TikTok Is Turning the French Press Into the Ultimate Happy Hour Tool

If TikTok is good for anything, it’s surfacing a great hack. From packing and cleaning ideas to beauty advice and even tips on how to make the perfect cloud bread, TikTokers are on the platform to share it all. And now, it appears content creators are taking notice of the age-old “use your French press to make cocktails” trick, too. 

On July 7, popular TikToker Ereka Vetrini posted her quick hit sangria-meets-Aperol spritz recipe, made with a cut-up peach, sliced orange, sliced cherries, a squeeze of orange juice, Aperol, and Prosecco. She then covers the press and stores it in her fridge for a few hours. Then, she simply presses (as you do with coffee), pours over ice, and, voila, cocktail time. 

While the comments section was divided between those who called out the drink as neither a spritz nor sangria, others hopped to Vetrini’s defense to call it “genius.” One commenter even noted that the trick is inspiring them to “take my French press out of hiding.” Either way, the method clearly struck a chord, as the video had more than 2.2 million views by the time of writing. 

“This preparation really brings out the brightness of the fruit and blends it into the drink beautifully,” Jernberg said at the time. “It’s a mainstay on our patio during social hour because it’s thirst-quenching and easy to drink yet still packs enough punch to take the edge off a long hot day.” 

The French press is also an excellent tool for a number of cocktails, including just about anything that needs muddling (think mojitos and juleps) or anything that needs an infusion of flavor (like a plum gin fizz,) and even warm drinks like hot toddies. Anyone looking to try something more original should look to cocktails like the coffee milk punch, an ideal drink for a French press. 

The one thing all you newly minted French press bartenders need to be wary of? Cleaning. All those bits of fruit can wreak havoc on your press’s strainer, so make sure to give it a good scrub following your cocktail hour. As Food & Wine previously explained, cleaning a French press is simple: Take the plunger apart and clean each component individually. Then wash the canister with soap and water. Just don’t forget to document your cocktail-making journey because if it’s not on TikTok, did it ever really happen?