Making the perfect cup of coffee with any brewer is a challenge, but many long-time coffee drinkers still avoid the Cafetiere (also known as a French Press) because it seems complicated. While there are a few extra steps more than a drip-brew machine, making the perfect cup of Cafetiere coffee isn’t too difficult. With the proper coffee beans, a high-quality French Press, and a little time, you’ll be impressing your friends with your flawless steeped coffee.
How to Make Cafetière Coffee:
1. Heat Water to Around 200 F
Heat water to around 200 F, heating enough water to match the amount of coffee. Here is the average ratio of coffee-to-water: 1:12–1:15, though we recommend starting with less water and diluting it after. Start grinding the coffee beans as the water heats.
2. Grind the Beans Until Coarsely Chopped
The secret to perfect Cafetière coffee isn’t solely in the quality of the beans but how they’re ground up. Grind the beans until they’re diced and chopped but not ground or powdery. Fine-ground coffee might get stuck or pass through the filter screen, so the beans mustn’t be processed too finely.
3. Place Beans at the Bottom of the Cafetière
Remove the mesh filter and presser from the pitcher and place the coarse beans at the bottom of the pitcher. It is best to do this with a completely dry pitcher, so particles of coffee don’t stick to the sides. Make sure the beans are evenly dispersed and not in small clumps.
4. ‘Bloom’ the coffee
Blooming is crucial to the Cafetière process, which helps saturate the beans for optimal flavor. Cover the coffee beans with just enough water to soak them at the bottom, then wait 30 seconds for the blooming process to complete.
5. Add the Rest of the Water and Stir
Immediately after blooming the beans, add the rest of the hot water to the container and stir with a wooden spoon. Put the filter on top, but don’t push down yet. Put the lid on (if it’s not connected to the presser) and let it steep for 3-5 minutes.
6. Press and Serve
Once the coffee is done steeping, press down on the presser to push the filter down to the bottom. Be sure to push it all the way.
Some prefer a stronger taste and will squeeze the beans, but this can cause a bitter taste. Once the filter is at the bottom, serve the coffee. Put any remaining coffee in a different container since the beans will make the coffee stronger over time.
Tips:
- Buy High-Quality Whole Coffee Beans – Cafetière coffee is best with premium whole coffee beans, freshly ground at home for the best flavor possible. Medium and dark roast coffees do well in French press since it helps bring out the sweeter notes, making it a great choice for hot and cold-brewed coffee. Since Cafetière coffee requires coarsely-ground coffee beans, most pre-ground coffee won’t work well.
- Don’t Over-Steep – It might be tempting to let it sit for a while, but the coffee will turn out too bitter. If you’re making cold brew, don’t steep it for longer than 24 hours.
- Use Filtered Water – Since tap water can have a lot of minerals and “taste” to it that is not always ideal for coffee, bottled or filtered water is best for Cafetiere-brewed coffee.
- Don’t Skip the Blooming Step – Blooming the coffee is super important and should not be skipped. It may not seem like it’s important, but the flavors really stand out when the coffee beans bloom for 30 seconds. You can always bloom for longer, but too long will start to make it bitter.
Perfect Cafetière Coffee
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 ounces coffee beans
- 24 ounces water
Instructions
- Heat water to around 200 F, heating enough water to match the amount of coffee. Here’s the average ratio of coffee-to-water: 1:12–1:15, though we recommend starting with less water and diluting it after. Start grinding the coffee beans as the water heats.
- Grind your coffee beans until they’re diced and chopped but not ground or powdery.
- Remove the mesh filter and presser from the pitcher and place the coarse beans at the bottom of the pitcher. It's best to do this with a completely dry pitcher, so particles of coffee don't stick to the sides. Make sure the beans are evenly dispersed and not in small clumps.
- Blooming is crucial to the Cafetière process, which helps saturate the beans for optimal flavor. Cover the coffee beans with just enough water to soak them at the bottom, then wait 30 seconds for the blooming process to complete.
- Immediately after blooming the beans, add the rest of the hot water to the container and stir with a wooden spoon. Put the filter on top, but don’t push down yet. Put the lid on (if it’s not connected to the presser) and let it steep for 3-5 minutes.
- Once the coffee is done steeping, press down on the presser to push the filter down to the bottom. Be sure to push it all the way.
- Some prefer a stronger taste and will squeeze the beans, but this can cause a bitter taste. Once the filter is at the bottom, serve the coffee. Put any remaining coffee in a different container since the beans will make the coffee stronger over time.
Notes
Nutrition
Featured Image: yari2000, Shutterstock
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