I should preface this by saying that I’m new to the DIY nut milk scene, despite being vegan for over two decades.
Not wanting to spend $300+ on a “nut milk maker”, I figured I would try to use my high-powered blender first.
In addition to be being frugal, I also hate wasting time preparing/cleaning, so if a blender were to work, it needed to be quick and easy.
First I used a strainer, which did an OK job filtering almond and oat pulp, but the drinks weren’t smooth, and you can feel some grit in the back of your throat.
Then I tried a cotton t-shirt (recommended by the Minimalist Baker) and a nut bag. Better results, but these are a bit of a PITA to keep clean.
Then I came across a video of a guy using a French press to filter his nut milk. Since I had a small one, I decided to try it. The experiment went so well that I decided to buy a 1L version of the bestseller on Amazon - fantastic quality.
The results are nothing short of incredible. Smooth milk, easy to gather pulp, easy to clean and sterilize, and it’s a BIFL item that I can use for filtering nut milks or making coffee!
I think I just saved myself a few hundred dollars and some extra countertop space 😂
Has anyone else tried this?
Huh. In my experience the steel French presses are shit at filtering and always leave grinds in the pour
The container itself can be glass (my smaller one is), but the filter/plunger needs to be something like metal, so I don’t see how that would change anything. Unless the non-steel ones you’re referring to use paper filters, like an Aeropress.
You could double up on the filter screens, as I mentioned above, if you want a smoother result. But I honestly don’t find that to be necessary.
It’s also possible that the design of the French press and the quality of the filter screens can make a difference. My smaller French Press is not very good, but this new one is significantly better in every way. It’s also really inexpensive @ <$35 Canadian, and Amazon’s return policy is quite generous if the results aren’t good enough.