How do I brew tea with a french press coffee maker?

Question

I have heard that a french press is usefull for brewing loose leaf tea, however, i can't find any tips for actualy doing it, such as proper tea to water proprtions and the correct water temp for best extraction. I would prefer answers from those who have done it with this method rather then a link to a genaric site. any and all tips regarding this brewing method would be appreciated. also for loose leaf i prefer green tea if it makes a difference, although i would like tips for both. Thank you all in advance for your assistance.

Answer 1

Brewing tea in a coffee press is generally only advisable if you make sure you remove the leaves after the tea has steeped for a few minutes. Otherwise, the tea will oversteep and get bitter very quickly.

Tea to water ratio really depends on the tea itself, and how you prefer it. Some greens are fine with five grams per liter, whereas others need ten grams per liter to be at their best. Experimentation is pretty much the only option here.

The temperature should be the normal temperature for greens, i.e. a little under the boiling point. The tea will gradually cool off, but it is perfectly drinkable for at least 45 minutes.

I usually brew my white tea in a coffee press, and it works just fine as long as I remember to remove the leaves when the tea has steeped for one to three minutes. If I leave the leaves in, even the mild white tea gets bitter.

You can always steep another batch with the same leaves.