Last Updated on January 19, 2023
What is your morning ritual? For many people, including me, a cup of freshly brewed coffee is right there at the top of the routine. It wakes you up and gets the blood flowing to help you start your day. But how do you make that perfect cup of coffee?
There are many methods of brewing that cup of joe, some that require barely more than the touch of a button, and others that get us a little more hands-on.
If you prefer to get involved in the process, the French press is a simple, budget-friendly method that produces a rich, flavorful brew. Although whole bean coffee, freshly ground, will produce the best result, it is certainly possible to brew a tasty cup of French press coffee using pre-ground.
In this post, we’ll be discussing the best pre ground coffee for French press, as well as some other tips on brewing that perfect cup in the morning!
We’ll highlight our top finds for 2023 so you can select your favorite ground coffee and get the French press working for you!
How do we come up with our ‘best of’ list? Honestly, with time, and attention to detail. We scour the internet world, discover what’s available, and filter out the brands that don’t make the cut. Then, we study the features and benefits individually for those that look promising, comb through the reviews and actually read them, to identify the pros and cons of each brand as identified by real-life users. From there, we identify the top…the best…the most consistently rated higher…and present them to you.
By the way, if you click on a link and then decide to make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you!
- The Best Pre Ground Coffee for French Press: The Short List
- What is French Press, anyway?
- Why is French press so popular?
- Can you use pre-ground coffee in a French press?
- What type of pre ground coffee is best for brewing French press?
- The Best Pre Ground Coffee for French Press: Our 2023 Review and Recommendations
- FAQ
- Best Pre Ground Coffee for French Press – Conclusion
The Best Pre Ground Coffee for French Press: The Short List
If you’re in a hurry want to get right to it, here is the short list of our recommended ground coffee that can be used to brew a tasty cup of French press. We’ll provide all the details for you below, so be sure to check those out, too!
Notice that we don’t rank our recommendations. Why not? Well, we think that any one of these pre ground roasts could be the perfect choice for you.
- Primos Coffee Co French Press Specialty Coffee
- illy Coffee Forte Extra Dark Roast
- Cold Brew Organic Coarse Ground Coffee
- Stone Cold Jo Coarse Ground Dark Roast
What is French Press, anyway?
French press is made by pouring hot water over coarsely ground coffee beans into a French press coffee maker, a carafe specially created for this brewing method. The beans soak in the hot water for a few minutes in a process called immersion, then the plunger on the decanter is pressed down to compact and extract flavor from the grounds while leaving them trapped below an upper filter.
What remains is your delicious brew. Yes, it really is that simple. Well, no, it’s a bit more involved than that, because there are opportunities to brew a less than stellar cup of French press. As with any coffee brewing method, the ratio of coffee to water, the temperature of the water, the type of water used, and the roast of the coffee all play a part in the resulting java.
One of the trademarks of French press coffee is the oils that are found in the coffee that have been pressed and float on the top of the coffee. You’ll also find a little bit of sediment at the bottom of your coffee cup, which most coffee drinkers discard.
Yes, brewing a fresh, tasty cup of coffee is a learned skill.
Here is a simple step-by-step for brewing French press coffee with freshly ground beans, which is the traditional way to use a French press:
How to Make French Press Coffee
Here’s a quick tip for brewing French press coffee using pre-ground: add more coffee than you would typically use if the beans were freshly ground? Why? Well, coffee that has been ground, then packaged, then shipped, then placed on the shelf, has had time to lose some of it’s coffee magic, it’s potency.
For a brew like French press, where you are looking for full body and rich flavor, it will likely take more pre ground coffee to get you close to that goal. More about that in a minute.
Why is French press so popular?
French press method is loved by many coffee aficionados because it is a simple and easy way to make a good cup of java. The process itself results in a heavier mouth feel of coffee for two reasons. First, because the grounds remain in contact with the water throughout the brewing process, and second, the lack of a paper filter retains more of the coffee’s natural oils.
It has also become popular because it is not complicated by the addition of cumbersome, costly coffee gear.
And, there is the slightly romantic, European flair to the French press reposing quietly on the table, holding the dark, aromatic, freshly pressed coffee, waiting for you to pour it into your cup, gaze out the window, and let your worries melt away as you sip.
Well, maybe not quite that dramatic, but the simplicity of the brewing method as well as the richness of the brew draws many a coffee lover to this way of preparing their beloved java.
Can you use pre-ground coffee in a French press?
Will coffee that has been pre-ground work in a French press? Of course, although by using pre ground coffee you lose some of the benefits of freshly ground coffee beans. While some people find pre ground to be more convenient, it is not as flavorful and aromatic as freshly roasted beans that have been ground just before brewing.
But, no worries, my friend. If using a pre-ground coffee to brew with a French press is what you want, there is always a way! Our friends at Atlas Coffee Club have a step-by-step that has been revised specifically for using pre ground coffee:
- Use 1 part ground coffee for every 15 parts water
For a 4-cup French Press, that would be about 4-5 tablespoons (30 grams) of coffee, and around 14 1/2 ounces (430 mL) of water. Boil your water and let it sit off the boil for about 30-45 seconds to cool the temperature. - Add your coffee grounds to your press, then pour enough water to fill your French Press a quarter of the way and wait 30 seconds.
- Stir, then add remaining water and steep for 3:30. Let your grounds steep in the water for 3.5 minutes, instead of the usual four minutes. Make sure to put the plunger back on top and plunge slowly and evenly after 3.5 minutes of steeping.
What type of pre ground coffee is best for brewing French press?
It all depends on your personal taste, but the best pre ground coffee for French press is probably either a dark roast or medium-dark roast. The darker the coffee beans are roasted, the more flavorful and aromatic they will be when brewed in a French press.
Because the beans have been previously ground, they lose a little of their aromatic oils which can lead to a less flavorful cup.
The Best Pre Ground Coffee for French Press: Our 2023 Review and Recommendations
Primos Coffee Co. French Press Specialty Ground Coffee
What happy customers are saying about Primos French Press Blend:
- just tastes like good, premium coffee
- a great choice for new French press users
- wonderful aroma!
- one of the absolute best blends out there
- we’ve tried many and we love, love this for a French press
Grown in Jinotega, Nicaragua, then shipped directly to their facility in Cove, Texas, this coffee is roasted in small batches.
It is richly sweet, with a gentle profile that is low in acidity.
The coarse dark roast coffee grind is perfectly compatible for your French press!
Key Features:
- Medium roasted
- Coarsely ground for French press brewing
- Premium Arabica coffee
- Low acidity
- Sustainably produced
illy Coffee, Forte Blend, Extra Dark Roast Ground Coffee
What happy customers are saying about illy Forte Blend:
- no acid taste or harshness
- incredible aroma
- highly recommend!
- makes a French press useful again
- excellent coffee
Forte Extra Dark Roast is composed of nine of the finest Arabica coffee sources worldwide, using only 100% Arabica beans.
The unique pressurized packaging preserves the flavor and complexity of the blend, and retains the wonderful aroma, too!
The coffee, according to the vendor, is more coarsely ground for compatibility with a variety of brewing methods including French press.
Key Features:
- Extra dark roast
- Enduring richness
- Dark chocolate notes and aroma of toasted bread
- Suitable for French Press brew
- 100% Arabica coffee
Cold Brew Lab Extra Coarse Ground Coffee
What happy customers are saying about Two Volcanoes Espresso Blend:
- love it, non-better robust flavor
- so smooth!
- best option out there; I’ve tried a lot
- I keep coming back to this one
- delicious flavor!
Freshly roasted and packaged in New York City just before shipping
100% organic Arabica Columbian coffee, custom crafted for cold brew and excellent for espresso and French press.
Also offered in whole bean.
Key Features:
- Dark roast and medium roast blend
- Extremely smooth, yet bold & flavorful
- Specialty grade, 100% Arabica Columbian Supremo
- Suitable for French Press brew
- Organic
Stone Cold Jo Coarse Ground Dark Roast
What happy customers are saying about Stone Cold Jo Dark Roast Blend:
- strong, bold flavor
- the rich smell of this coffee is just…Wow
- good coffee, and organic is a big plus
- great cup of coffee, cold or hot
- so smooth and flavorful!
Silky smooth, with low acidity, this coarse grind dark roast is perfect for your French press brew as well as cold brew.
They recommend 2 tablespoons of coarse ground coffee to 6 ounces of water for French press coffee.
Each batch is hand-crafted by artisan coffee roasters in their micro-roastery.
Key Features:
- Silky smooth dark roast
- Coarse ground
- Hints of toffy, caramel, chocolate, grape
- Fair Trade Certified
- Organic, Kosher
FAQ
Best Pre Ground Coffee for French Press – Conclusion
Discovering the best pre ground coffee for French press brew is a highly personal decision, as it should be. If you’re not keen on using whole bean and grinding just prior to brewing, finding the pre ground blend that will satisfy your taste buds and provide the java jolt you crave is a top priority!
Hopefully you’ve found some tasty and tantalizing options right here to try as your new coffee for French press. As for me, I think I need a cup of coffee!
Candi Randolph is a coffee lover, blogger, and content creator who loves to share her knowledge with the coffee-drinking world. You’ll often find her tending to her coffee bar at home, deciding which method to use to brew her next cup of java. Life is full of important decisions. ☕
