1. Never brew tea in the same French press as coffee has been brewed. The oils are incompatible.
2. Add only the amount of hot water needed for the cups of tea that are going to be poured as soon as the first steep of tea is completed.
3. Add desired amount of tea leaves. Never pour boiling water over the tea leaves, since this can burn them and cause a bitter cup of tea.
4. Steep the leaves for the desired strength of of tea.
5. Carefully lower the plunger about halfway to the bottom. The idea is not to compress the leaves, but to use the plunger as a sieve. Compressing the leaves may damage them and result in a bitter cup of tea for the next cup.
6. Pour off all the tea, either into cups, or into a separate carafe. Do not allow leaves to remain in any water in the French press since they will continue to brew and become bitter.
7. Re-steep the leaves as many times as you like the taste of the tea.
