A cafetiere uses an immersion brewing style, which means that the coffee grounds are steeped in hot water to extract the flavour and delicious aromas. The cafetiere consists of a glass or metal carafe with a plunger and a metal filter. The metal filter plays an important part as it separates the freshly ground coffee from the final brew. This brewing style is also sometimes referred to as a French press.

Brewing coffee with a cafetiere is a great way to get a rich, full-flavoured cup of coffee. The key to making the perfect cup of cafetiere coffee is all in the grind. You'll want to use coarse ground coffee for your brew. A fine grind will result in over-extracted coffee that is bitter and astringent. Conversely, if the coffee grounds are too coarse it will result in under-extracted coffee that is weak and watery. The perfect grind for cafetiere coffee is somewhere in the middle - not too fine, and not too coarse.

Once you've got your grind sorted, it's time to start brewing! Add your ground coffee to your cafetiere (around 2 tablespoons per cup). Fill your cafetiere with hot water and give the grounds a good stir, now let them steep for four minutes. After four minutes, press down on the plunger to filter the coffee. Pour yourself a cup, and enjoy!

It's important to note that when using a cafetiere the brewing process continues even after plunging. This is because the coffee grounds are still in contact with the water. We recommend decanting your fresh brew into a carafe to stop the brewing process and ensure that your second cup of coffee tastes just as good as your first!

A good rule of thumb is to use two tablespoons of ground coffee per person. So, for a cafetiere that makes four cups of coffee, you would use eight tablespoons of ground coffee.

We would always recommend using freshly ground coffee where possible when brewing with a cafetiere. Coffee that has been pre-ground and left with no oxygen barrier will have started to stale and will not produce optimal results. If you can, grind your coffee just before brewing. If however you don't have a grinder at home and need to purchase pre-ground coffee, don't worry. As soon as you receive your coffee just be sure to store it in an airtight container to keep it fresh. 

Cafetieres come in a range of sizes, from small single-cup cafetieres to large eight-cup cafetieres. The size you choose will depend on how many cups of coffee you want to brew at once. The most common sizes are 3, 4, 6, 8 and 12 cup variants. 12 cup cafetieres are perfect for entertaining guests whilst 3 cup cafetieres are perfect for one person.

There are a few common mistakes that people make when brewing cafetiere coffee. One of the most common is using too much coffee. When you use too much coffee, it can result in a bitter, over-extracted cup. Another common mistake is not stirring the grounds before pressing the plunger. This can result in uneven extraction and an inconsistent cup of coffee. Finally, people often press the plunger too soon or too late. Pushing the plunger down too soon will result in a weak, watery cup that lacks body while waiting too long will make your coffee bitter.

When brewing coffee with a cafetiere you may notice some grounds make it into your cup. This is perfectly normal, and there's no need to worry. However, if you find that your coffee is consistently too gritty there are a few things you can try. 

Firstly, make sure you're using the correct grind. If you grind your own coffee use a high quality grinder capable of producing a uniform coarse grind. This will stop any smaller particles from the grind making their way through the filter when plunging. Secondly, try pre-wetting the grounds before adding hot water. This will help to settle them and prevent them from floating to the top of the cafetiere. Finally, make sure you're pressing the plunger evenly and slowly. Pushing too hard or too fast can cause the grounds to be forced through the filter and into your cup.

There are many pros to using a cafetiere. One of the main advantages is that it's a great way to make fresh, full-flavoured coffee without any fancy equipment. All you need is hot water and ground coffee! Another pro is that cafetieres are very easy to use and clean. They're also relatively inexpensive, which makes them a great option for people on a budget. Finally, cafetieres are very versatile brewing devices. They can be used to make both hot and cold brew coffee, as well as tea.

There are a couple of negatives to using a cafetiere. One of the main disadvantages is that the brewing time is longer than other methods, such as drip coffee makers. This means that you have to be more patient when waiting for your cup of coffee. Another downside is that cafetieres can leave sediment in the cup due to lack of filtration. This can be avoided by using a coarser grind or pre-wetting the grounds, but it's something to keep in mind. 

Despite these disadvantages, cafetieres are still a great option for brewing coffee at home. With a little practice, you'll be able to avoid the common pitfalls and make delicious coffee every time!

So, there you have it - everything you need to know about brewing perfect cafetiere coffee! Remember to use a coarse grind, and to stir the grounds before pressing the plunger. Avoid using too much coffee, and press the plunger at the four-minute mark for best results. Follow these tips, and you'll be enjoying a delicious cup of cafetiere coffee in no time!

Happy brewing!