Choosing the most suitable cafetière for your personal taste and needs requires quite a bit of research; especially if it’s your first one.
To spare you some time I picked out the best French presses and gathered them in a list with reviews.
They are all very convenient for making coffee and steeping loose leaf tea.
Still, before choosing, you need to take into consideration their advantages and flaws.
Here you will find both compact and large French press coffee makers with classic glass or insulated stainless steel carafes.
There are product recommendations that are affordable yet durable and well-performing.
You will also see the well-established coffee press brands that are more expensive and find out whether they’re worth it.
If you read through this buyer guide, I’m pretty sure that you’ll be very satisfied with the French press coffee maker you choose, no matter whether it’s for you, or for a gift.
Now let’s dive in.
Which Are the Best French Press Coffee Makers: Reviews
If you’re in a hurry, check out the following chart and click on the French press that has grabbed your attention to skip to its review:
| Brand: | Carafe Material: | Size: | Price Bracket: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Coffee Gator | stainless steel | 34 oz or 1 liter (8-cup) | $$ |
| 2. Café Du Chateau | glass | 34 oz or 1 liter (8-cup) | $ |
| 3. Bodum Chambord | glass | 12 oz or 350 ml (3-cup); 17 oz or 500 ml (4-cup); 34 oz or 1 liter (8-cup); 51 oz or 1.5 liters (12-cup); |
$$ |
| 4. Mueller – Best Bang for Your Buck | stainless steel | 34 oz (1 liter) | $ |
| 5. Bialetti | glass | 12 oz or 350 ml (3-cup); 34 oz or 1 liter (8-cup); |
$$ |
| 6. Frieling | stainless steel | 17 oz or 500 ml; 23 oz or 680 ml; 44 oz or 1300 ml; |
$$$$$ |
| 7. Kona | glass | 12 oz or 350 ml (3-cup); 34 oz or 1 liter (8-cup); |
$$ |
| 8. Magicafè | stainless steel | 12 oz or 350 ml; 24 oz or 750 ml; 34 oz or 1 liter; |
$$ |
| 9. Bodum Travel | stainless steel | 15 oz or 450 ml | $$$ |
| 10. Espro P5 – Best For a Clean Cup, Free of Sediment | glass | 18 oz or 530 ml; 32 oz or 1 liter; |
$$$$ |
French presses are one of the most convenient, efficient, and eco-friendly coffee brewing devices available. So there are quite a few reasons why you’d want to have a cafetière.
If you’re to buy your first French press, I recommend checking the short beginner-friendly guide at the end of this post.
That being said, I made sure to only include top products that are cherry-picked after thorough research.
Nevertheless, each one of them has its flaws that are included in the coffee press descriptions.
So here are the best French presses of 2023:
1. Coffee Gator – Affordable and durable
Click here to see the current price and more photos on Amazon.
The stainless steel French press by Coffee Gator is one of the best cafetieres for the money.
It is well-built and virtually unbreakable, which makes it a sustainable device, which is also perfect for travel and camping.
The Coffee Gator is well-insulated, so it keeps the coffee hot for long.
What’s more – it has cool looks and affordable price, which is why I’ve included it in my list of top French press coffee makers.
Not only that – it’s quite easy to clean it.
If you’ve ever had a glass French press, you know that you have to be extra cautious when washing it, as it can easily shatter.
That’s not the case with the Coffee Gator, since it’s made of 304 stainless steel. This type of material is not only durable, but also corrosion-resistent.
Yes, it would still require a bit of effort to maintain your Coffee Gator cafetière between uses, but compared to many other coffee presses out there, washing it is rather unchallenging.
This compromises the otherwise sleek looks of the coffee press, which is quite frustrating.
If you order the silver version, this shouldn’t be an issue.
It’s worth noting that the Coffee Gator’s customer support is great.
If you accidentally have an issue with your stainless steel French press, you can count on them to make things right.
That’s a huge advantage that should always be considered when buying a product.
What’s more – the Coffee Gator French press is 100 % free of BPA and plastic.
If you decide to go for this cafetière, keep in mind that they only offer it in one size – 34 ounces (1 liter). Other brands would refer to this size as an 8-cup model.
Along with the device itself, you will also get a tiny travel coffee container.
It looks nice, and useful if you’re on the go. Even if not used for coffee, it’s pretty convenient to utilize it for other purposes in your kitchen.
With all being said, the Coffee Gator French press is definitely worth the investment.
I’d undoubtedly recommend it to anyone looking for a budget-friendly, yet efficient coffee press that is built to last.
2. Café Du Chateau – thick glass for everyday use & lifetime guarantee
Click here to see the current price and more photos on Amazon.
If you’re looking for an inexpensive glass French press that you can use daily, get this 34 ounces (1 liter) brewing device by Cafè Du Chateau.
Its glass is thick and durable, especially compared to other coffee presses that shatter easily during preparing your morning cup of coffee.
Overall, it’s quite easy to get a replacement part if something breaks, even if it’s the glass.
To thoroughly clean this French press coffee maker thoroughly you have to remove the glass from the metal base.
Coffee grounds may get trapped between the carafe and the stainless steel.
If you can’t seem to detach the metal base from the glass, contact customer support and they will find a solution to your problem in a timely manner.
If you ask me, that’s not that big of a deal, especially considering the price of the Cafè Du Chateau French press and its overall performance.
When it comes to filtering, you will still get some sediment in your cup, but much less compared to other coffee presses that are more expensive.
The brewing device also comes with two extra mesh screen filters that you can use if the original ones wear off after a while.
Overall, the Cafè Du Chateau French press is definitely one of the best glass coffee presses on this list because of its impressive price-to-quality ratio.
On top of that, it also looks quite nice on the kitchen counter, so it’s worth the investment.
3. Bodum Chambord – The classic cafetière that comes in a variety of sizes
Click here to see the current price and more photos on Amazon.
The most popular coffee press design was manufactured in France in the fifties and it was called Chambord.
Its image comes to our minds each time we think of a classic French Press.
This evergreen design is offered by Bodum – a well-established brand that has sold quite a lot of coffee presses over the years.
Nevertheless, what’s worth noting is that this cafetière’s glass carafe appears thinner than it should be.
If you are to use it on a daily basis you have to be extra cautious not to break it, as it’s somewhat fragile.
This vigilance may be a bit too hard to achieve in the early mornings when you’re still sleepy or in a hurry to go to work.
Unfortunately, if the glass breaks, you can’t count on the Bodum’s customer service team to send a replacement (even if it wasn’t your fault).
So you’ll basically have to buy a new one yourself – here’s an Amazon link to a 34 ounces bodum glass carafe to check out its price.
On the other hand – if you need a coffee brewing device only for the weekends, the Bodum Chambord is a good and stylish French press that will serve its purpose well.
There’s also a SAN shatterproof carafe version, which would supposedly last longer.
SAN is Styrene acrylonitrile resin which is a sturdy plastic material that has higher chemical and thermal resistance compared to other plastic materials.
It is not unbreakable so it may still crack.
SAN is BPA-free, but I wouldn’t pay as much for a French press with a plastic brewing chamber. So I recommend sticking to the classic glass carafe.
- 3-cup (12 oz, 350 milliliters).
- 4-cup (17 oz, 500 milliliters).
- 8-cup (34 oz, 1 liter).
- 12-cup (51 oz, 1.5 liters).
Important: Bodum is a Europe-based company, where a coffee cup is generally considered to be 4 oz. (120 milliliters).
The 3-cup version is actually an efficient single-cup French press coffee maker for those who’re used to having their coffee in a 12 ounces (350 milliliters) mug.
Related Post: Best Single-Serve Coffee Makers: Listed & Reviewed
The largest 51 oz. (1.5 l) French press by Bodum is perfect for big batches of coffee or tea when you have a family gathering.
You can also use the biggest size to make cold brew coffee.
Just be careful when placing the large glass coffee press in the fridge, to avoid damaging it.
Overall the Bodum Chambord French press is one of the top products because of its classic design and size diversity.
Nevertheless, if you are to use it daily, I recommend going for one of the other product entries on this list, since they’re more durable.
4. Mueller Insulated Stainless Steel French Press
Click here to check out its price and more photos on Amazon.
The French press by Mueller is a high-quality cafetière, made of durable 304 stainless steel, which means it’s resistant to corrosion.
This sturdy coffee brewing device has filter screens that do an impressive job at keeping the fine coffee grounds out of your brew. Furthermore, the insulated cafètiere is quite good at keeping your coffee hot for long.
All of these product characteristics, combined with the affordable price, make the French press by Mueller one of the top products on this list.
It also comes with a cute coffee container that can hold a coffee dose for 1 full pot.
The capacity of the Mueller French press is 34 fl. oz. (1 liter). This means that you could easily use it to make a larger batch of coffee or tea at once.
The good thing is that the brew will remain hot for hours after you’ve prepared it, because of the heat insulating layer of the carafe.
5. Bialetti – Well-built glass press with cool design
Click here to see the current price and more photos on Amazon.
The Bialetti French press is the one that I currently own and use at home.
It filters the coffee sediment quite well and it’s easy to clean.
Every once in a while I’d disassemble the filter screens to remove the coffee grounds that would occasionally get stuck in between them.
The glass can be removed from the stainless steel base.
When I make cold brew with my 34 oz. (1 liter) Bialetti coffee press, I remove the carafe from its metal holder, and this way it fits perfectly on my fridge’s door shelf.
That’s convenient, as during the summer I often have tea or coffee steeping in the fridge.
You can choose from 2 Bialetti French press sizes:
- 3-cup: 12 oz. or 350 milliliters. This is more of a US single-cup French press.
- 8-cup: 34 oz. or 1 liter.
I always make sure that I press down the lid while pouring the liquid into my cup.
This way I feel like there’s not a chance for the glass to slip out of the carafe.
To be fair, it never felt like it was going to fall out, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
I’ve had the Bialetti French press for more than three years and it’s as good as new.
Have in mind, though, that I am not using it daily.
I guess that if I were to make my coffee with it every day, then I might have already broken the glass.
But if you’re looking for a glass French press, you have to be aware that there aren’t unbreakable ones.
That aside, the glass is quite thick.
The Bialetti coffee press’ stainless steel base is also well-built and the overall construction feels heavy and of high quality.
On top of that this cafetière looks very nice.
When I bought it, as soon as my mother saw it, she said she wanted one too.
I gave her the Bialetti French press last Christmas and hers has been doing well ever since (she only uses it for tea, as she usually drinks espresso).
Related Post: Best Gifts for Coffee Lovers
Overall it’s definitely one of the top coffee presses on the list.
After all, I’ve chosen it for myself.
6. Frieling – The last French press you’ll ever need
Click here to see the current price and more photos on Amazon.
The Frieling Stainless Steel French press is one of the most expensive coffee presses.
It is easy to use, well-built, and virtually unbreakable.
On top of that its patented double filter system does a great job at keeping the sediment out of your brew.
It will also keep your coffee hot for much longer compared to a glass coffee press.
Furthermore – its brushed stainless steel finish looks quite cool and there won’t be any fingerprints left on the surface of this metal cafetière.
Overall it’s safe to say that the Frieling French press will likely be the last one you’re ever going to need.
Of course, there are also some disadvantages.
While the company says that their coffee press is dishwasher safe, I’d recommend not putting it in the dishwasher.
Some customers report that after they’ve done so, the lid gets damaged.
This coffee brewing device is also made in China.
If you ask me, that’s not that big of an issue, but in the Amazon listing is insinuates that it’s made in the USA.
There are, in fact, high-quality and durable products made in China.
But the misleading information the company put out makes the product seem a bit sketchy and overpriced.
That being said, an acquaintance of mine, a minimalist, got the 17 oz. Frieling French press two years ago.
She says she’s quite happy with her brewing device as it’s eco-friendly, efficient and it fits her zero-waste lifestyle.
She also confirms that the clean-up is easy.
She rarely uses soap and usually only rinses the press under the sink.
The Frieling French press coffee maker comes in four sizes:
- 17 oz. (500 ml);
- 23 oz. (680 ml);
- 36 oz. (1060 ml);
- 44 oz. or 1300 ml;
In conclusion, it’s definitely one of the best French presses that you can also take with you when you travel.
Because of the Frieling’s heavy-duty construction, it also won’t break while you’re on the road.
7. Kona Coffee Press
Click here to see the current price and more photos on Amazon.
The Kona brand offers one of the best French presses to use occasionally as a coffee or tea maker.
It is made of borosilicate glass and it has an interestingly designed plastic frame that also serves as a protector.
The thing is that the carafe and the plastic holder are hard to detach from one another, which is a bit frustrating.
However, the Kona customer service team is responsive and kind, so if there’s an issue with the frame, the glass, or any other component of your coffee press, you can contact them for assistance.
It comes in two sizes:
- 12 ounces, 350 ml (the so-called 3-cup).
- 34 ounces, 1 liter (the so-called 8-cup).
The Kona French press isn’t my personal favorite, but it has served many people for years.
Nevertheless, as all glass cafetières, it is prone to cracks and breakages, so at some point, you’ll most likely have to replace the carafe with a new one.
Still, if you’re not planning on using the cafetière every day, but rather every once in a while, it will most likely serve you for years.
8. Magicafè – A single-cup metal French press for a traveler
Click here to see the current price and more photos on Amazon.
If you’re looking for a sturdy single-serve French press that you can use when you travel, the compact 12 oz. (350 ml) coffee press by Magicafè is pretty much the best one.
It is so, not only because it’s less expensive compared to other similar products, but also because it performs quite well.
Furthermore, the simple design of this stainless steel coffee press is very appealing.
The construction is double-wall, which means that the thick metal retains heat for longer, while the handle remains cold to the touch.
The Magicafè maker is also capable of producing a smooth and nice cup of Joe. Still, you’ll most likely find a bit of sediment at the bottom of your cup (but I’d say a negligible amount).
If you want to make more than one cup of coffee or tea at a time, you can get a 24 oz (700 ml) Magicafè coffee press instead of the 12 oz version.
9. Bodum Travel Press – for a hot cup of Joe wherever you are
Click here to see the current price and more photos on Amazon.
The Bodum travel press is one of the best single-serve cafetières that are perfect for camping.
It’s also quite efficient if you are to make coffee while you’re on the road.
The 15 oz. (450 ml) stainless steel travel mug is well-insulated, so it’ll keep your coffee or tea hot for long.
Some would argue that it does keep the drinks hot for too long so you’ll really have to wait until it’s possible to take a sip without burning your tongue.
To avoid this, before pressing down the plunger, you may want to add a bit of cold water.
This way you’re going to be able to have your coffee sooner after brewing it.
An ice cube added to the already brewed coffee or tea is also an effective to drop the temperature of your brew.
When it comes to this device’s function, it’s quite straight-forward.
After you press down the plunger it will hold the coffee grounds to the bottom of the insulated mug, and you can drink your coffee straight out of it.
Some people don’t mind adding their creamer and sweeteners before pressing the plunger down, so I guess there are ways to go around this inconvenience.
Nevertheless, if you have your coffee plain, as I do, this obviously won’t be an issue.
The Bodum travel press also has a plastic version, but the stainless steel one is overall sturdier and, according to my taste, better-looking.
You can get differently-colored silicone non-slip grip and lid.
Unfortunately, this press no longer comes with a regular plunger-free lid.
This was a nice feature that made this product a 2 in 1 kit – a travel mug and a compact French press coffee maker.
Still, you can take advantage of the insulated stainless steel mug by using it on its own, without a lid.
Related Post: Best Thermal Coffee Mugs for Travel
A downside of this single-serve coffee press is the fact that the plunger doesn’t go all the way down to the bottom of the chamber.
This means that in order to completely finish your coffee, you may have to swallow a few grounds along with your last sip.
That being said, the Bodum travel press is a pretty good device for brewing coffee while you’re traveling.
Its metal mug is also pretty much unbreakable, so it will most likely last for years to come.
While it has its flaws, some people do use their Bodum travel press as their one and only coffee maker at home.
10. Espro p5 – For non-gritty coffee
Click here to see the current price and more photos on Amazon.
The Espro P5 French press is the best one at keeping the coffee grounds out of your cup.
This is the only device which performance proves the no-sediment claims advertised on its listing.
That’s because of its patented double microfilter that looks quite different than all the other filters on this list.
The Epspro device is BPA, BPS, and phthalate-free.
A disadvantage would be the fact that the glass carafe may come off its holder while you wash it, so be careful.
Nevertheless, the Espro P5 does have a safety lock that prevents that from happening most of the time and keeps the brewing chamber secured to the stainless steel base.
It’s worth noting that the device is offered in 2 sizes: 18 oz. (532 ml.), and 32 oz (946 ml.).
In conclusion, the Espro P5 French press is definitely one of the best coffee presses, because of its efficient filtering system and high-quality components.
It is overall a better alternative to the Bodum Chambord coffee press, not only because it doesn’t let any grit into your cup, but also because it’s sturdier and more durable.
Click here to find out its price and more photos on Amazon.
It is a double-wall stainless steel insulated version of the Espro P5, that is extremely durable and of the highest quality.
So if you’re looking to buy the sturdiest, unbreakable, yet efficient French press, consider making a long-term investment in an ESPRO P7.
Beginner’s Guide on Choosing a French Press
While it may seem that it’s easy to choose a French press coffee maker, there are a couple of things that are to be taken into consideration before you buy one.
Stainless Steel or Glass
Glass cafetières may seem more appealing, because they have a classic look, but they are more fragile compared to stainless steel ones.
No matter how thick the glass is, it can break.
If you are to use it on a daily basis, the chances of damaging (cracking or breaking) your French press fragile carafe grows bigger, so you will have to occasionally buy a new one that fits your coffee press’ base.
Stainless steel cafetières are much better for everyday use.
They’re generally more durable. If there’s an unbreakable French press, it’s definitely a stainless steel one.
Most stainless steel coffee presses, no matter whether they’re double-wall insulated or not, will keep your coffee or tea hot for much longer compared to the glass ones.
They are also perfect for traveling because they’re sturdy and won’t break if you throw them in your backpack.
Overall, the glass French press is great for you if you’re only going to utilize it every once in a while, or on weekends (less usage means fewer chances for it to break). Or if you don’t mind spending a bit of extra money for a new carafe.
It’s worth noting that some glass carafes are thicker and more durable than others (this information is included in the products’ reviews).
On the other hand, some companies offer a lifetime warranty that basically includes free replacement of the glass decanters (for example, the 2nd product entry on this list).
Still, many French press owners have given up on their desire to own a glass press, as dealing with cracks, breakages and replacements is too much of a hassle for them.
So they get a stainless steel one that serves its purpose for many, many years.
Therefore, you may want to think ahead and opt for a metal press at the beginning.
Choosing the Correct Size
You will often see a French press marketed as a 3-cup, 8-cup, or 12-cup model.
Have in mind though, that you should always look at their capacity in ounces or milliliters.
1 cup is often considered to be only 4 oz. (120 ml).
So if you have a full 12 oz. (350 ml) mug of coffee in the morning, the 3-cup version will turn out to be a single-serve French press.
Coffee Sediment
Even though most coffee presses claim that their filter screens keep all the coffee sediment at the bottom of the carafe and out of the brew, that’s not entirely the case.
Nevertheless, there are some cafetieres that let you have a cleaner cup, compared to others.
Those are the ones that I included in this list.
Having said that the best French press in terms of its ability to provide a clean, non-gritty cup of coffee is the ESPRO.
Your French press brewing technique matters too.
For example, for a cleaner brew, you need to press the plunger down slowly and gently. For more tips on how to brew coffee in a French press, you can check out this WokeLark’s brewing guide.
Still, if you want to have zero tiny coffee ground particles in your cup of Joe, you may want to opt for a pour-over brewing device with paper coffee filters instead of a French press.
Cleaning
Cleaning your French press may seem too much of a hassle.
Especially if you’re used to either getting your coffee from a coffee shop or making it in a Keurig or a Nespresso machine.
However, there are ways to make the whole process easier.
And here’s a video where you can check out the easiest way to clean your French press:
What’s also worth noting is that even if a coffee press is advertised as a dishwasher-safe product, I’d recommend mainly washing it by hand.
No matter whether it’s a glass or a stainless steel cafetière – there are higher chances for it to get damaged in the dishwasher, than if you rinse it by hand.
Over to you
I hope I’ve helped you choose the best French press coffee maker for your personal taste and needs and that you liked my product recommendations.
Drop me a comment below and let me know which cafetière you’ve chosen and why.
Feel free to also ask me a question or simply share your thoughts.