How To make Cold Brew in French Press (A Delicious Recipe!)

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French press is a popular coffee brewing device, that’s a versatile option for brewing exceptional hot coffee, teas, and cold brews as well.

Making a cold brew in french press is really simple. All you need to have is a french press, Burr grinder, filtered water, and coffee and you’re ready to go!

Yes, It’s a super easy and budget-friendly option too!

Cold Brew in French Press

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Why use French Press for Cold Brew?

Using a French Press for cold brew results in a smooth and rich coffee with a fuller body and more flavor.

Here are some reasons why I personally love to use French Press for making cold brew coffee.

The Design: First French Press is an immersion brewer, its design allows for the coffee to steep in the water for an extended period, resulting in a smooth and rich flavor.

The Metal Filters: French Press has a built-in filter, which separates the coffee grounds from the liquid, making the process of filtering the coffee very simple. There’s no need for paper filters that’ll ultimately create a mess.

Convenient: French Press is easy to use and clean, making it a convenient option for making cold brews at home.

Why use a French Press

French Press Cold Brew Recipe
Print Recipe

French Press Cold Brew Recipe

With just a few simple steps, you can create a smooth and refreshing French Press Cold Brew coffee that's perfect for hot summer days or any time you're in the mood for a cool and invigorating drink.
Cook Time: 6 minutes
Total Time: 12 hours
Servings: 4
Author: Johny Morrisson

Equipment

  • French Press Coffee Maker
  • Coffee Grinder (Optional)

Ingredients

  • 32 oz Filtered Water
  • 150-180 grams Coarse Coffee grounds

Instructions

  • Grind the Beans: Weigh around 150 – 180 Grams of coffee beans and grind them to coarse settings
    You can use pre-ground coffee too! Just make sure that the grind size is coarse. Otherwise, it will clog the screen of French Press and make your drink extremely bitter
    Grind the beans to coarse settings
  • Mix the Coffee and the water: Add the coffee grounds to the French Press and pour 32 oz water over it.
    Gently push the coffee grounds downwards with a ladle and soak them
    Use the water at room temperature
    French Press cold brew making
  • Let it Steep Overnight: Let this mixture sit for 12–16 hours so the water extracts flavors from the coffee grounds
    Don't put it in the refrigerator
  • Push the Plunger: The next morning, Gently plunge the plunger all the way down to separate the coffee ground from the brewed coffee. 
    French Press Plunge the coffee
  • Serve and Enjoy: This cold brew coffee will be very strong and sharp. If you like it that way drink it straight!
    However, I like to pour this cold brew concentrate over ice to prepare iced coffee.
    You can also add milk, creamers, or sweeteners to make your drink fancy
    Cold Brew coffee French Press

Tips for making Cold Brew in French Press

Here are some useful tips for making cold brew in French press.

The Best Coffee beans for Cold brew in French Press

Doesn’t matter which fancy equipment or brewing method you’re using. The flavor of the drink ultimately depends on the type and quality of coffee beans.

Cold brew is best enjoyed with a darker roast because it eliminates nearly all acidity, which can be tricky to remove because of the long brewing time.

Never use light roast coffee beans for Cold brew as it will make your drink too acidic and sour.

My personal favorite is dark-roasted coffee beans from Stone street.

Dark coffee beans for cold brew

What Grind Size is suitable for Cold brew

Once you’ve selected coffee beans now it’s turn to determine the right grind size. 

Choosing the right grind size for cold brew is very important, as the wrong grind size can ruin the taste.

The coarser the grind, the better the cold brew. Fine grounds are often over-extracted and produce bitter and harsh flavors.

Moreover, fine coffee grounds can also clog the metal screen of the French Press.

For Ultimate freshness, Grind the coffee beans a few moments before brewing coffee.

Don’t have a grinder? here’s a list of the best pre-ground coffee for French press.

What is the best ratio for cold brew?

The coffee-to-water ratio for cold brew can vary depending on personal preference and the desired strength of the cold brew.

Generally “the golden ratio” for cold brew coffee is 1:5 to 1:8 (depending on the taste) which means 1 gram of coffee for every 8 mL of water.

This ratio will brew a highly concentrated beverage that’ll get diluted with water, ice, or milk later on.

The Temperature of Water

There is no need to heat or boil the water for cold brew nor does it require cooling down by refrigeration.

A cold brew gets prepared by using water at “room temperature” for steady and slow extraction.

It’s also important to use filtered water that is free from any off-flavors that can affect the taste of your final drink.

The steeping time

The steeping time for a “French press cold brew” depends on personal preferences of taste and flavors.

Generally, the time frame of 12 – 24 hours is considered ideal for brewing cold brew coffee.

If you prefer a milder cold brew, you can steep it for 12 hours. Never steep it for less than 12 hours otherwise you will end up with an under-extracted and weak brew.

And if you prefer a stronger brew it will require a longer steeping time of 18-24 hours. Never steep it for more than 24 hours otherwise your drink will become overly bitter.

Final Thoughts on French Press Cold Brew

Overall, French Press cold brew is a delicious and refreshing way to enjoy coffee, especially on hot summer days or when you need a caffeine boost. I highly recommend giving it a try!

French Press makes the process more convenient and the drink more flavorful. I am sure you’ll forget your regular Cold brew equipment after using it.

Discover Other Recipes

FAQs

SHOULD YOU USE PAPER FILTERS FOR MAKING COLD BREW IN FRENCH PRESS?

A French press uses a metal filter to separate the coffee ground from water, resulting in a more flavorful, rich, and aromatic drink full of coffee oils.

You can use a paper filter alternatively if you want smooth flavors. Using a paper filter will filter out the oils and sediments that make your drink muddy. However, I wouldn’t suggest doing that.

IS COLD BREW STRONGER THAN REGULAR FRENCH PRESS COFFEE?

French Press cold brew uses more coffee-to-water ratio and is steeped for a very long time compared to hot french press coffee.
That’s why Cold brew is sharp, strong, and has higher levels of caffeine than regular French Press coffee.