Cafetière Brewing Guide
Full-bodied, comforting, and wonderfully simple - the classic immersion brew.
The cafetière is one of the easiest ways to make rich, flavourful coffee at home. It produces a heavier body and a round, comforting cup - perfect for slow mornings or sharing with friends.
This method keeps things clean and consistent, avoiding the muddiness that people often associate with French press brewing.
Step-by-step instructions
What you'll need
- Cafetière (any size)
- Burr grinder (if purchasing beans)
- Freshly roasted Golden Sheep Coffee beans (or pre-ground)
- Kettle
- Scales (optional)
- Timer
- Clean, filtered water
Recommended Recipe
- Coffee: 30g
- Grind: Coarse (similar to sea salt)
- Water: 500g at approx 94°C
- Time: 4 minutes
This ratio gives a balanced, full-bodied cup without bitterness
Step 1 - Pre-heat the cafetière
- Pour in a little hot water, swirl, and discard.
- This keeps the temperature stable during brewing.
Step 2 - Add your coffee
Place the coarse-ground coffee into the empty, warmed cafetière
Step 3 - Bloom
- Start your timer
- Add 100g of hot water and gently swirl to wet all the grounds.
- Let it sit for 30 seconds
Step 4 - Fill and steep
- Add the remaining water up to 500g.
- Place the lid on top (with the plunger up) and let it steep until the timer reaches 4 minutes
Step 5 - Break the crust
- At 4 minutes, remove the lid and gently stir the top layer.
- Most grounds will sink naturally.
Step 6 - Skim the surface
- Use a spoon to remove the remaining floating grounds.
- This step dramatically improves clarity and reduces sludge.
Step 7 - Press slowly
- Place the lid back on and press the plunger down gently and steadily.
Step 8 - Serve immediately
- Don't leave the coffee sitting with the grounds - it will over extract.
- Pour it into cups or a separate jug.
Step 9 - Taste & adjust
- Too strong or heavy: grind coarser or reduce steep time.
- Too light or thin: grind slightly finer.
- Bitter or harsh: Lower water temperature or shorten brew time.
- Muddy texture: Skim more thoroughly before plunging.
Our recommendation
The cafetière brings out body, sweetness, and deeper notes. Our Golden Sheep House Blend is a natural match, but chocolatey single origins also shine in this method.