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Easy Guide to Cleaning Your French Press
There are many ways to clean your French Press and ensure your coffee tastes amazing every time!
Published December 10, 2021
Vasileia Fanarioti
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
The French Press is a versatile coffee making machine. It is loved by many because of its simple design and ease of use, but it can also be difficult to keep clean. If you are struggling with how to properly care for your French Press, this article will provide the secrets on keeping it spotless!
Easy Guide Cleaning Your French Press
The French Press is an elegant way to brew coffee that has been gaining popularity in recent years. However, the plunger system makes maintaining this appliance quite tricky - especially if you have never done so before. Luckily, we have compiled some tips below on how to best maintain your french press in order to enjoy tasty cups of coffee time after time!
Cleaning the inside of the carafe
The first thing you need to do when talking about cleaning your French Press is dealing with all stains from ground coffee that usually you get on the inner side of the carafe. This happens because while pressing down hot water through ground coffee particles stick to the walls of the glass container and that's why this part of your French Press needs extra attention.
What you will need to clean the inside of your carafe is a non-abrasive sponge and some dishwashing detergent. All you have to do is wet the sponge with warm water, put some drops of dishwashing liquid on it and gently clean the stained areas.
If the coffee smell is too intense, you can also add a bit of white vinegar to the mixture. Make sure that you rinse the carafe well before using it again.
Cleaning the plunger
The plunger is the part of your French Press that usually gets dirty faster since it comes into direct contact with ground coffee particles. In order to clean it, you will need a small brush and some hot water. First, make sure that the plunger is pushed all the way down to its base. Then put one tablespoon of dishwashing detergent on the brush and use it to clean inside the metal mesh grid. Rinse well with hot water and dry the plunger before putting it back in place.
Cleaning the outside of your French Press
The last thing you need to do when talking about caring for your French Press is cleaning its exterior. All that's needed here is a sponge dampened with warm water, dishwashing liquid and vinegar if necessary.
Follow exactly the same steps for cleaning the carafe but only instead of scrubbing at stained areas, wipe them gently until all dirt comes off. Finish by rinsing with warm water and drying the entire press before using it again.
Removing odours and old stains
Begin by rinsing the pot with hot water and soap. If the coffee stains are old and dried, they will be harder to remove. For this reason, you may want to try a commercial cleaner or bleach. Soak the press in hot water and dishwashing liquid for about 30 minutes.
If the stains are really bad, you can use a stronger cleaner such as bleach. However, make sure to rinse it thoroughly afterwards because any residue can impart a bad taste to your coffee. After soaking, use an abrasive pad or brush to scrub the pot clean. Be careful not to damage the metal screen or plunger. Finally, rinse the pot again and allow it to air dry.
If your French Press develops a strong coffee smell, there are a few things you can do. One is to rinse it with vinegar. Another is to fill the pot with water and add a few drops of lemon juice. Bring the water to a boil and allow it to sit for about 30 minutes. Rinse the pot and allow it to air dry.
Cleaning your French Press may seem like a lot of work, but it's worth it for that perfect cup of coffee. Follow these simple steps and your press will be looking and smelling good as new in no time!
FAQs
Why should I bother cleaning my French Press?
The simple answer is that if you do not clean your French press it will start to taste like coffee and not in a good way. Residual oils will mix with future coffee batches and over time leave an off-tasting residue.
The longer you wait to clean your press, the harder it will be to remove all of the oils. Oil build-up will also cause your plunger to become sticky and difficult to use. No matter which method you choose, it is always best practice to rinse everything immediately after use.
What’s the quickest way to clean a French Press
For those who want a fast and easy clean, fill the french press with hot water and add 1 cup (8 oz) of white vinegar and then let it sit for 30 minutes before emptying and rinsing completely - this will remove 90% of oils from glass and all metal parts – do not use any soap as it leaves residues.
For those who want an even faster method that will leave some residual oil try adding coarse salt (about 2 tablespoons) to bottom half your french press after brewing, swish around, rinse and shake to remove as much as possible – this will remove about 50% of oils from glass and all metal parts, but is a good way to quickly clean your press.
Do I need to replace the mesh filter in my French Press?
Mesh filters should be replaced every so often, but this really depends on how often you use your French Press and how fine the mesh is. If it's been a while since you've replaced the filter and it's looking a bit grimy, go ahead and replace it.
Can I just rinse my French Press with water after making coffee?
Rinsing your French Press with water will help to remove some of the coffee oils and residue, but it's not a substitute for a good clean. To give your French Press a proper clean, use a dish soap or detergent and hot water to scrub away any built-up coffee oils or residue.
Final Thoughts
A clean French press makes for a happy coffee drinker. So, if you want your morning cup of joe to be perfect each time, follow these simple steps and enjoy!
We hope this article has been helpful in providing some easy tips on how to keep your French Press clean. If you have any other questions or comments about the process feel free to reach out to me!
About the author
Vasileia Fanarioti
My name is Vasileia and I’m here because i decided to combine my two favourite things: writing and coffee. I love travelling around the world and visiting coffee shops but my biggest goal is to visit a coffee farm, to see where it all starts! You can follow my coffee adventures via my blog: thewanderingbean.net
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