and you’ll get muddy, over-extracted coffee that slips through the filter. Too coarse and the brew will taste weak and sour.
Step 2: Preheat Your French Press
Pour hot water into the empty French press, swirl it around, then discard. This keeps your brewing temperature stable and prevents heat loss during extraction.
Step 3: Add Coffee and Bloom
Add your ground coffee to the press. Pour just enough hot water to saturate the grounds—about twice the weight of the coffee. Let it sit for 30 seconds. You’ll see the coffee “bloom” as gases escape. This step improves flavor extraction.
Step 4: Add Remaining Water and Steep
Pour the rest of your water slowly over the grounds. Place the lid on (plunger up) to retain heat. Now steep for 4 minutes. Some people go shorter (3 minutes) for a brighter taste or longer (5 minutes) for more body. Experiment to find your preference.
Step 5: Press Slowly and Serve Immediately
Press the plunger down with slow, steady pressure—about 20-30 seconds total. Rushing creates turbulence that stirs up sediment. Pour immediately into your cup or a separate carafe. Leaving coffee in the press continues extraction and leads to bitterness.
Tips to Get Even Closer to Real Espresso
Want to take things further? These extra techniques help bridge the gap between French press and espresso.
Use Dark Roast Beans
Espresso blends are typically dark roasted for a reason—they produce that characteristic bittersweet, chocolatey, low-acid profile. Light roasts can taste sour or tea-like when brewed this strong.
Try Double Brewing
For maximum concentration, brew once, then use that coffee instead of water to brew a second batch of fresh grounds. This creates an intensely strong concentrate. It’s overkill for most purposes, but perfect if you want something closer to a ristretto shot.
Froth Your Milk Separately
If you’re making lattes or cappuccinos, the coffee is only half the equation. Heat milk to around 150°F and froth it using a handheld frother, a jar with a lid (shake vigorously), or a French press (pump the plunger up and down in warm milk). This creates that café-style texture.
Serve in Small Cups
Presentation matters for the experience. Pour your concentrated brew into a small espresso cup or demitasse. It looks and feels more like the real thing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use pre-ground coffee for this method?
You can, but results won’t be as good. Pre-ground coffee is usually too coarse for this technique and loses freshness quickly. If it’s your only option, look for “espresso grind” or “fine grind” varieties and use them within a week of opening.
Why does my French press espresso taste bitter?
Bitterness usually comes from over-extraction. Try grinding slightly coarser, reducing steep time by 30-60 seconds, or using water that’s slightly cooler (around 195°F). Also check that you’re not leaving coffee sitting in the press after brewing.
Is French press coffee stronger than espresso?
It depends on how you measure. A single espresso shot has more caffeine per ounce, but a full cup of strong French press coffee often contains more total caffeine. Using the concentrated ratio in this guide, you’ll get similar intensity per serving.
Can I make crema with a French press?
True crema requires pressure, so a French press can’t produce it. However, very fresh beans sometimes create a thin layer of foam during brewing. It’s not the same, but it adds a nice touch.
What’s the best French press size for espresso-style coffee?
Smaller is better. A 12 oz or 17 oz French press gives you more control over small, concentrated batches. Large presses (34 oz+) make it harder to maintain proper ratios and temperatures for this method.
Summary and Next Steps
Making espresso-like coffee with a French press comes down to a few key adjustments: use a finer grind, increase your coffee-to-water ratio to around 1:6 or 1:7, and follow proper technique with blooming and controlled steeping. You won’t get true espresso with crema, but you’ll get a bold, concentrated brew that works beautifully on its own or as a base for milk drinks.
Start with the basic method outlined here, then tweak the variables—grind size, ratio, steep time—until you find your perfect cup. Once you nail it, you might find yourself skipping the coffee shop more often than you expected.
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