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The Best French Presses Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

The Best French Press Coffee Makers of 2024

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The Best French Presses Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

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1
Editor's Choice Product image of Espro P3
Best Overall

Espro P3

Check Price at Amazon

The Espro P3 delivers delicious, silky-smooth coffee with its dual-filter design. It’s easy to lift and handle, and you can lock it for transport. Read More

Pros

  • Smooth coffee
  • comfortable to hold
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Can't froth milk
2
Editor's Choice Product image of SterlingPro Double-Wall Stainless Steel French Press
Best Stainless-Steel French Press

SterlingPro Double-Wall Stainless Steel French Press

Check Price at Amazon

It boasts an especially large capacity, and is good for anything from cold brew to hot chocolate. A cinch to clean because it's dishwasher safe, but not a problem to scrub by hand. Read More

Pros

  • Excellent insulation
  • Double seal that prevents grounds in coffee
  • Easy to clean

Cons

  • No measurement markings
3
Product image of OXO Venture French Press Coffee Maker
Best Plastic French Press

OXO Venture French Press Coffee Maker

Check Price at Amazon

It's super affordable, but might not last for an especially long time, considering its silicone-ringed filters. Read More

Pros

  • Feather-light, easy for traveling
  • Addordable

Cons

  • Silicone-ringed filter might not last long
4
Product image of Le Creuset French Press
Best Stoneware French Press

Le Creuset French Press

Check Price at Amazon

The most attractive model we tested by far. That said, these are very heavy, the carafe can get hot, and the lid tends to slip while pouring, leading to breakability and safety concerns. Read More

Pros

  • Heavy build
  • Different color options

Cons

  • The lid tends to slip when pouring
5
Product image of Espro Press P7-32
Smoothest Cup of Coffee

Espro Press P7-32

Check Price at Amazon

Though amongst the more expensive models we evaluated, this beast of a device is built to stand the test of time. Read More

Pros

  • Double-walled, vacuum-insulated stainless steel
  • The smoothest cup of coffee

Cons

  • Pricey
  • Best Overall Espro P3
  • Best Stainless-Steel French Press SterlingPro SS Double Wall Cafetiere
  • Best Plastic French Press OXO Venture French Press Coffee Maker
  • Best Stoneware French Press Le Creuset French Press
  • Smoothest Cup of Coffee Espro Press P7-32
  • Other French Presses We Tested
  • How We Tested French Presses
  • What You Should Know About French Presses
  • More Articles You Might Enjoy

In a world full of coffeemakers—espressos, pour-overs and automated drip machines—why bother with French presses? Admittedly, they require a bit more active work than other models. Using them during your morning routine will generally involve water boiling, vigorous stirring, waiting, and plunging; not to mention ideally coarsely grinding your own beans. But for that satisfying taste and a barista-worthy cup of joe, many coffee enthusiasts will say, it’s hard to beat a French press.

So, which French press makes the best cup of coffee? After researching some of the most popular on the market, we narrowed our search and compared 19 of the best French presses by making nearly 200 cups of coffee. Our favorite? Espro P3 (available at Amazon) , because it’s able to effortlessly turn out sizable amounts of super-smooth java (and keep it hot for extended periods of time), at an extremely reasonable price.

An Espro P3 French press with black plastic holder is pictured next to a brown-tainted glass mug on a table.
Credit: Reviewed / Valerie Li Stack

The Espro P3 produced consistently excellent results in our testing

Best Overall
Espro P3

Like the P7 model we’ve tested, the Espro P3 produced the smoothest and most sediment-free coffee in our testing, thanks to the dual-filter system used in all Espro French presses. Once clipped together, the two filters are able to sieve out coffee grounds twice as efficiently as the single-filter French presses.

It’s relatively lightweight due to the plastic cage, which makes it easy to lift and pour. The cage is thoughtfully designed with a lock to keep the glass carafe and lid together in case transportation is necessary. The carafe boasts a 40-ounce capacity, which guarantees to yield at minimum 32-ounce brew.

Using German-made Schott-Duran glass for its carafe, the P3 is heat-resistant and exceptionally durable, just like the P7 but at a much lower price point. We were consistently impressed by the coffee it brewed and how effortless it was to use the plunger.

The only disadvantage of the dual-filter system is that it’s unlikely you’ll be able to froth milk in this press due to the design and shape of the filter. If you want to enjoy quality French press coffee with foamy milk, we recommend getting an electric milk frother or a frothing wand.

Pros

  • Smooth coffee

  • comfortable to hold

  • Affordable

Cons

  • Can't froth milk

Buy now at Amazon

$39.95 from Home Depot

$39.95 from Walmart
SterlingPro SS Double Wall Cafetiere
Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
Best Stainless-Steel French Press
SterlingPro SS Double Wall Cafetiere

Receiving high marks across the board in our tests, SterlingPro's double-wall design provides excellent insulation, meaning the coffee stays hot, while the exterior of the unit remains cool to the touch.

The lid can also be spun around to seal off the pouring spout and hold in heat when not in use. The snugly fitting filter is equipped with double screens, preventing grounds from sneaking into your cup, and every part of the press is constructed from rust-free stainless steel.

It’s relatively lightweight for a metal model, and easy to operate, too; The lid fits tightly, and the plunger pushes down smoothly, without excess effort. It boasts an especially large capacity (holding about six cups of coffee, where the average in this size-class is four), is multi-use—good for making anything from cold brew to hot chocolate—and produces perfectly frothed milk in seconds.

However, it isn’t without flaws. The carafe is missing measurement marks, which makes it difficult to brew in various quantities, which is the main reason we knocked it down a spot in this round of testing.

Pros

  • Excellent insulation

  • Double seal that prevents grounds in coffee

  • Easy to clean

Cons

  • No measurement markings

Buy now at Amazon
OXO French press on beige background
Credit: OXO

The OXO French Press is the best plastic option we've tested.

Best Plastic French Press
OXO Venture French Press Coffee Maker

Ideal for coffee on the go, OXO's feather-light Venture is crafted from shatterproof, BPA-free Tritan plastic, with a comfortable to hold handle and easy to depress plunger. The spout has a filter, which helps keep out stray grounds and prevents splashes. The entire unit is dishwasher safe, making it easy to clean. It's super affordable, but might not last for an especially long time, considering its silicone-ringed filters.

Pros

  • Feather-light, easy for traveling

  • Addordable

Cons

  • Silicone-ringed filter might not last long

Buy now at Amazon

$33.00 from Walmart
Two people holding the red stoneware Le Creuset French press
Credit: Le Creueset

Le Creuset makes a fantastic stoneware French press.

Best Stoneware French Press
Le Creuset French Press

The most attractive model we tested by far (it’s Le Creuset after all), you won’t mind keeping this aesthetically pleasing press on the counter or bringing right to the table during dinners or parties. While most French presses come in basic black or stainless steel, you can choose from an array of colors like Provence Purple, Cherry Red, Soleil Yellow or Caribbean Blue, all of which are odor and stain resistant and dishwasher safe, with stainless steel plungers and presses. That said, these are very heavy, the carafe can get hot, and the lid tends to slip while pouring, leading to breakability and safety concerns.

Pros

  • Heavy build

  • Different color options

Cons

  • The lid tends to slip when pouring

$84.95 from Amazon
Espro French press besides a cup of coffee on a wooden surface
Credit: Espro

This Espro French press produced the smoothest cup of coffee during testing.

Smoothest Cup of Coffee
Espro Press P7-32

Espro P7: Though amongst the more expensive models we evaluated, this beast of a machine is built to stand the test of time. Made from double-walled, vacuum insulated stainless steel, it kept our coffee piping hot, without leaching any of that heat to the outside carafe. And while escaped grounds can often be a downside of French presses, the Espro has a unique duel filtering system, that produced the smoothest java we tried. A pair of BPS and BPA-free micro filters come with a double-lip seal to prevent over-extraction, and unsavory grit from sliding into your cup.

Pros

  • Double-walled, vacuum-insulated stainless steel

  • The smoothest cup of coffee

Cons

  • Pricey

Buy now at Amazon

Other French Presses We Tested

Product image of Stanley Classic Stay Hot French Press - 48 oz
Stanley Classic Stay Hot French Press - 48 oz

The Stanley brand may be new to the world of coffee gadgetry, but its quality-made products are definitely worth checking out. Sturdily built with heavy-duty material, this sizeable French press is able to brew enough coffee for five to eight people.

The stainless steel mesh filter aims to keep coffee grounds out of your hot, tasty coffee (more on that later) while the vacuum insulation system ensures the temperature remains stable for hours to come. Its build quality convinced us that it’ll last most people a lifetime, even in the harshest of outdoor conditions.

The downside to its large capacity is how heavy this French press is, making it particularly hard to pour when filled with hot coffee. Though we like the construction of this press, the mesh filter wasn’t as efficient at keeping sediment out of coffee as the top-performing models. Additionally, we think Stanley can improve on its measurement markings, as they aren’t very visible.

Pros

  • Excellent heat retention

  • Large capacity

Cons

  • Too heavy

  • Pricey

Buy now at Amazon

$67.44 from Walmart
Product image of Hario Double Glass Coffee Press
Hario Double Glass Coffee Press

The Hario French Press is attractive and sturdy. Equipped with two thick glass walls for better insulation and protection against heat, this press can sustain sudden temperature changes without burning your hands when you pick it up to pour coffee.

However, it falls short in terms of practicality. First, the removable wood collar that’s wrapped around the carafe is too loose for anyone to hold the carafe properly and comfortably. During testing, we struggled to pick it up with one hand because the collar kept wiggling, making it difficult to grip.

Though we like the dual-wall design, aimed to keep the brewing temperature consistent, we weren’t confident that its brewing capacity (13.5-ounces, less than half of the average presses) is what most people are looking for in a French press. Of all French presses we’ve tested, this Hario has the smallest capacity, which yields about one and a half cup.

Lastly, we were disappointed at how difficult it was to froth milk using this press, which is partly a design flaw. The top opening is narrow and taller than the lid, making it uncomfortable to lift the lid and push the plunger. The spout could also use some improvements—it spilled during our testing.

Overall, we think this French press will last you a while, but if you’re serious about French press coffee, there are many other models on the market that may better suit your needs.

Pros

  • Beautiful design

  • Durable materials

Cons

  • Pricey

  • Uncomfortable to hold

  • Small capacity

Buy now at Sur La Table

Buy now at Amazon
Product image of IdylcHomes Kona French Press
Kona French Press Coffee Maker by IdylcHomes

For $20 at Amazon, you can’t ask more from a French press. Kona really delivers with their multi-material model, composed of an easy-on-the-eye, extra-thick borosilicate glass carafe (resistant to thermal shock) which is surrounded by a BPA-free plastic outer shell, that helps insulate and protect against chips and breaks. Those two pieces are fused, which means your hands won’t get scalded if the outer skeleton slips (that does make it slightly trickier to clean, but the whole thing is dishwasher safe). The Kona is light, with an ergonomic handle, tight-fitting lid and smooth-moving plunger, so it’s comfortable to use and hold. And the reusable filters are made of food-grade stainless steel instead of plastic (not often the case with less expensive, glass/plastic presses) that won’t transmit flavors, and are considerably longer lasting. But the thing that really set the Kona apart is its ability to quickly foam milk—something we found near impossible with plastic presses, and quite time consuming with glass.

Pros

  • Well-insulated

  • Ergonomic handle for safety

  • Easy to foam milk

Cons

  • Some parts are plastic.

Buy now at Amazon
Product image of Frieling 0104 French Press
Frieling 0104 French Press

The gleaming Frieling has the benefit of excellent heat retention, thanks to the double-walled, durable, high-quality materials used. There’s little chance of escaped grounds, owing to a two-stage duel screened filtration system. All parts can be disassembled and put in the dishwasher for easy cleaning, and the model boasts a 5-year warranty against defects. The downsides are that it’s definitely heavy and somewhat pricey, and the plunger took a lot of muscle to press. So, while the foamed milk it produced was perfect, you’ll expend some energy getting there.

Pros

  • Excellent heat retention

  • Two-stage filtration system

  • Easy to clean

Cons

  • Heavy

  • Pricey

  • Plunger is hard to press

Buy now at Amazon

$139.95 from Home Depot

$139.95 from Walmart
Product image of BonJour Ami-Matin 8-Cup French Press
BonJour Ami-Matin 8-Cup French Press

Comfortable to hold, seamless to use, affordably priced, dishwasher safe, shatter-free and BPA-free, Bonjour’s Ami Matin offers everything you’d expect of a plastic French press. And it even does your classic model one or two better, by coming in an array of colors, and with a filtering lid to reduce sediments, and a shut-off infuser that stops the brewing process and locks in flavor. It should be noted that there’s a decent amount of negative customer feedback, regarding long-term durability. And—like most plastic presses—it struck out big time when it came to frothing milk.

Pros

  • Comfortable to hold

  • Seamless to use

  • Affordably-priced

Cons

  • Might not last long

$29.39 from Amazon

$15.45 from Walmart
Product image of Bodum Brazil
Bodum Brazil

The benefit of the Brazil is that it’s made from a composite of materials, representing the best of each; a glass carafe for clean flavors and aesthetics, a BPA-free plastic lid, handle and base for comfort and durability, and a stainless-steel filter and plunger that won’t corrode over time. And they’re all dishwasher safe. Nevertheless, it’s important not to touch the carafe (as the heat bleeds through), it’s still subject to breaking, and it doesn’t have much in the way of a filtration system, like the aforementioned presses. There’s also no cover in front of the pouring spout, meaning the coffee quickly loses heat.

Pros

  • Composite of materials to prevent breaking

  • Durable

Cons

  • Coffee loses heat quickly

$21.55 from Amazon

$19.99 from Target

$24.71 from Walmart
Product image of Cafe Du Chateau French Press
Cafe Du Chateau French Press

Café du Chateau French Press: The primary selling point here is a four-level filtration system, consisting of a pair of stainless-steel screens, a spring-loaded base that seals the edges during pressing, and a strainer in the lid, as a final defense against escaped grounds. Keep in mind that the outside—consisting of a glass canister with stainless steel exterior—gets plenty hot, so you’ll need to be careful when handling. Additionally, it only comes in one capacity (34-ounces), and all of those filters can be difficult to separate, and thus, to clean.

Pros

  • Features four-level filtration system

  • A spring-loaded base to seal the edge

Cons

  • Difficult to clean

Buy now at Amazon
Product image of Secura SFP-34DS
Secura SFP-34DS

For a model that uses stainless steel in both exterior and interior construction, the price point for the Secura is surprisingly low. There’s a three-layer filter to guard against grounds, plus a bonus screen that can be stacked against that, to produce an even smoother cup. Detractors are that it’s definitely heavy when filled, and the lid didn’t sit perfectly flush against the carafe, making plunging very wiggly and difficult.

Pros

  • Surprisingly cheap for stainless steel

Cons

  • Plunging is wiggly and difficult

Buy now at Amazon
Product image of Bodum Chambord
Bodum Chambord

Lightweight and nice-looking, the Chambord sports a classic French press construction, with a glass carafe and footed framed by a stainless-steel cage.

While you’ll find this product on many “best of” lists, we can’t say we’re believers in Bodum’s top-selling model. The glass carafe regularly slipped out of its (somewhat flimsy) steel skeleton, raising all manner of red flags as far as safety is concerned. We also noticed a crack in the glass carafe after first use.

And if you don’t realize that the shell to which the handle is attached has shifted around, you may find yourself pouring with the spout turned to the side, sending streams of hot coffee onto your arm instead of into your cup. The plunger also sits awkwardly inside of the carafe, further deducting points for ease of use.

Pros

  • Inexpensive

  • Nice-looking

Cons

  • The stainless steel part is filmsy

  • Lots of spilling

$25.49 from Amazon

$25.49 from Target

$29.69 from Home Depot

$49.95 from Walmart

How We Tested French Presses

The Tester

I’m Sarah Zorn, and I’ve been a food writer and editor for almost 10 years. Like most busy professionals, I almost exclusively function on coffee. And testing 1-plus French presses almost allowed me to hit my daily quota of caffeine.

And I'm Valerie Li Stack, senior staff writer on the Kitchen and Cooking team at Reviewed. From moseying to 7-Eleven for a quick caffeine fix to traveling to Blue Mountain plantation in Jamaica, I’ve sampled coffee of many different origins and varieties. As an avid coffee and tea drinker, a day officially starts when I drink my first cup of coffee—whether it's a double shot of espresso or a pint of cold brew.

The Tests

To find the best french presses, we made three separate batches of coffee in each machine, using the same method (3 cups boiling water to 1 tablespoon coarsely ground coffee. Combine in the canister, stir thoroughly, let sit for four minutes, and plunge). We assessed subjective questions, such as how easy it was to use the press and plunger, how comfortable it was to hold and lift the press when full, and how simple the press was to clean. We also addressed objective questions, including if there were any grinds in our coffee, the quality, build and durability of the press, whether there were visible measurement marks, if we had any safety concerns, and our overall experience with each unit. We also evaluated how easy it was to froth milk in each press, using the same method (heat 1 cup of milk for 40 seconds in the microwave, place in canister, and plunge 30 times).

What You Should Know About French Presses

French Presses can be made of stainless steel, glass and plastic.
Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar

Patented back in the 1920s, the current design hasn’t changed much over the years. Basically, French presses consist of a lidded canister (made of various materials), fitted with a retractable plunger equipped with metal or plastic filter. After sitting for four minutes or so in heated water (approximately 200 °F), the plunger is used to press and trap course grounds against the canister base, extracting flavor into the water that surrounds it, while the filters prevent spent grounds from escaping into your cup.

So why go the French press route? While paper filters used in other coffeemakers aid in cleanup, they also prevent the tastiest coffee bean oils and essences from making it into your mug. Other kinds of coffeemakers like percolators and drips operate in heat extremes—they come to a boiling point in minutes, then precipitously drop. The slow and steady nature of the French press is precisely what makes the most of the coffee beans; treating them like tea by allowing them to steep before sipping. And in addition to being pretty (and sounding fancy), French presses (known as cafetieres in Europe) actually come in a range of wallet-friendly prices. You can spend as little as $20very little money for a brewing machine that makes tasty coffee, takes up less counter space, and is more portable than percolators, pour-overs or drip hardware.

The primary factor that sets French presses apart from each other is what material they’re made from: stainless steel, glass, plastic, or stoneware/ceramic. So, it’s up to the purchaser to decide where their priorities lay when it comes to selecting one. (As is size. two, eight and 12-cup capacity are the most common).

Stainless steel has excellent heat retention and is generally the most durable. We’ve also found that it’s the best performer by far for frothing milk. Stainless-steel presses tend to be expensive though, are rather heavy, a touch less attractive, and you can’t actually see the coffee inside.

Glass is attractive and lightweight and generally doesn’t transmit off flavors to the coffee. Depending on the model, however, the outside of the carafe often gets hot to the touch, increasing the risk of scalding and burns. They also break easily. Look for models with an outer frame (either metal or plastic) that will help guard against burns and increase durability.

Plastic (it’s best to look for BPA-free) is inexpensive, lightweight and portable, making presses easy to take on trips or to the office. It doesn’t break as easily, but lower-priced models often aren’t made from especially durable parts, so the mechanisms can break down over time. Look for models with an outer frame (either metal or plastic) that will help guard against burns and increase durability.

Stoneware and ceramic looks beautiful in the kitchen, doesn’t transmit off-flavors, and has pretty good heat retention (although again, be careful of touching the carafe with your bare hands). It’s highly breakable though, and heavy, especially when full of coffee, so dropping could be disastrous. Stoneware/ceramic models also tend to be on the expensive side.

In addition to the materials the carafe is made of, it’s also important to assess the plunger, which is instrumental to using a French press. It should move up and down easily, and the filter should ideally be made of metal, not plastic, as it’s much more durable, and won’t corrode or bend (especially when put in the dishwasher) over time. Speaking of dishwashers, because of all their parts, French presses can be tricky to clean. So look for models that are dishwasher safe, or allow the filter to be separated from the plunger, so you can effectively remove the coffee grinds.

Meet the testers

Sarah Zorn

Sarah Zorn

Contributor

Sarah Zorn is a food writer, cookbook author, and product tester for Reviewed, Wirecutter and the Food Network. She regularly contributes to outlets such as Saveur, Esquire, and Civil Eats, and has very much passed her food obsessions down, as her beloved rescue hound, Rowdy, regularly deglazes his kibble bowl.

See all of Sarah Zorn's reviews
Valerie Li Stack

Valerie Li Stack

Senior Staff Writer

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Valerie Li Stack is a senior staff writer for Kitchen & Cooking. She is an experienced home cook with a passion for experimenting with the cuisines of countries she's visited. Driven by an interest in food science, Valerie approaches the culinary scene with a firm grasp of cooking processes and extensive knowledge of ingredients. She believes food speaks to all people regardless of language and cultural background.

See all of Valerie Li Stack's reviews

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