How does a cafetière work?

The cafetière has been in use for over a hundred years and, depending on the location, is also called a French press, coffee press, or coffee plunger. The name is an abbreviation of "cafetière à piston," which translates from French as "coffee machine with a piston."

The French press or cafetière is an ideal way to enjoy a full-bodied coffee. The filter coffee brewed with this glass pot has a full mouthfeel. This is because the metal filter in this machine allows small particles of the ground coffee to pass through.

A standard French press recipe uses sixty grams of coffee per liter of water. We recommend starting with the listed ratios and then experimenting with them until you find the perfect blend for you. Below are some tips for making the best coffee with your French press:

Requirements:

• Coffee beans and coffee grinder or pre-ground filter coffee
• Kitchen scale or measuring spoon
  
• Cafetière
  
• A kettle and possibly a thermometer
  
• 500 ml water
  
• Spoon

Dosage

A good place to start is with 30 grams of coarsely ground coffee. Because the coffee is in contact with the hot water for a relatively long time, too fine a grind would result in a bitter taste, potentially even burning the coffee. By grinding the coffee coarsely, about the same size as sea salt, you prevent it from becoming too bitter. This creates an optimal balance of bitterness and acidity, resulting in the best flavour.

Step 1: Preparation

Preheat your French press with hot water. Pour the hot water over the plunger to heat it as well. This is the ideal time to grind your coffee beans. After your coffee is ground, pour the water from the carafe, and your French press is now preheated.

Step 2: Put the ground coffee in the cafetière

Add your freshly ground coffee and gently shake or tap the glass pot to distribute the coffee evenly. If you prefer a strong coffee flavour, use a dark roast.

Step 3: Add water

Slowly pour half a liter of hot water (about 93 degrees Celsius) over the ground coffee. A kettle with a temperature indicator is easiest, but you can also boil the water and let it steep for about a minute.

Step 4: Wait a moment

Bloom. During this process, gases escape from the coffee grounds, releasing the aromas and bitters into the water. Start your timer and wait four minutes. During this stage, a crust will form on the surface.

Step 5: Stirring

Stir gently with a spoon to break up the crust and allow the coffee grounds to sink. Place the plunger on the glass carafe and wait another thirty seconds.

Step 6: Press and pour

After four and a half minutes, slowly press the plunger down to separate the ground coffee from the brewed coffee. Pour this directly into your favorite cup or a pot to avoid over-extraction. Leaving the brewed coffee with the coffee particles in the coffee press will result in a very bitter taste.

Step 7: Enjoy

Enjoy a moment for yourself with this delicious cup of coffee.

Cold Brew

The French press is also perfect for making a delicious cold brew. To make it, add half a liter of cold water to thirty grams of ground coffee and stir. Replace the top of the French press, but don't press the plunger down. Refrigerate this brew overnight. The next morning, press the plunger down, and your cold brew is ready.