For great cafetière (French press) coffee, use 16g of coffee for every 250ml of water. That's about 2 heaped tablespoons. Pour on water just off the boil, stir, steep for 4 minutes, then press gently and pour straight away. Use a coarse grind if you grind your own. If you buy ground coffee, our Filter grind works well.
You'll need
- A cafetière
- Fresh coffee: whole bean or filter grind
- A kettle
- Scales or a tablespoon
- A timer
Step by step
- Boil the kettle and let it sit for 30–60 seconds. About 93–96°C is ideal. Boiling water can make coffee taste harsh.
- Warm the cafetière with a splash of hot water, then tip it out.
- Add the coffee. Use the table below for your size of cafetière.
- Pour in half the water and stir so all the grounds are wet. Wait 30 seconds.
- Add the rest of the water and put the lid on, with the plunger up.
- Steep for 4 minutes in total.
- Press slowly and evenly. It should take about 15–20 seconds.
- Pour it all out straight away. Coffee left on the grounds keeps brewing and turns bitter.
How much coffee for each size
| Cafetière | Water | Coffee |
|---|---|---|
| 3-cup | 350ml | 22g (about 3 tbsp) |
| 4-cup | 500ml | 32g (about 4 tbsp) |
| 8-cup | 1 litre | 64g (about 8 tbsp) |
A 250g bag makes about 15 cups this way.
Fixing common problems
- Bitter: steep for less time, let the water cool a little longer, or use a coarser grind.
- Weak or sour: use more coffee or steep for longer, up to 5 minutes.
- Muddy or gritty: the grind is too fine. Let the cup settle for a minute and don't drink the last mouthful.
- Tastes flat: the coffee may be stale. Buy smaller amounts more often, or subscribe so fresh bags arrive when you need them.
Which coffee for a cafetière?
Almost any coffee works. For a rich, rounded cup, try Cooperage Brazil or our Kamcha house blend. For something brighter and fruitier, try Yoshi Honduras.
Quick answers
Can I use espresso-ground coffee in a cafetière?
You can, but it will be gritty and can taste bitter. Filter grind or coarser is better.
How long should cafetière coffee brew?
Four minutes is the sweet spot for most coffees.
How should I store coffee?
In an airtight container, somewhere cool and dark, away from the fridge. Whole beans keep their flavour longer than ground coffee.
