The 8 Best French Presses for a Bold, Rich Brew, According to Coffee Experts
Photo: W+G Creative
There’s no denying that coffee is an absolute must for a morning kickstart. In fact, in a 2024 study done by the National Coffee Association, 75 percent of Americans enjoyed at least one cup of coffee per week. And for those who love a strong, full-bodied brew, French presses are hard to beat. This classic method offers a rich, flavorful cup that highlights the nuances of your favorite beans.
“The French press is essentially a pure immersion brewing method that lets you extract maximum flavor from your coffee beans,” says Johny Morrison, a former barista and coffee blogger at Coffee About. “What makes it special is that it allows the coffee oils and fine particles to remain in your cup, creating a full-bodied experience you can’t get from paper-filtered methods like pour-over coffee.”
To help you upgrade your coffee game, we rounded up the eight best French presses for your perfect morning sip, all recommended by Morrison and other coffee experts. Happy brewing!
Best budget: Bodum Chambord French Press Coffee Maker, $49
Best glass: Yield French Press, $85
Best stainless steel: Frieling Double-Walled Stainless Steel French Press, $100
Best for camping: Stanley Classic The Stay-Hot French Press, $70
Best for travel: Yeti Rambler 34 Oz. French Press, $110
Best insulated: Fellow Clara French Press, $99
Most stylish: Le Creuset French Press, $85
How exactly does a French press work?
In essence, a French press is just a big filter. “The coffee grounds sit with the water, and steep for the full brew time of four to five minutes,” says Heather Perry, CEO and two-time U.S. champion barista of Klatch Coffee. After you let it steep, you plunge the filter through to “press” the grounds out from your coffee.“Compared with other brewing methods, a French press produces a strong, bold cup of coffee, due to the way it retains oils and flavors.”
Perry recommends using the following five steps to make a delicious cup of French press coffee:
- Grind your coffee beans: Grind your coffee beans to a coarse, even size—“similar to that of sea salt or kosher salt,” she says.
- Check the ratio: Making the perfect cup of coffee with a French press is all about making sure you have the right blend of water and coffee grounds. “A great starting point for using a French press is a 13:1 ratio of water to coffee,” Perry says. To get the ratio right, measure out 55 grams of coffee, add it to the French press, and then add 700 milliliters of hot water.
- Stir: Rotate the grounds in a circular motion for a few seconds.
- Steep: Before you press, you need to let the coffee bloom. “Allow the brew to steep for about four minutes and 30 seconds,” Perry advises.
- Press: Now it’s time for the fun part—the press! After allowing the coffee to steep, push down the plunger and literally press the water into the coffee. Then, leave it down and pour yourself a mug.
What to look for in a French press?
Material
When it comes to choosing a French press, you’ll frequently find versions in glass or stainless steel. “Glass carafes offer the purest taste and let you watch the brewing process, but high-quality stainless steel models provide portability and durability,” Morrison says. He recommends avoiding ones made from lower-quality stainless steel since it can affect the taste poorly.
Capacity
Morrison recommends a 32-ounce (aka, a four-cup) French press, as they serve three to four people. “For single users, I recommend a 12-ounce press, to ensure you’re always brewing fresh coffee rather than letting it sit,” he says.
Shop the 8 best French presses, according to coffee pros
Material: stainless Steel, polypropylene | Capacity: 18 oz. or 32 oz. | Colors: 6
It may be on the pricier side, but the Espro P7 French press is beloved for good reason.“It truly is worth every penny,” Morrison says. He likes the special double micro-filter system, which he says “delivers the cleanest French press coffee you’ll ever taste, with zero grit in your cup.” He also loves the stainless steel construction and how easy it is to clean.
The delicious features don’t stop there. This French press is designed with a patented AirLock system, which stops the extraction immediately after plunging so every cup tastes exactly the same, even hours after you’ve brewed it. You can choose from two sizes—18 ounces or 32 ounces—and a variety of colors and finishes. This is one French press that’s sure to put some pep in your daily coffee step.
Pros:
- Unique dual-filter system
- Double-wall insulation keeps coffee warm hours after brewing
- AirLock keeps flavor consistent
- Multiple colors and finishes to choose from
Cons:
- Pricey
Material: borosilicate glass, stainless steel | Capacity: 12 oz., 17 oz., 34 oz., 51 oz. | Colors: 1
While some French presses are fairly pricey, this one by Bodum rings up under $50—and still makes a pretty impressive cup of coffee, to boot. “It’s a solid choice that offers impressive value,” Morrison says. He especially likes this French press’s three-piece filter, which “actually keeps the grounds out of your cup,” he says.
On the fence about whether to choose a French press made from stainless steel or glass? Well, this is your best bet, thanks to a combination of a carafe in heat-resistant, borosilicate glass and a stainless steel lid and frame. You can also choose from a variety of capacities, so whether you’re brewing for one or six, there’s a size for you.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Multiple sizes to choose from
- Unique triple-filter keeps grounds out of coffee
Cons:
- Single-walled insulation
- Plunger can be wobbly
Material: borosilicate glass, stainless steel, Copper | Capacity: 850ml | Colors: 2
For a French press that delivers on style as much as quality, this one from Yield is tough to beat. “We use these for our French press service at our boutique cafe,” says Lindsey Sozio, founder of Lavender Coffee Boutique in Denver, adding that it’s “a beautiful glass French press option.” It’s crafted from heat-proof borosilicate glass to withstand extreme heat, and it looks extremely chic doing it. It also has a stainless steel mesh filter and a copper pull. Just be careful with this one—it is glass, after all.
Pros:
- Beautiful design
- Crafted from heat-proof glass that can withstand extreme heat
- Multiple colors to choose from
Cons:
- Shatter risk
- Must be hand-washed
Material: stainless steel | Capacity: 17 oz., 23 oz., 36 oz. | Finishes: 2
Some French presses just look like they’re going to be good at what they do—and Frieling is certainly one of them. The gleaming stainless steel exterior is as gorgeous as it is functional, thanks to a two-stage filter system that keeps the grounds and sediment out of your cup. It also has a double-walled design so your coffee will stay hot for hours on end. We also love the longer handle, which makes this French press easy to pick up and pour. Choose from polished or brushed stainless steel, in three different capacities.
Pros:
- Double-walled insulation
- Durable stainless steel
- Dishwasher safe
- Extra long handle for easy handling
Cons:
- Heavier than other models
Material: stainless eteel | Capacity: 48 oz. | Colors: 9
FYI: Stanley does more than just the viral tumbler we’ve all come to know and love. This French press is a favorite of Sozio’s. “It’s an insulated, rugged press that will last years and can go along on your camping adventures,” she says. From its massive 48-ounce size to its vacuum insulation and stainless steel mesh filter, there’s a lot to love about this option. Plus, it comes in a wide variety of colors, like cream, black, pink, gray, and olive green. And, much like its Quencher counterpart, it keeps drinks hot for hours on end. Just be careful with it, since it may drip a bit if you jostle it around.
Pros:
- Solid design makes it ideal for outdoor adventures
- Multiple colors to choose from
- Large 48 oz. capacity
- Vacuum insulated for extra warmth
Cons:
- May drop and leak when jostled
Material: stainless steel | Capacity: 34 oz. | Colors: 10
If your mornings are so packed that all you’ve got time for is a little press-and-go action, this French press is ready and waiting. It’s crafted in durable, puncture-resistant stainless steel, with multiple features that make it perfect for traveling. Yeti’s signature GroundsControl Filter—aka, a solid silicone flap—fits over the metal mesh filter to prevent sediment from getting into the coffee, or from water seeping back into the coffee grounds. (A word to the wise: It does make plunging a bit more difficult.)
It also has a twist-to-lock lid and it’s designed with double-wall vacuum insulation, so there’s no spillage or cooling down on your commute. I own it in Wild Vine Red, and one of my friends recently told me he was so jealous of it that he wants one for himself—so make of that what you will.
Pros:
- Dishwasher safe
- Multiple features keep coffee inside with no leaking, spilling, or cooling
- GroundsControl Filter keeps grounds from leaking into coffee
- Large capacity
Cons:
- Pricey
- Plunger is a bit tough to press down
Material: stainless steel | Capacity: 24 oz. | Colors: 2
Fellow’s Clara French press is ideal for beginners since it’s got measurement lines, double-walled stainless steel, and a weighted handle. It also has an enhanced mesh filtration system to keep out the sediment and silt while you sip. The handle makes for easy pouring, and it even comes with a wooden stick to stir the grounds to perfection. Not to mention it just looks chic. This is certainly a solid choice for any French press user.
Pros:
- Sleek design
- Includes measurement lines to brew a perfect cup
- Enhanced filtration system keeps grounds out of coffee
Cons:
- Only the mesh filter is dishwasher safe
- Only two colors
Material: stoneware | Capacity: 34 oz. | Colors: 13
Le Creuset. Need we say more? We will, bolstered by Sozio’s approval. “This rustic, classic French press holds heat well and brings a French countryside vibe to your kitchen decor,” she says. It’s crafted from glazed, premium stoneware, which not only offers fantastic heat retention but is designed to resist scratches and stains. It also has a nonstick finish and can be cleaned by hand or in the dishwasher, which sets it apart from some others in this guide. You can even put it in the microwave, oven, and freezer. Le Creuset? Yes, way.
Pros:
- Beautiful design
- Multiple colors to choose from (more on Le Creuset’s website)
- Scratch- and stain-resistant
Cons:
- May drip a bit when pouring
- Coffee doesn’t stay hot as long as it does with glass or stainless steel
FAQs
What are some top tips and tricks for using a French press?
Perry advises using coarsely ground beans to brew. “That’s significantly coarser than a medium grind, which is what you’ll commonly find as the grind option on mass-market coffee sold at grocery or convenience stores,” she says. “Start with whole bean coffee and use a quality burr grinder or hand grinder—just make sure the one you have will give you evenly ground beans that are consistent in size.”
Morrison suggests using fresh medium or dark-roasted beans. “Dark roast coffees shine particularly well in a French press,” he says. “Their bold, robust flavors are fully extracted through the immersion process, creating a rich, full-bodied cup.”
And finally, “Let the coffee bloom by pouring a small amount of hot water onto the grounds and allowing it to degas by sitting for 30 or so seconds,” says Sozio. “Then add the remainder of the hot water.”
Can a French press be used to make drinks other than coffee?
The short answer? Absolutely! “A French press has lots of other creative use cases,” says Sozio. She recommends using it to steep looseleaf tea, or to make mulled cider. “Add aromatics like cinnamon sticks, orange peel, and cloves, pour over hot cider to steep, and strain with the plunger,” she says. “So cozy!”
Morrison also loves using a French press for milk frothing or for making cold brew coffee. “French press is my favorite for making refreshing cold brew coffee in the summer,” he says.