15 Creative Uses for Your French Press Coffee Resource, Top Stories, What the Club is Talking About If you’re a coffee enthusiast, you probably own a french press—they’re affordable, compact, and oh-so-versatile. In addition to brewing regular old coffee with a French Press, you can also make concentrated espresso, or even a batch of cold brew! Don’t have a French Press yet? If you’re ready to take the plunge (we couldn’t help ourselves), we highly recommend this French Press from Secura! We like to think of the French Press as the Swiss Army Knife of coffee gear—but it’s also the Swiss Army Knife of the kitchen at large! From whipped cream to beer (yes, beer!), here are 15 creative ways to help your French Press reach its full potential. 1. Make Whipped Cream Who doesn’t love whipped cream? No one we wanna know! (Okay, we’re sure you’re a wonderful person deep down . . . ) Anyways, apparently you can use a French Press to make the tasty dessert topping. Although the right consistency can be hard to reach, it is totally doable. Just fill the French Press halfway with heavy cream and pump the lever up and down quickly, whipping the cream. In about 5 minutes, peaks should form, and voìla! Dessert just got even better. 2. Steep and Drain Soup Stocks You’ll still need to simmer the stock, but you can use a French Press to steep and drain your stock once that’s done. Bonus tip: adding a few herbs to the carafe beforehand will infuse your stock with a richer flavor. 3. Juice Berries Throwing a cocktail party and need a few mixers? Or maybe you just like fresh squeezed fruit juice? Either way, your French Press can be your juicer! Place your berry (or berries) of choice in the French Press, slowly press the plunger down to extract the juice, then strain into a pitcher. 4. Make Cold Brew Lovers of cold brew coffee, rejoice! You can easily make it in the comfort of your own home using only your French Press. We have a guide on how to make cold brew with your French Press—it’s super easy, it just requires patience. 🙂 5. Froth Milk For those of you who like a little froth on your espresso or cappuccino, the French Press is your BFF. Just add milk of your choice (even almond milk!) or half and half to the carafe and pump the strainer until a nice froth forms. 6. Rinse Grains Quinoa fanatics—no more rogue kernels down the drain! Pour your quinoa (or other grain of choice) into the French Press, gently shaking and swirling to ensure all grains are washed, and strain. Press the plunger down, holding the grains in place, and drain the water. Boom: now you have strained and clean grains for your feast! 7. Re-hydrate Dried Foods If you like buying dried vegetables for noodle dishes or stir-fry, this is a perfect way to re-hydrate them. Simply add the desired amount of dried vegetables to the carafe and pour water over them until completely covered. Gently press the plunger down to hold the vegetables in place and drain the water. 8. Drink Mixer If you don’t own a cocktail mixer, you can use your French Press to mix your drinks! Add the ingredients of your favorite mixed drink to the carafe, close the container, and pump the strainer up and down to mix. If you like pulp, take the top off when pouring; if you’re looking for a cleaner pour, keep the strainer on. 9. Creamer Container Say you’re hosting a brunch party—where coffee is of course an essential component—and don’t have a fancy little pitcher for creamer. Naturally, you want your brunch to be classy; a carton of milk on the table just won’t do. You see where this is going. Your trusty French Press is here to save the day! Add spices (we love cinnamon) or flavor enhancers (like vanilla extract) to the carafe and pour hot milk (or half and half) over them. Let the creamer steep for a few minutes and it will be a stellar addition to your guests’ coffee. 10. Brew and Steep Loose Leaf Tea Coffee and tea are not mutually exclusive! To get in touch with your tea side, simply put your favorite loose leaf tea in the bottom of the carafe and pour hot water over it; let tea steep to your preference and strain, pushing the plunger down slowly to extract maximum flavor from the tea leaves. Pour and enjoy! 11. Make Chai Tea Grab the cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and ginger from your spice cabinet—if any of the spices are whole, grind with a mortar and pestle (or the bottom of a glass/pan) first. Add water to one saucepan and coconut milk (or any kind of milk) to another saucepan and divide your spices between them evenly. Bring the water to a boil and the milk to a gentle simmer. Add loose leaf black tea to the French Press and pour the water mixture over it; cover and steep for 5 minutes before adding the coconut milk mixture to steep a few more minutes. Pump the strainer a few times to froth the milk and you’ll have the perfect cup of chai at your fingertips! Check out the full recipe from Bessie Bakes here. 12. Infuse Oils and Other Liquids If you’re a fan of flavored olive oil, your world is about to expand. Add spices and herbs to your French Press, then add oil. Occasionally press down on the strainer while the mixture is steeping to imbue your flavored oil with maximum flavor. When the oil has reached the desired strength, press the strainer down to keep your oil clear, and pour it into its container. 13. Strain Fresh Vegetables Can’t ever seem to get the water completely drained from your vegetables after washing them? Depending on which kind, you can use your French Press to drain and strain freshly washed vegetables. Just add said vegetables to the carafe and press the plunger down gently to extract all the excess water. 14. Keep Herbs Fresh Your French Press is an ideal vase for fresh herbs like basil, rosemary, parsley, etc. So, if you have an herb garden or love to buy fresh herbs, this is a perfect way to store them. Add about an inch of water—just enough to cover the herb stems—to the bottom of the carafe and arrange your herbs in the top. 15. Add Hops to Beer Bet you didn’t know one of the best uses for your French Press would involve making beer better! If you’re a hops junkie, add some to the carafe and pour your beer over them. Chill in refrigerator for 10-15 minutes (or to your taste preference), then push the plunger down—holding the hops in place—and pour your beer into a chilled glass. Enjoy your custom, brewery-quality beer! As an Amazon Affiliate, Atlas Coffee Club (at no cost to you!) earns a commission when you click through and make a qualifying purchase. 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