How to use the French press for more than just coffee (2023)

French presses are making a comeback, but not everyone knows how to use them. It can be consumed in a variety of ways, from hot home coffee, refreshing cold beer, to fruity decoctions.french press coffee makerTake it to a whole new level.

I spoke with coffee roasters, chefs, and cocktail experts to find out exactly what a French press can do. As a barista, I sometimes use a French press to brew cold and add salt to my coffee, but what about sangria, juices, and infused oils? news for me.

We'll start with the hot coffee basics and give you tips to cover all your kitchen needs. french press alwaysSnazzy. they can do anything.

How to make hot coffee with a french press

Let's go over the basics. Making hot coffee is the most common use of a French press. Although the process is relatively simple, there are some tips and tricks you can do to enhance your coffee experience and flavor.

First and foremost, warm up your French press. I like to fill the carafe with a few cups of boiling water first and then empty the carafe. This will prevent the coffee from cooling too quickly. As the coffee cools, the brewing process slows down. The longer you keep it warm, the more power, depth and flavor you get from each cup.

Then add coffee grounds to the bottom of the carafe. These can be purchased from the store. or,home coffee grinder, you can make your own. Make sure you buy high quality beans and use coarse ground beans. Textured flours give a deeper, stronger flavor and also have more acidity. This is because soaking the coarse grounds in hot water extracts more of the coffee oil.

As a general rule, keep the ratio of coffee to water at 1:15. The amount you use will vary depending on how much you want to make. I use a coffee scoop - if possible, use a coffee scoop to keep your hands clean.A long-handled coffee scoop like this one on Amazon. Aim for 3-4 tablespoons of coffee for 2 people. When I weighed it, it was about 15 grams. You can't go wrong if you stick to the proportions.

Once the powder is in the carafe, add hot filtered water. Ideally, this should be around 195 degrees Fahrenheit. If it's hotter than this, the coffee grounds will burn and the coffee will taste sour. Cold temperatures slow down the brewing process and make the coffee less flavorful.

Pour a small amount of water in a spiral, starting in the center of the site. After most of the coffee grounds have been applied, let it sit for about 30 seconds. The ground "blooms" and releases aromatic oils. It's also a chance for the carbon dioxide to escape and the acidity of the coffee to fade. After 30 seconds, pour in the rest of the water and make sure the coffee is all saturated.

Brew the coffee and let it sit for 4 minutes to brew. If you want a more delicate flavor, shorten the brewing time. If you want a stronger flavor, lengthen the brewing time.

Some experts I've spoken to, like Marko Lazarevichcraft coffee spot, we recommend leaving the top of the plunger off while brewing coffee. He told me, "This method actually gives you a higher yield and more flavor." Cold air from the top of an open French press draws water underneath, creating convection currents that stir the coffee. ”barista hustleWe've done a lot of testing on this as well, and we vouch for it.

When the time is up, depress the plunger slowly and evenly. There is no need to rush this. A quick steep will stir up the sediment at the bottom, creating a grainy coffee. I usually put all the coffee in and then wait another 30 seconds for the coffee to settle again.

Pour the coffee all at once. If you leave the coffee in the French press, be aware that it is still brewing. After 30 minutes, it will become quite sour.

I spoke with Lucas Van Vive, the founder ofEmergent Brew, for a hint of flavor. He always recommends buying whole beans rather than ground. Grind just before use for the freshest flavor. He recommends "finer grind, less water, and less time if roasting lightly." For darker roasts, "use a coarser grind, use more water, and use a longer time." All this depends on the extraction time. A fine grind is extracted much faster than a coarse grind, but the slower process yields a deeper, richer result. This is something to explore when using a French press.

spicy and salty coffee

So far so good. Filled with fresh French press coffee. But we can go even further.

Last year, I saw a lot of TikToks telling people to add salt to their coffee. I was skeptical at first, but this is truly a game changer. Adding just a little lessens some of the bitterness. Ironically, salt makes coffee taste a little sweeter and more aromatic. I've passed this hack on to skeptical friends and family and it hasn't disappointed anyone.

from Norbert Coptespresso bearI had an additional tip. He encouraged us to be playful and 'inject some flair'. “The best way to enhance the taste of coffee is to add subtle flavors,” he said. Get creative with spices like cinnamon and cardamom, a dash of vanilla extract, or a twist of citrus peel before brewing. A vanilla pod is also a great accent, "turning the cup into a flavor adventure," says Norbert.

wrote aboutHow to make cold brew coffee with a french press. Cold brew is much milder than hot coffee and easier and more affordable than buying a specialty coffee machine. If you don't have a teapot for loose-leaf tea, you can use a French press as a strainer for blending herbs, loose-leaf tea, and chai.

Lifting the plunger up and down transforms the French press into a milk frother. Repeated lift-and-plunge movements can also be used to froth milk, hot chocolate, and even whipped cream, but not as quickly as a suitable device like this one.smeg milk frotherI'm trying to test recently.

making sangria in french press

You can also go beyond coffee in earnest and tackle cocktails. i was talking towine loversThe expertsbest wine coolerBut when we got to the topic of coffee, their team of experts quickly suggested a "home bar hack." Ariel Weg recommends using a French press to make sangria. “It’s a great way to infuse flavor from solids into liquids, plus the built-in filter is great for sifting out particles,” she said. It looks beautiful too.

theirDetailed recipegive more insight. Basically, you layer the sangria fruit on the bottom of the French press, add the alcohol, and pump the plunger of the French press to inject the fruit and the alcohol. Next, gently depress the plunger to strain out the pulp and seed crumbs and pour the smooth sangria into an ice-filled glass.

infused oil

Ukrainian chef Alex Baev gave us plenty of alternatives for the more unusual things we could brew. “You can use a French press to infuse the oil with herbs, garlic, chilies, or anything else you like,” he says. When ready to use, the plunger can be used to separate the ingredients from the oil. "Be sure to checkclean the french pressthoroughly after that.

making juice with a french press

Alex also uses a French press to extract juices from soft fruits such as berries, oranges and watermelons. You can enjoy fresh juice by peeling the skin and squeezing it gently. performance cannot be touchedbest juicerBut if you can't afford to spend hundreds of dollars on a new chewing machine, this budget-friendly hack will do the trick. Alex also recommends using a French press for straining soups and reconstituting dry goods.

cleaning method

After infusing your oil, whipping your cream, and making your sangria, you'll need a clean carafe before brewing your coffee. I explained in detailHow to clean a french press. That is, disassemble the plunger and filter, lift the carafe from the container, and thoroughly scrape each part individually. Most French presses are not dishwasher safe, so I use warm, soapy water. However, if you need to remove stubborn stains, vinegar and baking soda are good natural and effective alternatives.

what to do with coffee grounds

Never pour coffee grounds down the sink. These can cause blockages. Strain the ground coffee through a fine-mesh sieve. When most of the moisture has been drained, put it in the garbage can. make coffee groundsgood fertilizerA great way to naturally promote plant growth.

What is the Best French Press?

we,best french presson the market. Different models meet different needs. I love the Bodum Chambord French Press for its high quality and contemporary design. Another popular option, however, is the Espro P7 French Press. If you want to reproduce the taste of a coffee shop in earnest,Coffee mill. It's fine to buy pre-ground coffee with your groceries, but coffee starts to deteriorate 10 minutes after he grinds it. For best flavor, grind immediately.

FAQ

final thoughts

The French press is probably my favorite way to make coffee. Not only does the French He Press make exceptional hot coffee, great cold brew at an affordable price, it will also become your new favorite kitchen assistant. I love the idea of ​​making oil infusions, fresh juices, and hot chocolate in my French press, but I think I'll try sangria next.