The Best French Press Coffee Maker

French press coffee is considered one of the easiest and fastest ways to make coffee, and it tastes great as well.

With a French press coffee maker you can make a strong yet perfectly balanced cup of coffee with robust notes. A superb fit for your daily dose of caffeine in the morning. And the best part? It requires little to no practice — simply pour the hot water in with your grounds, stir, and let it steep for four minutes. Done.

I’ve been going back and forth between French press coffee makers and other types of coffee makers, yet every time I find myself going back to my trusty French press coffee maker that has been serving me well for the past 10 years (and probably will for at least 10 more years). It just doesn’t get old.

In this article we’re taking a look at the options, so if you’re interested in getting yourself a French press coffee maker, this is for you.

Our top pick is the Bodum Chambord French Press Coffee Maker because it’s a beautiful classic and has been a household staple since the 1970’s. It’s available in many different sizes from 12 ounces to 51 ounces.

Best overall: Bodum Chambord

What we like: The Bodum Chambord French press is a true original. It dates back to the 50’s, and has been widely used all over the World ever since. It’s a very simple French press at the same time, so you won’t have to deal with a lot of bits and pieces prone to breaking and disappearing. This is by far our favorite French press of them all. It also comes in different shapes and sizes varying from single-serve 12 ounce units, and all the way up to 51 ounce units, which will serve up to 14 people.

All you need to know: Bodum Chambord is one of the classic French presses, with a design dating back to the 50’s. Originally founded in Denmark in 1944 by Peter Bodum, Bodum is to this day one of the best known Scandinavian design brands across the World.

This French press has a very simple design with a metal stand attached to a plastic handle, a glass container, and a lid with the actual press going through.

The filter is a single fine metal mesh, which ensures you get a good robust coffee flavor.

Several different variations are available, and you can check them all out by clicking on the button above.

Specifications:

• Materials: Glass, stainless steel, plastic
• Capacity: 12 – 51 Oz.

Best stainless steel: Mueller French Press

What we like: This is one beautiful and shiny French press, perfect for those who want something a little bit extra. This press has an additional filter attached to its plunger, which in its nature adds an additional layer of filtration. You won’t get the same amount of coffee sediments in your coffee mug, but it still allows the wanted coffee oils to flow through. Besides the efficient filter system, it also features a double walled pitcher, which keeps your coffee warm for longer, and ensures that you won’t burn your fingers on the sides.

All you need to know: This French press claims to be European engineered with an American guarantee. Mueller is widely known for its quality products, which are sold through Amazon and others.

With this French press set you get not only one filter, but two filters, which adds an additional layer of efficiency to its filtration of your freshly brewed coffee. The filters are securely attached to the plunger, and since everything is made of steel, there are basically no weak points here.

As an added gift you’ll also get a small travel canister of stainless steel, which holds enough coffee grounds for two full portions.

The pitcher is made of double-layered stainless steel, which provides enough isolation to keep your coffee warm up to 60 minutes.

Specifications:

• Materials: Stainless steel
• Capacity: 34 Oz.

Best starter pack: Veken French Press

What we like: Here’s a complete starter pack for those who wants to get started brewing their own delicious French press coffee. You get everything you need here, plus an additional clever thought out features, such as measurements printed directly on the glass beaker, and an all-out practical design which is easy to clean and maintain. It is a very stylish French press as well, and at this price level you won’t find anything as good as this.

All you need to know: The Veken press offers a starter pack for those who aren’t used to drinking coffee. It includes all the basic accessories you need for brewing the coffee, but there’s also a cleaning tool included, and a couple of spoons for dosing the right amount of coffee grounds. You also get a milk frother, so you can get smooth and creamy milk on top of your coffee.

The pitcher is made of glass, and has measurements printed directly on its side. It is printed with ounces and milliliters as well, making it easy for anyone to understand the units.

This French press has two extra filters included, so you can change them if they disappear or breaks. That way you’ll get to use your French press for longer, because the filters usually seem to be the weakest point.

Specifications:

• Materials: Glass, stainless steel, plastic
• Capacity: 12 – 34 Oz.

Best insulated: Coffee Gator Insulated French Press

What we like: This is one premium quality insulated French press, which in addition has a fresh design available in many colors. We love this press for how simple it is, yet it’s insulated and therefore able to keep your coffee warm for up to 60 minutes. It is made from stainless steel, and has two layers: An internal layer, and an external layer. This ensures that you won’t burn your fingers if you touch the pitcher, and we kinda like that. With a capacity of nothing less than 34 ounces, this is a great choice for those seeking a cool and colorful French press.

All you need to know: The Coffee Gator French press is an insulated unit, which has a double steel layer to keep your coffee warm for up to 60 minutes. The plunger is made purely frem steel as well, so there’s no plastic involved here.

As an additional gift, there’s a small canister included to hold at least two portions of coffee grounds.

Due to how this French press is insulated, the handles keeps cold and you won’t risk burning your fingers if you accidentally touch the pitcher.

It comes in one standard size of 34 ounces, which is what most people buy anyway. It brews enough coffee for up to 10 persons.

Specifications:

• Materials: Glass, stainless steel
• Capacity: 34 Oz.

Best insulated stainless steel: Veken Double-Wall French Press

What we like: We love the stylish design of this Veken French press, which is made from stainless steel and nothing else. It has a double-wall insulation, which keeps your coffee warm for longer, and at the same time it protects your fingers from burning. There’s also a spoon included as a bonus, and the price is quite reasonable compared to how much you get here. So if you’re in the market for a great insulated French press, this would definitely be worthy to check out.

All you need to know: The Veken French press is a double-walled brewing unit, which keeps your coffee nice and warm for longer time. The efficient double filter ensures a nice and smooth coffee every time, and you even get two additional filters, so you have a total of four filters included in this package.

The pitcher has a capacity of 34 ounces, and it has measurements printed on the inside to help you pour in the right amount of water. Besides having double-walls, the bevelled lid holding the plunger is also deep enough to properly insulate your coffee. This ensures that your coffee stays warm for longer, and the lid will stay cool as well.

The spoon can be used for stirring or dosing of the coffee.

Specifications:

• Materials: Stainless steel
• Capacity: 34 Oz.

Best single-serve: KONA French Press

What we like: We are in love with the simplicity of this VERY popular little French press. It holds 12 ounces of freshly brewed coffee, and is also available in a larger 34 ounce version. The small model is the best choice for single-servings though, and it doesn’t take much space in your kitchen either. The KONA French press is of course dishwasher safe, and generally it is very simple to handle. So if you want to wake up and have a nice cup of French press coffee in no time, this is definitely worth choosing.

All you need to know: The KONA French press is among the most popular French press coffee makers on the market. It doesn’t have the prettiest design of them all, but in return you get one of the most functional coffee makers out there.

The frame is made from plastic and has a large handle, which ensures that you won’t get anywhere near the hot glass pitcher. There’s also a single filter pad included along with a spoon for your coffee grounds, so you can get the right measures every time you brew yourself a cup of coffee.

Specifications:

• Materials: Plastic and glass
• Capacity: 12 Oz.

Best durable: Stanley Classic French Press Mug

What we like: This is one tough French press coffee maker, perfect for those who tend to drop it from time to time. It also has double-wall vacuum insulation, which keeps your coffee hot for up to 4 hours. So with this French press you’ll get plenty of time to enjoy a hot cup of joe before it gets cold. You’ll also get a high quality plunger made from 100% stainless steel, and the 48 ounce pitcher is made from steel as well. The handle is made from plastic, so it won’t absorb any heat at all from the mug itself. A great purchase for those in need of an unbreakable French press!

All you need to know: Although we won’t recommend you to challenge this statement due to safety reasons, the Stanley French press is unbreakable and comes with a “guarantee for life”. It is made from double-wall stainless steel and has a plastic handle, so you can hold it comfortably without running any risks of burning yourself.

The press comes with a plunger for pressing the coffee, and it brews up to 48 ounces of fresh coffee – enough to serve up to 10 or 12 people.

All parts are dishwasher safe as well, which means you can disassemble it and throw it in the washer. Just be careful not to break the dishwasher… Jokes aside, this French press is a proper choice for travellers, who want a robust French press for camping and travelling in general.

Specifications:

• Materials: Stainless steel
• Capacity: 48 Oz.

Best portable: PRESSE by Bobble

What we like: Now this is one cool travel mug! You may not notice the plunger, because the inner container serves that purpose. Due to a very clever design, there’s no need to assemble and disassemble filters and plungers, you just fill the outer container with your coffee grounds, add hot water, and after a couple of minutes you press the inner container downwards. The inner container has a filter in the bottom, so as it goes down, it fills up with pure delicious coffee – and it will stay warm long enough for you to enjoy it all before it gets cold. All in all, this is by far one of the coolest coffee gadgets for those who’s often on the run and need a hot cup of coffee to go.

All you need to know: PRESSE by Bobble is a unique French press, in the sense that it doesn’t have a regular plunger that you press down through the lid. It does have a lid though, but the lid seals tight around the edges and in combination with the 3-wall design, it gives keeps your coffee warm for en extended period of time.

This French press travel mug makes up to 13 ounces of freshly brewed coffee, which is enough to share, but you can also have it by yourself and enjoy it over a longer period of time. The insulated design keeps it warm for hours.

While the walls are made from steel, the lid is made from plastic, and has a lid on top so you’ll avoid spilling your coffee if the container drops or tips over. It also serves as a drinking spout, so you can easily drink from this mug without making a mess.

This French press is available in various colors and styles, and you can check them all out by clicking through from our site and browse the selection on the reseller website.

Specifications:

• Materials: Stainless steel, plastic
• Capacity: 13 Oz.

Also great: Café du Chateau French Press

What we like: Here’s one great French press in a high quality, with a more sturdy steel frame and an overall beautiful design. It comes with additional filter screens, and it does indeed filter your coffee in a very efficient way. This French press ensures that you get a smooth experience every time, and your coffee comes out nice and tasty with no residue from the coffee grounds, besides their lovely taste. You also get a brewing guide included with this brewer, which makes it a great gift.

All you need to know: The Cafe du Chateau French press is available in a 34 ounce size, which is the most popular size for home use. It serves between 8 and 10 people depending on the size of your coffee cups, and if they are mug-sized, it will serve approximately 4 people.

This French press has a durable steel frame with a steel handle, which covers the glass pitcher and gives you an extra layer of protection from the hot surface of the glass.

There’s also a double filtering system in place here, which is more efficient when it comes to filtering away any residue from your coffee grounds, leaving nothing but great coffee taste.

Specifications:

• Materials: Glass, stainless steel, plastic
• Capacity: 34 Oz.

Also great: SterlingPro French Press

What we like: This French press is as simple as it’s functional, yet it is elegant enough to be placed on the table at special occcassions as well. With capacity of up to 1.75 liters in the biggest model, this is the best choice for those who want to brew larger quantities of coffee at a time. It has a nice smooth mirror finish on the outside, and the double-walled pitcher ensures that your coffee stays warm for a longer period of time. Definitely worth considering, especially if you’re in the market for a large press.

All you need to know: This French press is made by SterlingPro, and has a rather simple design. That’s not all bad though, because its mirror finish gives it an elegant look, which is desired by many people.

The pitcher is available in sizes from 1 liter and up to 1.75 liters, so you can brew up to 14 cups of coffee in one go. The plunger is basic and disassembles easily, so you can clean it in no time. It is also dishwasher safe, so you can put it in the dishwasher as well.

Like most other French presses, this model is suitable for tea making as well. Just add the tea leaves you’d lide to use instead of coffee grounds, and continue the process the way you use to when brewing coffee. Plain and simple.

Specifications:

• Materials: Stainless steel
• Capacity: 34 Oz.

Also great: Espro Travel Coffee Press

What we like: The Espro Travel Coffee Press is known all over the World, and is extremely practical due to its user friendly design. It features not only an insulated container, but an advanced micro filter, that seals in your used coffee grounds and makes sure your coffee keeps tasting great for a long time. The lid is sealed tightly along the edges, and is designed so you can both drink straight from the can or pour it into a cup of your choice. A great product, perfect for travellers.

All you need to know: As its name suggests, this is a French press coffee maker suitable for travelling and camping. It has a few unique features, which make this a one-of-its-kind.

First of all it has an insulated container, which keeps your coffee hot for hours. And second, the plunger is far more advanced than other models. It has a double microfilter design with a completely close seal along the edges, which ensures that not even a single piece of ground coffee seeps through. If you like the drip coffee taste and feel, you can even buy small paper filters and insert them in between the micro filters. It will absorb some of the oils and solids that microfilters alone aren’t capable of keeping away from your coffee, making a milder coffee with a smooth taste.

Espro Travel Coffee Press makes up to 10 ounces of coffee at a time, which is more than enough for most people.

It is also available with a tea filter, and comes in many different colors.

Specifications:

• Materials: Stainless steel, plastic
• Capacity: 10 Oz.

Also great: KOHIPRESS The Original

What we like: If you’re on the hunt for a stylish single-serve French press, the KOHIPRESS coffee maker is the way to go. It is slender, beautiful, and it has a very functional design. It works quite well for those who wants to bring a good cup of coffee along on their daily commute, but it is also a great choice for travellers and those going on camping trips often. You’ll get a simple 3-piece construction, which consists of an outer container, an inner container with a filter at the bottom, and a lid which is screwed on for a perfect seal. It also has a capacity of 12 ounces, which is really great for solo travellers, but it can also be shared with a fellow traveller.

All you need to know: KOHIPRESS The Original is a stylish and unique French press. It doesn’t come with a traditional plunger, but instead the inner container functions like the plunger. It has a filter at the bottom, and is pressed into the outer container, so the coffee is being forced up through the filter and into the container.

It is also insulated, which means your coffee is kept hot for a longer period of time, and with a capacity of 12 ounces it is more than enough for sharing. You could also enjoy the coffee alone over a longer period of time, because it stays hot for hours.

There’s a lid with a combined drinking/pouring spout attached to it on top, which makes this French press ideal to use as a travel mug as well.

Specifications:

• Materials: Stainless steel, plastic
• Capacity: 12 Oz.

Also great: Stanley Classic Vacuum French Press

What we like: Now this is one nice and durable French press, perfect for those days on the road, and in particular those who work in construction or other demanding jobs out in the field. This French press comes with a lifetime warranty from Stanley, which serves as a testimonial at how much they believe in their own product. And we haven’t been disappointed yet. With a capacity of up to 16 ounces, it is a great choice for both single-servings and those travelling in pairs. It keeps your coffee hot for up to 4 hours, which is more than enough for most people. All in all, this is one great choice for those seeking a durable coffee maker.

All you need to know: This French press from Stanley is one classic looking container in the characteristic green colors. It has a nearly indestructible design, so it can take a beating without breaking, so to speak.

It is of course dishwasher safe, and it works well for both hot and cold beverages, with the ability to keep beverages hot for up to 4 hours, and cold for up to 5 hours. Iced beverages are kept cold for up to 20 hours, though.

According to Stanley, the lid is leak-proof, and it can therefore be brought along at any time. The plunger sinks into the container itself, and is therefore completely hidden underneath the lid.

Specifications:

• Materials: Stainless steel, plastic
• Capacity: 16 Oz.

Identifying the best French press coffee maker

Although French press coffee makers are simple by nature, there are a few things to look out for and consider before purchasing.

First off, you don’t want to buy one that’s too small. Secondly, you want it to be as easy to use and practical as possible. Spare parts are nice to have available as well, especially the metal mesh filters are likely to wear out over time.

During our review process, we considered the most important factors as we identified the best French press coffee makers on the market.

These are the factors worth considering before buying:

• Ease of use
• Build quality
• Capacity

Ease of use – French press coffee makers are generally easy to use, but some have more parts that overcomplicate the process. We want a French press coffee maker that is simple and easy to use, easy to disassemble and just as easy to assemble. This allows for easy cleaning, so you can focus on other things instead.

Build quality – French press coffee makers isn’t the most robust product on the market, due to the glass carafe and thin metal mesh filters. However, build quality should still be considered as some coffee makers seem to cut corners when it comes to filters and the plunger.

Capacity – You want to make sure that you can make the exact amount of cups that you would like. Choosing a small coffee maker could be useful when you’re alone, but if you often have family or friends over you might want to consider getting a bigger one. You can always make a half portion in a big French press, but it doesn’t work the other way around.