Your First Coffee Ritual: Discover the Magic of the French Press

Welcome to your ritual

Starting your journey into specialty coffee doesn’t require a fancy machine or technical barista knowledge.

You only need curiosity, a love for details, and the intention to create a special moment for yourself.

Today, I want to teach you how to prepare your very first cup using a French Press, one of the simplest, most accessible, and truly magical ways to begin your coffee ritual.

Don’t worry if you’ve never done it before — I’m here to walk you through it, step by step, until this becomes your new favorite daily ritual.

What is a French Press and why is it ideal to start?

The French Press (also known as a press pot or plunger pot) is a full immersion method that lets you brew coffee with no complications and rich flavor in every sip.

Why is it perfect for beginners?

• It’s affordable and easy to find.

• No need for electricity or special filters.

• It preserves the natural oils of the coffee (which means more flavor and more body).

• Perfect for coffees with sweet, chocolatey, or fruity notes.

• This method allows you to feel the coffee with all your senses — from the aroma when you grind it to the very first sip. It’s pure everyday art.

What you need for your first ritual

1. A French Press (glass or stainless steel).

2. Specialty coffee (ideally from Encanto Café).

3. Coarse grind (like sea salt or breadcrumbs).

4. Hot water (filtered is best — in my next blog I’ll explain why water matters so much).

5. A wooden spoon or spatula.

6. A timer (your phone works great).

7. A scale (optional, but helpful).

8. And most importantly: a heart ready to enjoy.

Step by step: your first cup with a French Press

Step 1: Measure your coffee and water

Use the 1:15 ratio as a starting point.

That means for every 1 gram of coffee, use 15 ml of water.

Let me explain it the way I like someone to explain it to me — nice and simple:

20 g of coffee + 300 ml of water = 2 small cups or 1 big cup.

Want to make 4 small cups? Use 40 g of coffee + 600 ml of water.

This is a classic and very recommended ratio for French Press.

It’s a well-balanced middle point: not too strong, not too light — perfect for beginners, and you can adjust it later to your taste.

Recommended alternative ratios:

1:12 → for a stronger, more intense brew.

1:16 or 1:17 → for a smoother, lighter profile.

Let’s do a more practical example — even if it sounds repetitive, I want this to be super clear for you:

If you use 20 g of coffee with the 1:15 ratio:

20 g × 15 = 300 ml of water.

That gives you about 2 small cups (150 ml each) or 1 big mug.

Quick reference table:

Water Amount	Coffee Needed (1:15)	Approx. Cups
300 ml	20 g	2 small cups
450 ml	30 g	3 small cups
600 ml	40 g	4 small cups
750 ml	50 g	5 small cups
1 L (1000 ml)	66 g	6- 7 small cups

 

My personal recommendation:

If this is your first time, start with 20 g of coffee and 300 ml of water.

It will give you two small cups — perfect to share, or just for you if you want to enjoy the whole moment.

The beauty of coffee is that you can adjust it.

If you like it stronger, use a bit more coffee.

If you like it lighter, add more water.

What matters most is that it feels like yours.

Step 2: Heat the water

The ideal temperature is 92°C to 96°C.

 Super Tip: No thermometer? Just boil the water and let it sit for 30 seconds.

Bonus tip: Before using the French Press, warm it up with a little hot water to stabilize the temperature. Then discard that water.

Step 3: Bloom – the coffee’s first breath

Pour just a small part of the water (double the weight of the coffee) over the grounds.

For example, with 20 g of coffee, pour 40 ml of water.

Wait 30 to 45 seconds.

You’ll see the coffee blooming, releasing carbon dioxide. This helps with better extraction and flavor.

Gently stir with a wooden spoon to make sure all the coffee gets wet.

Step 4: Pour the rest of the water

Slowly add the rest of the water until you reach the total amount (e.g. 300 ml).

Place the lid on the French Press — but don’t press it yet.

Step 5: Let it brew

Wait exactly 4 minutes.

This is where the magic happens.

If your coffee is very dark or roasted, you can stop at 3:30 minutes to avoid bitterness.

Step 6: Press and serve

After the 4 minutes, gently and slowly press the plunger down.

Serve immediately.

⚠️ Don’t leave the coffee sitting in the press for too long — it will keep extracting and might become bitter.

 Golden tips for a better experience:

Use fresh coffee, ideally with a clear origin and natural or washed process (like the ones from Encanto Café).

Store your coffee in an airtight container, away from light.

It’s always best to grind just before brewing.

If you don’t have a scale, a heaping tablespoon is about 10 g.

Play, test, explore — coffee is a living art, not a strict formula.

Your ritual, your moment, your experience

Making coffee with a French Press is more than a brewing method:

It’s a pause. A daily gift. A way to come back to yourself.

This may be your first step into the world of specialty coffee… and I promise, it won’t be the last.

I’ll be here to guide you, to share what I’ve learned, and to help you make this little ritual a reminder of how much you deserve to enjoy life.

What’s next?

Soon, I’ll show you how to prepare coffee with a V60, another beautiful and manual brewing method.

And if you want to see this same process in video, follow us on social media or leave me a comment — I’d love to prepare it with you.

Have questions or want to share how your first coffee turned out?

Write to me — I’ll read your message with joy.

Welcome to this world where coffee becomes ritual. Yours.

With all my love,

María – Encanto Café

From Colombia’s Soul to your ritual