Can you make yerba mate in a french press?
1000%! And in this post, I’ll show you how do it step-by-step, and what you’ll need…
Making yerba mate in a french press is one of the best alternatives to the traditional method (with a gourd and bombilla), especially when you don’t have enough time on your hands.
It only takes a few minutes, it's cheaper, you can easily bring it on-the-go, and tastes just as earthy and delicious. For people getting started with yerba mate, this is a great way to get into it so I'd suggest giving it a try.
What You Need
As you may have guessed, you’ll first need a french press.
If you don't have one, they're pretty cheap and readily available on Amazon. Grab whichever one best suits you. All that matters is that it can strain the leaves.
Next, you need some yerba mate.
For best results, you’ll want to get a yerba that is coarsely cut like Cruz De Malta or any yerba from Argentina, really. Their yerba is cut much coarser with lots of large leaves and stems and little powder, so this makes straining it much easier.
The mate I’ll be using today is Taragui Sin Palo which is an Argentine brand that is sin palo or without stems. These contain almost only leaves and will probably be the easiest type to filter.
This doesn't mean you can't use ones finer cut yerbas like Canarias. A good amount of the dust will just pass thru.
Lastly, you need room temperature and hot water.
How hot? We’ll get into that now…
How To Make Yerba Mate In A French Press
Again, this takes only a few minutes. And when done, you’ll have several cups of mate ready to drink.
Follow the steps below or watch our quick Youtube video for a good visual:
Step 1
Take the strainer out of your french press and dump in your yerba mate. Depending on how strong you like it, the amount will vary. A good estimate, however, is 1 rounded tablespoon per cup (8 ounces).
Step 2
Now, like you normally would, pour in some room temperature water first. This helps hydrate the leaves and prepares it for the hot water that’s about to come. Let it sit for 30-60 seconds, until the mate has expanded.
Step 3
Once ready, you can now pour in your hot water. Optimal brewing temperature for mate is around 150ºF-180ºF (never boiling water). Fill the entire french press until just below the spout.
Step 4
Now just let it steep for 3-7 minutes. And when time’s up, stir it gently to make sure you extract every last bit of the yerba.
Step 5
Next, grab your french press plunger and start straining. Do it slowly, until you reach the bottom. Doing it fast may allow some leaves to escape.
Step 6
Finally, grab a nice teacup or mug, and pour yourself a nice brew.
As you can see, this takes no more than 10 minutes to do. And best of all, it’s as easy as it gets. Plus, when finished, you can simply pour it all into a thermos and take it with you anywhere.
No more worrying about trying to get the perfect slope of mate in your gourd. And no more worrying about your bombilla failing to strain the tea!
How Does It Taste?
Yerba mate from a french press doesn’t taste any different. You still get the grassy, earthy, bitterness that everyone loves.
There’s just one difference…
With a french press, the taste will not be that strong. But this is expected as the yerba mate to water ratio is considerably less than drinking from a gourd. However, you can easily fix this problem by using more yerba and less water.
Drinking mate in a french press is similar to a teabag. Each cup you pour, equals to one bag. The flavor is there, but it doesn’t pack a punch like the traditional way does.
Yerba Mate In A Gourd VS French Press
Which is better?
Well they both serve their own purpose.
But personally, I do prefer the gourd over a french press and for many reasons…
There’s just something to taking sips out of your bombilla and constantly refilling your gourd that’s meditative and relaxing. However, the downside is it’s not the best idea for traveling or when you’re in a rush for your caffeine fix.
And that’s where the french press truly shines.
Despite the lack of strength, this method is easy and fast. And of course, perfect for taking a large amount of mate with you to work. Although I know some people do this, I’m sure you wouldn’t like to walk around carrying your calabash gourd and bombilla around.
Final Words
If you made it to here, you now know how to brew yerba mate in a french press.
Even though french presses can never replace the traditional way, many of you will find this convenient to have.
Just imagine when you’re in a rush and don’t have time to drink from a gourd. With a french press handy, all you have to do is pour yerba, then water, and let it steep. Then in under 10 minutes, you’ll have enough tea to serve yourself for the rest of the day.
However, the taste, strength, and ritual will always be missing compared to the traditional way.
So if you want to give that a try,
Check out our starter kits, gourds, and bombillas!
P.S. You also might be interested in how to prepare yerba mate in a coffee maker and tea pot.
