Start Here: The Beginner’s Guide to French Press Yerba Mate
1. Load Up:
Grab your french press, remove the plunger/filter. Drop in 1 tbsp of Yerba Mate per every 8 oz of water. Serving size is just a suggestion. This is your drink not ours.
2. Heat Things Up:
In a kettle, Bring your water to a gentle 150°F-170°F. Do not boil the water. Remember you’re brewing Yerba Mate, not forging steel.
3. Time to Mingle: Let it steep for 4-5 minutes. Patience is a virtue, especially for Yerba mate.
4. Seal the Deal: Reinsert the plunger into the french press and gently press down. Pour your freshly brewed Yerba Mate into a separate cup and savor the flavor!
The Traditional: For the true OGs
1. Choose Your Weapon:
First, grab a mate—no, not your buddy, but a gourd (and yeah, it can be anything from stainless steel to wood, if you’re fancy like that).
2. Load It Up: Fill this bad boy with dry Yerba Mate. How much? Between half and three-quarters full—because precision is for nerds.
3. Shake, Rattle, and Roll: Give that gourd a good shake. Get your Yerba Mate to one side and make a slope, like you know what you’re doing.
4. Deploy the Bombilla:
Stick your bombilla (that’s the metal straw with a filter) into the lower part of your Mate slope.
5. The Hot Water:
Pour hot, not boiling water into the empty space at the bottom. Aim for about 140°F to 160°F (60°C to 70°C ). Just a splash—about ¼ to ½ of the cup. Keep the top dry, unless you enjoy ruining good things.
6. Sip, Don’t Slurp: Use the bombilla to sip the Mate. If you’re doing it right, it should taste like victory.
7. Almost Endless Refills:
Keep pouring more hot water as you go. You can hit 15+ refills if you’re not a quitter. Each refill is a chance to prove your dedication to the cause.
Cold Brew: For the cool crowd.
1. Measure Up: Toss in 1 tbsp of Yerba Mate per 8 oz of cold water (adjust to taste). We’re going cold because hot is so last season.
2. Custom Creations: Add your personal flair with mint, honey, or citrus. Make it your own—this isn’t a one-size-fits-all kind of drink.
3. Patience, Please: Park it in the fridge overnight. Good things come to those who wait, right?
4. Strain and Gain: Next day, strain out the leaves. You want a drink, not a salad.
5. Cool Down: Top it off with ice.
Note: If you want a stronger drink, warm up the water (we shoot for 170f) before you put it into the mate.
Mate Latte:
1. Brew with Gusto: Forge a cup of hot Yerba Mate strong enough to wake the dead.
2. Sweeten the Deal: Toss in your favorite sweetener. Sugar? Honey? You call the shots.
3. Add Milk: Pour in some steamed milk and top with foam. It’s like a cloud of deliciousness.
4. Serve It Your Way: Hot as your ex’s new flame or cold as your heart—serve it however you want.