How to Choose the Best French Press for You

Your Guide to buying the best French press

Overview

A French press is an essential tool for any coffee connoisseur. With its sleek design and simple operation, the French press is an affordable way to make a superior cup of coffee. In this buying guide, we'll provide tips on how to choose the right French press for your needs, what features to look for, and how to make the perfect cup of coffee with your new purchase. We'll also discuss the benefits of using a French press, the different types available, and provide our top picks for the best French presses on the market. Whether you're looking for a basic model or a high-end option, this guide will help you find the perfect French press for your needs.

Key features

  1. Material - The material of the French press should be considered, such as stainless steel, glass, or plastic.
  2. Capacity - Check the capacity of the French press to make sure it will fit your desired brewing amount.
  3. Insulated Walls - Consider the insulation of the French press walls to help keep the coffee warm after brewing.
  4. Design - Make sure the design of the French press is visually appealing and fits your style.
  5. Brew Time - Check how long it will take to brew your desired amount of coffee using the French press.
  6. Filter Mesh - Look for a French press with a fine mesh filter to help ensure a smooth cup of coffee.
  7. User-Friendliness - Check the size of the handle and lid of the French press to make sure it’s easy to use.
  8. Price - Determine your budget and compare the prices of various French presses to find the right one for you.

See the most popular French press on Amazon

Important considerations

Pros

  • Coffee Flavor: A French press will typically bring out more flavor from the coffee beans than an automatic brewer, as it does not require a paper filter. This allows a greater degree of oils and flavors to be captured in the cup.
  • Consistent Quality: With a French press, you are in complete control of the brewing process from start to finish, which you are not necessarily guaranteed with an automatic brewer. This will help to ensure a consistently high quality cup each and every time.
  • Affordability: French press coffee makers are often quite affordable, which makes them a great choice for many people on a budget. Additionally, they require little maintenance and only need to be replaced if the carafe becomes damaged.
  • Portability: French press coffee makers are very portable, making them ideal for use when travelling, camping, or for taking to the office or workplace.
  • Eco-Friendly: French press coffee makers are made of relatively few parts and are usually made from recyclable materials, making them a more eco-friendly choice than electric coffee makers.

Cons

  • Cost: French press coffeemakers can be relatively expensive compared to other types of coffeemakers.
  • Time: Brewing coffee with a French press can take several minutes.
  • Cleaning: French press coffeemakers can be difficult to clean and take more effort to clean than other types of coffeemakers.
  • Grinds: French press coffeemakers require a coarser grind size than other types of coffeemakers, making it harder to get the right grind size.
  • Fragility: French press coffeemakers are relatively fragile and can be easily broken if mishandled.
  • Size: French press coffeemakers are usually large and bulky, which makes them difficult to store and transport.

Best alternatives

  1. Aeropress - a coffee making device that uses air pressure to extract coffee grounds into a cup
  2. Moka pot - a stovetop espresso maker that uses pressurized steam from boiling water in the lower chamber to pass through ground coffee in the upper chamber
  3. Cold brew - a method of making iced coffee by steeping grounds in cold water for an extended period of time, usually 12-24 hours
  4. Pourover - a brewing method that utilizes a filter to drip hot water over ground coffee in a cone-shaped filter
  5. Espresso machine - an automated way of making coffee by forcing hot water through tightly packed, finely ground coffee beans

Related tools, supplies, and accessories

  • Coffee Grinder - An essential tool for making the perfect cup of French press coffee as grinding your own beans will ensure the freshest flavor.
  • Coffee Beans - The beans used for making French press coffee should be freshly roasted for the best flavor.
  • French Press Coffee Maker - The French press is a cylindrical pot with a plunger and built-in filter screen that presses hot water through ground coffee to make a full-bodied coffee concentrate.
  • Scale - Measuring the coffee and water with a digital scale will help ensure the correct ratio for a delicious cup of coffee.
  • Kettle - For heating the water to the optimal temperature for making French press coffee.
  • Thermometer - For measuring the water temperature for the perfect cup of coffee.
  • Coffee Cups - For enjoying your freshly brewed French press coffee.

Common questions

  1. What is a French press? A French press is a type of coffee maker that uses a coarse grind of coffee beans and hot water to produce coffee in a matter of minutes. It has a cylindrical beaker, usually made of glass or clear plastic, with a plunger, also made of metal or plastic, that fits snugly into the cylinder. As the plunger is pushed down, the coffee grounds are pressed to the bottom of the beaker.
  2. What are the benefits of using a French press? Using a French press has a number of benefits. It is a fast and efficient way to make coffee, with the whole process only taking three to four minutes. French presses also allow for a more flavorful coffee, as the coffee oils and other compounds are extracted from the coffee grounds when pushed down into the beaker. Finally, using a French press is a more economical way to make coffee, as only coarse grounds are used, meaning less waste.
  3. What kind of coffee should I use in a French press? When using a French press, you should always use coarse ground coffee. This is because finer grounds will not be able to be filtered out properly, leading to a sediment-filled cup of coffee. Darker roasts are also generally more suitable for French press, as they tend to have a bolder flavor and lower acidity.
  4. How much coffee should I use in a French press? Generally, you should use about one to two tablespoons of coffee for every six ounces of water. However, this can vary depending on personal preference and the type of coffee being used. Experiment with different ratios of coffee to water to find the perfect cup for you.
  5. How long should I steep my coffee in the French press? Generally, you should let your coffee steep for about four minutes. However, this can vary depending on personal preference. Experiment with different steeping times to find the perfect cup for you.
  6. How do I clean a French press? To properly clean a French press, you should first remove the plunger and the filter and rinse them thoroughly with warm, soapy water. After that, rinse the beaker with

Trivia

In France, making a cup of coffee with a French press is known as "pression," which is a play on words because the French word for press is "presse". To enhance the experience, it is custom for the user to don a beret while making coffee with a French press. This tradition dates back centuries and has been a beloved part of French coffee culture. Sources: https://www.frenchpresscoffee.com/french-press-coffee-history/

Disclaimer: This buying guide was not created by humans, and it is possible that some of it's content is inaccurate or incomplete. We do not guarantee or take any liability for the accuracy of this buying guide. Additionally, the images on this page were generated by AI and may not accurately represent the product that is being discussed. We have tried to convey useful information, but it is our subjective opinion and should not be taken as complete or factual.