One of the most flavorful ways to make your cup of morning joe is with a French press. Though the method may seem outdated — especially in a world where single-serve coffee makers are more advanced than ever and the perfect latte is attainable with an at-home espresso machine — the French press has remained a trusted method because it doesn’t require expensive gadgets, tedious recipes or expert technique.
It’s all quite simple. Mix water and grounds in your carafe, wait a few minutes, then press that plunger to filter out rich, luxurious coffee your drip machine could never dream of. Yet, even with that basic formula, we’ve tested enough French presses to know they vary wildly. After countless cups of coffee and way too much caffeine, these two models from a brand that has mastered the French press emerged as clear standouts.
The Espro P3 is well-designed and affordable, and the company's double-filter design gave us the best, brightest-tasting coffee of all the French presses we tested.
With an insulated stainless carafe available in an array of attractive finishes, the P7 wraps Espro's winning filter design in a more durable and appealing package that's worth the extra money if you're a serious French press fan.
Best French press: Espro P3
While most French presses work the same (and produce similar results), Espro has added an innovative twist. The brand uses a unique double-filter design that produces bright, flavorful coffee and leaves almost no grit at the bottom of the cup. The filter works in two stages: An outer basket is more coarse, to catch most of the ground beans and separate them from the brewed coffee, and an inner basket with a fine mesh filters the coffee again, removing whatever grounds are left.
The double filter system also prevents over-steeping, which is what can give your coffee the bitter aftertaste that many people associate with the French press method. Even if you let the coffee sit for up to an hour, while it won’t retain heat like our upgrade pick, the flavor will be consistent.
The fine mesh sieve allows you to experiment with different grind consistencies. Most French presses do best with coarsely ground beans, but the Espro lets you get away with finer grinds, too, which you might find suits your taste. If you have the patience to tinker and perfect your technique, the Espro will let you dial in the perfect balance of grind and bean-to-water ratio.
The result is an unusually smooth cup of coffee. If you’re used to conventional French press coffee, the bright taste of the Espro might surprise you, as will the lack of silt in your cup. In our estimation, it is the cleanest cup of coffee you will get from a French press. Tasting notes from our beans came through loud and clear (in our case, notes of chocolate and raspberry).
The plastic cage and lid are designed to lock together for easy transport. The glass is thick and reasonably well-insulated, compared to the glass carafes used on the other models we tested, and we loved that it can easily be slid out of the plastic cage for quick cleaning. A rubber ring surrounds the plunger’s rim, ensuring a snug fit. Usefully, all parts are dishwasher-safe, though hand washing the filters is best for prolonging their lifespan. While it might not be built to last forever, it’s a solid piece of gear at a reasonable price that offers exceptional results.
The P3’s glass carafe isn’t as durable long-term as the stainless steel P7, though the whole package feels well put together and is at least on par with the many other presses made from similar materials. But given the results and such an affordable price, if you’re looking for a dependably great cup of coffee, there’s no good reason to buy anything cheaper than the Espro P3.
Best splurge French press: Espro P7
The stainless steel P7 takes the novel design of the Espro filter and places it in a high-end, more durable package. It is double-walled for insulation, keeping coffee hot for about an hour in our tests, then passably warm for several additional hours. Notably, it remained as hot as coffee brewed at the same temperature in the Yeti French press. That’s some serious insulation.
Espro’s filters are designed to prevent over-steeping, so the P7 holds temperature and flavor over the longest period of any model we tested. Some online reviews complain about coffee left over in the carafe after the plunger is down. This is accurate — you’ll see a bit left behind in both the P3 and P7 — but it helps stop the over-brewing, so it’s a feature rather than a bug.
The P7 is available in 18- and 32-ounce models, with six color and finish options. The finishes look deluxe and stylish, and the steel carafes should offer substantial longevity over glass (and allow you to transport it wherever you go). There aren’t many drawbacks to this press, which feels like a refined piece of engineering. A minor quibble would be that the fill lines marking maximum and minimum water levels for coffee and tea inside the carafe can be hard to read.
If the P7 is unavailable, the very similar P6 is a good alternative. The only difference is the plastic handle compared to the all-stainless design of the P7. We think the extra durability is worth the modest upcharge.
If you’re new to French press brewing, it’s worth noting that Espro includes an informative guide to the method inside its packaging. Especially helpful is a chart breaking down recommended measurements and ratios for light, medium and dark roasts. French press coffee isn’t hard, but Espro does a commendable job of ensuring that’s the case even for rookies.
How we tested
In our initial tests, we used Proyecto Cabanas, from Honduras, roasted by Little Wolf Coffee in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Our latest round of testing opted for La Colombe’s Corsica dark roast. (We also tried Costco’s Kirkland Signature House Blend. Remember: Good beans typically yield good coffee.) Then we evaluated each French press according to the following criteria.
Coffee quality
- Taste: The quality of the coffee produced was our primary focus when evaluating each French press. We tasted each brew and noted how clearly the tasting notes came through.
- Sediment: A fine grit of coffee grounds at the bottom of each cup of French press coffee is part of what makes this brewing style unique. But we noted just how much extra mud existed at the bottom of our mugs and if any presses were especially successful at filtering out the sediment.
Design
- Build and durability: The carafe of a French press can be made of any number of materials, including plastic, glass and stainless steel. We assessed the durability of each model and noted how well it withstood all the rigors of brewing — hot water, stirring, cleaning, etc.
- Assembly: While the parts of a French press are mostly uniform — carafe, plunger, filter — different models put different spins on each component. After brewing with and cleaning each press several times, we noted any pain points or standout features that affected the process.
- Heat retention: An especially important feature for the larger, stainless steel models that can brew large quantities of coffee, we measured the ability of each French press to retain heat over several hours.
- Ease of cleaning: Maintaining and cleaning the various components of a French press is key to preserving its ability to brew a delicious cup. Otherwise, a buildup of oils can clog filters and soil the quality of your brew. We graded each model’s parts on how easy they were to clean and if they required any special care.
How to brew French press coffee
While you won’t find the dizzying array of recipes pour-over coffee enthusiasts have come up with, there are a few variations to the standard formula for making French press coffee. We recommend this procedure, but there is room for modification, especially with the coffee-to-water ratio. The quality of your beans will make a big difference too.
- Rinse the carafe with hot water: This raises the temperature of the press to help maintain a consistent temperature for optimal brewing.
- Measure and grind your beans: The ratio you are looking for is roughly 1:15 parts bean to water. Some people prefer slightly more or less, but this is a good starting point. Some roasters recommend as strong as 1:12 or as diluted as 1:20. Ideally, you will grind beans yourself with a burr grinder immediately before brewing. Freshly ground beans — usually coarse-ground beans in a French press — are the best way to maximize the flavor of your coffee, but pre-ground beans will work too.
- Boil your water to the right temperature: The ideal temperature is around 205 degrees Fahrenheit, though that can differ slightly depending on the roast of your beans. If you use a kettle without temperature control, you can wait another 30 seconds after the kettle shuts off. This helps prevent bitterness through overextraction.
- Pour your water and stir the grounds: First, moisten the grounds to let the coffee “bloom.” This initial sprinkling of water helps release oil that makes the flavor of your coffee sing. Then make sure the beans are fully saturated. Use a wooden or plastic spoon (a metal spoon could crack the hot glass) to stir the mixture and ensure all the grounds are evenly covered with water. Place the plunger in the carafe but don’t press down yet.
- Allow the coffee to steep: Give it four to five minutes before slowly pressing down on the plunger until it reaches the bottom. Serve immediately for the best taste.
Other French presses we tested
To no surprise, the Yeti kept our coffee hot for hours after pressing. It matched our splurge pick in that ability but let far more sludge through its filter.
We’ve tested enough Yeti products to know the brand’s rugged outdoor drinkware almost always delivers. That was the case again with its recently launched French press that’s built with the same double-wall insulation as our best water bottle and other Rambler favorites. The coffee we made in our Yeti French press stayed as hot as identical brews produced in our splurge pick, the Espro P7, dropping only 67 degrees Fahrenheit after mixing 200-degree water and grounds about two hours earlier. Delicious.
As expected, the stainless steel exterior of the Yeti yields durability for the long haul. The Navy finish we tested looked great in our kitchen and would fit in even nicer at your campsite, perhaps in one of the limited-edition seasonal hues. If you’re planning to travel with this press, though, be warned: It’s nearly 3 pounds and would weigh even more if you opt for the massive 64-ounce version.
The filter in the Yeti press doesn’t look like the traditional wirey, springy filter found on other French presses we tested. Instead, the “GroundsControl Filter” pairs a fine metal mesh with a rubber gasket that claims to completely separate the grounds from your coffee after plunging, meaning you won’t get an over-brewed blend if you let it sit for a while. We found that claim true, though you’ll have to be OK with a substantial amount of grit in your cup, as the Yeti filter lets in far more sludge than the double filter in the Espro presses.
This Stanley French press is more affordable than its insulated peers we tested, but we prefer the Espro in just about every way if you can afford it.
The vintage Stanley design on this Classic Stay Hot French press would pair nicely with your viral tumbler. It makes a fine cup of coffee too. Its no-frills filter produces a clean brew with minimal grit and fits into a similar category as the Yeti and the Espro P7. Although we preferred both to the Stanley, this model has a bigger 48-ounce capacity for a better price. But the Yeti lid twists to lock while Stanley’s clunky lid felt loose. And more importantly, the Stanley didn’t keep our coffee as hot as the competition.
Not everyone wants to filter out the silt from French press coffee. If that's you, you'll be pleased with the flavor profile that comes from this affordable glass Bodum brewer.
Still using a 1950s-era design that has stood the test of time, Bodum’s Chambord is a popular model that produces classic French press coffee. With its chrome-plated frame and glass carafe, this press is a solid deal, though it lacks the advances more recent designs have brought to this style of coffee.
Bodum does not have Espro’s double-filter design, so you’ll get more sediment at the bottom of your cup and potentially more bitterness. It could be argued that the Bodum produces the more authentic taste since that flavor profile is what many people who already like the French press style expect. Bodum produces the Chambord in four sizes (12, 17, 34 and 51 ounces), so it’s easy to find the right one for your needs. All parts are rated as dishwasher-safe, though hand-washing is easy too.
One small annoyance is that the Chambord doesn’t have fill lines on the sides of the carafe. The carafe did not hold heat as well as the Espro P3 either, though this may not matter to some, as the best way to enjoy a cup of French press coffee is to drink it immediately. As this design is prone to oversteeping, however, you don’t want to let your coffee sit for very long no matter what.
Available in sizes as small as 12 ounces and outfitted with a glass carafe, the Bodum Brazil is a capable French press for beginners.
When I first started to care about how my coffee tasted, the Bodum Brazil French press was how I made it. There’s nothing flashy about this budget brewer, but it’s still nothing to sneeze at. Its glass carafe has remained intact after years of near-daily use. And while it comes in a 34-ounce model that’s right for most people, I’ve loved my 12-ouncer for a smaller dose of caffeine when I need it. I’ve since graduated to more refined brewers, but if your budget is too tight for an Espro or the Bodum model above, you’ll still get tasty joe from the Brazil press.
Fellow makes plenty of coffee tools that our experts and editors swear by. The quality in the Clara press is clear — it looks great, filters well and is built to last — though its inner surface left us a little puzzled.
Though not as luxe as the Espro P7, the Fellow Clara offers an attractive minimalist design with quality construction. This insulated model has good heat retention in a durable package. Like Espro, Fellow also offers an advanced filter system, with a fine mesh to prevent silt deposits. The pieces fit well together, though we found the plunger did not depress as smoothly as in the Espro and some other models.
The least attractive thing for some about the Clara will be the nonstick “Easy Clean” inner surface. The company points out that the coating does not contain PTFEs and never reaches high enough temperatures that leaching is a possibility, but we felt like this was a solution looking for a problem. We didn’t have any trouble cleaning the other models with glass and steel carafes, and actually found the Clara more difficult to clean than glass or steel — the whole unit is hand-wash only, while many of the glass and steel models can go in the dishwasher, and you’ll need to take care not to scratch the coating.
The Madrid is perhaps the sharpest design we tested. Its performance isn't too far behind its look either, though its filter could benefit from a more guided structure to keep it flush with the glass.
The Grosche Madrid is another time-honored design, with a touch of Art Deco to its chrome housing. Available in three sizes (11.8, 34 and 51 ounces), this device does its job well and looks more attractive than most. The Madrid is nearly all metal and glass, with just a bit of plastic under the lid. The filter could really use a silicone ring to help it guide smoothly against the glass; as it is, it tends to scrape. There are no marked fill lines, which some will find inconvenient. Still, if you are looking for a stylish twist on the classic form of the French press, the Grosche Madrid will make great coffee and look smart on your counter.
It looks nearly identical to our splurge pick, but don't let appearances fool you. Frieling's French press doesn't come close to the Espro P7.
At first glance, the Frieling looks similar to the Espro P7, which also has an insulated stainless steel carafe. Upon handling the two devices, however, it is clear that the Frieling doesn’t have the style or the sturdiness of the Espro. Though both feel substantially hefty, the Frieling does not have the same level of finish, and the pieces don’t fit together as well. You don’t get a double filter like the Espro, and the Frieling forgoes the rubber ring around the filter that helps give the P7 its smooth plunger action and tight seal. Given the high price of both units, we can easily recommend spending a little extra to get the Espro P7.
It's almost all plastic, which is good if you're worried about shattering a more fragile brewer, but we found French presses made of glass or steel to perform much better.
If you are familiar with Oxo products, you will know roughly what to expect from this model: functional, very basic and effective design with an accent on usability and safety. In this case, the carafe is made from shatterproof plastic, with a plastic top and cage. This could be useful in a dorm room or another high-traffic location, but for best performance, we recommend choosing a model with at least a glass carafe.
Unique for its manual attachment that acts as a milk frother, the Hamilton Beach French press ranked behind other affordable models we tested. It's only worth a long look if non-coffee drinks like cocoa are your ... cup of tea.
This basic Hamilton Beach model is no looker; it is more clunky in design than the other models we tested, and although it has a real glass carafe, the lightweight plastic lid and cage feel cheap and insubstantial. The cocoa attachment is unique among the models we tested, though. It is essentially a manual milk frother, though the attachment does not perform smoothly. It ships with the frother attached, and the coffee filter itself requires assembly. The parts don’t fit together as well as the Espro’s, and the whole machine feels rickety when put together. Unless you’re looking for something meant primarily for making frothy milk drinks like cocoa, there are better choices available at this price.