Can You Use a French Press for Tea?

One of the things I love about the French press is how versatile it is. Not only can you make a delicious cup of coffee, you can also use it to froth milk and brew the perfect cup of tea. In my opinion, it's pretty much ideal for steeping loose leaf tea for several reasons. Since the tea isn't confined to a bag or mesh steeper, it's free to breathe in the water. There's a built-in strainer so you don't have to go through an extra step to strain out the tea leaves. And of course, a French press has a built-in lid which helps to trap in the Okay, let's go over the super simple steps to making the tea. First, let's talk about the best French press brands for making tea. If you already own a French press, that's the best one for tea. But if you're in the market to buy one, here are some features that I would look for. You want the canister to be made of shatter-resistant, lead-free glass. You could also choose an all-stainless steel canister, but then you can't see your tea as it's steeping. I also recommend looking for an all-stainless steel plunger. Steering clear of plastic in the plunger helps to avoid strange flavors. You'll also want the strainer to be a very fine mesh. Some types of tea have really tiny particles, so you want a filter plate that's fine enough to strain that out. Again, I recommend going for all-stainless steel instead of a nylon mesh strainer. I own a 12-ounce Bodum Cafetiera. I don't know if that's how you pronounce it. And a 34-ounce Bodum Chambord Classic. The 12-ounce is perfect for brewing one cup of tea. Okay, now let's get into the details of steeping. Begin by putting your water onto heat. You can either use an electric kettle or an over-the-stove kettle. Quick note, please use filtered water to avoid off flavors. Next, measure your loose leaf tea into the canister of the French press. The ratios of tea and water and how long you steep your tea in the French press will vary based on the type of tea that you're steeping and ultimately your taste preferences. Here's a handy table with general guidelines for common teas. I'll have this written out in the description as well. And there's a free printable version in the blog post that goes along with this video. Basically, the more tea and less water you use, the stronger your tea will taste. If you prefer a lightly flavored cup of tea, then go for the smaller amount of tea and larger amount of water. And of course, if you steep your tea longer, the flavor will be stronger. But the bitterness and astringency of the tea can also increase, especially with certain types of tea. I'm personally okay with a cup of tea that's a little more bitter Experiment and find your personal sweet spot. Also, you'll notice in this table that there's a larger range for the amount of tea for certain types of tea because the size of the leaves can vary. If your tea leaves are on the larger size, it's a good idea to use more teaspoons. Some teas require a lower water temperature to avoid bitterness, so pay attention to the recommended temperature. And if your tea comes with special instructions or temperatures or steep times, then make sure to follow those. Alright, after measuring your tea into the canister of the French press, pour 6 to 8 ounces of hot water into the French press in a swirling motion. Place the lid of the French press on top of the canister and allow the tea to steep for the specified amount of time. Now, some teas such as Puerh require an initial quick rinse with hot water before steeping. Once your tea is done steeping, plunge the French press down. This pushes the tea leaves to the bottom of the French press canister, straining them out. Now, adjust the French press lid so the straining slots are lined up with the spout. Pour the brewed tea into your favorite mug or teacup and enjoy. To quickly make iced tea with a French press, simply brew your tea with 4 to 6 ounces of hot water instead of 6 to 8 ounces. Then, pour the hot tea over plenty of ice and stir well. Now, you may have seen special tea presses marketed to avid tea drinkers, and perhaps you wondered, is there a difference between them and a regular French press? The short answer is, not really. Now, there are some tea presses on the market that are a bit different than French presses. For example, the Bodum glass tea press is basically a regular teapot with a filter basket in the middle that you can plunge down to stop the brewing process. But as a general rule, they work the same as a French press, so there's no need to purchase a specialty tea press. Now, if you use your French press for coffee as well as tea, you may find that it's annoying to thoroughly clean out the coffee grounds before using it for tea. You may also find that the essential oils from the coffee beans leave a lingering taste. In that case, you could purchase a dedicated tea press, but it's not necessary. Now, you might be wondering, can I use tea bags in a French press? While it's perfectly okay to use tea bags in a French press, I personally see no reason to do so. The tea bag is already a built-in strainer, so you'd be dirtying up your French press for nothing. Save the French press for brewing loose-leaf tea. All right, if you found this video helpful, please give it a thumbs up, and if you'd like to learn how to make the easiest ever cold brew in a French press, make sure to check out this video next. Flaky day! One of the things... All right, if you found this video helpful... All right! You want shatter-resistant lead flea... Lead flea. Now, some teas such as Puerh... Puerh... Six to eight ounces of hot water... Whoa!