Taking the plunge

the key to the perfect cafetière

May 28

Written By Ellen Porteous

The humble cafetière, French Press or Plungey Pot, whatever you call it the cafetière remains one of the most accessible but under valued pieces of home brewing equipment in the world.  In the right hands, this magical device converts our beans into a joyous enervating potion that has kept students, professionals and coffee lovers alike energised since the dawn of the 20th century. 

at Loud Mouth Co WE love to simplify and cut through the complicated coffee chaff to make it easier to create beautiful brews at home. LESSSGOOOOO

 There are 5 essentials to remember for the perfect pot. 

1.    ROAST PROFILE - the cafetière works best with medium to dark roast beans which present a pleasing full body to the brew. Lighter beans can still work but prepare yourself for a more delicate and nuanced cup. Try it with our smouldering proper gobby blend for a full balanced cup or for something fruitier and tongue tantalising try our Peruvian single origin that bursts out of the cup with its lovely peach and nougat flavours. 

2.    GRIND SIZE - you’ll want a coarse grind for the cafetière for best results to prevent the coffee from burning and going all bitter. (For espresso lovers you can use a medium grind which yields a stronger brew but heads up it makes a muddier cup) 

3.    BREW RATIO - the most popular brew ratio for cafetière is 1:12. This means for every gram of coffee you will want 12 grams of water. For example, a four cup cafetière holds about 500ml of water, and so will need 42grams of coffee for the ideal strength. But don’t be afraid to adjust this to suit your preferences. There will be the perfect strength out there for your tastes, as all of our buds are beautifully different.

4.     WATER TEMP -The ideal water temperature for French press coffee is between 90-96°C, just off boiling. Let your hot water stand for a minute after boiling for the perfect temp. Too hot and you’ll scald your beans. Too cold and it won’t be strong enough!

5.    BREW TIME - 4 minutes (3-5). Soak the grind initially with your hot water which is known as the bloom, just enough to cover the grinds. After 30 seconds pour in the rest of the water, let it steep and get ready to plunge it at the 4 minute mark.

Voila! There you have it - the key elements to creating a  consistent and quaffable cafetière coffee to enjoy at home. 

Remember these are just guidelines. Don't be afraid to experiment and try out our exciting range of single origins to find which works best for you. The best cup of coffee is the one you enjoy, so have some fun with it!