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    Whisk Affair » Recipes » Global Beverages » Homemade French Press Cold Brew Coffee

    Published: Mar 5, 2021 | Last Updated On: Mar 15, 2023 by Neha Mathur | This post may contain affiliate links. I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Homemade French Press Cold Brew Coffee

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    Jump to Recipe

    Make Homemade French Press Cold Brew Coffee in just 5 minutes of active working time. Homemade cold brew is extra-smooth, extra-strong, less acidic, and much cheaper than the store-bought equivalent. You only need a French press, cold water, and ground coffee (vegan, gluten-free).

    You may like some more coffee recipes: Dalgona Coffee, Nutella Coffee, Vietnamese Coffee, Filter Coffee, Beaten Coffee, and Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew.

    Homemade French Press Cold Brew Coffee served in a glass.
    Jump to:
    • About French Press Cold Brew
    • Ingredients
    • How To Make French Press Cold Brew Coffee
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Storage Suggestions
    • You Might Also Like
    • Recipe Card

    About French Press Cold Brew

    French Press Cold Brew Coffee is cold-brewed coffee made using a French press. Coffee made by this method is stronger, smoother, and less acidic than coffee made by other brewing methods.

    It is one of the easiest ways to brew coffee. The good news for cold brew lovers is that now you can make your own cold brew, just like your favorite coffee shop at home, using this method.

    Although you can buy cold brew coffee made in a French press in most coffee shops, making it at home is more economical, and you can customize the drink according to your taste. Plus, you know exactly what ingredients are going in your cold brew.

    You only need coarsely ground coffee, water, and a French press to make homemade French press cold brew coffee, so make yourself a batch. I promise; you will never buy it again!

    You can drink it black (it is very strong though) or with milk or water, or use this perfect cold brew coffee concentrate to make Vietnamese Coffee, Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew, Iced Caramel Macchiato, or other iced coffee drinks.

    You can also add hot water or milk to make a hot cup of cold-brewed coffee.

    You can also use it to make Coffee Overnight Oats.

    I made this recipe in my 12 oz press, but you easily double or triple it if you have a bigger press.

    Ingredients

    French press cold brew coffee ingredients.

    Coffee – Use any coarse ground coffee to make a cold brew. Do not use a medium or fine grind. Otherwise, the coffee will turn cloudy and have a muddled flavor.

    Use high-quality coffee for the best taste.

    You can give a twist to the classic cold brew by using flavored coffee.

    Water – You will need cold or room-temperature water. Use filtered water if your tap water is chlorinated. The proportion of coffee to water is very important, so keep that in mind. I have explained it in the post below.

    French Press – You will need a French press coffee maker to make this cold brew. I use a Bodum original 12 oz press which I ordered from amazon.

    Once you have cold brew coffee concentrate ready, you can drink it with water or creamer. Whole milk, toned milk, almond milk, cashew milk, oat milk, choose whichever you want, and go with it.

    You can add caramel sauce or chocolate sauce to your coffee to give it a fun twist. Vanilla extract, lavender syrup, and hazelnut syrup are also some great add-ons.

    How To Make French Press Cold Brew Coffee

    Place 2 oz of coarsely ground coffee at the base of your French press (I used a 12 oz press).

    Coffe placed in the french press.

    Pour 2 cups of cold filtered water or room temperature water over the coffee and stir gently using a spoon.

    Note – The coffee-to-water ratio is very important. It should be approximately 1:8 by volume or 1:16 by weight.

    Water poured in the press and stirred well.

    Cover the press with a cling wrap and keep it on the kitchen counter for 8-24 hours, depending on how strong you want the coffee. I prefer 12 hours of brewing time.

    Note – Why keep the press on the counter and not refrigerate it, you may ask? Things are more soluble at higher temperatures than at lower temperatures. If you refrigerate your brew, you are effectively limiting solubility or extraction. But if it’s very hot where you live, you can refrigerate it after 3-4 hours of brewing.

    Press covered with cling wrap.
    Brewed coffee.

    Once the coffee is brewed, remove the plastic wrap and place the lid of the French press.

    Cling wrap removed.

    Push down the French press plunger gently.

    Note – Do not push the plunger all the way down. That will agitate the coffee grounds, and they will release a bitter taste.

    Plunger pushed down.

    Strain cold brew concentrate into a large glass jar or pitcher. Store refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.

    Tip – If some coffee granules are floating in the ready coffee and you are not ok with them, then strain the brew using a fine mesh strainer, cheese cloth, coffee filter (paper filter), or a nut bag.

    To serve, dilute ½ cup cold brew with ½ cup water or milk.

    If serving with ice cubes, use the ice with ½ cup cold brew concentrate with ¼ cup water.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How can you make cold brew with coffee beans?

    You can grind light roast or dark roast coffee beans using a coffee grinder to make this cold brew recipe. Add the whole beans to the grinder and do one pulse to give you coarsely ground coffee beans. Do not ground the beans to a fine powder because this cold brew requires coarsely ground coffee only.

    How do you make hot coffee using a cold brew?

    Well, it’s named “cold brew” because of the brewing method, but you can also use the brewed coffee to make hot coffee. Just top the concentrate with some hot boiling water or hot milk and mix, and your hot coffee is ready.

    How long should I brew the coffee?

    It’s best to brew this coffee for at least 8 hours and a maximum of 24 hours.

    How do you make cold brew coffee stronger?

    The longer you set the coffee to brew, the stronger it gets. If you like your cold brew to be very strong, let it brew for 24 hours.

    How much concentrate should we add per cup?

    The easy ratio of coffee to other liquids is 1:1. But you can customize it according to taste. If you like strong coffee, add more concentrate; if you want lighter coffee, increase the quantity of water or milk.

    Can you make a cold brew without caffeine?

    To make a cold brew without caffeine, use a coffee alternative such as chicory root or dandelion root instead of ground coffee.

    Storage Suggestions

    You can store a batch of cold brew concentrate for about 2 weeks in the refrigerator in a mason jar or an airtight glass container.

    Just be sure to store freshly brewed concentrate instead of diluted brew. Then when you want to make coffee, pour the cold brew mixture over ice, add water or milk, and enjoy it fresh.

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    Recipe Card

    Loved this recipe?Click here to leave a review and give us a five star rating ★★★★★
    Make this DIY French Press Cold Brew at home. It's smooth, less acidic, and much cheaper than the store-bought stuff. All you need is a French Press, cold water, and ground coffee.

    Homemade French Press Cold Brew Coffee Recipe

    Make Homemade French Press Cold Brew Coffee in just 5 minutes of active working time. Homemade cold brew is extra-smooth, extra-strong, less acidic, and much cheaper than the store-bought equivalent. You only need a French press, cold water, and ground coffee.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Beverage
    Cuisine: American, Continental
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Resting Time: 16 hours
    Total Time: 16 hours 10 minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 0.5kcal
    Author: Neha Mathur

    Equipment

    • French Press I used a 12 oz press to make 2 cups of brewed coffee

    Ingredients 

    • 2 ounces coarsely ground coffee
    • 2 cups cold or room-temperature water (use filtered water if your tap water is chlorinated.)
    US Customary or Metric
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Place coffee at the base of your French press.
    • Pour water over the coffee and stir gently using a spoon.
    • Note – The coffee-to-water ratio is very important. It should be approximately 1:8 by volume or 1:16 by weight.
    • Cover the press with a cling wrap and keep it on the kitchen counter for 8-24 hours, depending on how strong you want the coffee. I prefer 12 hours of brewing time.
    • Once the coffee is brewed, remove the plastic wrap and place the lid of the French press.
    • Push down the French press plunger gently.
    • Note – Do not push the plunger all the way down. That will agitate the coffee grounds and they will release a bitter taste.
    • Strain cold brew concentrate into a large glass jar or pitcher. Store refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.
    • Tip – If some coffee granules are floating in the ready coffee and you are not ok with them, then strain the brew using a fine mesh strainer, cheese cloth, coffee filter, or a nut bag.
    • To serve, dilute ½ cup cold brew with ½ cup water or milk.
    • If serving with ice cubes, use the ice with ½ cup cold brew concentrate with ¼ cup water.

    Video

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx_Q5xZkonM&t=13s

    Notes

    I made this recipe in my 12 oz press but you easily double or triple it if you have a bigger press.
    Use any coarse-ground coffee to make a cold brew. Do not use a medium or fine grind. Otherwise, the coffee will turn cloudy and have a muddled flavor.
    You can give a twist to the classic cold brew by using flavored coffee.
    Once you have cold brew coffee concentrate ready, you can drink it with water or creamer. Whole milk, toned milk, almond milk, cashew milk, choose whichever you want, and go with it.
    Add caramel sauce or chocolate sauce to your coffee to give it a fun twist.
    You can use brewed coffee to make hot coffee as well. Just top the concentrate with some hot boiling water or hot milk and mix, and your hot coffee is ready.
    You may ask, why keep the press on the counter and not refrigerate it? Things are more soluble at higher temperatures than at lower temperatures. If you refrigerate your brew, you are effectively limiting solubility or extraction. But if it’s very hot where you live, you can refrigerate it after 3-4 hours of brewing.
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 0.5kcal | Sodium: 6mg | Calcium: 4mg
    Pin this recipe for later use!I LOVE to see your creations so pin and mention @WhiskAffair!
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