A cafetiere makes a full-bodied cup in about four minutes with no paper filters and no special skill. The method is simple: use a coarse grind, a ratio of roughly 60g of coffee per litre of water, water just off the boil, a four-minute steep, then a slow, steady plunge. We Are Coffee Co sells its speciality coffees and blends ground for cafetiere, so you can skip the grinder if you want to.
A cafetiere, also called a French press, is one of the easiest ways to make a full-bodied coffee at home. You do not need paper filters or an espresso machine. You need a coarse grind, hot water, a timer and a steady plunge.
This article uses the locked publish handle how-to-brew-cafetiere-coffee so the HowTo schema can match the folded JSON-LD guard.
What you need
You need a cafetiere, coarse-ground coffee or whole beans and a grinder, a kettle, a timer, and scales if you have them. If you do not have scales, use roughly two heaped tablespoons per large mug as a practical starting point.
For the simplest route, choose coffee ground for cafetiere. If you grind at home, aim for a coarse grind that looks more like sea salt than powder.
The method, step by step
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Heat the water and warm the cafetiere. Boil the kettle, then let it sit for about 30 seconds off the boil. Rinse the cafetiere with hot water if it is cold.
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Add the coffee. Use roughly 60g of coffee per litre of water. For one large mug, start with about two heaped tablespoons.
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Pour and stir. Add all the water, stir the crust gently, then fit the lid with the plunger pulled up.
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Steep for 4 minutes. Set a timer. This keeps the recipe repeatable and stops you guessing.
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Plunge slowly. Use steady, even pressure and stop when the filter reaches the grounds. If it is hard to press, the grind may be too fine.
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Pour straight away. Decant the coffee fully so it does not keep brewing on the grounds and turn bitter.
A simple ratio table
| Cups | Water | Coffee |
|---|---|---|
| 1 mug | 250ml | 15g |
| 2 mugs | 500ml | 30g |
| 4 mugs | 1 litre | 60g |
These are starting points, not rules. Add more coffee for a stronger cup, or slightly less for a lighter one. Change one thing at a time so you know what improved the brew.
Get the grind right
Cafetiere coffee needs a coarse grind because the coffee steeps in water and is separated by a metal mesh. If the grind is too fine, the cup can taste muddy or bitter. If it is much too coarse, the cup can taste weak.
We sell speciality coffees and blends ground for cafetiere, and you can also buy whole beans if you prefer to grind at home.
Best coffees for a cafetiere
A cafetiere suits coffees with body. Brazilian Santa Hedwirges is a good example because the briefed product notes identify it as especially suited to cafetiere brewing. You can try a full-bodied Brazilian if you want a chocolate-led single origin.
Our blends are also a practical route if you want a steady daily cup. They are built for consistency rather than single-origin exploration.
For the broader principles behind brewing, read the four brewing fundamentals. Planned guides will cover grind size and ratio in more detail.
Troubleshooting
If the coffee is muddy, the grind is probably too fine, or you may have plunged too aggressively. Use a coarser grind and press slowly.
If the coffee is weak, use more coffee, check the water volume, or steep a little longer next time. If the coffee is bitter, decant sooner and make sure it did not sit on the grounds after plunging.
Source notes
Primary sources used: SEO-S11 AEO Citation Catalogue Cluster 5 and Cluster 1.2; SEO_CONTENT_PIPELINE_v1 sections 4, 5 and 9; outputs/2026/05/seo/schema-tier2/FOLD_INSTRUCTIONS.md; outputs/2026/05/seo/schema-tier2/howto-cafetiere.json; memory reference_wacc_coffee_purchase_formats; GOOG-01 routing matrix for cafetiere and blends destinations; established cafetiere brewing technique.
FAQPage Q&A
How long do you brew coffee in a cafetiere?
Four minutes, then plunge slowly and pour straight away.
What is the ratio for cafetiere coffee?
Around 60g of coffee per litre of water, roughly two heaped tablespoons per large mug. Adjust to taste.
What grind do I need for a cafetiere?
A coarse grind, like sea salt. We sell coffee ground for cafetiere, or you can buy whole beans and grind coarse.
Is a cafetiere the same as a French press?
Yes. Cafetiere is the UK name for a French press.
Why is my cafetiere coffee muddy or bitter?
Usually the grind is too fine, or the coffee sat on the grounds. Use a coarse grind and decant straight after plunging.
