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The French press is an unassuming piece of coffee-making equipment. It doesn’t require electricity, yet experts agree that it can brew a richer and more full-bodied cup of joe in comparison with its more technologically advanced peers. For example, natural oils that would otherwise be filtered out in a drip coffee maker remain fully intact, making the coffee aromatic and robust.
The French press method of making coffee is straightforward, cost-effective, easy to do, and hard to mess up. The device also doesn’t take up too much counter space, especially if you’re using our top pick, the Espro P3 ($40). Once you have your measurements down, it’s a quick process of steeping coarse coffee grounds in near-boiling water.
We tested these models using the James Hoffmann French press technique, in which he uses 30 grams of coffee to 500 grams of water, waits for four minutes, and stirs through the crust. Whether you choose a French press made from glass or stainless steel, a few factors make a difference based on your personal coffee needs.
Want to make the process even easier? Take a look at our favorite electric kettles and our guide to coffee subscriptions.
Updated June 2025: We’ve added the BruTrek BaseCamp Coffee Press, Secura French Press, and Espro P7, and ensured links and prices are up to date.
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Best Overall
Courtesy of Amazon
Out of all the strainers that many French presses tout, the Espro P3’s microfilters were the most effective at removing coffee grounds. Unlike most French press filters, the P3’s are made of fine mesh, and there are two of them, so the coffee grounds are filtered twice.
The filters are in the shape of a basket with a solid plastic bottom and fine mesh walls. One would probably do the trick on its own, but for extra assurance, the Espro adds another strainer of the same build. It locks onto the first one with a simple twisting motion et voilà, two microfilter strainers to block all pesky coffee grounds and sediment. An extra two silicone seals on the built-in strainer are an extra barrier against the coffee.
With less sediment and grounds making it into your cup, it delivers consistently smooth, clean, well-rounded coffee.
The 32-ounce press looks classic with the glass carafe protected by the black plastic frame. A safety lock keeps the carafe snug to the frame, so there’s less chance of it slipping out and breaking. Considering its affordability, this French press is hard to beat.
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For the French Press Pros
Photograph: Tyler Shane
Espro’s P7 has the unbeatable double mesh strainers filters the brand is known for and it’s a game changer for French press brewing. The P7 is similar to its P6 predecessor but offers just a few upgrades.
P7 has less plastic elements. The plunger knob and carafe handle are both made of stainless steel, unlike the P6. The P7 model also comes with measurements on the inside of the press that labels maximum and minimum fill lines for tea and coffee.
With double-insulated walls and double fine mesh strainers that lock together with two silicone seals, there’s no sediment or sludgy coffee. Just bold, full-strength flavor. The only nitpick I had with the P7 was that the spout could be slightly bigger to possibly prevent less leaks. Still, with such a similar price point to the P6, we recommend buying the P7 upgrade.
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Best Colorway
Photograph: Tyler Shane
BaristasBuddy
French Press Coffee Maker
The BaristasBuddy takes a classic French press model and brings it to life in three different pastel options—pink, yellow, and green— making it a great addition to your countertop aesthetic.
The press is double-walled stainless steel, but not with a shiny finish, so the metal feels a little rough when plunging the filter down against it (although plunging slowly seemed to help). It’s a standard size of 34 ounces (4 cups) and is more sturdy and durable compared to those made with glass. Plus, I enjoyed the wide spout that didn’t leak.
The colorful carafe only keeps the coffee warm for no more than an hour after brewing, quite a bit less time than almost any other stainless steel press on this list. Still, for the affordable price of $30, it’s worth gifting to your stylish friend. Just tell them to drink quickly.
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Best On-the-Go French Press
Photograph: Tyler Shane
BruTrek
BaseCamp Coffee Press
BruTrek’s small but mighty French press quickly became one of my favorites upon testing. It’s simple: The design combines the convenience of a travel mug with a French press, so you prepare your brew like you normally, but in a mug. The mug’s lid comes with a filtered plunge and the spout can be sipped straight out of.
The mug’s stainless steel interior is insulated with double walls. On a recent road trip, it kept my coffee insanely hot, even holding above 150 degrees Fahrenheit two hours after the initial brew. There’s no awkwardness in the two-in-one design; the spout didn’t leak when I sipped out of it and its lid, which snaps into place, helps keep the coffee hot. The bottom is padded with rubber to help prevent any slipping and the press’s body is textured for easy gripping.
The mug only holds 20 ounces (I made my brew comfortably with 18 ounces of water) so, depending on your caffeine intake, it holds two cups at most.
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A Beautiful Upgrade
Photograph: Tyler Shane
Spending almost $100 on a French press when you can get a perfectly good one for a quarter of the cost means it would have to be worth the splurge. But Fellow’s products rarely disappoint, and the Clara doesn’t either. It has a minimalist modern design, with a BPA-free plastic exterior and a matte black finish. The interior, however, is stainless steel with vacuum-insulated walls. So it has some weight to it but is portable and shatter-resistant.
Most French presses come in three separate parts to separate the grinds from the water: A cylindrical carafe, a mesh filter, and a handle to plunge the the grinds down without burning your hands. The Clara’s standout feature is that there are two separate filters on the handle—one to push the grinds down, and another to catch any stray sediment for a silt-free pour. Overall, it’s worth the price tag. We noticed a difference in taste right away. The coffee was smooth without being overly acidic or bitter. The smooth taste is in part due to its heat-locked double walls that maintain the brewing temp for optimal extraction. Even an hour after the first cup was poured, the brew maintained a 157-degree-Fahrenheit temperature.
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Best Bang for Your Buck
Courtesy of Bodum
With Bodum’s Brazil French press, functionality is the name of the game. Its simple design consists of a three-part strainer, glass carafe, and black plastic frame. While the strainer’s mesh filter isn’t nearly as effective as the Espro’s, and I noticed some coffee grounds toward the end of my brew, it still made for a nice, robust cup of joe.
The biggest difference between Bodum’s Brazil press and its other models, such as the Chambord or Caffettieria, is the style of the BPA-free plastic frame. The handle is slanted downward and the base boasts the Bodum label. The handle for the plunge is also a ball, which makes for a quirkier aesthetic, especially if purchased in red.
The press, available in 8, 32, or 51 ounces, is lightweight and can transfer from a cabinet to your countertop with ease. For beginners on a budget, or the French press curious, I’d start here.
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Best for Outdoors
Courtesy of Amazon
Combine the best aspects of the Espro P3 with a stainless steel carafe and you have the Espro P6. Same double fine mesh strainers that lock together with two silicone seals. No sediment or sludgy coffee, just bold, full-strength flavor.
Despite also holding 32 ounces, the P6 is more of a splurge due to its double-walled insulated carafe. I noticed a considerable difference between the P6 and other stainless steel French presses, like my Mueller, with the P6 keeping the coffee above 150 degrees Fahrenheit even an hour after it had been initially pressed.
The stainless steel makes for a clean, sleek look. Plus it’s just plain sturdy. It’s not exactly compact, so it may not make for the best travel press, but it would make a great addition to elevating a camping trip or even just a brisk morning outdoors.
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Best Aesthetic
Courtesy of Le Creuset
Unsurprisingly, the Le Creuset French press is just as beautiful as the the brand’s other equipment. You can purchase it in over 10 beautiful colorways featuring the quintessential ombré Le Creuset is known for.
The 34-ounce press is made with the same stoneware as Le Creuset’s other products, so it’s heavy-duty and built to last. It’s also easy to clean with its glaze finish, and all parts are dishwasher-safe.
The strainer is simple, built with a single layer of fine mesh, and I found it kept coffee grounds to a minimum. Surprisingly, the stoneware isn’t as effective at retaining heat as I would have hoped. Certainly not compared to a stainless steel insulated press. When I went for a second cup, the temperature had dropped significantly.
Still, it looks good sitting on my countertop and houseguests always comment on it.
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A Classic French Press
Courtesy of Amazon
If you want to keep it classic, go with the Chambord. The founder of Bodum, Jørgen Bodum, first designed the Chambord in the 1970s, but it was not until 1991 that it got the instantly recognizable design that we see today, with a heat-resistant glass carafe and sturdy stainless steel frame. It’s an iconic piece of equipment that makes for a consistent pour. The stainless steel filter and spiral plate plunge down easily and create a grit-free, luscious brew. Cleanup is a breeze as the carafe, filters, and plunger are all dishwasher safe. One major downside with a glass French press is that it breaks when mishandled. However, Bodum offers replacement parts for those who need them.
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Best Shatter-Resistant French Press
Courtesy of Amazon
When it comes to durability, OXO’s Brew Venture has you covered. The shatter-resistant BPA-free plastic carafe is doubly protected by a plastic frame, making it a great option for camping or traveling. Never fear: It still has windows to help you keep an eye on how much coffee you have left. It also has a volume size of 32 ounces, which means you can make two to three cups of coffee at a time if you’re in a group. A silicone ring around the filter hugs the walls to trap even more coffee grounds, and the lid has a slotted spout for an extra layer of filtration. Finally, each part of the press is dishwasher safe and can be taken apart to be cleaned.
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A Stainless Steel Option
Courtesy of Amazon
Unlike a plastic or glass press, a stainless steel French press can last for a lifetime. This double-walled option is insulated and can keep coffee warm over an extended period of time, and also has a clean aesthetic that looks great on the countertop. The plunger has two fine mesh filters to ensure your coffee is grit-free. The stainless steel interior extracts incredible flavor, and the insulation means it holds heat longer than most run-of-the-mill presses. It also comes with a small canister to hold coffee grinds, which may be useful if you’re taking it on the go. All parts are dishwasher-safe.
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A Classic Stainless Steel Option
Photograph: Amazon
I feel obligated to note that the Frieling French presses can range upward of $99, but they also regularly sell for half off on Amazon. Sure, its stainless steel, stylish design (complete with a slightly curved handle for an extra touch of finesse) makes a great addition to any countertop. But the double-walled body (which includes the lid) keeps coffee warm, and it also has a double-screen filter.
Each cup of coffee is consistently brewed to near-perfection. Not only is it durable, but it also produces a grounds-free brew that keeps a warm temperature for your cups of coffee to come. Each part of the press comes apart to make for easy clean up, and the model comes in a variety of sizes, from 17 to 44 ounces.
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Best Large Option
If you’re looking to elevate your brunch party, snag the 50-ounce Secura. It has a shiny stainless steel carafe that resembles a large pitcher so it’s sleek with the ability to add an elevated rustic element to any breakfast party. Plus, the wide spout and sturdy handles makes for easy pouring.
Three stainless steel filters keep the coffee grounds and grit at bay while the double insulated walls keep the coffee hot a couple hours after brewing.
The stainless steel (double insulated walls) means there’s no plastic whatsoever used throughout the carafe and filter, and this material also makes cleaning a breeze. The bulbous body, however, means it’s not exactly compact for storage. It measures 10 inches tall and about 6 inches wide.
