Yellow Skies & Blue Suns: Coffee Is Best From A French Press

I've tried to ditch my coffee drinking habit. My first year in college I went an entire semester without it(how the fuck did I do that??? Youth.)

Now that I am in my almost-mid thirties I am even more dependent on this stuff than ever, not even just for those hanged over days.

Waking up at 5:30 AM every day, I find the need for my coffee. Workdays, I normally use my little Keurig to make my on-th-way-to-work cup. Keurig is quick but it just tastes like coffee-flavored water.

But...Saturdays and Sundays I love to take my time and make a truly delicious jug of coffee. I use my french press which in France is surprisingly not called a "french press" but a cafetiere a piston. True story.

This is what it looks like while assembled. I've had two of these now, the first broke(thanks Mom). They sell them at Target, this one is an 8 cup Bodum Chambord, cost about 40$.

These are the components of a French Press. A metal holder, glass beaker, and a plunger.

It's very easy to use. Here it is in 10 steps:

1. heat up some water, do not bring to a boil!

2. choose your coffee, I prefer a nice dark roast. This one from Stop & Shop isn't terrible and it's organic. You'll want to use a courser ground of coffee. I prefer to grind my own but that's a whole other thing!

3.Measure your coffee into the beaker. Depending on how strong you like your coffee will dictate how much you put into it. For this 8 cup press I typically put 8 scoops, sometimes more.

4. Once the water is almost to a boil, pour it on in!

5. Time to stir the "slurry" of coffee. NEVER use a metal spoon while hot water is in the beaker, it will cause it to crack and then you will have to buy a new one. I like to use this rice spoon thingy that I have because it's kind of like a paddle.