Cafetière Brew Guide

The cafetière (or French press) is one of the most popular and accessible ways to brew coffee. It’s simple, widely available, and capable of producing a rich, full-bodied cup. But making truly great coffee with one takes more than just adding grounds and hot water. This guide will walk you through the steps of brewing with a cafetière and give you tips to help you tailor the process to your taste. Follow along to make a 2-cup cafetière!

What You’ll Need

• A quality cafetière (Bodum makes many affordable versions)
  
  

• Scale - we recommend the Wacaco Exagram for accuracy and value
  
  

• A burr grinder (or pre-ground coffee if you prefer)
  
  

• Fresh coffee - our Brazil Vinte works beautifully in a cafetière
  
  

• Kettle
  
  

• Dessert spoon
  
  

Coffee Terminology

• Steeping - letting the coffee sit in hot water for a set time
  
  

• Ratio - the balance of coffee to water (e.g., 30g coffee : 450g water = 1:15)
  
  

• Extraction - the process of water pulling flavours and compounds from coffee
  
  

• Coarse grind - ground to the texture of sea salt or coarse sugar
  
  

Step-by-Step: Brewing Your Cafetière

1. Weigh 30g of fresh whole beans and grind them coarsely (or measure 30g pre-ground).
   
   

2. Add the ground coffee to your cafetière.
   
   

3. Boil the kettle, then let the water sit for ~30 seconds before pouring. Add 450ml of water, making sure all grounds are evenly saturated.
   
   

4. Steep for 3 minutes.
   
   

5. Stir thoroughly with a spoon, reaching the bottom to break the crust.
   
   

6. Place the lid on and steep for another 5 minutes.
   
   

7. Plunge gently to about halfway down - don’t press all the way.
   
   

8. Pour, sip, and enjoy!
   
   

Hints & Tips

• Scaling up/down: This recipe uses a 1:15 ratio. Adjust by keeping the ratio consistent:
  
  

• 4 cups = 60g coffee + 900ml water
  
  

• 1 cup = 15g coffee + 225ml water
  
  

• Stronger cup? Use more coffee for the same water (lower the ratio).
  
  

• Weaker cup? Use less coffee for the same water (raise the ratio).
  
  

• For cleaner flavours, skim off the floating grounds before plunging.
  
  

• Always use freshly ground coffee for the best aroma and taste.