<p>I think you are going to have a hard time achieving what you are trying to do with the tools you are describing.  Espresso is a very specific brewing method that produces a very specific type of coffee.  Trying to mimic that flavor profile with other brew methods will generally fall short.  Using more coffee for stronger flavor is one option, but it ends up not being cost effective in the long run.  More extraction is an option, but over extracted coffee often has a flavor profile associated with it that isn't desirable as well. </p>

<p>The closest you can get (in my opinion) on a budget is probably an Aeropress.  It is fairly inexpensive and makes a very strong cup of coffee using a reasonable amount of grounds that isn't espresso, but also isn't over extracted.  The downside is that it's difficult to generate crema with such a brew method.</p>

<p>You might be forced to figure out which aspects of the long black you like, then come up with a brew method that gets you close on those aspects, but is probably missing others that make up the true long black.  </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-08T21:35:57.763Z
2015-04-08T21:35:57.763Z
Suspended User
<p>Aeropress is definitely the way to go. It's the most "espresso-like" home brew option out there. Here's my favorite recipe: <a href="http://yourbestdrink.com/how-to-brew-coffee/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://yourbestdrink.com/how-to-brew-coffee/</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-27T08:51:22.340Z
Hi @John, it may be better if you add the recipe also in your answer as the website may disappear from web in the future.
MTSan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-25T06:01:39.283Z
2018-10-25T06:01:39.283Z
John
<p>I enjoy my homemade French-pressed coffee more than anything I can buy at an espresso shop, though a long black is my preferred choice if I'm away from home.</p>

<p>There are a couple of strengths of the espresso shop's infrastructure which you can emulate on a smaller scale:</p>

<h2>Good coffee beans</h2>

<p>Buy good fresh whole beans and grind them right before you prepare the drink.</p>

<h2>Strong extraction</h2>

<p>Use more coffee and/or grind it more finely. More surface area will make it extract more and taste stronger. You can even make it really thick and creamy and add it on top of water for the long-black-like experience.</p>

<p><a href="https://coffee.stackexchange.com/questions/70/how-can-i-minimize-the-amount-of-grounds-at-the-bottom-of-my-french-press-coffee/">There's a discussion about minimizing the grounds in your cup here</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-08T19:03:12.740Z
2015-04-08T19:03:12.740Z
2017-04-13T12:51:53.733Z
Nathan
<p>I like drinking my own coffee at work, as it's cheaper and more convienient than buying espresso. However, recently I've been finding myself wanting a more long-black like espresso coffee. </p>

<p>How can I achieve this using either a french press/plunger or a gold filter? </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-08T09:31:56.627Z
Have you tried anything? Like less water and/or longer brewing time? These are two "techniques" to get stronger tastes with drip coffee (with consequences on acidity, etc).
Eric Platon
<french-press><filter>
How can I make my coffee taste stronger using a french press or gold filter?
dwjohnston
# How can I make my coffee taste stronger using a french press or gold filter?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-04-08)

I like drinking my own coffee at work, as it's cheaper and more convienient than buying espresso. However, recently I've been finding myself wanting a more long-black like espresso coffee.

How can I achieve this using either a french press/plunger or a gold filter?

**Tags:** french-press, filter

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Have you tried anything? Like less water and/or longer brewing time? These are two "techniques" to get stronger tastes with drip coffee (with consequences on acidity, etc).  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2015-04-08. Score: 5

I enjoy my homemade French-pressed coffee more than anything I can buy at an espresso shop, though a long black is my preferred choice if I'm away from home.

There are a couple of strengths of the espresso shop's infrastructure which you can emulate on a smaller scale:

## Good coffee beans

Buy good fresh whole beans and grind them right before you prepare the drink.

## Strong extraction

Use more coffee and/or grind it more finely. More surface area will make it extract more and taste stronger. You can even make it really thick and creamy and add it on top of water for the long-black-like experience.

[There's a discussion about minimizing the grounds in your cup here](https://coffee.stackexchange.com/questions/70/how-can-i-minimize-the-amount-of-grounds-at-the-bottom-of-my-french-press-coffee/).


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-04-08. Score: 3

I think you are going to have a hard time achieving what you are trying to do with the tools you are describing. Espresso is a very specific brewing method that produces a very specific type of coffee. Trying to mimic that flavor profile with other brew methods will generally fall short. Using more coffee for stronger flavor is one option, but it ends up not being cost effective in the long run. More extraction is an option, but over extracted coffee often has a flavor profile associated with it that isn't desirable as well.

The closest you can get (in my opinion) on a budget is probably an Aeropress. It is fairly inexpensive and makes a very strong cup of coffee using a reasonable amount of grounds that isn't espresso, but also isn't over extracted. The downside is that it's difficult to generate crema with such a brew method.

You might be forced to figure out which aspects of the long black you like, then come up with a brew method that gets you close on those aspects, but is probably missing others that make up the true long black.


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-10-25. Score: 0

Aeropress is definitely the way to go. It's the most "espresso-like" home brew option out there. Here's my favorite recipe: <http://yourbestdrink.com/how-to-brew-coffee/>

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Hi @username_3, it may be better if you add the recipe also in your answer as the website may disappear from web in the future.  

---

