Our Favorite French Press Coffee Maker Brews the Richest Cup of Joe in Just a Few Minutes

How We Tested French Presses

We have regularly tested French presses over the years, many of which were sent directly to members of our team to test in their homes. We also purchased 22 top-rated French presses to test side by side in our Lab. With this backdrop of data and research, we whittled down the best options in the list above.

We Observed

• How effective the plungers and filters were: Plunger quality sets many French presses apart from one another. We observed how smooth each plunger was and if it made any unpleasant sounds, like scraping or squeaking. Additionally, we paid attention to the amount of coffee sediment that passed through the filters, prioritizing French presses that produced cleaner cups of coffee.
• How long the coffee stayed hot: We measured how long coffee stayed hot in each French press. This involved using a thermometer to get a baseline temperature right after brewing was complete, then checking the temperature again after 30 minutes. French presses made from ceramics or stainless steel tended to have better insulation than glass ones.
• How durable each French press was: After putting each French press through multiple brewing cycles, we got a strong sense of their durability. Did the materials feel solid or flimsy? Were there any fragile parts, like a loose handle or weak plunger? We also noted if any were damaged during the testing process.

We Rated

• Ease of Use: Even though French presses are, by and large, similar to one another, we assessed several areas to separate them. This included how easy they were to plunge, how smoothly they poured, and how easy they were to clean. From there, we rated each French press on a one to five scale.
• Design: This area of our testing process combined aesthetics and the quality of parts and materials. While there's nothing wrong with a simple French press, it's nice when a manufacturer puts an added emphasis on design, whether it's through an eye-catching shape or sturdy parts and hefty materials.
• Brew Quality: The most important question for any brewing device is how good the coffee tastes. That's why we brewed multiple cups with each French press and focused on the coffee's aroma, body, clarity, and complexity. Tasting all of the coffee at once helped us distinguish what French presses performed the best.

About Our Testers

• Our Lab team has spent collective decades working in professional kitchens, developing recipes, and testing kitchen gear.
• Derek Rose has been the coffee and tea expert for The Spruce Eats since 2019. He has used the majority of French presses on this list, including the Espro P3, Bodum Brazil, Bodum Chambord, Frieling French Press, and the Le Creuset French Press.
• Tracey Minkin has been on magazine staffs as an editor, has lived the freelance life of a travel writer, has done radio and video, and has worked to channel all this experience into coaching and teaching via workshops, panels, and special courses. She gave positive reviews of the Frieling Stainless Steel French Press and Bodum Chambord before we tested them again in our Lab.

Other Options We Tested

• Secura Stainless Steel French Press: The Secura Stainless Steel French Press is a well-rounded option that fell just short of making our list. Its design doesn't stand out—although, the stainless steel is durable—and, most importantly, we found the coffee bitter and below average in quality.
• Kona French Press: This is another French press where the negatives outweigh the positives. The materials feel cheap and the coffee it makes is weaker than other models we tested.
• Bodum Travel Press: Despite being convenient and reasonably priced, this portable French press didn't live up to expectations. The main issue is the filter. An excess amount of grounds repeatedly escaped through the plunger, making the coffee unpleasant and, even, undrinkable.

What to Look for When Buying a French Press

Material

The material is a great place to start narrowing down your options. French presses can be made from glass, stainless steel, or stoneware. Each one has its own pros and cons and will bring a unique aesthetic to your kitchen. Glass is by far the most common material, as well as the most affordable, but it's the easiest to break and leads to poor heat retention. Stoneware and stainless steel, on the other hand, are pricier but make up for it with better durability and heat retention.

Fortunately, the flavor is not affected by the material that you choose. The coffee will be delicious no matter what.

Heat Retention

While this key consideration is directly tied to a French press's material, it is worth mentioning on its own. Coffee drinkers who have gotten used to drip machines with two-hour hot plates may, at first, be disappointed when switching to a French press. All non-electric coffee makers, not just French presses, naturally struggle to keep coffee hot for as long as electric brewing devices can.

If you only make a cup or two and drink it quickly, this isn't an issue. But if keeping coffee hot for a long time is important to you, consider buying a thermal or insulated French press.

Capacity

French presses only make a few cups of coffee at once, with capacities ranging anywhere from 12 to 51 ounces. If you intend to use a French press for an entire household, go with a larger option, roughly 8 cups and up. Just know that size and price are linked together: Larger French presses are more expensive, and smaller French presses are cheaper.

One last detail to keep in mind is that the coffee world is a little misleading with its measurements. Many customers assume that each "cup" equals 8 ounces. However, coffee brands consider a cup to be 4 to 6 ounces. For example, the popular 8-Cup Bodum Chambord French Press has a capacity of just 34 ounces, not the 64 ounces you would expect using standard measurements.

Ease of Cleaning

Making the coffee is only half of the process. When you're done, you need to remove the plunger, discard the used coffee grounds, and clean the carafe for the next use. Dishwasher-safe components will speed up the process, although some people prefer to wash their press by hand right after so that it's ready to go whenever they need it. It's not difficult or time-consuming to clean a French press by hand, but some may grow tired of having to clean it after every batch of coffee.

Warranty

French presses with a glass carafe are an extremely fragile type of coffee maker, quicker to chip or break than most. Brand instructions typically advise against using metal spoons when stirring so as not to damage the glass. Take a look at an item's warranty beforehand to see what damages may or may not be covered.

Types of French Presses

Glass

The instinctive image when picturing a French press usually involves a gleaming glass carafe. Not only are these the most popular kind of French press, they are also the most affordable. Other advantages of going with glass include its light weight and that you can see the amount of coffee left inside. Many glass French presses are dishwasher safe too, which makes the cleaning process quicker. However, they can break more easily, so avoid stirring them with a metal spoon when preparing your coffee.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is the second most popular type of French press. They are more expensive than glass ones (some even pass the $100 mark) but have several advantages, especially heat retention and durability. Most are dishwasher safe, too; just check the manufacturer's instructions ahead of time. As far as designs go, you can choose between the classic silver steel or find a variety of bold colors. The last thing to keep in mind is that stainless steel presses can be heavy when lifting and pouring, so if you prefer a lightweight option, go with glass.

Ceramic

Ceramic, or stoneware, French presses are a favorite among design-oriented people. The material is often more striking and provides a more personal touch than glass and stainless steel. While prices vary, ceramic French presses drift toward the more expensive end, at least compared to glass. As for insulation, a ceramic French press should keep coffee hot longer than a glass one but not as long as a stainless steel model. Make sure to rinse ceramic French presses with boiling water before brewing to preheat them and maximize their insulation.

Portable

Yes, there is such a thing as a truly portable French press. These wondrous little devices look like travel mugs but, inside, have a filter and plunger to make delicious coffee on the go. They are typically constructed from stainless steel, so you can toss them in a bag or suitcase when camping or traveling. Designed for personal use, expect portable French presses to have a smaller capacity than household ones. The best part, though? They are just as affordable as standard French presses.

Brands/Manufacturers

Bodum

Bodum is the number one brand to know if you're interested in buying a French press. Founded in 1944, the company manufactures all sorts of coffee-related products, from grinders to milk frothers, but it is best known for its line of budget-friendly French presses. Many start as low as $10. Few other brands offer the sheer variety that Bodum does. The company makes several different kinds of French presses, from ones constructed of glass and stainless steel to travel presses. The sleek Chambord is its most popular option, but the Brazil, Eileen, and Columbia are all worth considering, too.

Frieling

Founded in 1988, Frieling is a well-known American manufacturer of high-end kitchenware. The brand's most popular French press—simply called the Frieling French Press—is constructed from heavy-duty stainless steel and comes in a number of sizes. Others include the all-glass Aroma French Press and the uniquely designed Perfetto French Press.

Le Creuset

This French brand has long been heralded for its colorful cast-iron cookware. For almost 100 years, Le Creuset has manufactured everything from skillets to Dutch ovens to French presses. It does not have a wide selection to offer, but its best-known French press stands out compared to others on the market. The Le Creuset Stoneware French Press is a high-end option made from sturdy enamel and available in 10 colors.

Useful Accessories for a French Press

Breville the Smart Grinder Pro

A home coffee grinder is a helpful accessory no matter what type of brewing device you own, but they're especially useful for French-press owners because they need coarse-ground beans, which are harder to find than medium-ground ones. "I think grinding immediately before brewing is probably the most effective intervention a person can make in their at-home coffee quality," Rachel Langer, the Director of Coffee at Red Rock Roasters, told us. One of our favorite grinders is the Breville Smart Grinder Pro. It has 60 grind settings that we found extremely consistent during testing.

Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Kettle

With their elegant and sloped spouts, gooseneck kettles provide better precision when pouring. This, in turn, helps thoroughly cover the coffee grounds in a French press, leading to a tastier cup of joe. Our recommendation is the Fellow Stagg EKG. Along with having a gooseneck spout, the kettle is electric, so it's faster than a stovetop kettle and the temperature can be adjusted by single degrees. There are cheaper options out there, however.

Coffee Gator Coffee Scale

It's best to be exact when brewing any type of coffee, and it's even more important with a non-electric coffee maker. The Coffee Gator Coffee Scale is a low-priced option that gets the job done. It accurately measures up to one-tenth of a gram, and you can select several different units of measurement. The scale also has a non-slip rubber mat that lets you place a French press on top without damaging anything.

FAQs

How do you brew coffee in a French Press?

It can be daunting to brew your first pot of French press coffee, so here are quick, simple instructions to ensure tasty results every time. First, use coarsely ground coffee. Too fine a grind and you'll end up with coffee silt in the bottom of your cup. Second, scoop in roughly 1 gram of coffee for every 15 grams of water you intend to use. Third, once the water is heated to 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit, slowly and evenly pour it over the coffee grounds. Finally, let the coffee steep. "With a French press, I would say my standard amount of time for steeping is four minutes," Timothy Johnson, Head of Education and Training at Vibe Coffee Group, told us. That's it! Plunge it, pour it, and enjoy.

Johnson gave us another brewing tip based on the type of coffee beans you have. "If you’re using a super light-roasted coffee, you may need to go a little hotter with the water and a little longer steeping," he said. "With darker-roasted coffees, you want to go a little cooler with your water and a little shorter steeping." The reason is that light roast coffee is roasted for a shorter time amount than dark roast, so there are "more flavor components still in there" that you want to bring out.

Is French press coffee better than drip coffee?

Neither French press nor drip coffee is truly better than the other. They each have different pros and cons. French press coffee tends to be stronger, more acidic, and have a heavier, more noticeable mouthfeel because the coffee grounds stay in contact with water for several minutes. On the other hand, drip coffee is often lighter, smoother, and contains less sediment because the water passes through the coffee grounds so quickly.

The brewing methods themselves have different advantages too. French presses take up less room, can be more aesthetically pleasing, and are often more affordable than drip machines. That said, drip coffee makers require less effort, have a lower chance of user error, and generally brew larger batches of coffee. So, it's not about figuring out which method is best, just which method is best for you.

How much coffee should I use for a French press?

There's a phrase in the coffee industry called "The Golden Ratio," which is a general recommendation for the amount of coffee grounds and water to use when brewing. The Golden Ratio is typically 1 gram of coffee for every 18 grams of water (1:18). While this is an excellent rule of thumb overall, some brewing devices produce better results with a slightly different ratio. When using a French press, Johnson recommends a ratio of 1 gram of coffee for every 15 grams of water (1:15). "We like to use a little bit more coffee per water to punch through and get that body from the French press,” he says.

What grind size should I use?

French press coffee is best made by using coarse or medium-coarse ground beans. If the grounds are too fine, the coffee may end up bitter and over-extracted, not to mention that small grinds can slip through the filter and ruin the entire pot. Coarse-ground beans, on the other hand, will lead to a balanced and sediment-free brew. We asked Johnson what the recommended grind size for a French press is and he added that, while coarser is the way to go, experts are "finding that taking your grounds and going a little more fine than we traditionally thought works. You should do about a medium coarse, not super coarse." Finding coarse to medium-coarse beans in the grocery store or grinding them at home may be an extra step, but it's worth it in the end for delicious coffee.

Is French press coffee more caffeinated?

It's logical to assume that French press coffee is more caffeinated than standard drip coffee. After all, it certainly tastes stronger when brewed properly. But caffeine content depends more on the type of coffee being used and the number of scoops you put in than the brew method. Sometimes French press coffee is slightly more caffeinated than, say, drip coffee because it's common to use a higher ratio of coffee grounds to water. Yet, French press coffee can often wind up less caffeinated than both drip and pour-over coffee. This is because the grounds used are coarser than that of other brewing methods and, as a result, don't extract as quickly. So, in short, caffeine content varies too much for there to be a definitive answer.

Can a French press be used to make other drinks?

Absolutely! Even though French presses are primarily designed for brewing hot coffee, there are many other ways to use the device. Cold brew is perhaps the most popular alternative drink to make with a French press, but users can also whip up tea, juices, and fruit-infused water. French presses can even froth milk for lattes and cappuccinos.

How do you clean a French Press?

French presses need to be cleaned after every use. Check to see if yours is dishwasher safe beforehand, as this will speed up the process. If not, start by dumping the wet coffee grounds into a strainer and then trash or compost them. After that, disassemble the plunger into its individual parts—the mesh, the spring, and the cross plate—and rinse each one. Place the parts on a towel to dry and finish by cleaning the carafe with a soapy sponge.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

This piece was written by Derek Rose, the coffee and tea expert for The Spruce Eats. He tested many of the French presses that appear on this list, including the Bodum Brazil, which lasted several years as his everyday brewing device, and the Espro P7, which he found to be one of the best French presses he has ever used. Derek received an MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University and a BA in Communications from Marist College.

Sources

The author of this article spoke with Timothy Johnson, the Head of Education and Training at Vibe Coffee Group, to gain more insight into French presses. Timothy has worked in the coffee industry for 16 years. Vibe Coffee Group is the parent company of three Washington-based coffee brands: Victrola Coffee Roasters, Whidbey Coffee, and Seattle Coffee Works.

Rachel Langer, the Director of Coffee for Red Rock Roasters, was also interviewed for this piece. She has spent most of her life in and around the coffee industry. Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Red Rock Roasters was founded in 1993 by Rachel's parents, Nancy and David Langer.