Ask any coffee enthusiast about a French Press, which will give you a hundred reasons why you need this coffee maker. Also known as a cafeteria, cafetière, coffee plunger, coffee press, or press pot, a French Press ensures you enjoy a perfect cup of coffee every day.
Table Of Contents
−- How a French Press Pot Works
- Stainless Steel, Glass, Plastic, and Thermal Insulated French Presses
- French Press Coffee Maker Plungers and Screens
- The Best French Press Coffee Maker
- Best French Press coffee makers
- Best stainless-steel French Presses
- The complete buying guide
- FAQs about French Presses
- Conclusion
A French Press brews “normal” coffee, like a percolator or drip machine, not concentrated espresso.
Fans of French Press coffee claim that the natural oils that give coffee its flavor are better retained than a drip filter coffee (the paper filter absorbs the oils). In addition, water temperature and brewing time are easily controlled, allowing customizable extraction of coffee flavor.
A French Press coffee maker (or coffeemaker) is attractively simple. There is no complex electrical machinery. Only hot water is required. This makes it suitable for camping and office cubicles. It can also be used for brewing loose-leaf tea.
A French Press takes up little space at home and is relatively easy to clean. They can cost as little as $10, with premium models still affordable at $100. Popular brands include Bonjour, Frieling and Bodum (Melior).
The capacity of a French Press is measured in 4-ounce cups. A 32-ounce French Press has an 8-cup capacity.
How a French Press Pot Works
A French Press is a jug with a plunger. Coarsely ground coffee beans are placed into the jug, followed by almost-boiling water. The mixture is briefly stirred. The cover (with the attached plunger in the raised position) is then placed over the jug to reduce heat loss.
After brewing or steeping for about four minutes, the plunger is slowly pushed down. A sieve at the end of the plunger strains the coffee, trapping the ground beans at the bottom of the jug.
The coffee is now ready for drinking.
Stainless Steel, Glass, Plastic, and Thermal Insulated French Presses
Glass French Pots are traditional and are still popular. Many have metal frames to protect the fragile glass. They look like lanterns. Newer designs have insulating plastic frames with clear see-through windows.
The problem with glass jugs is that they break easily. Replacement jugs are available, but they aren’t cheap.
“Unbreakable” plastic (usually polycarbonate) jugs are cheap and light. The plastic insulates the coffee, which helps with the brewing process. Some contain no metal parts at all and can be microwaved. Unfortunately, they scratch easily.
Stainless steel jugs are the toughest but also the most expensive. Double-walled jugs are thermally insulated because of the gap between the walls. Some double-walled jugs are vacuum jugs, but many are not. A lot of heat will be lost through the lid anyway (the plunger makes it difficult to insulate the lid), so a vacuum jug isn’t much of an advantage.
The main advantage of thermal insulation is maintaining a high water temperature during the short brewing process. However, keeping the coffee hot for a few hours will over-extract the beans and turn the coffee bitter. To keep the coffee hot, it should be poured into a standard insulated mug or jug, leaving the coffee beans behind in the French Press.
Single-walled stainless steel jugs should be avoided. Any dents on the wall can jam the plunger.
Some French Presses are built as travel mugs. While convenient
- An insulated mug will cause over-extraction of the coffee.
- A non-insulated mug will let the coffee get cold, which is especially bad for a travel mug.
- The plunger makes it difficult to design a leak-proof lid.
Using a normal French Press, it is better to pour the brewed coffee into a standard travel coffee mug.
Whatever the material or design, a wide enough jug to insert a hand is easier to clean.
French Press Coffee Maker Plungers and Screens
Aside from broken glass carafes, broken plungers and screens are common problems.
All-metal plungers and screens are proven designs, able to withstand hot water for years. Some seemingly metal screens have plastic joints or rivets hidden inside. Plastic screens and plungers may or may not last as long, depending on the design and the material.
Single-layer mesh screens are easier to clean. However, screens with two or three layers can trap coffee grounds and need to be disassembled for cleaning.
Even the best screens can fail after a few years and must be replaced. One advantage of buying an established brand is that replacement screens and plungers are easy to find.
Some jugs have a second mesh screen in the lid to trap any grounds that might have escaped the main plunger screen.
The Best French Press Coffee Maker
Stainless steel double-walled French Presses are good for general use. They are tough and insulated enough to help produce a good brew.
Traditional glass French Presses are fragile but look good. They make a good conversation piece in the office or entertaining at home. The steeping and plunging process can be seen through the glass, still a novelty for many people.
Plastic French Presses are light and tough, making them good for camping.
Check out our article on how to use a French Press
If you’re contemplating buying one, you will find this guide useful. We have reviewed the best French Press coffee makers to consider this year. So, keep reading to learn more.
Best French Press coffee makers
KONA French Press coffee tea & espresso maker
This is one of the finest coffee makers in the market. It is best known for brewing the finest tasting coffee without leaving grounds behind. You can also use it to brew great tea and espresso.
Kona is quite elegant, and its quality explains why many coffee lovers love it. Overall, the design of this KONA French Press is just attractive to the eye, and that seems to be what makes it such a hit with its buyers.
Pros
- Coffee tastes great
- Easy to use and clean
- Made to last
- Aesthetically-pleasing
Cons
- The carafe is not insulated. So, make sure you have your coffee or tea within 20 minutes after brewing.
Bodum Chambord 8 Cup French Press
Are you a beginner? Using a French Press for the first time? Bodum Chambord will not disappoint you. Just like the other two coffee makers we have discussed, this leaves you with a great cup of coffee. It has an excellent filtration system keeps coffee ground out of your cup.
Bodum Chambord has a metal housing and solid glass carafe, which will please you. Unfortunately, it can only brew about 4 cups that hold 8 ounces. The brewing process lasts about 10 minutes, but it is worth it because, in the end, you get a precious liquid.
Pros
- Brews great-tasting coffee
- Easy to clean
- Simple and easy to use
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Longevity
Cons
- If 8 ounces is a cup, a 34-ounce French Press will serve 4 cups of coffee versus 8 unless you use smaller 4-ounce cups.
Bodum Brazil 8-Cup French Press Coffee Maker
Running on a tight budget yet looking for a durable French Press? Then, Bodum Brazil is the perfect pick. It is affordable and designed to last longer.
This coffee maker also makes you a highly-flavored coffee for which your taste buds will be thankful. It’s filtration system though not the best, strains away most of the coffee grounds. In addition, its plastic housing ensures the glass carafe is well protected.
Pros
- Brews excellent coffee
- Inexpensive
- Made to last
- Very convenient
Cons
- The handle is a tad awkward to use
- Some parts are plastic
GROSCHE Madrid French Press Coffee Maker
If a style is one of the most crucial things on your shopping list for French Press, start GROSCHE Madrid. You will love having it in your kitchen. It just fits well in line with any updated kitchen.
Its performance is also excellent. GROSCHE Madrid filtration system filters out all the sediments leaving you with fine highly-flavored coffee. In addition, its carafe is designed to keep your coffee hot for a long. If you are also looking for a long-lasting French Press, then you will love Grosche Madrid.
Pros
- Distinctive, modern design
- Keeps the coffee warm for long
- Robust construction
- Easy to clean, carry and use
Cons
- The glass is a bit thin
Best stainless-steel French Presses
Stainless steel French Presses are the best alternative to glass carafes. They don’t break nor hurt the flavor of your coffee. Additionally, stainless steel French Presses ensure your coffee stays hot for a long time. The only downside of these French Presses is that you will sacrifice the sleek beauty and see-through ability of a glass French Press.
Below are some of the best stainless French Presses we recommend:
SterlingPro Double Wall
This is one of the French Press that ensures you please your taste bud unconditionally. SterlingPro Double Wall has a dual-screen system that ensures it brews coffee without grounds.
Its double-wall also protects your hands from a burn, and make sure this coffee maker outlives you.
Pros
- Coffee stays hot for a long time
- Sturdy and resists corrosion
- Longevity is guaranteed
- Affordably priced
Cons
- Not fancy to look at.
Frieling Double Wall Stainless Steel French Press Coffee Maker
While most stainless steel French Presses are not that attractive, this one compliments any kitchen regardless of the décor. It is designed from high-quality components. Hence it can endure your torture without complaining. Besides, it is designed to last longer.
Its double walls allow it to retain heat 4 times longer than a glass carafe and stay cool to your touch from the outside.
Unlike most French Presses that take longer to brew coffee, this coffee maker only takes less than 4 minutes to prepare you delicious cups of joe.
Pros
- Elegant design
- Lasting-quality construction
- Excellent heat retention
- No plastic components
Cons
- A bit costly
Bodum Insulated
Bodum Insulated ensures you never miss your delicious cup of coffee every time you travel. It is designed to brew coffee as good as coffee can get.
Additionally, it solves all the coffee troubles you encounter when traveling. It is light and has an insulated mug that ensures your coffee stays warm for hours. Although its lid doesn’t let the heat seep through, you must be careful as your java can leak. Not to mention that it is not designed to keep coffee grounds out of your cup.
Pros
- Affordable and lightweight
- Brews delicious coffee and keeps it hot forever
- Great build quality
- Designed to last longer
- Good-looking
Cons
- Sometimes coffee grounds seep into the coffee
- Leaks, if placed horizontally
Bodum Columbia Insulated French Press Coffee Maker
This is yet another beautiful stainless-steel French Press. Its curvy, sleek design makes it suitable for any kitchen regardless of the décor. Bodum Columbia retains heat for 2 hours and feels cool to the touch.
While this French Press does not boast of the best filtration system, it still brews one of the finest tasting coffee to date.
Pros
- Coffee tastes great
- Compact design saves space
- Cleans easily
- Made to last
Cons
- The plastic plunger feels cheap
The complete buying guide
Buying a French Press is probably one of the best decisions you will ever make if you love coffee. A French Press is easy to use and will always get you that precious liquid.
While it is easy to use a French Press, trying it for the first time can feel a little scary. But once you master everything, brewing becomes an enjoyable task. Now to make sure you have the best experience using a French Press, we have put together a buying guide with the basic facts:
- The body: The body of a French Press is made of three main parts (carafe, plunger, and lid). The carafe can be made of stainless steel, plastic, or glass. The plunger has a handle, plunger, and filter. Finally, the lid is used to prevent the heat from seeping through. So when shopping, make sure to check these parts.
- Glass: French presses with a glass carafe are stylish and make sure you have a view of what is happening inside during the brewing process. However, you need to be careful as glass carafes are very delicate. Besides, a glass carafe doesn’t keep coffee hot for long. This means you must enjoy your coffee as soon as it is ready.
- Stainless steel: Unlike glass carafes, stainless steel carafes are opaque. Additionally, these carafes are durable, beautiful in their way, and able to keep coffee steaming hot for hours.
- Plastic: Plastic is not the best material to be in a French Press. So, if you are contemplating buying one, try your best to avoid those designed out of plastic. Unless you are looking for a portable French Press that can accommodate you on your camping and hiking tours, stay away from such French Presses.
- Filter: The filter used mostly determines the kind of drink you will get. Some French Presses have additional filters to ensure you get the finest tasting coffee ever with no grounds. So pay attention to the number of filters your French Press has.
- Style: Looking for a French Press that will compliment your kitchen? There are many of them in the market. But remember not to sacrifice performance for something that pleases your eyes. Performance is more crucial than beauty when it comes to coffee makers.
FAQs about French Presses
What is a French Press?
How do you brew coffee with it?
What type of grinder should I get?
How much does a French Press cost?
Conclusion
A French Press is the right coffee machine to have in your house if you want to enjoy a delicious cup of coffee every day. It is easy to use, affordable and can last longer if you take good care of it.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using these links. Remember to support us by purchasing through the Amazon/Walmart/Impact Radius links provided. Last update on 2024-04-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Disclosure: No compensation or free products were received in exchange for writing this review.
Editorial Staff
The editorial staff at Crazy Coffee Crave is a team of coffee enthusiasts & Baristas who enjoy the one thing we all think about as soon as we get up in the morning. Trusted by thousands of readers worldwide.
