How to Make Coffee With a Tea Infuser (Step by Step)
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A tea infuser is one of the simplest coffee makers you already own. It works exactly like a French press in miniature: coffee grounds steep in hot water, then you lift them out instead of pressing them down. If you are wondering how to make coffee with a tea infuser, here is the short version: fill a basket-style infuser with about 15 g (3 tablespoons) of coarsely ground coffee, pour 8 oz (240 ml) of water just off the boil over it, steep for 4 minutes, stir once, then lift the infuser out. That is it.
Getting a good cup rather than a muddy, weak one comes down to three details: the grind, the size of the infuser and how much you let the water circulate. All three are covered below.
Key takeaways
- Use a coarse grind, like for a French press. Fine coffee slips through the mesh and turns muddy.
- Basket infusers that sit inside the mug work much better than small tea balls.
- Start with 1 g of coffee per 16 g of water: about 15 g per 8 oz cup.
- Steep 4 minutes at about 200°F (93°C), and stir or dunk halfway.
In this article
- What you need
- How to make coffee with a tea infuser
- Which infuser works best
- Cold brew in a tea infuser
- Troubleshooting
- FAQ
What you need
- A tea infuser: ideally a wide mesh basket that sits in the mug.
- Coarse ground coffee: the texture of coarse sea salt.
- A kettle: any kind; a thermometer is helpful but optional.
- A mug deep enough for the infuser to be fully covered by water.
- Optional: a kitchen scale and a timer.
How to make coffee with a tea infuser: step by step
The recipe
| Cup size | Coffee (coarse) | Water | Steep time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 oz (180 ml) | 11 g (about 2 heaped tbsp) | 180 g | 4 min |
| 8 oz (240 ml) | 15 g (about 3 tbsp) | 240 g | 4 min |
| 12 oz (350 ml) | 22 g (about 4½ tbsp) | 350 g | 4–5 min |
| Strong 8 oz | 18 g (about 3½ tbsp) | 240 g | 4 min |
Tablespoon conversions are approximate: one level tablespoon of ground coffee weighs about 5 g, depending on grind and roast. Our guide to grams of coffee in a tablespoon explains why.
Steps
- Heat the water to just off the boil, around 195–205°F (90–96°C). If you have no thermometer, let boiling water rest for 30 seconds.
- Warm the mug with a splash of hot water, then empty it. Coffee in a small mug loses heat fast.
- Fill the infuser no more than half to two-thirds full. Coffee swells when wet and needs room for water to flow through it.
- Place the infuser in the mug and pour the water over the grounds, wetting them all. Fill the mug so the grounds are fully submerged.
- Cover the mug with a saucer to hold in the heat.
- At 2 minutes, stir or dunk. Gently lift and lower the infuser three or four times, or stir the grounds inside it with a spoon. This is the step most people skip, and it is what makes the difference between weak and full-flavored coffee.
- At 4 minutes, lift the infuser out and let it drain for a few seconds over the mug. Do not squeeze it: pressing pushes fine particles and bitter flavors into the cup.
- Let it settle for a minute, then enjoy. Leave the last sip in the mug, where any fine sediment collects.
Which infuser works best for coffee?
| Infuser type | Works for coffee? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Wide mesh basket (sits in the mug) | Best | Plenty of room for grounds to expand and water to circulate |
| Tea ball (clip or chain) | OK for small cups | Too small for a full dose; fill only halfway and agitate often |
| Silicone novelty infuser | Poor | Small capacity and few holes, so extraction is weak |
| Infuser built into a teapot | Good for 2–4 cups | Works like a French press; pour off as soon as the time is up |
| Paper tea filter bag | Very good | Clean cup with no sediment; tie or fold the top closed |
| Very fine mesh tea infuser | Good | Holds back more fine particles, slightly slower to extract |
A paper tea filter bag essentially turns your coffee into a homemade coffee bag. If that idea appeals to you, read our guide to coffee bags and steeped coffee.
Cold brew in a tea infuser
A large basket infuser or a pitcher with a built-in tea infuser makes an easy small batch of cold brew.
- Fill the infuser with 1 oz (28 g) of coarse coffee for every 8 oz (240 ml) of cold, filtered water.
- Submerge it in the pitcher or jar, cover and refrigerate for 12–18 hours.
- Lift out the infuser, let it drain, and serve over ice, diluted with water or milk to taste.
For the full method and ratios, see our guide on how to make cold brew.
Which coffee to use
Because infuser coffee is a full-immersion brew, it highlights body and sweetness, much like a French press. Medium and dark roasts with chocolate and nut notes taste especially good this way. If you buy ground coffee from Feel Espresso, choose the Coarse grind option, made for French press and cold brew. Breakfast Blend, a smooth, nutty medium roast of South American beans, is an easy everyday choice. House Blend brings sweet chocolate and mild citrus. And for the cold brew version, our Cold Brew Coffee is already coarse ground and blended for a smooth, low-acid concentrate. Every bag is roasted 1–5 days before delivery.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Weak, watery coffee | Infuser too full, no agitation, or too little coffee | Use a bigger infuser, dunk at 2 minutes, add 2–3 g more coffee |
| Muddy cup, lots of sediment | Grind too fine for the mesh | Use a coarse grind or a paper filter bag; leave the last sip |
| Bitter, harsh | Steeped too long or squeezed | Stop at 4 minutes and do not press the grounds |
| Sour, thin | Water too cool or steep too short | Use water just off the boil and steep the full 4 minutes |
| Coffee cools too fast | Small, cold mug | Preheat the mug and cover it while steeping |
| Grounds escape the ball | Ball overfilled or not closed | Fill halfway and check the clasp |
Tea infuser coffee FAQ
Can I put ground coffee in a tea infuser?
Yes. It works best with coarse ground coffee in a roomy basket infuser. Fine espresso grind will pass through most mesh.
How long should coffee steep in a tea infuser?
About 4 minutes for hot coffee, the same as a French press. Go up to 5 minutes for a larger mug, and 12–18 hours in the fridge for cold brew.
How much coffee do I put in a tea infuser?
About 15 g, or 3 level tablespoons, for an 8 oz (240 ml) cup. Adjust to taste, but keep the infuser no more than two-thirds full.
Is tea infuser coffee as good as French press coffee?
It can be very close. The brewing principle is the same; the main difference is that a small infuser restricts water flow, so stirring halfway through matters more.
Is this a good option for travel?
Yes. A basket infuser is light and packs flat into a bag, which makes it handy in hotel rooms and offices. Our tips on hotel room coffee have more ideas.
More no-gear methods are in our guide to coffee without a coffee maker.
Last updated October 2026.
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