Cafetière vs French Press: Same Thing? How to Use One

A cafetière and a French press are the same brewer. "Cafetière" is the name most often used in the UK and parts of Europe. "French press" is the usual name in the US. You may also see "coffee press" or "press pot." They all describe a glass or steel jug with a plunger and a metal mesh filter.

How it works

Coarse ground coffee steeps in hot water for a few minutes. The plunger then pushes the grounds to the bottom, and you pour the coffee out. Because the filter is metal, more of the coffee's natural oils reach your cup, which gives a fuller, heavier body than a paper filter.

How to use a cafetière or French press

1. Grind the coffee coarse, like coarse sea salt.
2. Warm the press with a splash of hot water, then pour it out.
3. Add the coffee. A good starting point is 1 part coffee to 16 parts water by weight, or about 4 level tablespoons for a 12 oz mug.
4. Pour in hot water, just off the boil, and put the lid on with the plunger up.
5. Wait about 4 minutes.
6. Press the plunger down slowly, then pour all the coffee right away so it doesn't keep brewing.

For amounts by press size, see the French press coffee to water ratio chart. The full recipe is French Press Basics.

Common problems

• Gritty cup: the grind is too fine for a metal filter. See the coffee grind size guide.
• Bitter: use a little less coffee or a coarser grind. Read why is my coffee bitter.
• Weak: add a bit more coffee next time.

Cafetière, French press or something else?

If you like a rich, full cup with little effort, a press is a good fit. Compare it with pour-over or the moka pot to see which suits your kitchen.