Why do you love coffee?
Is that because of the aroma of a fresh brew early in the morning?
Or is it because of how quickly it can get you up and running?
If it’s the second then well, yes instant coffees save time, but why not combine both?
Freshly brewed coffee tastes and smells far better. And if your cup of coffee is prepared with close to zero effort (preferably one of the best coffee French press we have listed) then your morning just got better.
If you have a passion for coffee and you’re still using the drip coffee maker, you’re missing a lot. And to be honest you should get rid of your old drip coffee maker for a French press.
Need a few reasons? Sure!
The way it Looks! It is just that, much better looking.
Same Simplicity! Same steps: add coffee grounds, add water, and go.
Less dust collected! It is handy to use daily (be it coffee or tea) and cleaning is quick and simple.
And if you don’t like it, you can gift it! this is a silly one, but why not!
We appreciate French press coffee for its medium strong but rich coffee flavor, and of course, the lovely coffee aroma is the best. Smelling it early in the morning would definitely make you want to get out of bed, and take a sip while listening to your favorite mood boost playlist.
But French press alone does not make it happen, you will need a coffee grinder that will make the best coffee grind for your French press, take a look at our list of 7 Best Coffee Grinders for French Press.
There is a ton of French presses available in the market and it’s easy to get confused choosing the right one. Read on and we’ll review some of the top coffee French presses. This will save you a lot of time scanning the unlimited list of these French press coffee makers.
But before we get on to the review, it will probably help if you know a few factors to consider when purchasing the best French press coffee makers.
Table of Contents
What To Look For When Buying The Best Coffee French Press
Material Used (Plastic, glass, and stainless steel)
You’ve probably seen a variety of French Presses in some of your favorite appliance stores. You might notice that they are made from different materials like plastic, glass and stainless steel. We’d highly recommend choosing a stainless steel French press or glass French press.
You might be asking if the glass and stainless steel French presses are more expensive, and yes, they are. But considering durability, reliability, and the sharp looks, they surely are great investments. French presses made of plastic are often avoided for health risk reasons as they are known to release harmful toxins when exposed to how water.
A glass French Press is worthy but they are fragile, so, try to get one made from borosilicate glass materials as it can withstand thermal shock and is more resilient to breakage. Another nice thing about glass French Press is you can witness how the coffee grounds go down and it’s color mixes with the hot water as you gently depress the plunger.
A stainless steel French press is more durable as it is not prone to breakage, unlike its glass counterpart. However, it requires to be preheated (especially the large-capacity ones) or you’ll end up pressing too cool water and you will not get a balanced cup of Joe the way you want it.
Preheating only requires pouring in hot water to a steel French press and pour out the water just before you’re ready to brew the ground coffee. Another good tip is to also preheat your mug by pouring in hot water and empty it until your freshly brewed Joe is ready to be served.
Getting the Right Size
If you have 2 or more family members who love a daily cup of Joe, then a 34 oz coffee French Press would just be right. But if you’re the kind who loves to entertain visitors who are coffee lovers too, you might want to consider 2-liter equipment. It will save you time and effort preparing two batches of a freshly brewed cup of coffee.
Quality Counts
Quality does count, which is why going for a stainless steel or glass French press would be your best option. They don’t just look nice in your kitchen but they are durable enough to last a lifetime. You probably would prefer a stainless-steel coffee French press – for being unbreakable, and yes, it retains heat better than the glass ones.
Glass French press looks pretty elegant too, and they are also durable, but they can break when accidentally dropped or bumped hard. Another disadvantage of glass is heat retention, but anyway, the best French press coffee is meant to be taken fresh and hot, so heat retention is not really an issue.
Other Factors
Looks or designs are not really an issue, but well, you might just consider if your coffee French press matches your kitchen color or architecture. Believe it or not, it adds a bit of inspiration when brewing your coffee.
You might also want to check for the warranty offered with the French press of your choice. Manufacturers offer warranty to build trust, and of course, it’s just proper to look for warranties as it is your right, being a consumer.
Quick overview before we hit our top 10
| Name | Capacity | Price Level $ – $$$ |
|---|---|---|
| French Press by Café du Chateau | 34 oz (1 liter). | $ |
| Secura French Press | 34 oz (1 liter). Also in 17 and 50 oz. | $ |
| Bodum Chambord French Press | 34 oz (1 liter). Also in 12, 17, and 51 oz. | $$$ |
| Bodum 1548-01US Brazil French Press | 34 oz (1 liter). Also in 12 and 51 oz. | $ |
| French Press Coffee Maker by Kitchen Supreme | 34 oz (1 liter). | $$ |
| Mueller French Press | 34 oz (1 liter). | $ |
| Coffee Gator French Press | 34 oz (1 liter). | $ |
| KONA French Press Coffee Maker | 34 oz (1 liter). Also in 12 oz. | $$ |
| Sterling Pro French Press Coffee Maker | 34 oz (1 liter). Also in 51 and 59 oz. | $$$ |
| Freiling USA Double Wall Stainless Steel French Press | 36 oz (1.05 liter). Also in 8, 17, 23, and 44 oz. | $$$+ |
French Press Coffee Maker by Café du Chateau
This French Press Coffee maker by Café du Chateau is Amazon’s bestseller. Boasting its four-level filtration system, this French press is really easy to use. The glass carafe is held in place by a stainless steel frame, which is pretty good protection for breakage. This coffee press is also dishwasher safe so cleaning would be a breeze.
Overall, this coffee French press serves its purpose in making a perfect coffee blend. However, just a minor issue to point out – sometimes the glass carafe gets stuck in the stainless steel frame making it hard to remove for cleaning. So be careful when it gets stuck, you don’t want to break the glass carafe in your hands. One tip would be to pour in hot water to the stainless base (metal expands when heated) to loosen it up a bit, but be careful not to burn your hands doing this.
Secura French Press Coffee Maker
Secura manufactures small appliances in North America. Their aim is to produce premium products to simplify your life. This coffee maker is insulated so it has good heat retention. It is also dishwasher safe, so cleaning will not be an issue. It is however suggested to hand wash the press and the filter structure. If you would like your French press to match your kitchen color, then you found the perfect product as it is offered in 9 great colors.
Bodum Chambord French Press Coffee Maker
Bodum has a very long history in the manufacture of the original coffee French Press. If you would look at its design, it’s a real classic. If you’re the likes who love classic design, this coffee press perfectly matches your taste.
The glass carafe is held by a metal chrome frame with a plastic handle. The handle and the lid button are made of hard plastic, so it’s considered sturdy. Everything else in this coffee press is dishwasher safe, except for the chrome frame and lid.
Just a reminder, if you don’t like plastic parts due to health hazard warnings, this product has a plastic filter attached to it and hot water may cause it to release some harmful toxins. This model comes with a 51 oz or 1.5 Liter capacity, so it’s ready to serve hot, freshly brewed coffee for a big family.
Bodum 1548-01US Brazil French Press Coffee and Tea Maker
Bodum is truly consistent with their concept of simplicity. This model maintains the signature classic design of Bodum. If you’re the type who loves simplicity, this product will be a delight in your kitchen. Minimalist persons will also love this French press.
The base and handle are made of hard plastic, this may not be an issue to some people but still a consideration to some who likes sturdier materials. For a very affordable price, this coffee French press would still be considered a great deal.
French Press Coffee Maker by Kitchen Supreme
What’s good about this coffee French press is that it’s plastic-free. The double German glass beaker is 3x stronger than ordinary borosilicate glass carafes. The 4-level filtration system made of stainless-steel guarantees that no sediments will escape the filter. What more? The encapsulated stainless-steel lid perfectly seals the press to retain the rich coffee aroma. It also keeps your hand safe when pouring the hot coffee.
It also comes with a 3-year replacement guarantee. Another good thing about this coffee press is the bundle that comes with it. With the bundled Pro Barista’s recipes, you can easily turn your kitchen into a home-based coffee bar.
Mueller French Press
This Mueller coffee French press is sturdy as it is made of a thick stainless-steel. It’s 33% thicker compared to other brands. The product boasts that it can retain heat for 60 minutes. Based on many user reviews, this French press retains heat for long, though it does not look like anyone has tried waiting for 60 minutes. Maybe because they just can’t resist the delicious smell of a freshly pressed coffee ground. The free stainless-steel coffee canister is a big plus, especially when you are an outdoor enthusiast and just don’t forget to bring your favorite travel mug and of course, a water pot.
Coffee Gator French Press Coffee Maker
The Coffee Gator French Press coffee maker is another hardy coffee gadget. This one also boasts that it can retain heat for 60 minutes because of its double-layer vacuum stainless-steel body. It has an eye-catching modern design that is available in silver, grey, and orange colors. It also bundles a small coffee canister, so you can be ready anytime your friends invite you to go camping and enjoy your fresh cup of Joe in your favorite travel mug. Oh just to remind you, please bring a pot for water boiling.
KONA French Press Coffee Maker
The KONA French press is one of Amazon’s choice products. Its sleek design is not just made for attractiveness, but also acts as a protective shell for its carafe glass. If having plastic parts is not an issue to you, this French press can be your ideal daily morning coffee partner.
Just a bit of caution, there were some instances that the glass is prone to chips and cracks. But just maybe, the users’ may have handled it rough during washing. So, a little extra care when cleaning up this baby is highly recommended.
Sterling Pro French Press Coffee Maker
This heavy-duty French press is one of Amazon’s bestselling coffee makers since 2014. It sold a bragging 280,000 units and more. Its double screen filter system guarantees your coffee is granule-free. So, you’ll get to enjoy sipping your cup of Joe without the ground coffee sediments.
Freiling USA Double Wall Stainless Steel French Press Coffee Maker
This Freiling model has a bit of a smaller capacity. This could be perfect if you’re living solo but it can serve coffee just enough for 2 people. This model is also available in a larger size up to 44 oz or 1.3 liters. Since it has a smaller size, this French press easily fits in small cabinets. It goes handy too when you have plans of going outdoors but don’t forget to bring your coffee grounds in an airtight and travel-safe canister and something to boil water in.
Conclusion
There goes the list of our best French press coffee makers. Remember the factors to consider when choosing the right Joe French press for you. They will come in handy when you’re up to the point of deciding to purchase the best of the best French presses that you want for yourself.
The coffee makers with glass carafe look a bit more on the classy side. But they are more prone to chipping and cracking. The stainless-steel carafes are more durable but plain-looking. Those which comes in different colors would add some attractiveness and you can choose which color best suits your kitchen.
But still, the most important thing is if the French press gives you the flavor and aroma that you want in a coffee. Having a zero-sediment filtering system also is a good consideration too.
Barbearista favorite:
You probably have your favorite pick from the list but we are all for the Mueller French press. For its functionality, durability, clean design, and of course, the free air-tight, stainless steel coffee canister.
We were also tempted to pick the Coffee Gator French press as it functions the same, and we think its design is more appealing. However, comparing the price, we would still go with the Mueller.
Of course, we all have different preferences but we do hope that our list of the best press coffee makers helped you out in making a decision on which coffee French press is best for you.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What Kind of Coffee is Best for French Press?
The answer to this question would be simple and straightforward: it’s completely up to you, just the way you want it! However, the most important thing to consider is the texture of your coffee grounds and the ideal grind would be from medium to coarse, even ground.
You can get a pre-ground coffee from the supermarket but please avoid the ones with a fine grind as they don’t work very well in a French press as they will clog the filter. Fine coffee grounds are best for espresso machines. So, any kind of medium to the coarse ground would be best for your press coffee maker, and the best way to prepare it is by using a fresh ground, and pouring in the right water temperature (not boiling).
Also preheating the carafe with hot water is a good practice, especially when using press made from steel. In the same way, you should treat your mug or cup.
Why French Press Coffee is Bad for You?
The issue of French press coffee is bad for your health started in 2016 from a Harvard Health blog, though it didn’t explain much in detail. It’s about the Cafestol, which is a substance from coffee that causes bad cholesterol levels in the body to rise. Health experts are saying that the metal filter is not capable of filtering out the Cafestol, but the paper filters do but not that much.
Just like any other coffee brewing methods like the espresso, percolator, and Moka pot, all these are using metal filters, so the issue is not unique for the French press. The truth is, consuming just the right amount of coffee in a day doesn’t really hurt, maybe a cup or two will be just fine.
One solution is to use a paper filter when pouring your freshly brewed in a cup to get rid of the Cafestol or you may want to adjust your brew strength by using less ground in a bit more water. So, the answer to the question is, any coffee is good when taken in moderation. Just to be sure, it is always best to consult your physician regarding your health.
Does a French Press Make Better Coffee?
Any brewing method makes a good coffee, it always depends on a person’s taste and preference. However, brewing with a French coffee press is simpler and economical, and adjusting the brew can simply be done by modifying the coffee to water ratio.
Can You Use Regular Ground Coffee in a French Press?
The answer to this question is “yes” but just make sure it’s fresh for the best result.
We hope you got all the needed information you were looking for. If there are open questions, we will be happy to get into more details in the comments. Happy brewing everyone!
Your trustworthy friend,
BARBEARISTA.com