Can You Put Milk in French Press Coffee? (Solved & Explained!)

You can add a variety of cow’s or plant-based milk to French press coffee once it has been brewed to sweeten the taste or reduce bitterness. French presses are designed to steep coffee grounds in hot water and although you can add milk into your press while brewing this can affect the temperature and method of the brew.

Here we will explore the different milks to add to French press coffee, the pros and cons of milk in coffee, and how to use milk in a French press.

Can You Add Milk to French Press Coffee After Brewing?

French press coffee is known for its strong, robust flavor, but that does not mean that you have to serve it black to get these tastes. You can serve it to your liking by adding milk, cream, or sugar to enjoy a tasty brew just how you like it.

Can You Add Milk into Your French Press Coffee While Brewing?

You can brew milk in your French press with your coffee by adding milk just before you plunge down. However, it is recommended to add the milk directly into the mug after the coffee has brewed. This is because adding milk into the press affects the method and taste by altering the coffee-to-water ratio, the temperature, and the equipment.

Coffee-to-water ratio

The ideal coffee-to-water ratio for a French press is 1 parts coffee and 12 parts water – 1:12. This can vary between 1:10 and 1:15 depending on your preference of strength – 1:10 is for a bodied, strong coffee, and 1:15 would be milder.

If you have worked out your ideal ratio to suit your tastes, adding milk will mess up this ratio during the brewing process and make your coffee taste either too weak or too strong and is unable to be fixed. By adding the milk afterwards, you have a perfectly brewed cup of coffee which you can customise to your tastes.

Temperature

The ideal temperature for water in a French press is 195°F, which is just below boiling. Boil your water and leave it to sit for 30 seconds to cool slightly before pouring. If water is too hot it scalds the grounds.

Yet by adding milk, this would bring the temperature down too much, and if the water is not warm enough it will not properly extract the flavors from the grounds, leading to a weaker tasting coffee. A temperature of 190-195°F will extract the flavors.

Equipment

Milk contains a lot of fat compared to water, which is more likely to get stuck in the mesh filter. French presses always require thorough cleaning afterwards, but the warm milk is more likely to become a sludge which is harder to clean and leave residue.

Can You Froth Milk in a French Press?

French presses are a great way to froth milk on its own. Warm up the milk on the stovetop or in a microwave and then pour into the French press. Put the lid and plunger on the French press. Quickly push down and pull up the mesh filter of the plunger a few times until the milk has frothed up.

You can use this frothed milk to make lattes, cappuccinos, or as the crema on top of espresso drinks. You can also make hot cocoa by frothing warm milk and cocoa nibs or flakes of chocolate.

Which Cow’s Milk Can You Add to Coffee?

• Whole milk
• Low fat milk
• Semi-skim milk
• Skim milk
• 2% milk
• Lactose-free milk
• UHT/long life milk

Which Plant Milks Can You Add to Coffee?

• Oat
• Almond
• Soy
• Coconut  
• Hazelnut
• Cashew
• Pistachio
• Walnut
• Macadamia
• Rice
• Flaxseed
• Hemp
• Pea
• Quinoa
• Sesame

Which Milk is Best for Coffee?

The milk you choose for your coffee is completely down to personal preference and tolerances. You might not be able to drink lactose, are on a plant-based diet, or watching your calorie intake. Which milk you choose can affect the overall consistency of your coffee.

Milk which contains more fat, such as whole milk, is thicker and creamier, producing a velvety coffee. Milk with less fat content, such as skimmed, is thinner and can have a more watery or runny consistency.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Putting Milk in Coffee?

Pros:

• Coffee is a bitter and acidic drink and can taste very strong – particularly French press coffee, which has extracted lots of flavor from the grounds. Adding milk to coffee makes it less acidic as the dairy and fat balances out the acid. This can make coffee a smoother drink, especially if you suffer from reflux or acid-related stomach issues.
• Milk also makes coffee taste sweeter and more palatable and is therefore a common preference rather than having it black.

Cons:

• Milk contains fat, sugar and calories which would not be present in the coffee otherwise – if you are on a diet, try your coffee without milk.
• One of the benefits of drinking coffee is that it contains antioxidants. Adding milk to your coffee can make it less healthy as it can prevent the antioxidants getting into your body. Healthline claims that milk contains a protein called casein which blocks antioxidants, so the more milk in your coffee, the more casein and less antioxidants.

How Do You Clean Milk Off a French Press?

If you have used milk in your French press, be sure to clean it thoroughly as milk contains a lot of fat. If not cleaned it creates a build-up of residue, bacteria, and sour smells. Take apart your French press and unscrew the filter. Wash it with hot water and dish soap and press the plunger down a few times.

What Coffees with Milk Can Be Made in a French Press?

French presses are extremely versatile, and you can use them to make a variety of coffees and other drinks, with milk or without, such as:

• Americano
• Flat white
• Latte
• Cappuccino
• Mocha
• Espresso
• Cold brew coffee
• Hot cocoa
• Frothy milk
• Tea
• Matcha