Last Updated on January 27, 2024 by Ibrahim Bat
Cold brew coffee is a cold coffee obtained by brewing coffee grounds in water for 12-24 hours.
Brewing with cold water, cold brew makes coffee taste pretty chocolaty, pleasant, and smooth.
In addition, cold brew coffee has a very low acidity compared to coffee brewed with hot water. A coffee with low acidity will tire your stomach less. In other words, unlike many other coffees, you can easily consume cold brew even on an empty stomach.
On the other hand, you can make a cold brew at home using a French press in a few simple steps.
Step-by-Step French Press Cold Brew Guide
Step 1: Weigh Coffee and Water
Cold brew coffee is generally brewed using a 1:8 coffee-water ratio. This means that for every 1 unit of coffee, you’ll use 8 units of water. For example, for a 400 ml brew, you can use 50 grams of coffee.
With this ratio, you’ll obtain coffee concentrate. When serving, you should dilute 1 unit of coffee concentrate with 1 unit of water.
Tip: I don’t like adding water to my cold brew later. That’s why I directly brew mine using a 1:16 coffee-water ratio instead of the standard 1:8. If you’re like me, you can also choose the 1:16 water ratio as your preference.
Step 2: Grind Coffee Beans
Weigh and grind your coffee beans according to the amount of cold brew you want to make. I recommend using a burr grinder to achieve a more consistent grind.
Additionally, you should grind the coffee beans slightly coarser than you would for a French press brew.
Step 3: Add Coffee and Water
Add the appropriate coffee and cold water to your French press, following the coffee-water ratio. For cold brew coffee, the water temperature should be at room temperature.
Tip: Remember that the amount of coffee you end up with after brewing is less than the amount of water you add. This is because the coffee grounds will absorb some of the water. Take this into consideration when brewing.
Step 4: Stir and Let Your Coffee Steep
After adding the water, mix with a spoon until you are sure all the coffee grounds are wet. Then leave it to brew.
Cold brew coffees are generally left to brew between 12-24 hours. As the brewing time increases, you will get stronger coffee. You can find the most suitable one by experimenting with this brewing time. A 16-hour brew would be ideal for a start.
You can keep your cold brew prepared in your French press in the refrigerator to brew.
Step 5: Press the Plunger
Press down on the plunger after allowing the coffee to steep for the necessary brewing time. Only lower it until it reaches the surface of the coffee. Pushing it all the way down will agitate the coffee grounds and result in undesirable sediment in your cup.
Tips: If you are a French press user, you know the French press filter does not hold all coffee grounds. Therefore, using a paper filter lets you make a cleaner coffee cup.
The most effective method in this regard is to use a Chemex. Because the thickest paper filter is in Chemex, the thick paper filter will filter your coffee much more effectively. A Hario V60 or Melitta will do the trick if you don’t have a Chemex.
Step 6: Serve
If you have made a coffee concentrate, use a 1:1 ratio as the coffee concentrate-water ratio. Add 1 part water to 1 part coffee concentrate and serve. This is the traditional ratio used for cold brew coffee concentrate.
Service suggestion: Add cold milk to consume your cold brew coffee.
If you are going to store your cold brew coffee for a while, do not keep it in the French press. If you keep your coffee in the French press for too long, your coffee may be over-extracted, and bitter tastes may appear.
Transfer your coffee to another container instead. You can keep it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Conclusion for Cold Brew in French Press
Making cold brew coffee in a French press is an inexpensive and effortless method. But this method can have two disadvantages:
The French press filter may not hold the coffee grounds well enough. This may bother you a little if you like to drink a clean cup of coffee. In this case, you may want to consider using a paper filter.
Another problem is that you won’t be able to use your French press during the brewing process. So your brake press will be busy for 12-24 hours.
Bonus:
If the brewing time is 12-24 hours long, you can try Japanese-style iced coffee for a faster cold cup. With this method, you can brew a cold cup of coffee at home in less than 5 minutes using Hario V60, Chemex, or Melitta.
French Press Cold Brew Recipe
Equipment
- 1 French Press
- 1 Scale
- 1 Coffee Grinder optional
Ingredients
- 50 gr Coffee Beans (or grounds)
- 400 ml Room Temperatur Water
Instructions
- Weigh Coffee and WaterCold brew coffee is generally brewed using a 1:8 coffee-water ratio. This means that for every 1 unit of coffee, you’ll use 8 units of water. For example, for a 400 ml brew, you can use 50 grams of coffee.
- Grind Coffee BeansWeigh and grind your coffee beans according to the amount of cold brew you want to make. I recommend using a burr grinder to achieve a more consistent grind.
- Add Coffee and WaterAdd the appropriate coffee and cold water to your French press, following the coffee-water ratio. For cold brew coffee, the water temperature should be at room temperature.
- Stir and Let Your Coffee SteepAfter adding the water, mix with a spoon until you are sure all the coffee grounds are wet. Then leave it to brew.Cold brew coffees are generally left to brew between 12-24 hours. As the brewing time increases, you will get stronger coffee. You can find the most suitable one by experimenting with this brewing time. A 16-hour brew would be ideal for a start.
- Press the PlungerPress down on the plunger after allowing the coffee to steep for the necessary brewing time. Only lower it until it reaches the surface of the coffee. Pushing it all the way down will agitate the coffee grounds and result in undesirable sediment in your cup.
- ServeIf you have made a coffee concentrate, use a 1:1 ratio as the coffee concentrate-water ratio. Add 1 part water to 1 part coffee concentrate and serve. This is the traditional ratio used for cold brew coffee concentrate.
