When you’re looking for a full-bodied brew and delicious coffee first thing in the morning, you can’t beat fresh coffee from a French press. This lightweight and simple coffee maker is compact and won’t take up much space on your kitchen counter, and the only thing you need to use it is some muscle. In this ultimate guide, we discuss the 10 best French press coffee makers while discussing the benefits that they offer to all coffee lovers.
Table of Contents
What are French Press Coffee Makers?
Also known as a coffee press or cafetière, the French press has long been used to create sediment-free coffee that offers bold flavors and a simple brewing process. First licensed in 1929, French presses take their roots in 1800s France, where it has since been used as the primary source of rich coffee. This simple appliance has remained popular through the decades because of the full-bodied coffee that it delivers.
Utilizing a technique called immersion brewing, coffee grounds undergo a simple brew method for a long time using hot water. The flavor that comes out of this process is much richer compared to what most coffee makers are capable of since these use an infusion method. Coffee connoisseurs who love a strong brew will find that a French press always delivers a perfect cup of coffee since they get full control over how long they brew.
Why Use a French Press?
The biggest reason why many people love using French presses is that it makes their coffee taste so much better. A drip coffee maker will use paper filters to soak up the tasty and unique natural oils in coffee, but a French press will ensure that these will always make it to your cup, offering a richer and more robust flavor. Electric coffee makers can be hard to clean and over time the build-up of residue will cause your coffee to get a stale and old taste.
Using a French press is also an environmentally-friendly way to brew coffee, and practically creates no waste. It doesn’t need any paper filters, doesn’t use plastic pods, most won’t have plastic parts, and modern coffee makers need to be plugged in; they aren’t a great option for those who need coffee during their travels. It’s these reasons that make the French press one of the best coffee makers to add to your kitchen even during modern times.
The 10 Best French Presses for Your Coffee Needs
Now that you know more about these great kitchen appliances, here are our top picks for the best French presses to get the most out of your morning coffee.
1. Espro P3 French Press Coffee Maker
Highlights:
- Price (at time of publication): $39.95
- Capacity: 32 ounces
- Material: Glass and polypropylene
- Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
- Color/Finish: Black
Coming in at 32 ounces, the Espro P3 French Press Coffee Maker delivers one tasty cup of coffee after another that has less sediment compared to almost every other coffee maker. This is due to its patented double filtration system; rather than using one single filter for plunging coffee grounds, this option uses two mesh filters for a smooth cup of coffee. It also offers a simple, yet classic design that consists of a black plastic frame and a glass carafe — it won’t have a hard time blending into your kitchen.
The plunger can be taken out easily and the whole product is dishwasher safe; there’s some resistance when you remove the plunger, but this is because it provides a tight seal and isn’t too hard to remove. The one criticism that it has is the poor insulation it offers — after brewing a whole pot, it became lukewarm after just 30 minutes. But aside from this one fault, our testers love the fact that it gives so much value for money.
2. Le Creuset Stoneware French Press
Highlights:
- Price (at time of publication): $71.21
- Capacity: 34 ounces
- Material: Stoneware
- Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
- Color/Finish: Flame, Cerise, Deep Teal, Marseille, Caribbean, White, Shallot, Sea Salt, Marble, Artichaut, Meringue, Oyster, and Licorice
When you’re looking for a beautiful stoneware option that’s both versatile and sturdy, then look no further than the Le Creuset Stoneware French Press. Available in 13 stunning colors, it offers various aesthetics that can suit any kitchen and the material’s glossy finish makes its simple design even brighter. However, its looks aren’t the only thing that makes it worth purchasing; it provides brew quality that results in a balanced and strong hot coffee that you might expect from the best French press.
There is a downside to this option — it won’t keep your coffee hot for too long unless you pre-heat the interior before using it for brewing. If you want to get nit-picky, this press can also drip a little after pouring since a bit of coffee may collect in small amounts under the spout. Even so, this isn’t a big issue and we can wholeheartedly recommend this product despite its small issues.
3. Bodum Chambord French Press Coffee Maker
Highlights:
- Price (at time of publication): $26.99 to $38.44
- Capacity: 12, 34, and 51 ounces
- Material: Glass and Shatterproof SAN
- Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
- Color/Finish: Black, Chrome, Cork, Off-white, and Matte Chrome
Bodum is known as a well-known brand that’s been making coffee for decades, which includes many French presses. Thanks to a classic French press design that consists of a stainless steel frame and glass carafe, it has become highly popular. It’s also available in different sizes between 12 ounces and 51 ounces, along with different colors that have been designed to match your kitchen’s aesthetics.
However, it’s more than just a stylish kitchen accessory, providing ease of use and consistently great coffee. It has one mesh filter and stainless steel plunger that extracts aromatic oils from coffee beans, leaving the used coffee grounds behind but it may leave a few coffee grounds inside your mug. Even so, you can use this brewing device every day and expect it to last for years to come, giving you endless cups of coffee at an affordable price.
4. Frieling Double Wall French Press
Highlights:
- Price (at time of publication): $52.03 to $139.95
- Capacity: 17, 23, and 36 ounces
- Material: Stainless steel
- Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
- Color/Finish: Polished and Brushed
When you want the perfect blend of function and style, the Frieling Double Wall French Press is known for its refined stainless steel carafe that allows for a beautiful finish. It features a full-length handle that’s easy to pour while producing great coffee; it contains a fair amount of sediment but is still on par with many other French presses. Because it comes with double-walled insulation, it has better heat retention compared to glass presses.
Despite this, some people may find that the price tag it comes with is too much compared to the above-average performance. Moreover, this product is quite heavy compared to the other options, but it’s highly durable and won’t break like glass products. It’s also easy to disassemble and dishwasher safe, which are some of the reasons why it’s still a good option to consider.
5. Fellow Clara French Press
Highlights:
- Price (at time of publication): $99 to $135
- Capacity: 24 ounces
- Material: Stainless steel
- Dishwasher-Safe: No (except for mesh filter)
- Color/Finish: Walnut and Black
Made from quality materials and created to be functional, the Fellow Clara French Press is a great choice for coffee lovers who want a stylish addition to their kitchens. It boasts a few features which include a lid that fits securely, a smooth plunge function, and mess-free pouring. Those who enjoy drinking their coffee slowly will be glad to know that this option offers the highest heat retention rate — it can serve a hot drink for over 30 minutes once it is brewed.
This achievement can be attributed to its double walls, stainless steel interior, and compact 24-ounce design. Even when used in high temperatures the whole French press stays cool and the two colors that it comes in can be used to suit any kitchen. While it needs to be washed by hand, it’s very easy to maintain and it comes with a wooden stirring stick to avoid scratching the inside of the carafe.
6. Bodum Brazil Coffee Maker
Highlights:
- Price (at time of publication): $19.99 to $28.23
- Capacity: 12, 34, and 51 ounces
- Material: Glass
- Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
- Color/Finish: Black, and red
If you’re looking to enjoy a good cup of coffee on a budget then the Bodum Brazil Coffee Maker is for you. While its lighter roasts won’t give you top results, it delivers a flavor profile that’s similar to its more expensive counterparts. Even when used every day for years, this model showed no issues when it came to durability and its stainless steel filter was able to keep ground coffee out of mugs.
Made using heat-resistant borosilicate glass, many customers prefer this design since it doesn’t produce a scraping sound when they use the plunger and allows them to see how much coffee it has left. Some users have noticed coffee sediment when pouring their last cup but this isn’t exclusive to this model. Because it’s made of glass, it can’t hold insulation as well as other options but all of its parts are dishwasher safe and it comes in various sizes, making it one of the more convenient yet affordable French presses in the market.
7. Coffee Gator French Press Coffee Maker
Highlights:
- Price (at time of publication): $38.71 to $51.79
- Capacity: 34 ounces
- Material: Stainless steel
- Dishwasher-Safe: No
- Color/Finish: Black, Gray, Silver, Orange, and Pink
If you’re looking for an option with an excellent build quality, the Coffee Gator French Press Coffee Maker gives up the traditional look for a more chic and modern design that you can take virtually anywhere. Made with two layers of stainless steel that are resistant to corrosion, it offers the best way to enjoy your coffee even during a camping trip. Featuring a heat-proof handle, double filters, and a sturdy plunger, it works better than most coffee grinders, delivering medium-strong coffee with a rich flavor.
It also includes a small, airtight container where you can store coffee beans. While it needs hand washing after each use, it still provides an easy cleanup and its 34-ounce capacity ensures that there’s enough coffee for everyone.
8. OXO BREW – Venture
Highlights:
- Price (at time of publication): $25.95
- Capacity: 34 ounces
- Material: Plastic
- Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
- Color/Finish: Black
Made of BPA-free plastic, the OXO BREW – Venture is the only option in the list that uses plastic as its main material. Even so, it’s known to be highly durable and is stain and shatter-resistant, and stays intact after dishwashing. With a single filtering screen, it uses a silicone gasket that keeps the medium-coarse grind coffee it produces at the bottom of its canister.
Despite lacking all the makings of a traditional French press, it is capable of providing the best results, offering sediment-free, smooth, and full-bodied coffee. While many products will be overpriced, the OXO – Venture comes at a reasonable price and is a great tool to take with you anywhere you go.
9. Stanley Stay Hot French Press
Highlights:
- Price (at time of publication): $65.89
- Capacity: 48 ounces
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
- Color/Finish: Cream Gloss, Hammertone Green, Limestone, Maple, Polar, Rose Quartz Glow
A company most known for its camping equipment, Stanley has also ventured into making French presses that you can also take with you to the outdoors. Unlike glass carafes, this option provides double the insulation which allows it to keep your coffee hot for hours, no matter how long the brew time was. It’s also been built to survive even the toughest of conditions; durability is its main selling point, and won’t disappoint once you take it out on adventures.
Thanks to its great design, you never have to drink a cold brew again, and you’ll also enjoy the great colors that it comes in. But more than anything, users love the fact that every product comes with a lifetime warranty, helping them feel more secure with their purchase.
10. Mueller Double-Insulated French Press
Highlights:
- Price (at time of publication): $21.97 to $27.97
- Capacity: 20 and 34 ounces
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
- Color/Finish: Silver
Mueller is a top-rated brand around the world, known to deliver top coffee products that always reflect great feedback and reviews from users. Because it comes with a guide on how to use this French press, it’s a beginner-friendly option and is also easy to use. Featuring a stainless-steel build, a double wall design, and a triple filter, it has a lot to offer considering its modest price.
Because of these, there’s more than one good reason to add to your cart right away. Through its professional-grade stainless steel, you’ll be able to enjoy so much coffee while it’s still hot, and you’ll be thrilled to know that it can also serve as a milk frother. While some people agree that it can be difficult to assemble and that it’s hard to see the water level, it’s still one of the most cost-effective options in this list that’s definitely worth a try!
Conclusion
While coffee is a matter of personal preference, you can’t beat using a French press when you’re looking for a flavorful and robust cup of coffee. Some options will come in a small size, but the quality of coffee they produce will still be able to satisfy your tastebuds, so don’t be afraid to try all the options available to you. Coffee makers will come in a variety of materials and a variety of sizes, but the timeless design of a French presser will always add another dimension to your kitchen counter and will become an invaluable tool in any coffee aficionado’s collection.
Sources
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