How to Clean a French Press (A Step-by-Step Guide)

First and foremost, if you’re using a French press can we just take the time to give.it.up?! You’ve committed to a glorious machine that most people are (wrongly) intimated by, and for that, we already salute you. Although French presses are a lot easier to use than most people think, cleaning them might be a different story. For all you go-getters out there using your French press to make fresh coffee every morning, we’re giving you a step-by-step guide to cleaning it, so that no part of this machine is ever dreaded again.

Step One: Remove the Coffee Grounds

Unfortunately, this is actually a bit more of a pain than you might think. Tap the bottom of the beaker over your trash or your disposal and use a spoon to scoop out the remaining bits.

Step Two: Take It Apart and Wash It

Rinse the beaker and the plunger of any extra coffee grounds. Break up the French press in to its separate components (lid, plunger, filter screens, and separate disks). Give each disk a good clean, and if you’re using soap, just make sure to rinse it all out.

Step Three: Dry Baby, Dry

Use a towel or a paper towel to gently dry the separated coffee parts.

Step Four: Put It Back Together

(A lot more seemingly complicated than it actually is). First, slide the cleaned beaker into its holder and then reassemble the filter screens and plunger (from top to bottom it should be spring disk, filter, and retaining disk).

Step Five: Together at Last

Woohoo! Once it’s stacked, screw the lid-rod pair into the disk and filter, and YOU DID IT.

Like all lovely cleaning chores, cleaning your French press has to happen to keep things running smoothly. But, at least now you have a step-by-step guide to make it as painless as possible. Scrubbing your toilet? That's another guide for another time.