For a full-bodied coffee that requires just a little more effort than using a drip coffee maker, look to the French press. The French press has been around since the mid-1800s, most likely invented by a Frenchman, but the first patent for the French press was filed by a pair of Italians in the 1920s.
Coffee brewed with a French press tends to have a fuller body and richer flavor, which is a contrast to the lightness and brightness of pour-over coffee. Another thing French presses have going for them: They’re pretty cheap (sans some of the pricier options on this list). And when paired with an electric kettle, they’re a great kitchen tool for tea drinkers too. Here are the best French presses to buy.
Products in the Guide
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Bodum Chambord French Press Coffee Maker, 34 Ounce
Best Overall French Press
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Espro P6 French Press
Best Splurge French Press
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Bodum Brazil French Press Coffee and Tea Maker
Best Budget French Press
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Oxo 8-Cup French Press
Easiest-to-Clean French Press
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Fellow Clara French Press
Best-Designed French Press
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GSI Outdoors Personal JavaPress, 20 Ounce
Best French Press for Travel
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Le Creuset Café Stoneware French Press
BEST-LOOKING FRENCH PRESS
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Frieling Double-Walled Stainless-Steel French Press
Best Stainless Steel French Press
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Stanley Adventure All-In-One Boil + Brew French Press
Best French Press for Camping
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What Is a French Press?
A French press can come in many shapes, sizes and materials but at the end of the day, the design is fairly universal. The coffee brewer comprises a carafe in which a filter and plunger are submerged to separate the coffee grounds from the water-turned coffee. Once you’ve filtered out the grounds, it’s important to move your brewed coffee into a separate container to prevent further extraction. Or, of course, you can just drink the coffee quickly.
What Is the Best Coffee Grind for French Press?
For a French press, the best coffee grind size is coarse or around the size of flaky salt. Be sure not to grind your coffee beans too fine because that will result in bitter, over-extracted coffee.
What to Look For in a French Press
Glass vs. Stainless Steel
With a couple of exceptions, the French presses on this list — and in general — are primarily made of two materials: glass and stainless steel. While some have combinations of both, you’ll want to consider if a glass or steel carafe will suit your brewing needs better.
On the one hand, when it comes to French presses you’re usually dealing with borosilicate glass, which won’t shatter or crack with rapid temperature changes like regular glass might. However, it’s still glass, and therefore still breakable if dropped, say while cleaning.
One of the big benefits of glass is that you’ll always have the ability to check on your brew, whereas stainless steel does not offer that same luxury. But if it’s durability you want, stainless steel is unlikely to break and will retain heat, so your beverage won’t cool as quickly.