Cafetiere Coffee - How to Get it Right! [2023 updated]

The cafetiere, also known as the French Press (depending on which country you are in) is the preferred method of brewing coffee for many. The art of making French Press coffee can be tricky to get right the first time and you might find yourself having several attempts to find the right strength and temperature. Even for the most expert coffee connoisseur, there are still occasions when the amount of coffee is not quite right, or it’s not been left quite long enough. We take a look at some top tips for brewing coffee using the French Press method and how to make the perfect cafetière coffee.

Choosing a cafetière

It starts with the right cafetiere. There are many different types and you don’t have to spend a fortune to pick up one that is perfect for your needs. We prefer the 8-cup version as it means you don’t need to buy a small cafetière for yourself or a larger one for entertaining. We just brew as much or as little as we need. That said, you can pick up a smaller one relatively cheap.

One of our favourites is this stainless steel cafetière from Meelio, which comes complete with spare filters and a measuring spoon that acts as a handy clip for your coffee once opened. It’s been serving us daily now for over 18 months and has produced a great many cups. You can also check out our French press top picks here.

Grinding Your Coffee Beans

If you want to grind your own beans and splash out a bit more, you could look at the Bodum Coffee Set which comes with an electric grinder, double-wall coffee mug, and cafetiere. Then you have the option to grind your own beans rather than sticking to ground coffee. Grinding coffee is a whole other art in itself with various coarseness of coffee etc. Alternatively, you could buy a burr grinder. You want your coffee to be coarse for a French press – it should be the consistency of sea salt.

Cafetiere Coffee on the Go

If you really want to cover all eventualities and not miss out on your favourite morning coffee when away from home, this French Press travel set from Bodum is perfect. As well as investing in one for yourself, you could also pop one in your basket as a gift for a coffee-loving friend.

Anyway, we could share cafetiere options all day long but that’s a few to get you started.

Choose a Coffee

Next you need to choose your coffee. Of course, you can’t beat a cup of Boostr coffee which has a high caffeine option as well as a decaf variety but there are so many to choose from. You will find those on the supermarket shelves have various numbers relating to the strength. We always advise starting somewhere in the middle – 3 is often a good bet on a 1-5 scale. Taylors of Harrogate do a nice range but there are so many to try. It’s all about trying various options, blends, and strengths until you find the right one. There’s nothing wrong with shopping around and trying different blends.

We would always recommend starting with ground coffee. Once you get used to making the coffee, then perhaps start grinding your own. The beauty of freshly ground coffee is that it is always fresh. Either grind enough for that day or grind a batch for the week ensuring that you store it correctly.

Brewing the Perfect Cafetière Coffee

Now that you have your French Press and your coffee, you are all set. Let’s take a look at the steps you should follow when it comes to how to make great cafetière coffee.

Step 1

Boil the kettle – do not pour the boiling water straight into your cafetière – let it sit while you move on to the next step. If you want to achieve the best taste, use filtered water.

Step 2

Warm the pot – pour a little of the boiling water into the pot to warm it up. This will mean that your coffee will stay warmer a little longer.

Step 3

Measure out the ground coffee into the French Press. Now, we use two to three scoops, or two to three tablespoons per cup. Sometimes more is required, sometimes not quite that much. It will vary depending on the coffee you are using and how strong you like it. Air on the side of caution and don’t get carried away – start off with slightly less, you can always add more next time. Some say add a 1:12 ratio coffee to water while others say 1:15. We say roughly two spoons or scoops per cup.

Step 4

Once the water has cooled a little (not too much), pour a little water into the French Press containing the ground coffee. Not all of it at this stage. This process is called blooming and is when the gases are released giving you a much better flavour when you add the rest of the water. Leave for 30 seconds. Now stir to break the crust.

Step 5

Add remaining water remembering the ratio that you need – don’t get carried away and add too much. Next, you need to stir the coffee. Remember not to stir a glass cafetiere with a metal spoon as it conducts heat! A wooden spoon is a better option.

Now press the plunger to the top of the water. Don’t push it right down – the mesh must be just touching the water.

Step 6

Let your coffee brew for four minutes – this is the magic amount of time for the perfect cafetière coffee. Trust us when we say that 4 minutes is not too long to wait when you are looking for the perfect cup of Joe although when you wake up and want your coffee fix, it may feel that way. Trust us – empty the dishwasher, pop on the washing, make some toast – just do something that distracts you while you wait.

Step 6

OK – almost there. Push the plunger down to the bottom slowly. Too fast and It can agitate your coffee grounds and interfere with the flavour – not to mention you could end up breaking your plunger or making a mess.

Step 7

Pour and enjoy.

Reducing the Sediment

You may notice that once you get to the bottom of your coffee you have a layer of sludge or sediment. Now, having some sediment is not a bad thing as it helps to reduce the acidity and bitterness of the coffee. They also produce a full-bodied coffee. However, it’s not for everyone so here are our top tips for getting rid of the sludge:

Try skimming the surface at the end of the brew. You want to remove the micro-grounds that are suspended on the surface in the foam – they won’t disappear when you plunge
Use a coarser grind setting when grinding your beans – the finer the granules, the more sludge you will get
Re-strain! At the end of the brewing process, pour your coffee into your cup via a fine strainer
Let the brew settle and the grinds will settle at the bottom – stir or shake and they will resurface

You may want to play around with different coarseness of grain or try one or more of the above steps to get the coffee that you want.

And finally

Don’t get disheartened if your cafetiere coffee doesn’t taste exactly as you want on the first attempt. It takes time to get it just right – it’s like finding the right balance when you brew a cup of tea! You might need to add more coffee, more water, or try different coffee until you get it right. You will find what is best for you. While you can buy ground coffee, try grinding your coffee beans yourself. It makes for a much better flavour. in the meantime, we hope you find our guide on how to make the perfect cafetière coffee useful.

About the Author

This article was written by the team at CoffeeCode, your go-to coffee blog with a focus on inspirational design, and sustainability.