10 French Press Recipes: Coffee, Tea & Beyond

Your French press is not just for coffee. It brews tea, chai, hot chocolate, matcha, and more. The plunger strains any loose ingredient from any liquid. This guide covers 10 recipes — 4 classic coffee recipes plus 6 new ideas you probably have not tried.

1. Cold Brew Coffee (12-Hour Method)

Cold brew is smooth, sweet, and 65% less acidic than hot coffee. A French press makes it easy. No special equipment needed.

What you need: 80g coarse ground coffee, 600ml room temperature water, French press (1000ml works best).

Steps: Add grounds to the press. Pour room temp water. Stir gently. Put the lid on (do not press down). Place in the fridge for 12 to 18 hours. Press the plunger. Pour over ice. Dilute with water or milk to taste.

Full recipe with ratio variations: Cold Brew Coffee Recipe at Home: French Press Method.

2. Bulletproof Butter Coffee

Bulletproof coffee blends hot coffee with grass-fed butter and MCT oil. It gives long-lasting energy without the crash. The French press brews the coffee, then you blend it separately.

What you need: 15g coarse coffee, 250ml hot water, 1 tablespoon grass-fed butter (Amul is fine), 1 tablespoon coconut oil or MCT oil.

Steps: Brew coffee in French press for 4 minutes. Pour into a blender. Add butter and oil. Blend for 20 seconds until frothy. Pour into a mug.

Full recipe: Bulletproof Coffee Recipe: Butter Coffee in a French Press.

3. Iced Coffee for Indian Summers

Make strong hot coffee in the French press, pour over ice, and add cold milk. The trick is brewing double-strength so the ice does not water it down.

What you need: 30g coarse coffee, 250ml hot water, ice cubes, 100ml cold milk, sugar to taste.

Steps: Brew with double the normal coffee amount for 4 minutes. Press. Fill a tall glass with ice. Pour the hot concentrate over ice. Add cold milk and sugar. Stir.

5 variations: French Press Iced Coffee: 5 Recipes for Indian Summers.

4. Dalgona Whipped Coffee

Dalgona coffee uses instant coffee whipped into a thick foam. You can make the base layer with French press brewed milk for a richer version.

What you need: 2 tablespoons instant coffee, 2 tablespoons sugar, 2 tablespoons hot water, 250ml cold milk.

Steps: Whip the instant coffee, sugar, and hot water with a hand mixer or whisk for 3 to 5 minutes until thick and fluffy. Pour cold milk into a glass with ice. Spoon the coffee foam on top.

5. French Press Masala Chai

Yes, your French press makes excellent masala chai. The plunger strains out the loose tea and whole spices cleanly. No chai strainer needed.

What you need: 2 teaspoons loose CTC tea (Wagh Bakri, Tata Gold), 2 crushed cardamom pods, 1 small cinnamon stick, 3 thin slices of fresh ginger, 300ml hot water (85 C, not boiling), 100ml hot milk, sugar to taste.

Steps: Put tea, cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger into the French press. Pour hot water (85 C — below boiling to avoid bitter tea). Steep for 3 to 4 minutes. Press the plunger slowly. Pour into a cup. Add hot milk and sugar.

Tip: Crush the cardamom pods with the back of a spoon before adding. This releases the oils and gives stronger flavour.

6. Turmeric Golden Latte

Golden milk in a French press. The plunger strains the turmeric and spice bits, giving you a smooth, clean cup without a muslin cloth.

What you need: 1 teaspoon turmeric powder, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, a pinch of black pepper (helps absorb turmeric), 1 teaspoon honey, 300ml hot milk (dairy or oat).

Steps: Add turmeric, cinnamon, and pepper to the French press. Pour hot milk (not boiling — 70 C is ideal). Stir well. Let it sit for 2 minutes. Press the plunger. Pour and add honey.

7. French Press Hot Chocolate

The French press plunger froths milk and mixes chocolate at the same time. Pump the plunger up and down 10 times to create creamy, frothy hot chocolate.

What you need: 2 tablespoons cocoa powder (Cadbury or Hershey's), 1 tablespoon sugar, 300ml hot milk.

Steps: Add cocoa and sugar to the press. Pour a little hot milk and stir into a paste. Add the rest of the hot milk. Put the plunger in and pump up and down 10 to 15 times. The pumping froths the milk and mixes the chocolate. Pour into a mug.

8. Matcha Latte

Making matcha in a French press skips the bamboo whisk. The plunger pumping action mixes the matcha powder into the milk evenly.

What you need: 1 teaspoon matcha powder, 50ml hot water (70 C — not boiling), 250ml hot or cold milk, honey to taste.

Steps: Add matcha powder and hot water to the press. Pump the plunger 10 times to dissolve the matcha. Add milk. Pump 5 more times. Pour into a cup. Add honey.

9. Coffee Concentrate for Guests

When 4 to 6 guests arrive and everyone wants coffee, make a strong concentrate batch in advance. Dilute each cup with hot water or milk to taste.

What you need: 60g coarse coffee, 500ml hot water, 1000ml French press.

Steps: Add 60g coffee to the 1000ml press. Pour 500ml hot water (using half the carafe). Steep for 5 minutes (longer than normal for extra strength). Press. This makes a concentrate. For each cup: pour 80ml concentrate, add 170ml hot water or hot milk. Serve with sugar on the side.

This batch serves 6 cups. Make it 10 minutes before guests arrive.

10. Overnight Cold Brew (Fridge Method)

Set it up at night, wake up to ready coffee. The fridge slows extraction for a smoother, sweeter result than room-temperature cold brew.

What you need: 100g coarse ground coffee, 750ml cold water, 1000ml French press.

Steps: Add coffee and cold water to the press. Stir once. Place lid on without pressing. Put in the fridge. Wait 18 to 24 hours. Press the plunger. Pour concentrate over ice. Dilute 1:1 with water or milk.

This makes enough concentrate for 4 to 5 servings. Keeps in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Saran Reddy

Founder, InstaCuppa | Building kitchen tools that give busy Indian moms their time back