How to Make Cold Brew Coffee in a French Press!
Combining the best brewing methods into one cup of coffee!
You asked, and we listened! Here is how to make cold brew coffee in a French Press!
What is cold brew coffee?
Cold brew coffee is exactly that - coffee brewed with cold water instead of hot water.
It is different from all other brew methods in that it allows the coffee grinds to soak for up to 24 hours to extract the full flavour notes and caffeine content of your favourite coffee.
This is the perfect drink for anyone looking for a cool, refreshing drink for the summer months, without sacrificing caffeine or any delicious coffee flavours!
Cold brew coffee uses times and cold water to extract the delicious coffee flavours and caffeine content. In contrast, regular coffee uses heat and pressure to extract coffee and caffeine. Yes, the brew time is longer for cold brew coffee, however, it does open up a greater window of variability in determining the strength of your coffee.
Like all other brewing methods, how different coffee tasting notes are created stays the same. Each coffee roast has different tasting notes and flavour profiles, with a variety of factors creating the distinct flavours of each coffee bean!
For a fruity, sweet and bright cold brew, we recommend trying out our lighter roasts such as Guatemala, Peru and Colombia.
If you tend to enjoy more of the rich and chocolatey flavours, we recommend putting our Ignition Blend, Mixtape Espresso and Brazil roasts to the test.
Combining the French Press and cold brew coffee methods
A popular brewing method since its discovery, the French Press is beloved around the world for its consistently rich brews and easy-to-use design.
Coffee lore has it that the French and Italian “inventors” of the method were expecting a terrible drink from their creation, however, they were pleasantly surprised with the delicious coffee that resulted!
French Presses are notorious for producing rich, full-bodied cups of coffee, oftentimes bringing out the bold and rich flavours in your coffee. Cold brew coffee brews smoother and less acidic coffee, making a less bitter cup of coffee as well!
This decreased bitterness will likely encourage you to try out more robust and bold roasts that you may have avoided for a hot brew.
Combining two brewing methods that result in rich cups of coffee with irresistible coffee flavours and tasting notes just made sense!
Ingredients:
- 1/2 - 1 cup coarse ground coffee
- 4 - 5 cups cold water
Equipment:
- French Press (8 cups French Press)
How to make cold brew coffee in a French Press!
Step 1: Grab your favourite coffee beans from Road Coffee, Canada’s best coffee roaster. If you have whole coffee beans, grind these beans to a coarse grind. It will look and feel similar to breadcrumbs. Add 8 tablespoons of ground coffee to the bottom of your French Press.
Road Tip: The general French Press ratio is 1 tablespoon grinds to 1 cup of water!
For pre-ground coffee, proceed to step 2.
Step 2: Gently pour the 5 cups of cold (room temperature water works too) over the coffee grounds.
Step 3: Gently stir all the grounds to ensure they are all wet and saturated.
Road Tip: Ensuring saturation of the coffee grounds is important as it allows the coffee grounds to expand, allowing the full flavour from the coffee to end up in your final cup!
Step 4: Let these grounds soak in the refrigerator for 12 - 24 hours.
Road tip: The strength of the coffee depends entirely on the brewing time. For a weaker coffee, only brew for 12 - 16 hours. For a stronger cup of coffee, brew for 20 - 24 hours.
Step 5: Press the plunger down and strain the coffee into a covered and/or resealable jar or vessel for storing your cold brew in your refrigerator.
Road Tip: If the plunger feels like it's starting to tighten, pull it out an inch or two, then resume.
Step 6: Now you have your cold brew concentrate! To serve and enjoy, mix 1 part coffee with 2 part water, milk or alternative milk.
Serving your cold brew coffee
To serve it as an iced beverage:
- Add the desired amount of ice into your glass.
- Pour 1 part coffee concentrate into your glass and add 1 part water.
- Add cream, sugar and whatever else you want to your coffee! Stir and enjoy!
Road tip: Try alternative milk for a different flavour taste!
Another fun option is making a syrup from scratch, get creative! Some syrups ideas that pair well with cold brew are vanilla, lavender, or salted caramel!
Pour leftover concentrate in a jar or container and leave in refrigerator. Enjoy the concentrate for up to 2 weeks!
A delicious must-try cold coffee beverage!
The reliable French Press and delicious cold brew coffee come together in this delicious coffee drink recipe!
If you have never tried it, we recommend picking up one of our TIMEMORE’s French Presses. A simple and modern take on the French Press, it has everything you need. This black stainless steel French Press is made out of quality heat-resistant glass with a fine mesh stainless steel filter and a protective plastic sleeve to help keep your coffee hot and stop you from burning your hand.
Author Jordan Calladine
