Our French Press
My French press is the most versatile and valuable tool in my home apothecary. While traditionally used for coffee or tea, the design of the French press makes it ideal for herbal preparations such as infusions and decoctions. Most French presses are made with borosilicate glass for heat durability.
I have a 51oz French press that I purchased from Amazon and I use it in a few different ways. My favorite way to use it is for hot infusions. I boil water in a pot. Add my herbs and let it gently simmer on the stove for 20 minutes. Then I pour everything into the French press for straining.
Another way I use it is by filling the French press with boiling water and then throwing some dried herb inside and letting it sit overnight. This immersion method allows herbs to steep deeply, ensuring you get a strong medicinal brew by morning. The last way I use the French press is to strain my herbal tinctures. The press separates the plant material from the menstruum very well. And the pour spout comes in handy as I fill my tincture bottles - no more spills on the kitchen counter!
I love the easy cleanup of the French press. I usually dump the spent herbs directly into the compost and quickly rinse.
