When it comes to making a delicious, no-fuss cup of coffee at home, the cafetière (also known as a French press) is a classic choice. Its simple design and reliable results have made it a staple for coffee lovers around the world.
At Rounton Coffee, we love the cafetière for its ability to bring out bold, rich flavours in every cup. Whether you’re brewing for one or for a group, this versatile coffee maker is ideal for anyone who values simplicity without sacrificing quality.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about using a cafetière, from essential equipment to step-by-step brewing instructions, so you can enjoy café-quality coffee at home.
If you brew coffee at home regularly, a coffee subscription is an easy way to ensure you always have freshly roasted beans delivered when you need them.
How to Brew the Perfect Cup With a Cafetière
Equipment Needed
- Cafetière
- Kettle
- Freshly roasted coffee
- Clean, soft water
- Scales
- Two dessert spoons
- Timer
The Recipe
- Ratio: 50g coffee to 800g water
- Total brew time: approximately 10 minutes
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Weigh out 50g of coffee using your scales and grind to a medium-coarse consistency, similar to caster sugar or sea salt. If using pre-ground coffee, ensure it’s suitable for cafetière brewing.
- Boil your kettle. While the water heats, preheat your cafetière by filling it with hot water, then discard.
- Place the cafetière on your scales, tare to zero, add the ground coffee and tare again.
- Pour 800g of hot water over the coffee, ensuring all grounds are evenly saturated. Start your timer for four minutes.
- After four minutes, a crust will have formed on the surface. Use two dessert spoons to gently break the crust and scoop away any foam and floating grounds.
- Allow the coffee to sit undisturbed for a further four to five minutes so the sediment can settle at the bottom.
- Place the lid on the cafetière but do not plunge. Pour gently into your cup. This method avoids disturbing the settled grounds, resulting in a cleaner, fuller-bodied cup.
Brewing Tips
- Use clean, soft water. Coffee is mostly water, so water quality has a significant impact on flavour. If you live in a hard water area, a water filtration solution can dramatically improve your brew.
- Grind fresh. Investing in a coffee grinder is one of the simplest ways to improve your coffee at home. Fresh grinding preserves flavour and aroma that pre-ground coffee quickly loses.
- Measure consistently. Knowing your coffee-to-water ratio and brew time makes it easier to repeat great results and troubleshoot bad brews. A set of digital scales and a timer make consistency effortless.