Have you ever had french press coffee? If you haven’t, then trust me, you are missing out on an experience.
French press coffee is one of the easiest to make.
Using a french press coffee maker is way easier than using an espresso machine.
If you are in search of the perfect french press coffee maker to buy for your home, office or travels then you landed in the right place.
This buying guide was created to take you through the dos and don’ts you need to know before spending money to buy a french press.
All the products listed in this article have “off the hook” ratings and can be purchased on Amazon.
Are you ready for this epic blockbuster? Let’s begin!
Comparison Table
Item | Size | Brew Time | Cup Capacity | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|
Our Pick Coffee Gator French Press | 5.8 x 5.6 x 11.9 inches | 3-4 minutes | 2-3 cups | |
Large Capacity Bodum Columbia | 8.7 x 6.9 x 5.3 inches | 4 Minutes | 8-12 cups | |
Best for Travel Espro Travel Coffee Press | 2.8 x 2.8 x 8.1 inches | 4 Minutes | 2-3 cups | |
Best Stainless Steel Secura French Press | 6.7 x 6.1 x 9.8 inches | 3-4 minutes | 4 cups | |
Best Glass French Press Veken French Press | 6.5 x 4.1 x 8.3 inches | 4 Minutes | 2-3 cups | |
Best Ceramic French Coffee Maker StramperPress French Press | 9 x 8.8 x 4.8 inches | 4 Minutes | 2-3 cups | |
Best Insulated Secura Large French Press | 8.9 x 6.9 x 5.9 inches | 4 Minutes | 8 cups | |
Best Small Cup KOHIPRESS French Press | 2.7 x 2.7 x 10.6 inches | 3 minutes | 1 cup | |
Best Design Ritual French Coffee Press | 9.5 x 7 x 5 inches | 3-4 minutes | 1-2 cups | |
Best Small French Press Brillante Small French Press | 4.8 x 3.2 x 6.8 inches | 3-4 minutes | 1 cup |
Top 10 Best French Press Coffee Maker Reviews
1. Coffee Gator French Press – Best Overall
Truth be told, I can’t talk about the best french press coffee makers without adding a coffee gator product to my list, their products are not only crazily beautiful, but they also have crazy outstanding features that other french presses don’t have. For starters, it has a feature that keeps coffee hot for up to 60 minutes, that’s amazing.
With this french press from Coffee Gator, you need not worry about sediment getting into your cup of coffee, This french press comes double-filtered which is designed to stop sediment. You also get an extra container that you can use to store ground coffee or whole beans. You’ll love using this one.
Specifications
Size: 5.8 x 5.6 x 11.9 inches
Weight: 2.3 pounds
Material: Stainless steel, plastic.
Brew Time: 3-4 minutes
Cup Capacity: 2-3 cups
- It keeps the coffee hot for up to 60 minutes.
- It is easy to use.
- It does not spill when pouring.
- Some components might not be easy to clean.
- The stainless steel might have small rust.
2. Bodum Columbia Thermal French Press – Large Capacity
When choosing a french press coffee maker for your household you need to consider factors like the size of the item and the number of people you’ll probably have to serve. This french press can serve 8-12 cups making it an ideal pick for a home. It is made of stainless steel and promises not to accept rust. This coffee maker is created to make coffee hot for up to 2 hours.
In just 4 minutes you will be able to drink your coffee. With its nicely designed handle, you don’t have to worry about getting a good grip. This french press will also make a great pick for your office given that it can serve up to 8 people.
Specifications
Size: 8.7 x 6.9 x 5.3 inches
Weight: 1.92 pounds
Material: Stainless steel, plastic
Brew Time: 4 Minutes
Cup Capacity: 8-12 cups
- It can serve lots of people at once
- It can keep the coffee hot for 2 hours
- It does not spill while pouring
- It has plastic inside.
- The filter system might not drain well.
3. Espro Portable Travel Coffee Press – Best for Travel
If you are the kind that is into traveling like me, you’ll need something that you can carry in your backpack easily without having to worry about bringing out pieces of broken glass. The Espro Travel Coffee press is an ideal coffee press for traveling. It has a sleek and beautiful design. Trust me, the Espro Travel coffee is one french press you’ll always want to travel with.
The Espro Travel coffee press is sludge and grit-free, it even keeps your brew hot for hours. Pressing the filter of this french press stops extraction completely, this is to ensure that your coffee doesn’t get bitter over time. The last drop tastes exactly like the first.
Specifications
Size: 2.8 x 2.8 x 8.1 inches
Weight: 12.2 ounces
Material: Stainless steel, plastic
Brew Time: 4 minutes
Cup Capacity: 2-3 cups
- It keeps coffee hot for 4-6 hours
- It is easy to clean and use
- Some grinds might get into the coffee
- It is prone to spilling
4. Secura French Press Coffee Maker – Best Stainless Steel
If you are into stainless steel, the Secura French press is a great pick for you. It is made of stainless steel which makes it more durable than other products. Both interior and exterior are made of stainless steel. This french press comes equipped with a cool-touch handle and a knob for safe and comfortable pouring.
When using this french press it advisable that you add a coarse ground, fine grounds will most likely clog the filters. With a weight of about 2.4 pounds and a size of 6.7 x 6.1 x 9.8 inches, the Secura french press will fit almost anywhere.
Specifications
Size: 6.7 x 6.1 x 9.8 inches
Weight: 2.4 pounds
Material: Stainless steel
Brew Time: 3-4 minutes
Cup Capacity: 4 cups
- It is very durable.
- It is easy to use and clean.
- Fine ground coffee will clog the filters.
- The top might not fit properly.
5. Veken French Coffee Maker – Best Glass French Press
The Veken French Press is yet another force to reckon with in the coffee maker world. This french press also comes packed with cool features that make it unique. It is made of stainless steel and glass. With the glass beaker, you can monitor the whole coffee-making process. The Veken French Press also uses borosilicate glass making it more durable.
I like the filtration process the most, this french press comes with double stainless steel screen filters that help in reducing the amount of residue that gets into your cup. This press comes with a 2-year warranty, 1 wooden spoon, 1 milk frother, 1 cleaning brush, and 4 filter screens.
Specifications
Size: 6.5 x 4.1 x 8.3 inches
Weight: 2.05 pounds
Material: Stainless steel, borosilicate glass
Brew Time: 4 minutes
Cup Capacity: 2-3 cups
- It is easy to use and clean
- It has a great filter process
- The glass might break if the water is too hot
- It cannot make lots of cups
6. StramperPress French Press – Best Ceramic French Coffee Maker
Here’s another great french press, this one, however, is made of ceramic and might break easily but it still gets the job done. Its design is quite sleek and would fit perfectly in your kitchen along with its ceramic brothers and sisters. This french press promises to keep your coffee warm but you shouldn’t bank on it for long.
Want to know what I love most about this french press? It is the hourglass attached to the handle, it is a 4-minute hourglass that you can use to know when brewing is done. What an amazing feature, I must say!
Specifications
Size: 9 x 8.8 x 4.8 inches
Weight: 2.5 pounds
Material: Ceramic
Brew Time: 4 minutes
Cup Capacity: 2-3 cups
- It is very easy to clean.
- It is easy to use.
- It has a fancy hourglass.
- It can break easily
7. Secura Large French Press – Best Insulated
Here’s the last but not least on my list of best french press coffee makers. The Secura is large, gorgeous, and durable. It won’t let you view what is happening when you are french pressing but it still gets the task done properly. How do you use this? Simply add hot water to your ground coffee and press, it is that easy.
It has a thermal dual-wall that is specially designed to keep your coffee hot for a while. If you are the kind who doesn’t like scrubbing, the Secura would make a great pick for you, it is very easy to clean.
Specifications
Size: 8.9 x 6.9 x 5.9 inches
Weight: 3.9 pounds
Material: Stainless steel
Brew Time: 4 minutes
Cup capacity: 8 cups
- It keeps coffee hot for a while.
- It filters properly.
- It comes with our “Cool” touch handle
- It might leak after a while.
8. KOHIPRESS French Press – Best Small Cup
This bad boy here can brew hot and cold coffee. Cool right? So, everyone has a favorite cup, I do and I know you do too. If you are totally into french presses here’s one that would be a great match for your small cup. The KOHIPRESS is amazing and great for camping, offices and even homes. This french press uses a full immersion steep with a pressurized plunger press to give you nothing but amazing coffee.
It also comes packed with a stainless steel filter that can be used over and over again. Its leak-proof lid ensures that you don’t get any spills or leaks whenever you put it away. The KOHIPRESS is easy to clean. You should use coarse ground coffee with this coffee maker.
Specifications
Size: 2.7 x 2.7 x 10.6 inches
Weight: 0.16 ounces
Material: Plastic, stainless steel
Brew TIme: 3 minutes
Cup Capacity: 1 cup
- It is easy to use.
- It can keep coffee warm for an extended period.
- It makes a mess most of the time.
- It can not make more than 1 cup at once.
9. Ritual French Coffee Press – Best Design
Take coffee making to the next level with this state of the art french press. The handle is made of bamboo making it quite comfy to hold, even the top lid is made of bamboo. With the borosilicate glass body, you’ll also be able to see what’s going on when you french pressing. The Ritual French Coffee Press is a great french press worthy of being on my list.
You do not have to worry about residue getting into your coffee, this french press has a dual-layer precision filter that ensures you drink your coffee without having to worry about grounds getting into your cup. If you are the kind of person who loves style! this french coffee press would be a great pick for you.
Specifications
Size: 9.5 x 7 x 5 inches
Weight: 1.6 pounds
Material: borosilicate glass, bamboo
Brew Time: 3-4 minutes
Cup Capacity: 1-2 cups
- It is durable.
- It is easy to use and clean.
- It might splash easily.
- The glass might crack.
- The bamboo lid might not fit after being exposed to heat.
10. Brillante Small French Press – Best Small French Press
If you want something smaller, I’d advise you to go for this small french press by Brillante, this french press has a size of 4.8 x 3.2 x 6.8 inches and it weighs just 10.1 ounces, it is perfect for carrying around or maybe traveling. This small french press would fit just perfectly in your traveling bag making it possible to enjoy a cup anywhere without having to order a cup elsewhere.
This work of art is easy to clean and use, however, it is single-serve, so you’ll have to make a fresh cup every time. Yup, I know you have seen the glass and you are a bit worried about it shattering. The glass is borosilicate and this kind of glass doesn’t break as normal glasses do.
Specifications
Size: 4.8 x 3.2 x 6.8 inches
Weight: 10.1 ounces
Material: Borosilicate glass, stainless steel
Brew Time: 3-4 minutes
Cup Capacity: 1 cup (could be 3 cups depending on the size of the cup)
- It is easy to clean.
- It is easy to carry around.
- It can’t serve a lot of people.
- The glass might break.
Types of French Press Coffee Makers
There are three kinds of french presses, stainless steel, glass, and ceramic french presses.
Stainless Steel French Press
I like these more. They are ideal for keeping your coffee hot from 2 up to 6 hours. That’s amazing. Another benefit of using these kinds of french presses is their durability, french presses that are made of stainless steel can withstand wear and tear easily. The downside of stainless steel french presses is that some of them are prone to get rusted and nobody would want to brew coffee in a rusted french press.
Glass French Press
I asked a couple of folks and about this kind of french presses and 90% of them said they love it because they can see what is going on in the french press while processing. That is a good reason, most glass french presses are quite beautiful, but the issue with these kinds of french presses is that they are prone to break or crack easily due to hot water or drop. Another disadvantage of glass french presses is that they can’t keep the coffee warm or hot like the stainless steel french press.
Ceramic French Press
French presses made of ceramic retains heath a little bit better than the glass french presses. But they are way more fragile and can easily break.
Factors To Consider Before Buying
Before you buy a french press there are some things you should consider, here are some of them.
Quality: Trust me, there are different kinds of french presses out there, you need to be very careful when selecting a french press. Quality matters a lot. I don’t think buying a plastic french press would be a great idea. If you want the best out of your french press, you should get a glass or stainless steel french press.
Size: If you are like me who has a large family, getting a small french press will be annoying trust me, I’ve been there. You should get something bigger for your family, something that won’t require you to wait for 4 minutes for every cup.
Warranty: Just in case you notice an issue, the product warranty should cover-up. Always look out for a product with a warranty.
Filter: A french press with more filters will most definitely keep residue away from your coffee. Look out for french presses that have more filters.
How To Use A French Press To Brew Coffee
So, I had to meet one of the best baristas I know (name withheld), I asked him to tell me the best way to use a french press to brew amazing coffee and I must say it was quite easy to get the hang of. According to him, It’s the same method that is used almost everywhere, and it is beginner-friendly too.
Steps to using a french press
Before using any of the steps below, it is essential that you clean or rinse your french press and whatever tools you are using that are water-friendly, like a spoon or kettle perhaps.
Tip: Measure one scoop for every 4 ounces of water
- Heat water in your kettle (make sure it is very hot).
- Pour ground coffee into the french press (you should give it a shake to settle the grounds).
- Slowly pour the heated water into the french press.
- Stir both ground coffee and water.
- Slowly and carefully, place the plunger inside the carafe, stop it just above the water.
- Allow it to brew for 3-4 minutes.
- Take out the plunger and stir it again just to be sure.
- Place the plunger inside the carafe and push it down to filter the grounds from the coffee.
- Pour the coffee into your cup immediately.
If you allow the coffee to sit in the french press it might turn bitter.
Here is a video guide that’ll probably explain better.
FAQs
The Verdict
So, you’ve read my all in one guide on the best french press coffee makers, which do you think is worthy to take the crown as the overall best? For me, it is the Coffee Gator French Press. It just has so many shades of amazing.
The “French press way” generally is an amazing way to make great coffee. Rumor has it that french press coffee tastes better than regular brewed coffee. You should try a french press coffee sometime if you haven’t.
Coffee Gator French Press
After a thorough search and comparison, I finally decided to choose the Coffee Gator as my favorite french press coffee maker. Here are some reasons why I think this french press by Coffee Gator would be the perfect fit for you.
- It keeps coffee hot for about 60 minutes longer.
- It doesn’t allow residue to get into your cup.
- It is quite easy to use and clean.
Although you get an extra cute container for storing your coffee beans or ground coffee, the coffee gator promises absolute filter. Yup! You won’t see any residue after brew whether you use fine or coarse ground coffee.
I especially love its amazing design, it is made of steel but not quite weighty, you’ll have no issues carrying this french press around. You can select from 6 different colors. If I were you, I’d go for the gray color.
If you are looking at serving a lot of people at once, this might not be the right pick for you.