User Guide To Cafetieres (French Press)

Cafetieres are a great way to make coffee. They are simple and quick to use and are fairly easy to clean afterwards.
Cafetiere Brewing Method

This method is intended as a basic guide. In due cause, and after some experimentation, you will figure out for yourself the best and most convenient way for you to brew coffee using a cafetiere.

1. Warm Cafetiere: The majority of cafetieres are made from glass, which is highly conductive of heat. Therefore it is important to warm the cafetiere with hot water before use to ensure your coffee is hot when it comes to serving it.

2. Add Ground Coffee: After you have warmed the cafetiere, discard the hot water and add the ground coffee. The coffee should be coarsely ground; if it is too fine it will pass through the mesh filter on the cafetiere and result in a sludgy residue at the bottom of your cup. You should add 7 grams of ground coffee per cup.

Note that cafetieres are measured in tazze cups, which are only 4oz (approx 115ml), so a 3 cup cafetiere is equivalent to one mug.

3. Add Water: Never use boiling water as this will burn the coffee and impart a bitter taste. Instead use water between 90-95°C; i.e. allow water in the kettle to cool for between 3-4 minutes after it has boiled before adding it to the cafetiere. Fill the cafetiere to just below the spout and give the coffee solution a quick stir to help release the flavour.

4. Replace Plunger: Replace the lid of the cafetiere, allowing the plunger to rest just on top of the coffee solution. This will help trap the heat in.

5. Infuse for 3-4 Minutes: the coffee solution to infuse for between 3-4 minutes - experiment with this time to see which length suits you.

6. Depress Plunger: Using only the weight of one hand, depress the plunger while holding the cafetiere steady with your other hand. Once the plunger reaches the bottom, allow the coffee solution to settle for around 20 seconds before serving.
Cafetiere Care

Make sure the cafetiere is thoroughly cleaned and rinsed with hot water after use. It is not necessary to dismantle the cafetiere's filter every time you wash it, but ensure that there are no trapped coffee grounds or any residual coffee oil in the filter as this will give future cups of coffee made in the cafetiere a bitter and rancid flavour.