The Best French Presses for a Full-Bodied Cup

Featured in this article

• 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 Espro press’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.

• 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.

• Best Colorful French Press

  

  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.

• 

  Photograph: Martin Cizmar

  This handsome modern French press from Pure Over performs as well as it looks, and it looks pretty damned good. The newly released device is made with two layers of borosilicate glass, the heat-proof material found in European PYREX. It will tolerate a temperature swing of 330 degrees Fahrenheight, meaning you could literally pull it out of a chest freezer and fill it with boiling water off the stove. Unlike presses that use a single layer of the same glass, the Pure Over is double-walled, so the heat retention is excellent and the press is only lukewarm to the touch (you can grab it with both hands right after filling it if you want). The stainless steel plunger has a Goldilocks fit for ultra-smooth depression with no resistance or seepage. —Martin Cizmar

• Best Stainless Steel French Press

  

  Photograph: Tyler Shane

  Aarke is mostly known for its high-end stainless steel coffee system (a product we found to be quite gorgeous), but the brand just recently launched its newest piece of coffee-making equipment: the French press. It’s expensive ($150), but dang if it isn’t good looking.

  There are lots of stainless steel French presses out there, but Aarke’s design has a particularly sleek and modern feel to it. Maybe it’s the modest (33.8 fluid ounces), cylindrical build; the handle that fits perfectly in your palm; or the lid that dips in the center and boasts an understated spout. It’s a timeless look that comes equipped with the ideal stainless steel elements: double walls and fine stainless steel mesh strainers.

  No, you don’t need to splurge on a French press, but consider the Aarke as an option for the serious French press brewers. For the purists, it held my coffee hot. When I came back to it an hour later after brewing, it was holding around 170 degrees Fahrenheit, which is excellent. All parts are dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup, and it comes with a stainless steel tablespoon for measuring.

• Best Ceramic French Press

  

  Photograph: Tyler Shane

  DHPO

  Ceramic French Press Coffee Maker

  If you’re looking for a sturdy, smaller French press option, DHPO is the way to go. The high-fired ceramic carafe holds 22 ounces, is sturdier than glass, and kept my coffee hotter longer (20 minutes after brewing, the coffee was still hot at 160 degrees Fahrenheit; not too shabby for this little guy).

  Because there are no double walls like others on this list, the carafe’s body gets hot to the touch, so I recommend letting it sit on a tea towel instead of your countertop while your coffee is brewing. The handle remains cool, however, so pouring immediately is no problem. The carafe is slimmer than most and tapers at the top. The moss-green colorway, like the one I tested, is good-looking, especially with the wooden lid. It’s a great aesthetic for any countertop, and it’s compact too.

• Best Travel 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 hot water), so depending on your caffeine intake, it holds two cups at most.

• Most Giftable French Press

  

  Photograph: Pete Cottell

  Stanley

  Classic Travel French Press

  This is the French press WIRED contributor Pete Cottell, a former barista, chose for our guide to the Best Gifts for Coffee Lovers. It’s a Stanley, for one, which is somehow still popular, plus it’s reasonably priced and the plunger presses down to fit under the lid, making it perfect for travel.

• Best French Press for Camping

  

  Photograph: Tyler Shane

  Yeti’s French press design is more unconventional than most. Instead of a rim-mounted spout, the pour opening is built into the lid and can’t be closed. Although the lid’s twist-to-lock mechanism keeps things secure, I thought the open spout would be a design flaw, but like most of Yeti’s durable outdoor equipment, the press overall is pretty dang excellent.

  Made from stainless steel with double-wall vacuum insulation, Yeti’s Rambler French press holds heat well (yes, even with the lid’s opening) and the ceramic lining, similar to the Fellow Clara below, makes for easy cleanup. It’s dishwasher-safe and available in 34- and 64-ounce sizes.

  One of the most exciting features is the solid silicone pad that sits over the plunger’s strainer. It creates faster separation between the coffee grounds and the brewed coffee and helps prevent over-extraction. The result was an exceptionally smooth cup.

  Because the Rambler is built tough for outdoor use, the press is on the heavier side. It’s all well-intentioned, however. The matte coating resists peeling, and the rubber sole prevents slipping, making it a great option for any kind of outdoor activity or weather.

• 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.

• Best Value French Press

  

  Courtesy of Bodum

  With Bodum’s Brazil French press, ease of use and functionality are 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.

• For The Temperature Nerds

  Barista Warrior

  French Press

  The Barista Warrior has all the standard elements you’d want from any press. It’s stainless steel, insulated with double walls and two filters for a dual-filtration system. But there’s one element that makes it stand out from the rest: a thermometer that conveniently replaces the plunger’s handle.

  A built-in thermometer is such an obvious pro for any French press that you almost can’t believe it’s not the standard build. Because the thermometer was able to gauge my coffee’s temperature the entire time, I realized I probably need to start heating my water closer to 205 degrees Fahrenheit, as opposed to my usual 200. There’s a little yellow triangle that shows the ideal temperature when you initially pour your coffee (around 195 degrees). Mine was just shy of that.

  The 34-ounce press is sturdy, and the spout is probably my favorite among the many presses I’ve tested. It’s wide and didn’t drip a drop. The press isn’t dishwasher safe, so be sure to hand-wash it. I recommend not submerging the thermometer display in water, just to be safe.

• Best French Press 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.

• Best-Looking French Press

  

  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.

• Best Old-School 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.

• 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.

• Best Large French Press

  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.

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