Using a French Press for Tea

Why would you use a French press to make tea? Maybe you are seeking a way to make one serving instead of an entire pot. There are gadgets out there that will get the job done but if you already own a French press or have wanted to get one, then it will work just fine.

A French press is used primarily for coffee but if you're also a tea drinker, it can work well for preparing a single serving.

Plastic or Glass

I'm not a coffee or tea connoisseur, so for making either, a plastic or glass French press doesn't make much difference for me. I own a plastic version and it works great. What I like about it is that unlike the glass versions, you don't necessarily need to prep it by placing warm water into it (preparing for hotter temperatures) to prevent cracking.

First start off with your favorite loose leaf tea. There are so many to choose from. If you aren't sure where to get it, try a local search on Yelp.com for tea lounges in your area. There are also several online tea shops to choose from. I frequent Adagio.com.

Next, you are probably making a single serving. A single serving for most loose leaf teas is 2 teaspoons. Occasionally, you will have some teas that are only 1 teaspoon.

Directions

• Place your tea into the French press
• Boil your water in a kettle (use filtered water if possible for better taste)
• Monitor the temperature of your water if you like
• Pour the water into your French press
• Place the top on but do not push down the plunger
• Let your tea steep according to the type
• Push the plunger down which also pushes down the tea leaves
• Pour into your cup and enjoy