Q: Why does my French press taste bitter when I travel?
Usually because the grind is too fine, the brew time is too long, or the water is hotter than your home kettle. Travel grinders often produce uneven particles, so you end up with more surface area and faster extraction.
Q: What grind size should I use for French press while traveling?
Go coarser than you think—about the size of coarse sea salt. If your travel grinder only has a few settings, pick the coarsest one and adjust down if the coffee tastes weak or sour.
Q: How long should I steep French press coffee?
Three to four minutes is the sweet spot for most travel brews. Beyond that, you're pulling out bitter compounds, especially if your water is still near boiling.
Q: Can I fix over-extracted coffee after it's brewed?
You can soften it by adding a splash of hot water or a pinch of salt, but it won't truly fix the flavor. Better to adjust your next brew—it's cheaper and tastes cleaner.
