A cafetière is one of the most forgiving and satisfying ways to brew coffee at home. Because the coffee is fully immersed in water during extraction, it produces a rich, full-bodied cup with natural oils and deeper flavour notes preserved.

When done well, cafetière coffee should feel smooth, balanced and rounded — never gritty, bitter or muddy.

What You’ll Need

To brew cafetière coffee properly, you only need a few basics:

• Cafetière (French press)
• Freshly roasted coffee beans
• Burr grinder (recommended)
• Kettle
• Timer
• Spoon (for stirring)

Optional but helpful:

• Scales (for accuracy)

Fresh coffee and a consistent grind make a bigger difference than any equipment upgrade.

Best Coffee for Cafetière Brewing

Cafetière brewing tends to enhance body and sweetness, making it ideal for coffees with richer flavour profiles.

At Acorns Coffee Roastery, these styles work particularly well:

• Brazil Santos (smooth, chocolatey, nutty)
• Colombia Finca Sofia (balanced, caramel sweetness)
• Monsoon Malabar (bold, heavy-bodied, low acidity)

Chocolatey coffees generally perform best because the brewing method naturally enhances depth and richness.

Grind Size (Very Important)

Grind size has a huge impact on cafetière coffee.

Ideal grind:

• Coarse (similar to sea salt)

Why this matters:

• Too fine → bitter, sludgy, over-extracted
• Too coarse → weak, under-extracted

A consistent coarse grind allows for controlled extraction without excessive sediment.

Coffee-to-Water Ratio

A good starting point for cafetière brewing is:

1:15

This means:

• 1g coffee to 15g water

Example:

• 20g coffee
• 300g water

You can adjust depending on taste:

• stronger cup → slightly more coffee
• lighter cup → slightly less coffee

Step-by-Step Brewing Method

Step 1: Add Coffee

Add your freshly ground coffee into the cafetière.

Step 2: Add Hot Water

Pour water just off the boil (around 92–96°C) evenly over the grounds.

Make sure all coffee is saturated.

Step 3: Stir Gently

Give the mixture a gentle stir to ensure even extraction.

Avoid aggressive stirring, which can over-extract fines.

Step 4: Steep for 4 Minutes

Place the lid on (plunger up) and let the coffee steep.

A standard brew time is:

• 4 minutes total

Step 5: Break the Crust

After 4 minutes, gently stir the top layer to break the crust of grounds.

This helps release trapped gases and ensures even extraction.

Step 6: Plunge Slowly

Press the plunger down slowly and evenly.

Do not rush — this helps avoid agitation of sediment.

Step 7: Serve Immediately

Once plunged, pour the coffee straight away.

Leaving it sitting in the cafetière will continue extraction and make it bitter.

Common Cafetière Mistakes

Grinding too fine

Leads to:

• bitterness
• sludge in cup
• over-extraction

Leaving coffee to sit too long

Leads to:

• harsh bitterness
• drying aftertaste

Always decant immediately.

Using boiling water

Leads to:

• burnt flavours
• overly harsh extraction

Let water rest for ~30 seconds after boiling.

Not using enough coffee

Leads to:

• weak, watery cup
• lack of sweetness

How to Improve Your Cafetière Coffee

Small adjustments make a big difference:

For more sweetness:

• slightly finer grind
• slightly shorter brew time

For more clarity:

• slightly coarser grind
• careful pouring technique

For more strength:

• increase coffee dose, not brew time

Why Cafetière Brewing Works So Well

The cafetière allows coffee oils and fine particles to remain in the cup, creating:

• heavier body
• richer mouthfeel
• deeper flavour perception

This is why it pairs so well with chocolatey, nutty and caramel-style coffees.

It’s less about precision than filter brewing, and more about balance and consistency.

How We Recommend Using Cafetière at Acorns Coffee Roastery

We design many of our coffees to perform beautifully in cafetière brewing, especially those in our smoother, chocolatey range.

Our goal is always to create coffees that:

• are easy to brew
• taste consistent at home
• highlight natural sweetness and balance

Cafetière brewing is one of the most accessible ways to enjoy specialty coffee without needing complex equipment.