Your Guide to French Press Cold Brew

With a French press, making cold brew is a simple and convenient process. The result is a smooth, flavorful coffee you can enjoy at home or take with you anywhere.

The Perks of Cold Brew

One of the main reasons people choose cold brew over hot coffee is its smooth, rich flavor. Unlike iced coffee, which is brewed hot and poured over ice, cold brew is made by steeping coarse coffee grounds in cold or room-temperature water for 14–20 hours. This process extracts fewer bitter compounds, resulting in a naturally sweeter, less acidic drink that is over 60% lower in acidity than hot coffee.

This makes cold brew a great option for those with sensitive stomachs or who experience acid reflux, as it’s gentler on your body and less likely to damage enamel. Additionally, compared to iced coffee, cold brew offers a bolder flavor that can be customized by diluting to your preferred strength.

Why Use a French Press?

Many people make cold brew by steeping coffee in a jar or pitcher and straining it. A French press simplifies the process by combining brewing and straining into one easy step, no extra filters required.

Our Top French Press Picks

Our French presses are built tough with durable 18/8 stainless steel and double-wall insulation to keep your brew at the perfect temperature. Patented Bru-Stop® technology prevents over-extraction, delivering a smooth, grit-free cup every time.

Ethoz® Uptowner (32 fl oz)

• Great for home brewing with a clean, modern design 

• Insulated removable bottom for easy cleaning 

• Water and grounds fill lines for convenience 

• Includes a bamboo stir stick 

BaseCamp (32 fl oz & 48 fl oz)

• Rugged and reliable — perfect for camp, RV, or home

• Leak-proof screw-on lid

• Carabiner-friendly, sturdy grip handle
  
  

OVRLNDR® (24 fl oz)

• Removable bottom for easy cleaning

• Leak proof screw on Sip-and-snap lid 

• Ideal for one person or two 

Double Shot (16 fl oz)

• Perfect for solo cold brew on the go

• Built-in storage compartment and carabiner-friendly handle
  
  

Steel Toe (20 fl oz)

• Leak proof screw on sip and snap lid 

• Great for solo brews and caffeine-fueled adventures
  
  

Brewing Essentials  

Elevate your coffee routine with these essential tools for the perfect brew.

• Ethoz Glass Carafe: Perfect for storing cold brew concentrate, this carafe is crafted from durable, temperature-resistant borosilicate glass with a sleek, smoky finish. It holds up to 20 fl oz of coffee or tea, includes a fitted lid, and features calibrated measurements in both milliliters and fluid ounces.

• BruTrek® Hand Grinder: A high-quality, adjustable steel burr grinder designed for consistent coarse grinds. The leveraged handle ensures smooth, efficient grinding, while the compact form fits easily in your pack. Grinds 32–40g at a time — perfect for brewing a solo cup or sharing a fresh pot with friends.

• BruTrek® Stir Stick: A versatile tool with a durable silicone paddle, perfect for stirring, scooping, and cleaning your French press.

• Insulated Glass Tumblers (2-Pack) by ethoz®: Sleek 8 oz tumblers made from double-wall borosilicate glass, providing superior insulation to keep your drinks hot or cold longer. Durable, stylish, and perfect for enjoying your favorite beverages.

• Airscape® Coffee Canister: The #1-rated coffee storage solution, featuring our patented airless inner plunger lid that removes and locks out air to keep your coffee fresher for longer. Durable and easy to use. See our full range of storage options here.

What You Need

Brewing cold brew in a French press is easy and requires minimal equipment. 

• Coffee beans: medium to dark roast recommended for a smooth, bold brew.
  

• Grinder: grind your beans coarsely (similar to French press grind) to prevent over-extraction. Try our BruTrek® Hand Grinder for a consistent, quality grind every time.

• French press: we have every kind you need, with sizes from 16 oz to 48 oz, perfect for home, travel, or both. Check out our full brewing collection here.
  

• Water: cold or room temperature.
  

• Stir stick: to evenly saturate the grounds. Try our BruTrek® Paddle Stir Stick for the perfect, mess-free stir.
  

• Carafe: to store your concentrate once brewed. The ethoz® Glass Carafe is perfect for keeping it fresh and ready to pour.

• Scale: to accurately measure your coffee and water for consistent results.

Best Coffee Beans and Grind Size

For the best results, use medium to dark roast beans, which help minimize acidity and bring out the smooth, chocolatey notes cold brew is known for. Always grind your beans fresh and use a coarse grind, which keeps the coffee from becoming over-extracted or muddy during the long steep. A fine grind will make your brew bitter and difficult to filter.

Cold brew is usually made as a concentrate, and it is with this method, so you can dilute it with water or milk to your preferred strength when you’re ready to drink.

Coffee-to-Water Ratios

Cold brew concentrate is much stronger than regular coffee, which is why it’s usually diluted before drinking. A 1:8 coffee-to-water ratio by weight is standard for making concentrate.

Here are the recommended amounts for each of our French press sizes:

Formula:
Water (fl oz) × 29.6 = ml → ml ÷ 8 = coffee (g)

This creates a strong concentrate you can dilute with milk, water, or ice at a 1:1 or 1:2 ratio, depending on how strong you like it.

How to Brew

Follow these steps for perfect cold brew in your French press:

1. Weigh and grind your coffee.
    Use the guide above to measure out the right amount of coarsely ground coffee for your press size.
   

2. Add coffee to the French press.
    Place your French press on a scale, tear it, and pour in the grounds.
   

3. Add water.
    Pour cold or room-temperature water over the grounds, about halfway at first. Stir thoroughly with a paddle stir stick to ensure all grounds are saturated. Then add the remaining water.
   

4. Cover and steep.
   Place the lid on the French press, but don’t press the plunger yet. Let the coffee steep for 12–24 hours at room temperature or in the fridge. Steeping at room temperature tends to produce a bolder, more robust flavor, while refrigeration results in a smoother, milder brew.

5. Break the crust and plunge.
   After steeping, gently break any crust on top. Our BruTrek® paddle stir stick is perfect for this. Then, slowly press down the plunger.

6. Decant and store.
   Pour the concentrate into a glass carafe, the ethoz® Glass Carafe offers durable, temperature-resistant storage, and keep it in the fridge for up to a week.

   7. Serve and enjoy. To drink, dilute the concentrate with equal parts water, milk, or ice. Adjust to taste. Serve in our ethoz® insulated glasses, durable borosilicate glassware designed to keep your cold brew tasting fresh and perfectly chilled.

Cold brew made in a French press is simple, delicious, and versatile. Whether you’re at home, on the trail, or at camp, your French press and a few tools are all you need to craft a bold, smooth, and refreshing cup of cold brew.