How to Clean French Press (The Easy Way to Clean Your French Press)

Owning a French press means you’re spoilt with great tasting coffee every time. How to clean a French press is a question commonly asked by coffee drinkers. Fortunately, it’s not very difficult and we’ll show you how to clean your French press in a few easy steps.

The easiest way to clean your French press is with a combination of hot water, soap, or vinegar. It’s really easy and should form part of your daily housekeeping. Let’s have a look at why it’s important to keep a clean French press, and how often to clean it.

Since no one likes to struggle when it comes to your morning cup of coffee, we’ll also look at the easiest way to keep your French press clean. Keeping your French press as well as the glass carafe sparkling clean will ensure you keep brewing a delicious, aroma filled cup of heaven.

Simple Points to Consider When Cleaning Your French Press

Learning how to use a French press is very easy. Learning to clean a French press is even easier. Making the quick task of cleaning the unit properly will allow you to keep enjoying the best French press coffee. It will also prolong the life of your French press. Let’s look at a few points that will make the cleaning process that much easier.

Why It’s Important to Clean Your French Press Regularly?

You might think it’s not necessary to deep clean your French press regularly. Surely a good rinse with some hot water will do the trick? You’d be wrong. Here are a few reasons why:

• Rancid coffee oils: Coffee grounds produce oils that deliver that awesome flavor. However, those same flavor producing oils can taste really awful when they’ve been accumulating for a few weeks.
• Impart flavors: Leftover coffee ground oils cling to the French press walls and could possibly get stuck in the filter. This affects the taste of future brews.
• Visual experience: A clean French press adds to the visual experience of a freshly brewed cup of coffee. No one wants a cup of coffee from a grubby looking French press.

How Often Should I Clean my French Press?

How often to clean French press is an important question asked by coffee drinkers who want to enjoy a fresh, delicious cup of coffee every time. The answer is very simple: Clean your French press after every brew. Whether you use your French press for coffee, tea, or any type of herbal infusions cleaning should take place after every use.

Make it a point to clean your French press after each brew or at the end of every day. Since the cleaning methods require the filter to soak for a number of hours, overnight would be best. That way you’ll ensure that you have your press components ready for the morning’s brew.

What is the Easiest Way to Clean a French Press Every Time?

A French press is an awesome way to brew your morning coffee. In fact, if brewed correctly, French press coffee will set your mood for the rest of the day. But, owning your own press comes with the responsibility of keeping it clean.

Fortunately, there are several ways to clean your French press. The main goal of the cleaning method you choose should be to break down the resilient oils and eradicate them from your French press. Ensuring your press is cleaned properly involves disassembling it correctly and cleaning each component. In this section, we’ll look at some ideas to clean your coffee brewing wonder.

How to Disassemble a French Press for Cleaning?

Ensuring that your French press gets a deep cleaning in every crevice means you need to know how to disassemble it correctly. The easiest way to disassemble your press can be done by following these two quick steps:

• The filter must be unscrewed from the plunger.
• Rinse the plunger and filter screen separately under running hot water. This will remove the stuck coffee grounds which should be discarded in the garbage.
• Ensure that you handle each component gently to avoid bending or damage.
• Wash each component using your preferred cleaning method.
• Allow each part to dry thoroughly before reassembling.

How to Clean a French Press with Vinegar?

Many coffee drinkers prefer the white vinegar method claiming that it’s the best way to break down oil build-up.  Making use of vinegar in our daily cleaning saves us all a lot of extra time and energy. This method can be done in these few simple steps:

• Combine three parts water with one part vinegar.
• You can add a tablespoon of baking soda to the mix if you need an extra clean. Baking soda combined with vinegar is a good cleaning combination.
• Boil the vinegar solution in a pan. Use a pan big enough to ensure the mix doesn’t spill over or splash.
• Immerse the filter in the solution. Leave to soak overnight.
• Place the glass carafe in the dishwasher, or manually wash with dishwashing soap.
• Rinse properly and allow drying completely before reassembling.

How to Clean a French Press with Soap?

Another popular method of cleaning your French press is by using soap, citric acid, and hydrogen peroxide method. Follow the steps below to achieve this method:

• Combine three teaspoons of dish soap, citric acid, and hydrogen peroxide into a bowl.
• Add roughly two cups of warm water to the mix.
• Allow the French press filter to soak for about four hours. You can let it soak longer if you think your filter needs extra cleaning.
• Place the glass carafe and filter in the dishwasher. You can also wash it manually if you prefer. Make sure to clean each component.
• Rinse thoroughly and allow each component to dry properly before reassembling.

With this cleaning information on hand, you’re guaranteed of a fresh cup of coffee every time. Here’s a short clip to show you exactly how easy it is to clean your French press!

What Should You Do With Used Coffee Grounds?

If your sink doesn’t have a grinding disposal, we recommend you don’t pour coffee grounds down the sink. Eventually, your drain will clog up and who needs that? Instead, opt to mix the ground beans with some water and toss them into your garden.

Alternatively, you can pour the used coffee water through a strainer. The strainer will catch the bulk of the grounds and you can then chuck them into the garbage or garden.

How to Use a Top French Press?

Once you’ve purchased a French press from your local shop, it only takes a few easy steps to get you sipping on a hot cup of delicious coffee. Despite being so simple, many first-time French press users still make a few mistakes.

Relax, you don’t need any complex recipes, just your favorite coffee beans, hot water, and milk if you prefer. To help you avoid those common mistakes, we’ll walk you through a quick basic guide below:

• Preheat the Press in advance: Preheating will prevent the brewing temperature from fluctuating when the hot water adjusts to the cold components. Simply add the hot water, swirl it around for the press to warm up, and then safely discard the water.
• Measure coffee grounds: Use a coffee grinder to grind fresh beans. Then measure the grounds to fit your press as well as the quantity of coffee you’d like.
• Right temperature and water ratio: In general you need to aim for a coffee to water ratio of 1:15. So, 15 parts water to 1 part coffee. Weighing your water with a spoon will give you better control over getting the exact measurement you’re looking for. It’s also recommended that you maintain a temperature of 195-205°F to ensure you have a perfect consistency.
• Add coffee grounds and hot water: Add the coffee grounds and hot water all in one pour. Stir to make sure the coffee grounds are completely immersed.
• Correct timing: Place the lid securely to insulate the press. This will ensure the heat remains consistent while the coffee brews. On average, a standard press steeps for four minutes. You can adjust the timing as you perfect your brewing process.
• Press plunger: Once the correct amount of time has passed, you can slowly start pressing the plunger down. It must be pressed down all the way to ensure brewing stops. You don’t want your brew to over-extract and render bitter coffee.
• Serve and enjoy: Pour your coffee into your favorite mug and add milk if that’s how you like your coffee. Don’t add milk in the French press. Sit down and enjoy the taste of your favorite coffee bean!

A Final Thought About Cleaning French Press

Simply put, if you want the best coffee your French press can brew, then you need to keep the unit clean and well maintained. Brewing in a dirty French press will damper the desired coffee taste behind a layer of oils and ground leftovers.

Keeping your French press clean will deliver a fresh, flavorful, drink every time you brew your favorite coffee beans! It also means you don’t have to go to the local coffee shop for your favorite coffee drink.  And, as you well know, nothing compares to the perfect cup of coffee!