How to Make Cold Brew in a French Press: Easy Overnight Method

Yes, you can make excellent cold brew in a French press. Mix coarse ground coffee with cool water, cover the press with its plunger raised, refrigerate for about 12–18 hours, then press slowly and pour the filtered coffee into a clean container. No dedicated cold-brew maker is needed.

French press cold brew: the starting ratio

For an easy, drinkable batch, start with 60 g coarse ground coffee and 480 g water—a 1:8 coffee-to-water ratio by weight. That makes a robust brew whose strength you can adjust with additional cold water or milk after tasting. A kitchen scale gives more consistent results than measuring the bulky coffee grounds by spoon.

For a smaller batch, use 30 g of grounds and 240 g of water. Do not fill the press to its brim: leave room for the grounds to expand and the plunger to fit. Different roasts and grind sizes change the flavor, so treat the ratio as a starting point, not a rule.

Step by step: steep, press, and pour

1. Grind coffee coarsely, roughly like rough breadcrumbs. Very fine grounds can make the drink muddy and difficult to filter.
2. Put the grounds in a clean French press and pour in cool, drinkable water. Stir gently to wet floating grounds.
3. Rest the lid on top with the plunger raised. Refrigerate for 12 hours before tasting; for a fuller extraction, try 14–18 hours.
4. Place the press on a stable counter, then lower the plunger gently. Stop if resistance becomes excessive; forcing it can splash coffee.
5. Pour the brewed coffee into a separate clean pitcher promptly. Leaving it in contact with the grounds keeps extraction going.

How to keep sediment out

A French press’s metal mesh traps large grounds but allows a little fine coffee dust through. If the finished coffee tastes gritty, let it settle for a minute and pour carefully, leaving the last cloudy spoonful behind. For an especially clear cup, pass the brewed coffee through a paper coffee filter into another vessel. This takes longer but removes more fines.

Make sure the screen and the rim of the press are clean. An uneven or bent screen can let larger pieces through. Avoid pumping the plunger up and down repeatedly: it stirs fine grounds back into the drink.

Should French press cold brew be refrigerated while steeping?

Refrigerator steeping is a simple, consistent choice, particularly for a long overnight brew. Cool temperatures can slow extraction, so compare a 12-hour batch with a 16-hour batch to find the flavor you prefer. Keep finished coffee covered and refrigerated, and use clean containers. Add milk or sweeteners to a glass rather than to the whole stored batch so it is easier to manage freshness.

How does this differ from hot French press coffee?

Hot French press brewing uses hot water for only a few minutes; cold brew uses cool water over many hours. Both use immersion, but they can taste quite different. If you want hot coffee, see our hot French press guide. If you want to compare cold brew methods, visit our general cold brew guide.

Common questions

Can I use pre-ground coffee?

Yes, especially if labeled coarse or intended for French press. If you only have medium-ground coffee, filter the finished drink through paper as well.

Does leaving the plunger down help it brew?

Not really. Keep the plunger raised during steeping to leave room for grounds to circulate. Press only when the brewing time is complete.

What if my cold brew is too strong?

Dilute an individual serving with water or milk. If it is bitter or harsh, shorten the steep or try a coarser grind in the next batch.

Sources and further reading

For comparison, Starbucks’ coffee-press cold brew method provides a tested press-based approach; its cold-brew brewing guide explains a 12-hour steep. Ratios here are Wondelique’s adjustable home-brew starting point.