Tried making cold brew with a french press and ended up with a mud bomb

So I figured I'd save money and make cold brew at home last weekend. Threw in a cup of coarse grounds and waited 12 hours like the internet said. When I pushed the plunger down, it shot grounds everywhere and made a huge mess on my kitchen counter. Took me 20 minutes to clean it all up and I still had sludge in my glass. Anybody got a foolproof method for filtering cold brew without buying a fancy maker?

2 comments

2 Comments

lee.casey1mo ago

Used to think a regular strainer was enough for cold brew. That changed real quick after I had grounds all over my sink and floating in my drink. What works for me now is using a paper coffee filter inside the french press after the plunge. Just press down slow and let it sit for a minute before pouring. Another trick is to strain it through a cheesecloth or a clean thin kitchen towel into a jar. That catches all the fine sludge the press misses. Takes an extra step but saves you from drinking mud.

faitha401mo ago

It's funny how this always happens when you're trying to save a buck... cuts corners and ends up making more of a mess than just buying the premade stuff. @lee.casey got it right with the paper filter trick, that extra layer catches what the mesh misses. Life's full of those situations where doing it the right way the first time saves you a headache later.