The Different Ways To Make and Enjoy Ueshima Coffee - A Guide
The wonderful thing about coffee is that there are so many different ways to enjoy it and we know that all coffee drinkers are different. Whether you’re a connoisseur or a casual canned coffee drinker, we have something for everyone.
There are numerous ways to brew and enjoy our coffee, we’ll run through them here…
The French Press or Cafetière
What is a cafetière?
A cafetière (also called a French press) is a glass (or similar) pot with a plunger and fine-mesh filter, a simple immersion brewer that gives a full-bodied cup.
How to make coffee in a cafetière?
You begin by preheating the cafetière. Do this by pouring in hot water, let it stand for a few minutes, then discard. This helps keep the coffee hotter for longer. Read our full guide on how to make a cafetière here.
How many spoons do you use in a cafetière?
We recommend about 15g of coffee per serve or per 250ml of water. If you prefer a stronger brew, you could increase to roughly 17-18g per serve.
What is the best ground coffee for cafetieres?
It’s best to use a coarse grind, too fine a grind can make pressing difficult, and may leave sediment in your cup. We would advise that you grind our Ueshima beans freshly yourself, but you can still use our ground blends if in a hurry!
If you prefer stronger coffee, consider using our darker roast — this tends to give you a more intense flavour and body.
Pour Over Coffee
What is pour-over coffee?
Pour-over coffee is one of our favourite ways to brew. It’s a simple, hands-on method where you slowly pour hot water over freshly ground coffee held in a cone-shaped filter. The water extracts the flavours as it passes through the grounds and drips into your cup. We love it for its clarity, balance, and the calm ritual it brings to your morning.
How is pour-over different from drip-coffee machines?
Although both use filtered water passing through ground coffee, pour-over is fully manual.
You control the pour, which means you control the speed, the flow, and ultimately the taste.
Drip machines do the work automatically, but with pour-over you can bring out more of the nuanced flavour notes in your coffee.
What equipment do I need for pour-over coffee?
To make pour-over the way we recommend, you’ll need:
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A cone dripper such as the Hario V60
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A matching paper filter
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Fresh coffee (ideally whole beans ground just before brewing)
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Hot, filtered water
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A pouring kettle
- A coffee jug or cup of your choice
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A scale and timer if you want extra precision
What’s special about the V60 dripper?
We often use the Hario V60 because its 60-degree cone shape, single large hole, and internal spiral ribs encourage an even flow of water. It was also designed in Japan!
This design helps the coffee extract cleanly and consistently, giving you a cup that highlights delicate aromas and vibrant flavour notes.
Why choose pour-over coffee?
We recommend pour-over to anyone who loves a clean, refined cup. The paper filter removes much of the sediment you find in immersion methods, resulting in a smooth, almost silky texture.
Pour-over also offers complete control; from grind size to pouring technique, making it perfect for exploring the unique character of different beans. And, of course, it turns brewing into a mindful, calming ritual. Which is the epitome of Japanese coffee culture.
What’s a good recipe or ratio to start with?
A great starting point is 15g of coffee to 250ml of water. Keep your pours steady and make sure all the grounds are evenly saturated. From there, you can adjust to suit your personal taste; stronger, lighter, slower, or faster pours depending on what you enjoy.
Read our full Brewing Guide to Pour Over Coffee >>>
Chemex
What is Chemex?
Chemex is a beautifully designed glass coffee brewer that (when used correctly) yields exceptionally smooth, clean and flavourful coffee. Its elegant build and filter-based pour-over method make it a favourite among coffee lovers seeking clarity and balance in every cup.
What equipment do I need to brew with Chemex?
To brew with Chemex you’ll need:
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A Chemex brewer
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A suitable filter paper
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Fresh coffee beans (or grounds)
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A grinder (if you’re using whole beans)
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A pouring kettle
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A spoon or paddle
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Scales (for measuring)
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A timer (optional but helpful)
What’s the ideal coffee-to-water ratio, grind size, and water temperature?
For a standard two-cup batch: use about 30g of coffee with 500ml of water.
Grind the coffee to a medium texture (not too fine, not too coarse).
Use water heated to around 93 °C (≈ 200 °F) for best extraction. (If you don’t have a thermometer, let freshly boiled water sit for about 1 minute before pouring.)
How do I brew coffee using Chemex?
Just refer to our fantastic step-by-step Chemex brewing guide!
Can I adjust the recipe for a stronger brew?
Yes! If you prefer a stronger cup, you may slightly increase the coffee dose (per “serve”) or choose a darker roast to deepen the flavour.
AeroPress
What is AeroPress?
AeroPress is a compact, handheld brewer made of durable plastic that uses gentle pressure to make coffee. It’s ideal for a single cup; simple, fast, and capable of delivering a clean, balanced brew.
What equipment do I need to brew with AeroPress?
To use AeroPress our way, you’ll need:
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An AeroPress device
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AeroPress filter paper
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Fresh coffee beans (or ground coffee)
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Grinder (if using whole beans)
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Fresh filtered water
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A pouring kettle
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A scoop/spoon or paddle
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A digital scale and a timer (helpful for consistency)
What coffee-to-water ratio, grind size, and water temperature do you recommend?
For a single serve: use 15g of coffee (about two tablespoons) with 250ml of water.
Grind the coffee to a medium size. Heat water to about 93 °C (≈ 200 °F). If you don’t have a thermometer, allow freshly boiled water to stand for about one minute before pouring.
How do I brew coffee with AeroPress?
Just take a look at our fantastic step-by-step AeroPress Brewing guide!
Why choose AeroPress as a brewing method?
We love AeroPress because it’s fast, reliable, and consistent which makes it ideal for single cups at home or even on the go. Its combination of immersion and gentle pressure yields a clean, smooth cup with a good body, without the heaviness of a cafetière. Because it uses paper filters, you get clarity and a bright cup that highlights your beans’ flavour.
Can I adjust the recipe if I want stronger or milder coffee?
Absolutely. Starting from our recommended ratio (15g : 250ml) is great, but you can tweak the dose slightly, or experiment with grind size and brew time, to find what suits your taste.
Ueshima Coffee Bags
What are “coffee bags”?
Our Ueshima coffee bags are small, individually sealed pouches containing a single serving (7g) of ground coffee, just like a tea bag! You place one in a cup, pour over hot water, and brew directly. This gives you real, freshly ground coffee without needing a cafetière, filter machine, or other brewing equipment.
How do I use a Ueshima coffee bag?
It’s pretty straightforward…
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Place one coffee bag into a cup or mug.
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Pour freshly boiled water over the bag (after letting the water cool slightly, if you wish)
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Let it brew for about 3–5 minutes, depending on how strong you like your coffee.
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Remove the bag, gently squeeze it with a spoon to extract extra flavour, then enjoy your coffee.
- Optional - you can add milk or sugar to taste to truly enjoy your coffee however you prefer. It really is that easy!
How strong is coffee from a coffee bag compared with regular brewed coffee?
Our coffee bags have a taste and strength similar to our filter coffee; clean, smooth and balanced. The strength can be adjusted though, just leave the bag to steep longer for a stronger brew.
How much coffee is in each bag?
Each of our coffee bags contains around 7 grams of ground coffee. This is the ideal amount for a single serving (we think anyway!)
How long does a coffee bag take to brew?
Generally 3–5 minutes. You can choose within that range depending on how mild or strong you prefer your cup of Ueshima!
Coffee Machines & Espresso
What is espresso?
Espresso is a style of coffee brewed by forcing pressurised hot water through finely ground coffee beans. The result is a small, concentrated cup of coffee; rich in flavour, aroma, and topped with a characteristic crema.
What equipment do I need to make espresso at home?
To brew espresso properly at home, you’ll need:
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A traditional espresso machine
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Fresh coffee beans and a grinder
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A tamper (to compress the ground coffee in the portafilter)
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Scales (to dose correctly)
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A knock-out box or bin for spent grounds, and a tamp mat (optional but useful)
What grind size, dose, and brew time do you recommend?
We recommend:
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Grind: extra-fine (espresso grind)
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Dose: ~15g coffee beans for a standard espresso shot. This can vary between different coffee machines
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Brew time: roughly 2-30 seconds for extraction.
Grinding your beans fresh just before brewing gives the best results but that’s not to say you can’t use our pre-ground blends.
How do I pour the perfect espresso?
Here’s our recommended method at Ueshima:
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Clean and dry the machine’s filter basket before use.
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Grind about 15g of beans to extra-fine consistency and dose into the filter basket.
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Tamp the grounds evenly and level. A firm and flat surface helps ensure even water flow.
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Purge the group head (run a short burst of water) to rinse and stabilise temperature, then insert the portafilter and lock it in.
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Start extraction by pressing for a double shot. The espresso should pour slowly and evenly, finishing in about 20-30 seconds, depending on your coffee machine.
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Serve immediately. Enjoy as is, or use for milk-based drinks (latte, cappuccino, etc.)
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Be sure to knock out the used grounds and clean the filter and group head, cleaning immediately keeps future shots flavourful.
What makes a “good” espresso shot?
A well-executed espresso should have:
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A rich, full-bodied flavour and aroma
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A smooth taste (neither too bitter nor too sour)
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A textured crema on top
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Balanced extraction (which comes from correct dose, grind, tamp, water pressure, and brew time
Can I make espresso-based drinks at home using Ueshima beans?
Absolutely. Using the correct grind, dose, and technique as above will give you a clean, well-extracted espresso. It’s perfect on its own or as the base for lattes, cappuccinos, flat whites, and more.
Read our full Brewing Guide to Espresso >>>
Coffee Pods and Capsules
We all know that, sometimes, we just need a quick coffee, conveniently. And we get that at Ueshima. Which is why from our perfectly roasted beans to finely ground coffee we also give you the perfect Ueshima coffee taste in capsules…
Are your Ueshima Coffee Pod Capsules Nespresso compatible?
Yes, our pods are specifically designed to be Nespresso compatible, working with original Nespresso machines for a convenient coffee experience. They come in all of our most popular blends; House Blend, Fuji Mountain and Tokyo Roast. They are easy to recycle through our partnership with Podback - simply add a free Podback bag to your basket, then recycle your empty coffee capsules by dropping them off at at participating supermarket stores.
Find out more on Our Packaging page.
Canned Coffee
What flavours of canned coffee do Ueshima offer?
At Ueshima, we’re proud to be the inventors of the world's first canned coffee and we continue Japan’s long tradition of convenient, ready-to-drink coffee. Our current canned range in the UK includes two refreshing options:
Both are crafted to be smooth, balanced and exceptionally easy to enjoy on the go. They’re also low in calories and sugar, and packaged in 100% recyclable cans. It’s our effortless way to enjoy Japanese-inspired coffee wherever you are.
Who invented Canned Iced Coffee?
Well, as it happens…
We did.
Canned coffee was created by our founder, Tadao Ueshima, often referred to as “the father of coffee in Japan.”
The idea came to him when he was drinking a coffee at a train station and had to leave the cup behind when his train suddenly arrived. He realised coffee should be something you can enjoy anywhere.
This inspiration led to the launch of UCC Milk Coffee in 1969, the first canned coffee product of its kind. Since then, we’ve continued to innovate and share Japanese coffee culture with the world.
And finally…
A question that gets asked a lot and applies to most of the above...
What is the best temperature for coffee?
For most brewing methods, we recommend water around 93 °C — this is a great “rule of thumb” that helps unlock balanced flavour and aroma without burning or under-extracting the beans.
But for a full breakdown of our recommended temperatures for all of the various brewing methods we’ve outlined in this blog, visit our Coffee Temperature Guide.