Adjusting the heat fixed my always-bitter french press coffee

I've had a french press for a long time, but my coffee kept coming out too bitter. I blamed the beans first, but new beans didn't help. After reading a forum thread, I learned hot water can change the flavor a lot. I borrowed a kitchen thermometer and tested water not quite boiling. Using water around 195 degrees gave me a smooth cup without the bite. Now I watch the temp every time, and it's a huge improvement. What small changes have made your coffee taste better?

3 comments

3 Comments

robinson.hannah1mo ago

Interesting that you went straight to water temp. Did you ever play with the grind size first? A lot of times a bitter press pot comes from the grounds being too fine, so you're over extracting even with good water. I wonder if a slightly coarser grind with your old boiling water would have fixed it too.

daniel_wood1mo ago

Ever try going even lower, like 185? I found that cooler water with a slightly longer steep brings out more of the fruity notes and way less bitter. It's a game changer for light roast beans.

garcia.tyler1mo ago

Honestly I've gone that low before and it made my light roast taste way too sour. Light beans are already dense, so if the water's too cool you don't get a full extraction. I stick right around 200 to actually pull out those fruity notes instead of just getting a weak cup. What brewer are you using that works well at 185?