Cafetiere Coffee
- Monsoon Malabar CoffeeMonsoon Malabar, a wonderful variety from our Asian coffee range, is picked in the Malabar region of India, one of the wettest regions of southern India, undergoes an especially unique process to bring out the beans' fullest flavours. Straight after being harvested the Malabar beans are transported to open warehouses along the Malabar Coast, where they will be exposed to the harsh, moist winds of the area's monsoons for around three to four months. While they are stored in these open ...
From £14.99★★★★★1195 Review(s) - Golden Crema CoffeeThis is the crème de la crème of coffee blends, a robust, rich and bold coffee of the highest quality to spoil yourself with at any time of day. The strong blend makes an exquisite espresso that could be just the thing to give yourself a midday pick-me-up, but if you want to enjoy this treat to its fullest then use it as a base for all your favourite filter coffees: the luxurious texture is brought to the forefront when you add steamed milk, creating creamy, silky lattes and cappuccinos that ...
From £14.99★★★★★899 Review(s) - Italian CoffeeThe same blend as our Continental coffee, but roasted slightly lighter so that the same great flavour is produced without the oily characteristics, making it ideal for smooth and intense espressos. While our Italian is classed as a strong coffee and is best enjoyed as an espresso, you don't need to feel restricted to that single drink. Why not start the day with Italian coffee beans as a base for your favourite filter coffees, and enjoy a powerful, full-flavoured experience. The perfect ...
From £13.99★★★★★494 Review(s) - Dark Decaffeinated Colombian CoffeeIf you're looking for a quality decaf coffee that doesn't sacrifice on strength and intense flavours, then our Dark Decaffeinated Colombian is for you. Ideal for deep, aromatic espressos, these beans offer the rich and luxurious flavour of chocolate and produce wonderfully full-bodied coffees that won't be keeping you up all night. Our Dark Decaffeinated Colombian is roasted on order, so it will arrive to you as fresh as possible, bursting with intoxicating aromas and packed full of flavour, ...
From £14.99★★★★★410 Review(s) - Kenya Blue Mountain CoffeeOur Kenya Blue Mountain is grown from seeds originally from Jamaica, which produce a coffee that has the natural sweetness of Blue Mountain Jamaica, but has also taken on the rich aromatic flavours and intensity that is typical of Kenyan coffee. Kenya's acidic soils provide excellent conditions for the growth of quality coffee, especially the renowned arabica bean, which is known to take on fantastic cocoa notes in Kenyan coffees. Full bodied, with a good acidity, hints of nut and citrus and ...
From £17.99★★★★★800 Review(s) - Swiss Water Decaffeinated CoffeeDecaffeinated coffee is ideal for those who want to enjoy their favourite blends at any time of day, without the effects of caffeine, however the process of removing caffeine from a bean can also remove much of the bean's flavour. That's why the Swiss Water Process is a favourite method of decaffeinating coffee: it doesn't remove the flavour and strength of coffee beans in the act of removing the caffeine, and doesn't use any chemicals. In the method, coffee beans are first soaked in hot ...
From £19.99★★★★★523 Review(s) - Arabica Supremo CoffeeAn extraordinary, complex blend of 100% Arabica beans from five different coffee-growing locations across the world, puts Arabica Supremo high on the list of the finest blends to be created. Deep, rich and smooth, with an exotic, spicy aroma, the recipe for this ingenious mix of high quality, expertly roasted beans is a well-kept secret, but once tried, you’ll be left in no doubt as to how amazing it tastes. Arabica Supremo is roasted dark, with a strength level of 8/10, and flavour and ...
From £19.99★★★★★245 Review(s) - Director's CoffeeWith an intense, spicy taste and a wonderfully full body, this Sumatran-based blend is ideal for espressos, packing a strong punch that's not often encountered in blends, yet retaining a complexity of flavours that's not always easy to find in stronger coffees. The big, powerful flavours of Director's linger superbly on the tongue, but aren't so oppressive that you can't enjoy this blend filtered or prepared with a cafetiere. Our Director's blend is especially good for those who enjoy a bit ...
From £14.99★★★★★268 Review(s) - Old Brown Java CoffeeIdeal for espresso, our strong Old Brown Java beans are aged as green beans for at least two years before being roasted, giving the coffee a heavier body and a powerful flavour, but very little acidity. The process of ageing beans is popular among many Javanese coffee producers and can last for as long as three years, during which green beans may be 'monsooned' by being exposed to the warm, moist air of the rainy seasons. As the green beans age they often begin to turn to a light brown ...
From £14.99★★★★★358 Review(s) - Coffee of the MonthGet 50% off your first delivery. Enter code WELCOME50 at checkout! New customer subscriptions only. Cannot be used with any other discount codes or offers A Different Coffee Every Month Our expert roasters select a particular variety from our extensive range each month, and roast to order by hand giving you the freshest coffee available. Suitable for All Brewing Methods Every coffee selected is suitable for all brewing methods - from bean-to-cup, espresso machines, cafetieres and siphons, ...
From £14.99★★★★★54 Review(s) - Dark Colombian CoffeeOur Dark Colombian is a slightly stronger coffee than our Colombian Medium Roast, which makes it more versatile as it is suitable for cafetiere use, filter coffees and intense espressos. Again using Medellin Excelso, from Colombia's Cordillera Central in the Andes, this excellent coffee really does display some of the finer qualities of the renowned Colombian coffee bean: a rich aroma, luxurious depth and sweet flavours of fruit and chocolate. These Colombian beans benefit from being grown ...
From £14.99★★★★★185 Review(s) - Blue Sumatra CoffeeThis strong Indonesian coffee comes from Sumatra, the second largest of the Indonesian islands, and is considered among the finest examples from the region. Indonesia itself is the fourth largest coffee producer in the world, and the longitude and latitude of the country make for particularly well suited micro-climates in producing a diverse, flavoursome variety of beans. In fact, depending on the region, Indonesian coffees are known to be imbued with flavours of cocoa, smoke, cedar wood, ...
From £15.99★★★★★294 Review(s) - Barista Reserve CoffeeThis sweet and mellow blend is an excellent all-round coffee that is highly recommended for business meetings, professional events and other situations where you want a flexible coffee that will suit everyone's tastes. The blend offers subtle flavours that are delicious, yet unimposing, and without much bitterness or acidity, making a smooth, very enjoyable coffee. The medium strength beans mean that this blend is suitable for all filter coffees and can be enjoyed straight from the ...
From £14.99★★★★★287 Review(s) - Kenya Peaberry CoffeeKenya Peaberry is grown in the Nyeri region, situated in the Central Highlands of Kenya, where acidic soils provide the perfect conditions for coffee that is known for intense flavours and well-rounded aromas. The peaberry variety of bean, also known as 'caracoli', is created when a coffee cherry produces only one bean, as opposed to the usual two. This single, pea-shaped bean is separated from the regular 'flat berry' beans before roasting, which ensures a high-quality even roast, and, as ...
From £15.99★★★★★200 Review(s) - Java Santos CoffeeThis blend of Indonesian Java and Brazilian Santos creates a wonderfully strong coffee that's full of flavour, but without any bitterness. Java, or Kopi Jawa as Indonesians refer to it, is typically a strong, slightly sweet coffee, and it works wonders here with the light body and low acidity of Santos. The balance of flavours creates an indulgent blend that's best enjoyed as an espresso, but can also be used in a cafetiere or as a base for your favourite filter coffees.
From £14.99★★★★★166 Review(s) - Ethiopian Yirgacheffe CoffeeGrown in the Sidamo Province of Ethiopia, Ethiopian Yirgacheffe is among the best of the washed coffees: coffees that undergo a process before roasting, whereby the cherry of the bean is removed before the bean itself is dried. Washed coffees benefit greatly from this process, as once the cherries are immersed in water, unripe ones will float and be removed from the process, while ripe ones will sink and be used. This ensures the highest quality beans in each batch. Legend has it that the ...
From £15.99★★★★★227 Review(s) - Continental CoffeeThis strong coffee is full of character and perfect for those who enjoy powerful, dark roasts that pack a punch. Our Continental is the darkest roasted coffee we offer and, while perhaps not for the faint hearted, offers a divine combination of heady aromas and rich, oily, well-balanced flavours. Given the strength of this wonderful coffee, we would recommend it mainly for intense espressos, although it can also be used to make rich filter coffees that will carry a very mild acidity and ...
From £13.99★★★★★224 Review(s) - Caffè Marcos CoffeeOur premier blend of expertly roasted coffees from the very finest plantations in Central and South America, mixed with complex tones from African and Indian speciality beans for a deep, rich and full-bodied coffee. A slight hint of acidity is balanced beautifully with a mellow flavour in what we consider to be one of our greatest ever blends. Perfectly suitable for an exquisite espresso, Caffè Marcos forms the ideal base for all manner of coffee drinks. With a strength level of 8/10, ...
From £19.99★★★★★106 Review(s) - Guatemala Swiss Water Decaffeinated CoffeeGuatemala Swiss Water Decaffeinated Coffee offers the typical taste profile of a Guatemalan coffee, but without the caffeine, so it can be enjoyed at any time of the day or evening. It is produced using the ingenious Swiss Water Decaffeination Process, a method that removes caffeine from coffee without the use of chemicals, and without losing the wonderful flavours contained in quality Arabica beans. It is a medium bodied cup with good acidity, a rich aroma, and hints of citrus and caramel. ...
From £22.99★★★★★69 Review(s) - Colombian Medium Roast CoffeeMedellin Excelso is an excellent example of the exquisite, full-bodied coffee that Colombia is known for, and testament to the county's reputation as one of the finest exporters of coffee in the world. Made from beans that have been cultivated in the rich, volcanic soil of Central Cordillera, Medellin Excelso produces a heavy body when roasted, resulting in a delicious nutty flavour with just the right amount of acidity. This variety also offers a pleasing aroma, typical of many Colombian ...
From £14.99★★★★★100 Review(s)
Taking the plunge: your complete guide to cafetiere coffee
Underrated, affordable and fuss-free, cafetiere coffee is by far the easiest type of coffee to brew at home. Requiring very little equipment, the device (which is also known as a French press), gives you more control over the strength of your coffee and creates a delicious, well-bodied and thick textured brew.
While the cafetiere is easy-to-use, when it comes to this brewing method, common misconceptions and mistakes often stand in the way of a tasty brew. We're yet to come across anyone who enjoys the gritty taste of sludge that results from a poorly made serve.
Our below guide will equip you with everything you need to know about how to make perfect cafetiere coffee at home, from step-by-step brewing instructions to how to get the optimum grind for your French press.
The java jargon decoder
Here are a few terms that may come in handy as we explore coffee for cafetiere.
- Extraction - The process of brewing (aka grounds dissolving into water).
- Overextracted - When you extract too many soluble particles in the coffee, leaving you with a bitter-tasting brew.
- Grind size - The size of particles once you've ground your coffee. The scale ranges from extra coarse to very fine. Unfortunately, there's no universal setting for grind size, so a quick Google image search will help you determine if you've got your grind size right.
- Ratio - The amount of ground coffee used vs the amount of water used.
- Blend - A combination of two or more different single-origin coffee beans that are mixed to create a new flavour.
A little history
Seeing as the cafetiere is also known as a French press, it comes as no surprise that the design originates from France. Patented in 1852 by French duo Mayer and Delforge, the 'infusion Coffee Maker' was the first of its kind, comprising of the essential components we know so well today - a pot with a metal filter attached to a rod.
This first machine was incredibly flawed and a good cup of coffee it certainly did not make. The mesh filter couldn't be manufactured with enough precision to fit into the pot, clinging to the sides and causing grounds to slip past the filter. However, with the fundamentals in place, the cafetiere's design has continuously been tweaked to improve its performance - from Attilio Calimani's added sealing in 1929, right up to the two-stage, microfilter of Espro Press's precision brewer in 2018.
Today, there are thousands of different cafetieres to choose from, with main categories including stainless steel, plastic, glass, ceramic and hybrid. Each device has its pros and cons but is a world away from the original 1852 prototype and give you all you need to make perfect cafetiere coffee with a single piece of equipment.
How is cafetiere coffee made?
A coffee cafetiere is an infusion brewer, that consists of three main components - a carafe/pot, plunger and lid. Unlike filter brewers or Moka pots (where water passes through the grounds), cafetiere coffee is created by allowing the coffee grounds and the water to steep together in the pot. The plunger then drives a mesh filter through the brewing water, pushing small insoluble particles to the bottom of the pot.
There are lots of benefits of opting for cafetiere brews. Steeping coffee helps produce a more uniform extraction, and the process allows a little oil and small particles to flow through, creating a vibrant body and texture. You have a higher level of control over how strong or weak you'd like your coffee and in terms of ease and affordability, there's also no need for additional equipment such as paper filters or cloths.
The biggest downside to cafetiere coffee is its infamous sludge - the gritty residue you can find at the bottom of your cup. Due to the large meshing of the plunger, some particles can still come through into your pour and when drunk, are bitter with an unpleasant and sandy texture.
What's important to remember is by following the correct grinding instructions, using the right brewing methods and taking care of your equipment, you can counteract many of these negative elements, in particular, learning how to make cafetiere coffee without the dreaded sludge ruining your drink.
The secret to great cafetiere coffee? Get the grind right
For this brew method, we always advise going for coarser grounds and generally advise on a medium-coarse grind. It's important to note, however, that darker roasts tend to be more brittle, so your grind size will need to be a little coarser. Conversely, coffee from higher altitudes can sometimes need to be ground to a finer texture.
If the world of grinding sounds daunting or complicated, don't worry. Having delivered coffee directly to doors for over 30 years, our team are experts on producing the optimum grind for each of our roasts. Plus, we have over 100 different types of cafetiere coffee for you to choose from. Simply select the 'Cafetiere' grind option when adding our coffees to your basket, and we'll do the work.
How to use a cafetiere: your step by step brewing guide
- Ratio: 1 x heaped tablespoon per cup, measuring out at 7g per 120-150ml of water.
- Grind: Medium-coarse (your grounds should look like superfine sugar).
- Equipment: Cafetiere, kettle, coffee.
Brewing instructions:
- Preheat your device with hot water or boiling water to encourage a more consistent steep temperature throughout your brewing process. Make sure to pour this hot water away before adding coffee or new water.
- Grind your beans to a medium-coarse consistency or get your pre-ground beans.
- Boil a kettle of either filtered water (if you live in a soft to moderately hard water area) or bottled mineral water (if you live in a hard water area).
- To get your ratios right, place your cafetiere on your scales and weigh out precisely the right amount of coffee per serve.
- Pour your boiling water into the cafetiere while it's still on the scales. Remember 1g equates to 1ml. Try to get all the grounds wet (gooseneck kettles are handy for this step).
- Give your brew a quick stir with a dessert spoon to agitate the particles, then steep for 4 minutes.
- After four minutes, you'll be able to see a crust-like foam form on the top layer. Use your spoon to stir the crust slowly. Most of the coffee should then fall to the bottom of the pot, but if there's any remaining foam, make sure to use the same spoon to skim it off.
- Wait another 4 minutes to allow as many particles as possible to settle at the bottom of your device.
- Place your lid on top and slowly press the plunger entirely down.
- And you're ready to pour! If you're serving more than one cup, we advise pouring a little into each cup and topping up until full.
The best coffee for cafetieres
UK coffee companies usually have up to 12 varieties suitable for cafetieres. We have over 100. You can browse our wide selection here and take a look at some of our customer favourites below.
Monsoon Malabar Coffee
Often described as 'delicious' with a 'magic aroma', our Monsoon Malabar is the perfect everyday coffee. Grown in Malabar (one of the wettest regions of southern India), once our beans are picked they're immediately transported to an open warehouse for four to five months. This process exposes the beans to the harsh, moist conditions of the monsoon prone area, filling them with moisture and reducing acidity. The result is a heavy-bodied coffee with a distinctive chocolatey, spicy and nutty aroma.
“Exquisite proper coffee. Monsoon Malabar blend has been our favourite for some years. We appreciate a good coffee with ample strength and chocolatey undertones, but absolutely no bitterness. This one is the perfect smooth choice for those who are very particular about their coffee.”
Nona B. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kenya Blue Mountain Coffee
Grown from seeds originating in Jamaica, this blend has all the natural sweetness of Blue Mountain Jamaica with the rich aromatic flavours and intensity of Kenyan coffee. Full-bodied, with good acidity drawn from Kenyan soils, your brew will give you notes of nut and citrus with a delicious caramel aftertaste.
“This was something my mum drank when we visited her. I just could never get my coffee to taste or smell like hers and then she bought us some beans. It was life-changing - now we drink nothing else. This really is about the best coffee on the market at a reasonable price and we love it.”
Chris P. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dark Decaffeinated Colombian Coffee
Dark Decaffeinated Columbian is one of our best-selling decaf roasts. With beans that give you luxurious flavours such as sweet fruit and chocolate, you can enjoy a full-bodied, full-flavoured cup of coffee without a caffeine buzz that will keep you up at night.
“Excellent. I love my coffee dark and strong tasting but I have to have decaf. With this, I can have both! Best I've tasted.”
Maldwyn P. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
FAQs
How much coffee to put in a cafetiere?
To start with, work out the capacity of your device. Place it on your scales and fill it with water until it reaches just below the spout. Remember, 1ml equals 1g, so you just divide the number of your scale reading by 20 to work out how many grams of coffee to add. The ratio we recommend is one heaped tablespoon per cup, measuring out at 7g per 120-150ml of water (this is more accurate than using measurements such as one scoop etc.).
How long should cafetiere coffee infuse for?
We recommend 4 minutes. Any longer than this and your coffee will be over-extracted and taste bitter. If you want a stronger coffee, it's better to add more of the ground coffee rather than steeping it for longer.
Can you use filter coffee in cafetieres?
Filter coffee requires finer grinds, which aren't ideal for the large holes in the appliance's meshing. Similarly, grounds for espresso machine brewing will be even finer and will not be suitable for this type of coffee making. Always opt for a coarser grind for this brewing method if you want to avoid a gritty and weak brew.