Can Nescafé Coffee Be Used in French Press? (Solved!)

You can use Nescafé in a French press, but you shouldn’t need to. Because Nescafé is an instant coffee, it will dissolve the freeze-dried grounds before you will have to use the press’s plunger. Therefore, this negates needing to use a French press to begin with.

However, if all you have is a French press for making coffee, then use it. But, as a means for making coffee regularly, it’s an exercise in futility. So, if you’re in a pinch to make Nescafé the normal way, go ahead and use the French press. But, if you don’t have to, then opt for another method.

What’s the “Normal” Way to Make Nescafé?

There are two versions of the “normal” way to make Nescafé coffee. There’s the Greek style frappé, where you make it iced and foamy. Or, you can brew a traditional cup of hot coffee. Both ways are delicious.

Greek Frappé

Take one heaping tablespoon of Nescafé with ½ cup (about 118 ml) of cold water and put into a solid container with an airtight lid. Add your sweetener such as sugar or chocolate syrup. Ensure the lid seals tight and shake the contents until you no longer hear things moving around.

When you open the container, the coffee grounds should dissolve with a silky and foamy texture. Pour this into a pint glass and then add cream (or milk) and some ice.

Hot Coffee

In a large coffee mug, pour in one even tablespoon of Nescafé particulates. Then heat up some water on the stove in a kettle or saucepan until it reaches 205°F. Add about ¾ cup (200 ml) of hot water into you mug and let this rest for about five minutes.

Stir and add your cream, sugar, milk, flavoring or whatever it is that you like. Ensure the cup is cool enough to drink and that all the coffee dissolves.

Are There Any Other Ways to Make Nescafé Coffee?

The wonderful thing about Nescafé instant coffee is that you can make it in any method you devise. So long as you dissolve all coffee particles with water (or milk), it will be ideal for Nescafé. However, consider the list below for ideas:

• Immersion Blender (just a quick press of the button will have a cup of coffee in seconds but it will be super foamy)
• Food Processor or Blender (gentle pulsing will do the trick; will also result in a cup of Nescafé with ultra amounts of foam)
• Jar with a Lid (cleaned and sterilized if repurposing from something like salsa, jam, jelly and etc)
• Pour Over (if you have a carafe that you can top with a basket, you can make Nescafé coffee through a filter)
• AeroPress (another way to filter the Nescafé if you don’t like the particles left; good for iced)

Is It Possible to Make Nescafé in a French Press?

Technically speaking, you can make Nescafé in a French press, there’s no rule saying you can’t. But there may be nothing to press down by the time you get around to finishing the brew. Regardless, there is a method in which you can make Nescafé in a French press.

How Could You Make Nescafé Coffee in a French Press?

The potential to make Nescafé coffee in a French press is rather quite simple in concept and it can work. You add one tablespoon with a heaping amount of Nescafé to the bottom of the French press carafe. Then pour in just over ¾ cup (200 ml) of hot water and stir the contents well.

Loosely insert the plunger, setting it at the waterline and let it rest for about three or four minutes. Push down and pour the brew into your cup.

Can You Make Cold Nescafé Coffee in a French Press?

Yes, you can make an iced coffee with Nescafé from a French press. You simply use room temperature water to pour over the freeze-dried grounds, stir and wait for up to 10 minutes. The colder water will take longer for the granules to dissolve.

However, if you plan on adding ice, you will either add 1½ heaping tablespoons of grounds or reduce the amount of water to ½ cup (about 118 ml). This is because the additional water will produce a more diluted cup.

Can You Use a Drip Machine to Make Nescafé?

Don’t use a coffee machine to make Nescafé coffee. The small coffee particles may get caught within the inner workings of the machine, making it next to impossible to remove. While it may be okay once because you’re in a pinch, it will build up residue in ways that normal grounds won’t.

Can You Use an Espresso Machine to Make Nescafé?

In regards to an espresso machine, this will backfire in the worst way. This is because of the high pressured water that comes out to push through tightly packed grounds. It’s the oiliness of the grounds that helps keep them together and weighted in a normal espresso.

Nescafé comprises freeze-dried granules that are light, non-oily and vary in size. Adding these particulates and granules will volcano out and this might even damage the machine as a whole. Therefore, it’s not advisable to use an espresso machine in any capacity.

What Should You Do If You Want Filtered Nescafé?

If you’re looking to filter Nescafé because you don’t like the leftover particulates after dissolving, opt to use an AeroPress or Pour Over contraption. These will be infinitely safer and far more effective to what you’re looking for. This way you can control the conditions while ensuring you dissolve all the grounds.

However, note that this will probably take longer than shaking or just adding straight water. But, it does produce a clean cup that reduces the chance of heartburn so commonplace with consuming Nescafé. That said, aside from the AeroPress, you will have to use hot water with the Pour Over to ensure full dissolution.