How to Make Cold Brew Coffee Using a French Press

No Fancy Gear Needed — Just Your French Press!

Think you need a special cold brew maker to enjoy smooth, refreshing cold brew coffee at home? Think again! Your trusty French Press is more than enough to brew a delicious batch of cold brew without any extra gadgets.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to make rich, easy, and perfectly balanced cold brew using just a French Press.

Understanding Ratios and Concentrates

Before we dive in, let’s clarify a few key terms to get your cold brew just right:

• Ratio: The amount of coffee grounds to water used during brewing.

• Concentrate: Cold brew coffee that’s brewed stronger than you’d drink it, meant to be diluted before serving.

• Dilution: The process of adding water or ice to your concentrate to adjust strength and taste.

Most cold brews you encounter are actually concentrates — strong and highly caffeinated — so they need to be diluted. For this recipe, we use a 1:8 coffee-to-water ratio to create a concentrate that you’ll cut with water or ice when it’s time to drink.

Choosing the Right French Press Size

French Presses come in many sizes — from small 400ml models to giant 1.5 to 2-liter beasts. The French Press we recommend, the Yama 6-Cup, holds just over 800ml, which is perfect for home cold brew.

If your French Press is under 1 liter, this recipe will help you get the most out of your brew by making a concentrate. If you have a larger press, you can scale up and make enough concentrate to last a week.

Brewing Your Cold Brew: Step-by-Step

Ingredients:

• Fresh coarsely ground coffee (preferably a blend roasted for cold brew)

• Cold, filtered water

Instructions:

1. Measure out your coffee using a 1:8 ratio. For example, for every 100ml of water, use 12.5 grams of coffee.

2. Add the coffee grounds to your French Press.

3. Pour cold water over the grounds, ensuring all coffee is saturated.

4. Stir gently to mix.

5. Place the lid on your French Press but don’t plunge yet.

6. Let your brew steep at room temperature for 16 to 20 hours. Patience is key here!

7. After brewing, slowly press the plunger down to separate the grounds.

8. Transfer your cold brew concentrate to a clean container and refrigerate.

When you’re ready to enjoy, dilute the concentrate with water or ice to taste — usually a 1:1 ratio works well.

Adjusting for Larger Batches or Ready-to-Drink Brew

If you want a ready-to-drink cold brew without dilution, use a more diluted ratio like 1:12 — that’s 8.4 grams of coffee for every 100ml of water. Brew the same way, and when it’s done, it’s good to pour over ice and enjoy immediately.

Tips for Success

• Use freshly ground coffee for the best flavor.

• Experiment with different beans and roasts; single origins can make exciting cold brew variations.

• Avoid brewing for less than 12 hours or more than 24 hours to keep flavor balanced.

• Keep your cold brew concentrate refrigerated and consume within a week.

Want to Skip the Wait?

If the long brewing time isn’t your thing, cold brew concentrates are available in bottles and make iced coffee effortless. You can brew large batches at once or enjoy a fresh cup anytime without the wait.

Enjoy your homemade cold brew — smooth, bold, and ready whenever you are, all thanks to your trusty French Press!

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