Buying guide for best French presses
If you’re looking for the best way to make a quality brew at home without dropping top dollar, a French press may be your answer. A simple, affordable device, a French press doesn’t require any complicated steps: just add coffee grounds and hot water, stir and, when it’s done steeping, push down the filter and serve.
Because of the immersion brewing method and the filtration process, more of the coffee’s natural oils remain in the finished brew than in coffee made in some other ways. This gives it a rich, full-bodied flavor that’s a favorite of many coffee aficionados.
When searching for a French press, think about the number of people you’ll regularly be serving or how much you’re likely to drink in one sitting so you can get the capacity right. Also, consider whether you want something purely practical or if looks matter to you. There are some particularly sleek and attractive French presses available to add a touch of elegance to your table.
We know the importance of quality coffee, so we researched and compared models and found the Coffee Gator French Press Coffee Maker to be the best around for its distinctive looks and large capacity. It also has a vacuum-insulated carafe, making cold coffee a problem of the past. If you’re looking for a sturdy but more affordable option, the Bodum Brazil French Press is your best bet.
Best French presses
If you're tired of coffee being tepid by the time it's brewed and cold by the time you’re ready for a second cup, this insulated coffee maker might be the one for you. It keeps coffee hot 60 minutes longer than glass carafes, leaving you free to enjoy hot java at a leisurely pace.
The generous 34-ounce capacity means it holds the equivalent of roughly three to four average-size servings of coffee.
And if you’re worried about accidentally dropping and shattering a glass coffee press, that isn't an issue with this one thanks to the durable stainless steel construction. The plunger and filter are also sturdy and should last years to come if treated with a moderate amount of care.
Buyers in the market for a bargain should consider the Bodum Brazil. Bodum is a trusted name in French presses and the Brazil is one of its more affordable models. The carafe is made of borosilicate glass, which is heat and shatter resistant, while the plunger and filter are stainless steel and the base and handle are BPA-free plastic. If you're worried about anything nasty leaching into your coffee, that isn't an issue with this model.
You can choose from a 12-ounce model, which is perfect for one, and 34- and 51-ounce options that are perfect for households packed with coffee-lovers. If you hate cleaning up after making coffee, you’ll be pleased to know that this coffee press is dishwasher safe.
Sometimes it feels like you have to choose between form and function, but this French press looks gorgeous and makes great coffee. You can choose either a matte black or brushed stainless steel finish, and both carafes are insulated to keep the heat in.
Now that you know your coffee will be hot when you get to it, how does it taste? The calibrations inside the carafe help you get the ratios just right for the best results. Plus, the four-layer filtration system keeps even the smallest particles locked away, so you don't need to worry about grounds in your coffee.
There's a choice between a 34-ounce carafe, which equals three to four servings, and a 50-ounce carafe, which makes about four to six servings.
You won't have to put up with tepid brews, even if it takes you a while to get to them, because the Stanley French press keeps coffee hot for up to four hours. If you like to make a big batch of coffee first thing and drink your way through it at your own pace, this press is an excellent choice, especially since it holds an impressive 48 ounces.
It's not just the insulative properties that we love. This French press is also extremely durable, so it's a great option for anyone who's already smashed their way through a glass French press or two in their time. Every part of it is dishwasher safe, so if you're anything like us and balk at hand-washing the dishes after making coffee, it'll save you time and energy.
If you want your press to be a thing of beauty as well as make excellent coffee, this Le Creuset option should be high on your list. It comes in ten gorgeous colors, including the matte black Liquorice and an on-trend muted green hue called Sea Salt.
The nonporous, nonreactive glaze is ideal for making coffee because it won't affect the flavor of the finished brew. The interior resists staining, so you won't have to scrub it just to keep it looking presentable.
It holds 34 ounces, which is perfect for a small household of coffee drinkers or one caffeine enthusiast. Its excellent heat-retention properties mean your coffee stays hot longer than it would in a glass or plastic carafe.
With its coppery cut-out metal flower design around the borosilicate glass carafe, this eye-catching press is durable, practical and good-looking. The stainless steel filter captures grounds well, so you won't have to deal with gritty coffee. Plus, there's a spare filter included to keep you going after the first one wears out.
There's no reason to concern yourself with scalds or potholders, because the handle stays cool no matter how hot the coffee. The 34-ounce capacity is a good medium size and works well for most users, holding enough for three to four servings. Thanks to the included measuring spoon, it's even easier to perfect your ratios for the best results.
We love the contemporary ceramic design of this coffee press, with its range of stunning colors available, including Cove Blue and Fade Gray. This is a press that looks good on the table, so it's great if you like to throw fancy brunches or provide after-dinner coffee for guests. It retains heat nicely compared to glass and plastic models, so it's fine to take your time.
It has a brewing capacity of 4 cups, so it's big enough without being excessively large. The plunger and filter are durable too, so it isn’t the kind of product that just looks good but needs replacing after a year or two of use. Hate doing the dishes? That's not a problem, since this press is dishwasher safe.
If you're searching for the kind of French press that will last a lifetime, this rugged option is for you. And it looks good, with a mirror-polished stainless steel finish so shiny you can check your reflection in it.
The compact 17-ounce size is perfect for one or two coffee drinkers, and it’s great if you want to save space or you rarely drink more than a large mug of coffee in one go. There's also a 23-ounce size that makes about three to four small or two large servings of coffee.
The all-steel plunger mechanism is sturdy enough to withstand a lot of use. And we love how easy it is to pour with its cool-touch handle and spout that doesn't drip.
With its speckled gray exterior and teak handle and plunger knob, this French press looks anything but boring. The 34-ounce capacity is a great size for most buyers, making enough coffee for three or four large servings. The calibrations inside the carafe are useful when you want to make smaller quantities too. What's more, you can expect your coffee to stay hot longer than it would in a plastic or glass carafe.
The premium filter does a great job of separating out the grounds, so your last mouthful won't be half liquid and half sediment. However, unlike paper filters, it doesn't remove the coffee’s natural oils, leaving a rich, robust flavor. This press is also durable enough to last through years of use.
Expert Tip
French-pressed coffee allows the true nature of the bean to show up in your final cup. Use French-pressed coffee in your recipes, from cakes and cookies to steak marinades, for fuller flavor.
BestReviews Cooking and Baking Expert
How to use a French press
There's no point having all the gear and no idea what to do with it, so it's important to learn how to make good coffee in a French press. There are a lot of ideas about brewing the perfect cup of French press coffee. Follow these steps for your next great cup.
- Remove the plunger/filter assembly and heat water for the carafe. The amount of water you use determines how many cups your French press will yield. Most consider 6 fluid ounces to be one cup.
- Grind your freshly roasted coffee beans to a medium consistency using a conical burr. A “fine” grind setting won’t work for French press brewing because the smaller grounds can pass through the mesh filter.
- Measure your dry coffee grounds into the bottom of the carafe. The proper ratio of grounds to water is a matter of debate among coffee experts, but 2 tablespoons of grounds for every 6 ounces of water is a safe amount. Metric users should adopt a 1:10 grounds-to-water ratio for equivalent results.
- Add a portion of water equal to that of your grounds to the carafe. Stir the mixture carefully with a wooden skewer or small spoon. When the grounds are saturated, allow them to bloom for approximately 30 seconds. This “wakes up” many of the essential flavors locked in the roasted beans.
- Add the rest of the hot water to the carafe once the beans have bloomed. Allow the coffee to steep for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Attach the plunger/filter assembly to the top of the carafe with the plunger fully extended. Using steady pressure, push the filter slowly to the bottom of the carafe. (This step gives the French press its name and reputation.) The spent coffee grounds should remain trapped behind the mesh filter, and the finished beverage should be dark and hot.
- Serve and enjoy the coffee as soon as possible. Many French presses are insulated to enhance heat retention, but the finished beverage is at its best soon after brewing.
Expert Tip
Press gently on the plunger – it tends to be the first part to bend or break.
BestReviews Cooking and Baking Expert
What to consider when buying a French press
There are several features to keep in mind when selecting a French press. Consider these factors when making a purchase decision.
Materials and construction
The French press format remains fairly consistent from model to model: a plunger/filter assembly that fits snugly into a cylindrical, heat-resistant carafe. The materials differ, however. Each material has its pros and cons, and no single material clearly rises above the others. The “best” French press material for you comes down to your personal preference. Here are the most popular.
Stainless steel retains heat exceptionally well, especially when the carafe has an insulated double wall. Because stainless steel is a nonreactive metal, it won’t leach unpleasant metallic flavors into the coffee. For this reason, a number of experts favor stainless steel.
On the downside, stainless steel French presses can be expensive. And unlike with clear glass or plastic carafes, you can’t see the coffee, so you must depend on the prescribed brewing time to get your cup of joe just right.
Glass is a popular French press carafe material, but not just any glass will do, unless you want to end up surrounded by shattered shards and hot coffee. Many manufacturers make their carafes out of the same heat-resistant borosilicate glass found in laboratory beakers and test tubes.
Glass is an ideal medium for brewing coffee because it retains heat very well and doesn’t interfere with coffee’s natural acidity. And because it’s transparent, you can observe the brewing process from start to finish.
However, glass carafes can and do shatter from time to time. Companies incorporate protective elements into their glass carafes, but they can’t guarantee an accident-free experience. A cheap French press with a carafe made of thin glass is more likely to shatter than a high-end French press with thicker glass.
Polycarbonate (plastic) is a “cheaper” material that might sound less elegant than glass or stainless steel, but it offers many of the same positive qualities as glass minus the fragility or heat-retention issues. Polycarbonate carafes are shatter resistant and allow you to observe the brewing process. Many entry-level and mid-range French presses include a polycarbonate carafe.
Unfortunately, polycarbonate is prone to scratches and dings over time. Cleaning can pose a challenge, and interior staining can occur. There is also the concern that a chemical called BPA could leach out of the plastic and into the coffee. Look for phrases like “BPA-Free” or “Contains No BPA” in the product description when considering a polycarbonate model.
Stoneware is not as common on US shelves as stainless steel and glass, but some French presses have a ceramic carafe. The basic brewing method remains the same, but the process obviously can’t be observed due to the opaque nature of stoneware.
The carafe and lid are typically made of kiln-fired, glazed ceramic, and the plunger/filter may be a combination of ceramic and metal elements. Heat retention is generally excellent, and capacity is rarely an issue with these models.
However, many consumers view stoneware as more decorative than functional. In other words, the press might ultimately end up on a fireplace mantel instead of the kitchen counter. Like glass, stoneware is prone to shattering, and some people worry that chemicals in the glaze or paint could leach into the coffee as it brews.
Hybrid options are a new breed of carafe available to the coffee connoisseur. This is a hybrid, with a construction that combines glass, stainless steel, and plastic parts. Though the durability of these presses, and the quality of the brew they produce, are yet to be thoroughly tested, these models are worth considering.
Capacity
You don't want to buy a French press only to find out that it doesn't brew enough coffee for your household and you have to make two batches every morning. For individual coffee drinkers, a carafe capacity of 6 to 16 ounces is enough to enjoy one serving of high-end brew plus top-offs. Rather than brewing too much coffee in an automatic drip pot, you can grind just enough beans to make one or two servings of java. These models also fit easily in a small kitchen or an RV.
There are also times when a large quantity of coffee is required, and some French press carafes are up to that challenge. If brewing a lot of coffee is your goal, use a glass or polycarbonate carafe with a minimum capacity of four to eight servings.
Some large French press carafes can hold up to 64 ounces of brewed coffee at a time. This translates to up to 12 cups. It’s important to remember that many companies consider a “cup” to be 6 fluid ounces, not the 8 ounces commonly used in recipes.
Care and maintenance
French presses are simple instruments, but they still require careful handling and routine care. A well-maintained French press can last a decade, if not longer. We got the lowdown from our cooking and baking expert Andrea Boudewijn on care and maintenance tips, so you won't have to worry about buying another French press for a while.
Remember these tips when caring for your French press:
- Wash and dry the carafe between uses to prevent stains and other issues. Carefully wash it with soap and water. Don't just give it a quick rinse, no matter how tempting it is to save time.
- Check the cleaning instructions before placing the press components in the dishwasher. Some are dishwasher safe, but others require special handling and detergent.
- Remove any buildup of coffee grounds with a soft brush. Coffee grounds can accumulate in the mesh filter.
- Store glass and stoneware carafes carefully. A cracked carafe is neither useful nor safe.
- Press down on the plunger gently to help it last longer. Plunger/filter assemblies can bend or break after years of use.
Expert Tip
Rather than just a quick rinse, use soap and water to wash the interiors of your carafe. Coffee beans contain oils that can build up and discolor a French press over years of use.
BestReviews Cooking and Baking Expert
FAQ
Q. How much does a French press cost?
A. Prices range from $15 for a plastic travel model to over $200 for a stainless steel model by a well-known European coffee company. We recommend that most shoppers aim for a mid-range price of $35 to $75 unless you’re looking for an ultra-stylish presentation piece or the best stainless steel model money can buy.
Q. Is French press coffee better than drip coffee?
A. We don't want to play favorites here, and it also depends on what you're looking for in a cup of joe. It comes down to preference, so it isn't fair to say French press coffee is objectively better than drip coffee, but it is richer and more full-bodied. If you're looking for a robust cup of coffee, you may find this style a better fit for you than drip coffee or other filtered coffee.
Q. Do I plunge a French press all the way?
A. Once you've brewed your coffee as strong as you like it, you need to plunge it to stop the coffee grounds from infusing the water further. Plunging it all the way to the bottom effectively stops the brewing process, so don't be tempted to plunge it just halfway. However, to completely keep your coffee from getting any stronger, you should pour all the brewed coffee out of the carafe.
Q. Is coffee made in a French press healthier?
A. It's natural to think about your health, but there's no indication that any coffee-brewing method is significantly more or less healthy than any other. We all know that drinking too much coffee probably isn't great for us, or it can at least leave us feeling jittery. The best thing to do is enjoy whatever type of coffee you prefer in moderation.
