Miles SinclairBy Miles Sinclair

Updated November 2026

The French Press Coffee Roasters Southside is a coffee roasting business and retail location focused on bold, full-bodied beans best suited to immersion brewing. If you want to know whether its beans will suit your French press, the short answer is yes, provided you match the grind, ratio and water temperature to the roast style. Use a coarse grind, roughly 1:15 coffee to water, and water between 195°F and 205°F.

Why the Roast Style Matters for French Press

A French press steeps grounds in water for four minutes or so and then separates them with a metal mesh filter. Because the filter lets oils and fine particles through, the brew tends to show more body and sweetness than a paper-filtered drip cup. Medium to medium-dark roasts usually shine here, since they carry chocolate, caramel and nutty notes that come through clearly in a full-immersion brew. Very light roasts can taste thin or sour unless you extend the steep.

Shopping for one? See our guide: French Press Coffee Ratio: 3 Best Picks for Perfect Brews.

Grind, Ratio and Temperature: The Three Factors to Control

Grind size is the biggest variable. A coarse grind, similar to coarse sea salt, slows extraction enough to prevent bitterness over a four-minute steep. Finer particles pass through the mesh and leave silt in the cup. Next, measure your ratio. A 1:15 ratio (about 30 grams of coffee to 450 grams of water) gives a balanced cup for most medium roasts. Finally, watch temperature. Water just off the boil, around 200°F, pulls sweetness without scorching the grounds.

How to Brew Southside-Style Beans at Home

If you buy beans from a local roaster and want to replicate a cup, work through these steps:

  1. Ask the roaster for the roast date and recommended brew method, then note both.
  2. Grind about 30 grams of beans to a coarse setting just before brewing.
  3. Heat water to roughly 200°F, letting it sit for about 30 seconds after boiling.
  4. Bloom the grounds with a small splash of water for 30 seconds, then fill to 450 grams.
  5. Steep for four minutes, then press slowly and pour out the entire brew right away.

For more detail on each stage, see How to Make French Press Coffee: 8 Steps to a Better Cup and Coffee Water Temperature French Press: Brew Better at 200°F.

Tips for Getting Consistent Results

  • Weigh your coffee and water rather than using scoops, since scoop sizes vary widely.
  • Keep a brew log so you can adjust grind size one notch at a time.
  • Pour out leftover coffee immediately so it does not continue to extract.
  • If the cup tastes bitter, go coarser or shorten the steep. If it tastes sour or flat, go finer or extend the steep slightly.

For a broader comparison of grind options, read Proper Grind for French Press Coffee: A Step-by-Step Guide.

What We’d Use

A reliable coarse-grind setup makes the biggest difference. A burr grinder gives the even particle size a French press needs, so look for a View on Amazon or a similar conical burr model. For the brewer itself, a View on Amazon is a widely used, straightforward choice.

FAQ

Is the French Press Coffee Roasters Southside good for French press brewing?

Its medium and medium-dark roasts generally suit immersion brewing well. Start with a coarse grind and a 1:15 ratio to see how the beans respond.

What grind size should I use with these beans?

Use a coarse grind similar to coarse sea salt. Finer grinds can over-extract and leave sediment in the cup.

How long should I steep the coffee?

Four minutes is a reliable starting point. Shorten the steep if the cup tastes bitter, and extend it slightly if the cup tastes flat.

Ready to choose one?

Miles Sinclair

About Miles Sinclair

Miles Sinclair is part of our editorial team and reviews and edits our coffee beans & brewing methods guides, checking product details against manufacturer specifications and owner feedback.