The Foolproof French Press Cold Brew Recipe

The Foolproof French Press Cold Brew Recipe You Need This Summer

When the weather gets warm, nothing hits the spot quite like a glass of smooth, icy cold brew coffee. While cafes charge a premium for it, cold brew is actually the easiest, most forgiving coffee beverage you can make at home. You don't need any specialized equipment—if you own a French Press, you already have the perfect cold brew maker.

Here is the ultimate, foolproof guide to making rich, low-acidity cold brew right in your kitchen.

Why Cold Brew? Unlike traditional iced coffee (which is hot coffee brewed over ice), cold brew is made by steeping coffee grounds in cold or room-temperature water for an extended period. This slow, cold extraction pulls out the sweet, chocolatey, and nutty flavor notes while leaving the bitter acids behind. The result is an incredibly smooth drink that is gentle on the stomach.

The Golden Ratio For a perfectly balanced cold brew concentrate, we recommend a 1:4 ratio of coffee to water (by weight).

• Example: 100 grams of coarsely ground coffee to 400 grams (or ml) of filtered water.

• Note: This creates a strong concentrate. You will dilute it with water or milk before drinking!

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Grind the Beans: Grind your coffee beans to a coarse setting—similar to raw sugar or sea salt. If the grind is too fine, your cold brew will be muddy and over-extracted.

2. Combine: Pour the coffee grounds into the bottom of your French Press.

3. Pour and Stir: Add your filtered cold or room-temperature water. Give it a gentle stir with a wooden or silicone spoon (metal spoons can crack the glass beaker) to ensure all grounds are fully saturated.

4. Steep: Place the lid on the French Press, but do not plunge it down yet. Leave it on your kitchen counter or place it in the fridge for 14 to 18 hours.

5. Plunge and Store: After the time is up, slowly press the plunger down to filter the grounds. Pour the liquid gold into an airtight glass jar and store it in the fridge. It will stay fresh for up to a week!

How to Serve Fill a glass with ice. Fill it halfway with your cold brew concentrate, and top the rest off with cold filtered water, whole milk, or oat milk. Add a splash of vanilla syrup if you like it sweet.

Ready to start brewing? Grab a high-quality [French Press] from Brew & Batter and enjoy cafe-level cold brew all summer long.