Have you ever wondered if you can use a French press for tea? Yes, you can! In this post I go over the simple process and share proper ratios and steep times!
One of the things I love about the French press is how it’s such a versatile tool! 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!
It’s pretty much ideal for steeping loose leaf tea IMO:
- 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 leaves.
- A French press has a lid as well as a strainer, which helps to trap in the heat as the tea steeps.
And French presses are superior to a tea ball or other traditional tea infusers in my experience.
Okay, let’s go over the simple steps to using one for tea!
Table of contents:
Video Tutorial
Here’s a video overview in case you prefer to learn by watching. The full written tutorial is below!
French Press Tea Ratios Table:
The ratios of tea and water and how long you steep your tea in the French press will vary based on the variety of tea you’re using, and ultimately your taste preferences.
Basically, the more tea and less water you use, the stronger your tea will taste. If you prefer a lightly flavored cup of tea, go for the smaller amount of tea and larger amount of water.
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 tea types. I’m personally okay with a tea that’s a bit more bitter, but also has a more robust flavor.
Experiment and find your personal sweet spot!
Also, there’s a larger range for amount of tea for some teas 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.
Here’s a handy table to refer to! The printable version is at the end of the post.
Some teas require a lower water temperature to avoid bitter flavors, so pay attention to the recommended temperature!
| Type of Tea: | Amount of Tea: | Amount of Water: | Water Temp: | Steep Time: |
| Black Tea | 1-2 teaspoons | 6-8 oz/177-237 ml | 212F/100C | 3-5 minutes |
| Green Tea | 1-2 teaspoons | 6-8 oz/177-237 ml | 160-170F/71-77C | 30 sec. – 2 min |
| White Tea | 1-3 teaspoons | 6-8 oz/177-237 ml | 175-180F/79-82C | 3-8 minutes |
| Oolong | 1-4 teaspoons | 6-8 oz/177-237 ml | 185-195F/85-91C | 2-5 minutes |
| Pu-Ehr (AKA Pu’er) | 1-2 teaspoons | 6-8 oz/177-237 ml | 195-200F/91-93C | 1-5 minutes |
| Rooibos | 1-2 teaspoons | 6-8 oz/177-237 ml | 212F/100C | 5-15 minutes |
| Herbal teas | 1-2 teaspoons | 6-8 oz/177-237 ml | 212F/100C | 5-15 minutes |
If your tea comes with special instructions or temperatures/steep times, make sure to follow those!
What Brand of French Press is Best for Tea?
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If you already own a French press, that’s the one that’s best for tea!
But if you’re in the market to buy one, here are some features I would look for:
- Shatter resistant, lead free glass. You could also choose an all stainless canister, but then you can’t see your tea steeping!
- An all-stainless plunger. To avoid strange flavors, I recommend steering clear of plastic in the plunger.
- A fine strainer. Some types of tea have very small particles, so you want a filter plate that’s fine enough to strain those out. Again, go for a stainless steel instead of nylon mesh filters.
I own a 12 ounce Bodum Caffettiera, and a 34 ounce Bodum Chambord Classic. The 12 ounce is perfect for brewing 1 cup of tea.
How to Steep Tea in a French Press:
Okay, now let’s get into the details of steeping.
Begin by putting your water on to heat. You can either use an electric kettle or an over-the-stove kettle.
Quick note: please use filtered water to avoid any off flavors!
Next, your loose-leaf tea to the canister of the French press coffee maker.
Refer to the table above for the proper ratios of tea and water.
Next, pour 6-8 ounces of hot water into the French press in a swirling motion. Refer to the table above for the proper water temperature for the type of tea you’re making.
Place the lid of the French press on top of the canister and allow the tea to steep for the specified amount of time.
NOTE: Some teas, such as Pu’er, 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!
How to Make Iced Tea:
To quickly make iced tea with a French press, simply brew your tea with 4-6 ounces of water instead of 6-8. Then pour the hot tea over plenty of ice and stir well.
You can also brew tea in cold water (with the exception of herbal teas), but it takes a lot longer than hot steeping. I’ll go over that process in an upcoming post.
Tea Press vs French Press:
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 tea pot 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 isn’t a 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.
Can I Use Tea Bags in a French Press?
While it’s perfectly okay to use tea bags in a French press, I see no reason to do so. The tea bag is already a built-in strainer, so you’d be dirtying up the French press for nothing.
Save the French press for brewing loose leaf teas.
Printable Table:
To print the table, open the image in a new tab and hit print on your browser!
More French Press Recipes:
More Tea Recipes:
Recipe Card:
How to Make Tea in a French Press
Learn how to make the perfect cup of tea in a French press!
Ingredients
- 1-2 teaspoons loose leaf tea (see note)
- 6-8 ounces hot water (see note)
- French press
Instructions
- Measure the tea leaves into the canister of the French press.
- Pour the hot water over the tea in a swirling motion.
- Place the lid on the French press but don't plunge it down. Allow the tea to steep for the proper amount of time for the tea selected (see note).
- When the tea has finished steeping, plunge down the French press and pour the tea into a teacup. Enjoy!
Notes
Tea: The amount of tea you use will vary depending on the variety of tea and the size of the tea leaves. If your tea leaves are quite large, you may want to use up to 3-4 teaspoons. See the table in the post for recommended amounts.
Water: The amount of water you use is dependent on how strong you like your tea. You'll also want to use different temperatures of water for different types of tea. See the post above for temperature recommendations.
Steeping Time: Again, the amount of time you steep your tea will vary depending on the variety of tea. Green tea should only be steeped for 30 seconds to 2 minutes, and herbal tea can be steeped for up to 15 minutes! Please refer to the table above.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 2Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g