Can I use the French press for tea too?
Yes, technically it works well — but the carafe absorbs coffee flavors. If you want to use it for both permanently, you need two carafes. Push the plunger immediately after the steeping time so the leaves don't keep extracting.
Why that is
The French press is essentially a vessel with a strainer — which is exactly what you need for loose-leaf tea. Tea leaves in, hot water over them, let steep, press plunger down. This works perfectly for green tea, herbal tea, and fruit tea. No tea bags are required.
The problem: Flavor transfer. Coffee oils settle into the micro-pores of the glass, the rubber gaskets, and the metal mesh. Even after thorough cleaning, a faint coffee flavor remains — which will transfer to the tea. With robust black teas this is hardly noticeable, but with delicate green or jasmine tea, it certainly is.
Solution: If you regularly prepare both, just buy a second French press. A basic carafe costs €15–20. It's a worthwhile investment to avoid compromising the taste of either your coffee or your tea.
Other ways to use a French press:
- Cold Brew: Pour cold water over coarsely ground coffee, let it steep in the fridge for 12–24 hours, and press the plunger. It's the simplest cold brew method there is.
- Milk frothing: Pour warm milk into the French press, and quickly pump the plunger up and down for 30–60 seconds. It yields amazingly good milk foam without specialized equipment.
- Spice infusions: Ginger-lemon infusions, mint water, spiced tea — anything where you want to separate solids from your beverage.
In practice at Green Wall Coffee
At Sophienstraße 27, we don't use French presses for tea — we have dedicated teapots for that. But for home use, the tip to buy a second carafe is gold. And the cold-brew trick in a French press is the easiest gateway into cold coffee.
If you want to taste the difference yourself: Sophienstraße 27, Berlin-Lichtenberg. Mon–Fri 8am–5pm, Sat 10am–5pm.
Further reading
In-depth article: Pour-Over Guide (V60)
Related questions:
- How to clean a French press properly?
- How do I brew French press coffee correctly?
- How long should French press coffee steep?
Also relevant:
- Can I make cold brew in a French press? — Cold Brew & Iced Coffee
- How does the AeroPress work? — AeroPress
All questions in this topic: French Press