Yes — the French press is actually perfect for it. Add coarsely ground coffee, fill with cold water, let steep in the fridge for 12–16 hours, press the plunger down, and you're done. No extra equipment needed.

Can I make cold brew in a French press?

Yes — the French press is actually perfect for it. Add coarsely ground coffee, fill with cold water, let steep in the fridge for 12–16 hours, press the plunger down, and you’re done. No extra equipment needed.

Why that is

A French press is basically a container with a built-in filter — exactly what you need for cold brew. Instead of pouring the coffee through a separate filter after steeping, you just press down the plunger to neatly separate the coffee grounds from the drink. Cold brew couldn’t be easier.

Step by step:

1. Grind coffee coarsely. Just like for normal French press coffee — coarse sea salt size. 100 g per liter of water for concentrate, or 70 g per liter for ready-to-drink cold brew.
2. Add coffee to the French press.
3. Fill with cold water. Stir so all the coffee particles get wet.
4. Place the plunger on top, but don’t press. Let it rest loosely so nothing falls into the coffee.
5. Put it in the fridge. Let it steep for 12–16 hours.
6. Slowly press the plunger down. Just like with regular French press coffee.
7. Transfer. Pour the cold brew into a bottle or carafe. Don’t leave it in the French press — otherwise, the coffee will continue to extract.

Advantages of the French press method:

• No extra equipment needed — most people already have a French press.
• Easy filtering thanks to the built-in plunger.
• The volume is often just right for a 2–3 day supply of cold brew.

Disadvantage: The metal mesh of a French press lets more fine particles through than a paper filter. As a result, the cold brew is slightly cloudier and has more sediment. If you prefer it clearer, you can run the cold brew through a paper filter after pressing.

Size: A standard French press (350 ml) only makes one large glass of cold brew. For a week’s supply, it’s better to use a 1-liter French press or make multiple batches.

In practice at Green Wall Coffee

At Sophienstraße 27, I recommend the French press method as the easiest introduction to cold brew. No extra equipment, hardly any effort, and the results are instantly good. If you end up falling in love with cold brew, you can always invest in a dedicated cold brew maker or cold drip tower later on.

Related questions

• How to make cold brew at home?
• How to brew French press coffee correctly?
• How long does cold brew need to steep?

Stop by Sophienstraße 27 — Mon–Fri 8am–5pm, Sat 10am–5pm.