Plunger Coffee

There are a couple of methods of Plunging or French Pressing (not to be confused with French Kissing or in fact Bench Pressing).

The question that arises is whether to stir or not to stir.

Once the coffee and water is brewing do we wait three minutes and stir so the coffee drops to the bottom or simply push the plunger/press down to extract the flavours of the expanded grains.

The main argument for stirring that I have come across is for safety reasons. However if you use a Bodum plunger (which has a screen that does not kink) then you are less likely to get back wash in your brew or the gush of hot water as you press the near boiling water over the bench and onto your brand new patent leather thongs (ouch).

I prefer to plunge rather than stir because I fell that I am getting some extra flavours that I may not get when stirring.