The French press is a classic coffee maker, but it’s more versatile than you might think. You can do a lot more than brew coffee — like make a tasty pot of tea!
Here’s our guide to French press tea brewing, plus a few tips on other creative ways to use your French press. By the end of this article, you might want to toss out the rest of your kitchen gadgets! Let’s get started:
Can you make tea in a French press?
Yes, you can, and it’s a very similar process to making regular coffee or cold brew. You can stop buying wasteful and pricey tea bags and switch to loose leaf… without having to invest in extra brewing equipment! Replace your usual coffee grounds with loose leaf tea and brew as usual. Here’s the easy recipe:
French Press Tea Recipe
Equipment
- French press
- Kettle
- 2 teacups
- Spoon
Ingredients
- 2 tsp loose tea leaves
- 2 cups filtered water
Instructions
- Remove the lid and plunger from the French press.
- Measure and add tea leaves to the French press.
- Boil filtered water. You can use an electric or stovetop kettle.
- Pour the water into the French press and give it a good stir.
- Replace the lid and let the tea steep for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Press the plunger down and pour the tea into two teacups. Enjoy your tea!
Nutrition
Top 5 Other Creative Uses for Your French Press
Tea and coffee aren’t the only things you can make in your French press! This brew is great for anything that needs steeping, and you can also use it to aerate or mix some foods. Here are some ideas to get you started:
1. Froth Milk
The filter attached to your French press plunger is perfect for aerating milk! Heat the milk in the microwave or on the stovetop and then pour it into your French press. Push the plunger up and down rapidly until you have a good amount of milk foam.
2. Shake Up a Cocktail
If you want a cocktail that’s shaken, not stirred (just like James Bond), you don’t need a cocktail shaker. Add your ingredients to the French press and push the plunger up and down quickly. Then push it down and pour your well-mixed cocktail into a glass.
3. Infuse Oil
You can infuse oil with all kinds of delicious flavors — and your French press will make this simple process even easier. Add chopped garlic, chilis, or rosemary to the press. Pour in warm oil and let the mixture infuse. Then push down the plunger and pour your infused oil into a bowl! Delicious with fresh bread.
4. Rehydrate Dried Vegetables
Rehydrating dried veggies can be a pain — they tend to float, resulting in uneven hydration — which is why the French press can be very useful! Add dried vegetables to the press, pour in the water, and put the lid back on, pushing the plunger below the surface of the water. This will keep all of your veggies underwater, where they will rehydrate quickly.
5. Whip Up a Broth
Broth doesn’t have to be made with meat! You can whip up a tasty herbal broth by steeping hot water with your favorite seasonings. Ginger, garlic, and green onions all make tasty infusions. Add salt and use it as a base for a tasty soup!
French Press Tea: The Bottom Line
There are quite a few ways you can use your French press, and brewing tea is just one of them. We hope this guide has helped you find fun new uses for your favorite coffee brewer, like infusing oil or whipping up a shaken martini. Enjoy your versatile coffee maker — and don’t forget to try making cold brew in it, too.
RELATED READS:
- French Press Cold Brew: Recipe & Pictures
- A Solar-Powered French Press? Sign Us Up!
- How to Make AeroPress Tea (Easy & Delicious)
Featured Image Credit: Artem Oleshko, Shutterstock
