Are you tired of the same old hot cup of coffee? Do you crave something refreshing and invigorating to kickstart your day? Then you’ll love this delicious recipe for making Iced Coffee with a French press! Just the perfect way, to start the day!
If so, then you’re in for a treat!
Let’s dive into the world of French press iced coffee—a cool, bold escape from ordinary java.
If you wanna make a delicious French Press Iced Coffee in advance, you can easily switch to our French Press cold brew recipe instead. When making overnight cold brew French press coffee, you pour cold water over your ground coffee and leave it to infuse in the fridge for between 7 and 12 hours.
But if you want your French press iced coffee quick, opt for this recipe. In this recipe, you pour your hotly brewed French press coffee over ice and enjoy it within 10 minutes.
What’s Awesome About This Iced Coffee Recipe?
- It’s refreshing: Sipping on a chilled glass of French press iced coffee is like taking a plunge into an oasis of coolness.
- It’s versatile: Customize your brew with different coffee beans and brewing times to suit your taste preferences.
- It’s easy to make: No fancy equipment or elaborate steps are required—just a French press, coffee, water, and ice.
Ingredients you need
- Coffee beans: Select any type of coffee beans for this awesome brew. Purchase or grind your coffee beans to a coarse size (about the size of flaky sea salt).
- Water: Filtered water is the best choice for coffee brewing.
- Cubed Ice for the serving glass
How To Make Iced Coffee with a French Press?
Step One: Boil water and let it cool for a minute to reach 93°C (200°F).
Step Two: Measure the coffee beans and grind them coarse.
Step Three: Rinse the French Press with hot water to preheat.
Step Four: Place the French Press on a scale, add ground coffee, and zero the scale.
Step Five: Start the timer and pour in hot water.
Step Six: Let it brew for 4 minutes without stirring.
Step Seven: Gently break the crust formed on top with a spoon (don’t stir!).
Step Eight: Place the plunger on top without pressing through and let it infuse for up to 8 minutes.
Step Nine: Slowly place the plunger just above the coffee and fill your drinking glass with cubed ice.
Step Ten: Pour out slowly.
Barista Tips
- Use a coarse grind to avoid over-extraction and bitterness.
- Experiment with brewing time: Depending on your taste preferences, adjust the brewing time to achieve the desired strength of your coffee.
- If you don’t have an electric gooseneck kettle, try this easy trick: bring the water to a boil and pour it into another pot or kettle. Transferring the water will cool it down quickly.
- French press coffee is an experience, and it’s all about slowing down! Do not drink the coffee right away; allow the coffee to cool a moment after pouring it. This helps you avoid painful burns and taste your cup’s true flavor!
Things to Add to Iced Coffee
Flavored Syrups
Vanilla, caramel, hazelnut or even chocolate syrup can add a delightful sweetness and flavor dimension to your coffee.
Spices
Sprinkle in some cinnamon, nutmeg, or even a dash of cardamom for a hint of warmth and complexity.
Whipped Cream
A dollop of whipped cream on top can make your iced coffee feel extra indulgent.
Ice Cream or Gelato
Add a scoop of vanilla or coffee-flavored ice cream or gelato for an extra creamy treat.
Flavored Creamers
Experiment with different flavored creamers like Irish cream, salted caramel creamer, or even pumpkin spice for seasonal flair.
Milk Alternatives
Try using almond milk, coconut milk, oat milk, or soy milk for a dairy-free option with a unique flavor profile.
Flavored Extracts
Add a drop or two of flavored extracts like almond, coconut, or peppermint for a burst of flavor without added sweetness.
Sweeteners
If you prefer your coffee sweeter, consider adding simple syrup, honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar.
Cocoa Powder or Chocolate Shavings
Sprinkle some cocoa powder or chocolate shavings on top for a hint of chocolatey goodness.
Sea Salt
A pinch of sea salt can enhance the flavor of your coffee and balance out sweetness.
Alcohol
For a boozy twist, add a shot of your favorite liqueur like Baileys, Kahlua, or amaretto.
Flavored Ice Cubes
Freeze coffee into ice cubes or use flavored ice cubes like milk, coconut water, fruit juice, or even espresso for a refreshing twist.
Coconut Flakes
Toasted coconut flakes can add a tropical flair to your iced coffee.
Fruit Purees
Blend in some fresh fruit purees like strawberry, raspberry, or peach for a fruity kick.
Nuts
Crushed or chopped nuts like almonds, pecans, or hazelnuts can add texture and flavor complexity to your drink.
Gear
- French Press: I love all types of French presses. French presses range in size from one cup up to ten cups or more, so select a press that suits the number of cups you typically drink.
- Kitchen Scale: A kitchen scale helps you weigh the correct portion of beans for your brew. Specialized barista scales are ideal because they weigh the grounds to a fraction of a measure and are water proof (which is awesome, when spilling your water or coffee)!
- Spoon: A teaspoon is more than enough.
- Serving Glass or Mug
- Water Filter: A water filter is optional, but filtered water can make or break your coffee. Filtered water causes less wear and tear on your equipment and makes for a better-tasting cup. To filter water easily and inexpensively, try this basic filtering pitcher.
- Gooseneck Kettle: Baristas love this type of kettle because it offers more control; however, if you do not have one, just use your normal tea kettle.
- Coffee Grinder
Frequently Asked Questions About French Press Iced Coffee
The brewing time for French press iced coffee is typically 4 minutes, followed by an additional 8 minutes of infusion time. However, if you’re making French press cold brew, the steeping process can take anywhere from 12-24 hours in the fridge.
Yes, you can use pre-ground coffee, but it’s recommended to grind your coffee beans fresh for the best flavor. If using pre-ground coffee, aim for a medium-coarse grind.
To adjust the strength of your French press iced coffee, you can vary the coffee-to-water ratio. For a stronger brew, use more coffee grounds, and for a milder brew, use fewer grounds.
Yes, flavored coffee beans can add a unique twist to your French press iced coffee. Just keep in mind that the flavor of the beans may differ depending if you are making a cold brew or hot French press coffee.
Yes, you can store leftover French press iced coffee in the fridge for up to 24 hours. However, keep in mind that the flavor may change slightly over time, so it’s best to enjoy it as soon as possible for optimal taste.
Yes, you can sweeten your French press iced coffee with sugar, syrup, or any other sweetener of your choice. Follow up reading – How much syrup to put into coffee?
More Recipes and Tips You Might Enjoy:
- French Press Coffee
- Can You Make Cold Brew in a French Press?
- Are Coffee Beans Cheaper Than Ground Coffee?
- Caramel Coffee Recipe
- Pumpkin Spiced Coffee
- Can I put Hot Coffee in Glass?
- Brown Sugar in Coffee
- What to put in a Coffee Gift Basket?
- Gifts for Cold Brew Lovers
- Cozy Cinnamon Dolce Latte
- Christmassy Eggnog Latte
- Oat Milk Coffee Recipe
- Pumpkin Spice Latte
- Honey Lavender Oat Milk Latte
- Coffee Con Leche
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French Press Iced Coffee Recipe
Equipment
- Kitchen scale (ideally a barista scale)
- Spoon
- Serving glass
- Optional:
Instructions
- Heat 7.93 oz Water (225g) to 93°C (200 °F). If you don't have an electric gooseneck kettle, there is a simple trick: bring the water to the boil and pour it into another pot (preferably a tiny gooseneck kettle). Transferring the water will cool it down to the right temperature.7.93 oz Water
- Weigh 0.53 oz Coffee beans (15 g).0.53 oz Coffee beans
- And grind with a medium grind. Optionally, use already-ground coffee.
- Rinse the French press with hot water. This will bring your French press to the right temperature and prevent the coffee from cooling down too quickly.
- Place the French Press on the scale, pour in the coffee, and then tare the scale.
- Start the timer and brew quickly by adding 7.93 oz / 225 g hot water.
- Leave to stand for 4 minutes, and then break the crust that forms. Do not stir; just carefully press the top layer of foam (crust) into the coffee with a spoon.
- Place the plunger on top (do not press through) and stop just before the crust.
- Leave to infuse for up to 8 minutes.
- Then press the plunger down to just above the coffee.
- Fill your serving glass with Cubed Ice and slowly pour out the coffee.
Nutrition
Food Safety
- Don’t leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food and beverages unattended
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove