Guide To Brewing Modern Italian French Press Coffee

We love the French Press for its ease, rich body, and ability to bring out the bold, smooth flavours of our darker roasts.

This guide will show you how to brew coffee that’s full of flavour and doesn't require an espresso machine.

You’ll Need

To get started, you’ll need just a few essentials:

• Coffee beans
• French Press (we recommend 400ml – 1L capacity)
• Grinder, if you're using whole beans
  
• Kettle
• Timer
• Digital scales (optional but helpful)

Step 1: Measure and grind

Grind your coffee to a medium-coarse consistency. We recommend a 1:15 coffee-to-water ratio.

For example:
20g of coffee = 300g of water
40g of coffee = 600g of water

This ensures a strong, well-rounded cup that highlights the signature flavours of our Traditional and Signature Blends.

Step 2: Add coffee and water

• Place the ground coffee into your French Press
• Start your timer and pour in hot water (just off the boil, ~95°C)
• Ensure all the coffee is evenly saturated
• Give it a gentle stir with a spoon or paddle
• Let it brew for 4 minutes

Step 3: Skim and press

Once the 4-minute timer is up:

• Skim the floating grounds from the surface (optional, but creates a cleaner cup)
• Gently press the plunger down until it reaches the bottom
• Avoid forcing the plunger – it should feel smooth and even.

Step 4: Serve immediately

French Press coffee continues to extract as it sits, so pour into cups or a server straight away to avoid bitterness.

Your cup should taste bold, smooth and full-bodied, with a soft acidity and deep sweetness, especially when brewed with our Traditional Blend.

Which Caffè Ducale blend is best for French Press?

While you can brew any of our blends using this method, we recommend:

Traditional Blend: For a rich, darker profile that works beautifully in French Press.
Signature Blend: For something smoother and slightly more balanced.

Want to test it for yourself? Ask for a sample bag next time you're in store, where we grind your coffee fresh to order.