The Whys & Hows of a FRENCH PRESS
By far the most popular and accessible brewing device in Cambodia is the French Press.
Easy to use, it provides a consistent result every time.
Meeting with Ratana and Mex from Little Red Fox Espresso, we’ve got some tips for you to make the best brew at home.
The French Press is an excellent and popular option as it is especially good at drawing out coffee’s natural oils and natural flavors. Beyond this device, there are teapots, small machines and cold drip machines to be purchased from some places. For coffee the same holds true. The biggest in the country include: Good Coffee, Kofi and So Wat Coffee Roasters. Most items are often easy to pick up at second-hand shops or some basic options are available in the supermarkets.
When brewing coffee, Ratana’s advice is to make sure you choose good beans and make sure they’re fresh at the time of purchase. Then choose good milk. Dutchmill is the best here. Filter the coffee or cold drip. Mex goes further to suggest that it’s helpful to understand good technique and buy a good weight with a timer. Ratana says to use 1 ½ teaspoons of coffee (per person), add water that is 65 degrees celsius so as not to burn coffee, cover with the plunger to keep in the heat, but do not push down yet. Leave 2-3 minutes. After that, push the plunger and coffee must not be the bottom one. (Alternatively into the cup and add fresh milk if you like! With sweet milk it is very good as well, so it tastes like Khmer coffee.
When brewing tea, the process is much the same, paying special attention to the steeping time and water temperature. Water that has not quite reached its boil or even temperature at boiling water can scald the leaves. Pouring water directly over tea leaves brings a fuller flavor as the leaves are agitated in the process. Adding the leaves gently into the hot water after for a milder flavor. Steep tea leaves in the appropriate amount of time: 1-2 minutes for green tea, 3 minutes for most oolong and black teas, and a good 5 minutes for many herbal varieties. Check the specific recommendations based on your chosen flavor and cover the top with the plunger. After the desired time has passed, press the plunger to separate the tea leaves to the bottom.
Finally, whatever your preference of brew, press the contents to the bottom and enjoy your cup of delight!
