A quick guide to the perfect French press coffee

Coffee is something people make a fuss over, fuelled by profiteering marketers and the media. You can cut through the noise simply by buying a good old cafetière, otherwise known as a ‘French Press’. 

The ‘Cafetière à Piston’ was patented by two Frenchmen, the metalsmith Otto Mayer and the merchant Jacques-Victor Delforge back in 1852 and its simple design and technique hasn’t changed significantly over the centuries. 

Today, one of the most popular and good-value cafetières is made by Bodum, a family-owned Danish company, On Amazon.fr you can buy a basic Bodum ‘Kenya’ design four-cup for €12.99 and an eight-cup for €14.99.

As for the coffee, again cut to the quick. There’s nothing wrong with Carrefour’s own brand ‘Pur Arabica’ – a twin pack of 2 X 250g will set you back a mere €6.52. The cafetière is dead easy to use. 

How to make French press coffee

Boil the kettle, warm up the cafetière by swilling round some hot water. Empty it before scooping in a tablespoon for each person. Pour in boiling water to three quarters full. Give it a good stir. Put the plunger in to rest on the top of the coffee. Leave it a couple of minutes then the fun bit – gently ease and press down the plunger to the bottom. 

Hey presto you’ve made yourself a rich full-bodied great-value cup of coffee to set you up for the day.