How to Clean a French Press

How to Clean a French Press

Many java aficionados swear by the French Press as one of the best ways to get a fresh, bold cup of coffee in the comfort of your own kitchen. One reason for its enduring popularity is the richer, fuller taste that results because no fats or oils are lost inside a paper filter.

Using a French Press is a reliable way to get the perfect cup o’ joe — if your French Press is clean. Once you learn how to brew French Press coffee at home ensure your sacred instrument is clean by following our guide below.

Materials Needed to Clean a French Press

• Water

• Dish soap

• Spatula

• Bottle brush or sponge

• Weekly: baking soda and vinegar

How to Clean a French Press
 

After enjoying your morning boost of energy do the following for a daily clean:

• Give the French Press time to cool. Trying to clean it right after you drink your coffee can result in burnt fingers and unneeded frustration. Be patient!
   

• Once it’s cool, here’s how to dispose of coffee grounds from your French Press — dig out grounds with your hand or a spatula. Avoid using metal spoons, as you could break the glass. Dump grounds into the trash or into your compost pile. Putting coffee grounds in your sink will clog it over time.
  
  Cleaning out the grounds shortly after using your French Press will allow you to get by with simple daily cleanings.
   

• Add water and a few drops of dish soap to the carafe. Plunge up and down until the plunger gets visibly soapy.
   

• Do another round — pour out the bubbly water, rinse the carafe, and plunge again.
   

• Scrub the inside of the carafe and the plunger with a bottle brush or a sponge, and then rinse until the water runs completely clear. 

Here is what you should do for a deeper, stronger weekly clean (maybe over the weekend):
 

• Complete the above steps and then disassemble the plunger.
   

• Mix a small amount of water with baking soda (enough to make the baking soda pasty) and use a bottle brush or sponge to clean each piece of your French Press with a baking soda mixture. Rinse thoroughly after scrubbing.
   

• Notice chalky white residue or water spots? To combat hard water buildup combine equal parts vinegar and water and scrub all affected parts with the mixture using your bottle brush or sponge. Again, rinse thoroughly.
   

• Allow all components to dry before reassembling your French Press.

With a normal amount of use you should only need to do a deep cleaning once a week. Head to The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® in your neighborhood for a steaming cup of coffee, or outfit your kitchen with our Chambord French Press for unrivaled taste and texture.