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If you love the mechanical simplicity of a French press coffee maker but have a very specific kitchen aesthetic, you’re in luck. Most French presses work the same, but there’s a look for every taste. And they don’t take up the counter space of pod and/or latte machines, etc. These simple machines use a stainless-steel plunger with a fine mesh strainer to separate your ground beans from the good stuff. It takes just a few minutes to brew, and all you need are your favorite ground beans and some hot water. You can also easily control the flavor and temperature of your morning joe with a French press. Change the amount of coarse grind for a brew strength that matches your preference. So, if you’re ready to explore the top options on the market, press on to learn what you need to know about the best French press coffee makers.

How we chose the best French press coffee makers

I have been a regular French press coffee brewer for years. I love how a French press coffee maker retains the beans’ oils, imparting a flavor that can’t be matched in a drip coffee maker. I love the ease and durability of the compact design, which uses just a few pieces that won’t easily break, even with years of daily use. Next to the pour-over, a French press is the simplest way to make coffee. To find the best French press coffee makers for new users and lifers like myself, I looked for the most-loved products from leading brands. I then ground some coffee and did personal cuppings (here’s a pro tip: start with less beans), poured over customer reviews and ratings, and drank in product descriptions to find the best for every kind of coffee drinker. Whether you’re all about a hot drink in the morning or you love your cold brew, serving a large household or just yourself, these are the all-around best plunger-style coffee makers to get your caffeine fix.

The best French press coffee makers: Reviews & Recommendations

From über-precise gooseneck kettles and scales to chemistry-lab beakers and cylinders, people are always finding new ways to perfect their brew. But sometimes, the old-fashioned, least complicated method is best. Finding the best French coffee press starts with thinking about how much coffee you want. Are you a single person looking to make one cup? Or are you looking for a device to make several cups to share along with pancakes on a Sunday morning? From there, consider whether you would like the coffee maker to be an elegant addition to your kitchen or a useful device you can take on the road. We’ve selected the best options for various uses so you can find the best pick for you.

Best overall: Frieling Double-Walled Stainless-Steel French Press

The Frieling Double-Walled is the best Frech press coffee maker overall.

Frieling

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Why it made the cut: This is an exceptionally well-built French press with a sturdy plunger and double-walled insulation for heat retention.

Specs

  • Capacity: 1 liter (33.8 ounces)
  • Dimensions: 6.75 x 6.25 x 10 inches
  • Materials: Stainless steel

Pros

  • Double-walled insulation
  • Multiple size options
  • Clean pouring spout

Cons

  • Pricey
  • Heavier than other options

This is the French press that I use and have had for years. It’s built to last, and the plunger won’t easily come apart with one too many plunges. I especially love the double-walled stainless-steel construction, which keeps coffee warm for hours. The pitcher has a sharp pouring spout that minimizes drips. The two layers of fine mesh screens and stainless-steel plate ensure that your coffee stays free of sludge. Plus, stainless steel won’t impart any off flavors to your coffee, so you can enjoy the full flavor of your beans. For a deep clean, the entire coffee maker can be put in the dishwasher. All combined, this stainless steel French press is the one I declare to have the best design and durability of the bunch, making it the best splurge.

Best glass: Mueller French Press

Mueller makes the best French press coffee maker that's glass.

Mueller

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Why it made the cut: The glass windows allow you to watch as your coffee brews, while the stainless-steel wrapping keeps things warm.

Specs

  • Capacity: 34 ounces
  • Dimensions: 8.25 × 7.05 × 4.3 inches
  • Materials: Stainless steel, glass

Pros

  • Large capacity
  • Retains heat
  • Dishwasher-safe

Cons

  • Won’t retain heat as long
  • Can break more easily than all-stainless

This lighter-weight French press has a glass carafe inside a stainless-steel frame. The steel helps retain heat, while the glass gives you clear insight into how your brew is going. You may be able to tell when it’s time to plunge based on color alone. This machine does have a few plastic parts, including the handle and lid, so it’s not quite as sturdily made as the all-stainless option. However, it comes at a reasonable price, and the simple design means it’s not likely to break, making it our best value pick. All the parts are dishwasher-safe, and you can just as easily brew your favorite loose-leaf teas in this press.

Best for families: Bodum Brazil French Press Coffee Maker

Bodum Brazil makes the best French press coffee maker that's large.

Bodum

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Why it made the cut: This 1.5-liter coffee maker is great for small and large batches of joe.

Specs

  • Capacity: 1.5 liters
  • Dimensions: 5.62 x 7.12 x 9.5 inches
  • Materials: Plastic, glass, stainless steel

Pros

  • Budget-friendly
  • Dishwasher-safe
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Lower heat retention than stainless
  • Only one mesh filter

One of the drawbacks of a French press is that it has a limited brewing capacity. With the Bodum Brazil coffee maker, you can brew up to 1.5 liters, or 51 ounces, of coffee at a time, making this the best choice for large households. It’s made from glass and plastic, so you get a clear view of your coffee brewing, but it does not have quite the same heat retention as an enclosure of stainless steel. The plunger is made of stainless, however, so you won’t get any interfering flavors in your morning joe. And this large French press is entirely dishwasher-safe and easy to maintain.

Best for cold brew: Stanley French Press

Stanley makes the best French press coffee maker for cold brew.

Stanley

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Why it made the cut: You can easily use this well-insulated French press for hot coffee, but it’s also great for making cold brew and keeping it cold.

Specs

  • Capacity: 48 ounces
  • Product Dimensions: ​​12 x 8 x 6 inches
  • Materials: Stainless steel

Pros

  • Multiple color options
  • Ergonomic handle
  • Dishwasher-safe

Cons

  • Heavy
  • Any slight overfilling may cause a spill

This French press is a great option if you prefer the smoother, less acidic flavor of long, slow, cold-brewed coffee (not to be confused with iced coffee). It’s made from double-walled 18/8 stainless steel that keeps liquid cold for up to 9 hours, or up to 24 if you add ice. Of course, it still works for hot drinks and will retain heat for up to 4 hours. The coffee maker is also highly durable and portable, ideal to bring camping or on an RV trip. It has a sturdy ergonomic handle, and the plunger is also stainless steel.

Best portable: ESPRO P0 Ultralight French Press

The ESPRO p) Ultralight is the best French press coffee maker that's portable.

ESPRO

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Why it made the cut: This portable, lightweight, single-serving option makes it easy to take your favorite beans and coffee maker on the go.

Specs

  • Capacity: 16 ounces
  • Dimensions: 2.9 x 2.9 x 9.2 inches
  • Materials: Stainless steel

Pros

  • Double-walled stainless steel
  • Multiple color options
  • Carrying handle

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Only large enough for one

If you don’t need to share your coffee, this insulated French press is all you need. Its 16-ounce capacity is the perfect size for one, and its lightweight construction makes it great for travel. The mug has a tight-fitting lid with a handle for comfortable transport and no spills. Plus, the double-walled stainless steel design keeps things hot for hours. This French press also has a double microfilter that prevents grit from sneaking into your sips. And if you’re camping with a crew, everyone can get their own color to keep their travel mugs separate. These mugs are top-rack dishwasher-safe. The brand also makes an all-steel competitor to our best overall pick, albeit ones that are 18/32 ounces, not 44.

Best budget: Utopia Kitchen French Press Espresso and Tea Maker

The Utopia Kitchen French Press Espresso and Tea Maker is the best French press coffee maker for a budget-friendly price.

Utopia Kitchen

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Why it made the cut: This versatile option comes in various sizes and colors and goes easy on the wallet. 

Specs

  • Capacity: 12 ounces, 34 ounces, 51 ounces
  • Dimensions: 9 inches x 6 inches x 6 inches 
  • Materials: Stainless steel and glass

Pros

  • Comes in a range of sizes
  • Makes espresso and tea
  • Comes in nine colors

Cons

  • Not transportable
  • No insulation

If you prefer a simple glass French press coffee maker that’s both budget-friendly and multipurpose, consider the Utopia Kitchen French Press Espresso and Tea Maker. First, this device also makes espresso and tea in addition to coffee. It also comes in three sizes—12 ounces, 34 ounces, 51 ounces—allowing users to choose an option for an individual, couple, or family. Made with long-lasting stainless steel and glass, the Utopia Kitchen French press coffee maker is also available in various colors, from classic black and gray to aqua and plum. And when you’re done brewing, clean up is easy, as this option is also dishwasher-safe. 

Also worth considering: Fellow Clara Insulated Coffee Maker with Enhanced Filtration System

Black Fellow Clara French press product image

Fellow

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If matte minimalism is your thing and you want Instagram-worthy accessories—the fiddle leaf fern of coffee products—then you want Fellow. The brand’s Stagg EKG Pro Studio Electric Gooseneck Kettle is one of our top gift suggestions for the hot beverage-obsessed, and this sleek 24-ounce cylinder offers one of the best places to deposit that perfectly warmed water. Stainless steel for heat retention, with an agitation stick/plunger to ensure even extraction, the Fellow Clara French press and its enhanced filtration mesh gives you all the clean, complex flavors with none of the sludge/silt. And it looks good doing it.

Things to consider when buying the best French press coffee maker

Materials

The right material for your French press can depend on temperature retention. Stainless steel is the best at insulating heat and is more durable than breakable glass. But if you’re more of a cold-brew person, you may prefer the see-through nature of glass or plastic.

Size

If you often brew coffee for a crowd, a larger (one liter or more) coffee maker will be handy, so you don’t have to brew multiple pots in a row. On the other hand, if you want something portable and just big enough for you, a 16-ounce French press will do the trick. For serving two to four people, a one-liter capacity is sufficient.

Portability

Most French press coffee makers do not have an air- or watertight lid. So, if you want something that’s safe to bring in a car or RV, opt for a travel-ready coffee maker like the single-serving mug from ESPRO. Other pitcher-style carafes are likely to spill.

FAQs

Q: What can I make in a French press?

You can make any kind of coffee using ground beans. Add hot water for hot coffee or cold for cold brew (it will just take substantially longer, potentially overnight). You can also make tea by adding loose-leaf tea to the pitcher with water. Or try making an infusion with fresh fruit or veggies, such as lemon and cucumber slices, plus water. Leave it in the fridge for a few hours, then plunge to make delicious spa water at home. 

Q: How long should I brew coffee in a French press?

For hot coffee, you only need to brew the beans for about four to eight minutes in 200-degree water before pressing the plunger (if you don’t have a temperature-controlled electric kettle, just bring water to a boil, then immediately take it off the heat to rest for about one minute). For cold brew, you’ll want at least 8 hours. 

Q: How do I clean a French press?

The great thing about the simple design of these manual coffee makers is that there are no hard-to-clean electrical parts. In most cases, the materials are not fragile, so they can be cleaned right in the dishwasher. For everyday use, you can simply dump the grounds and rinse and dry the carafe.

Final thoughts on the best French press coffee makers

A French press is a great low-tech, low-profile solution to brewing high-flavor coffee at home. You’ll have total control over your morning drink’s taste, strength, and temperature, whether you enjoy it at the kitchen table, on the couch, or to-go in your favorite coffee travel mug. A French press is a great-looking, easily mastered appliance that will last for years, no matter how many cups you brew daily.

Why trust us

Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

Our writers and editors have combined decades of experience covering and reviewing consumer electronics. We each have our own obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video games to cameras and beyond—but when we’re reviewing devices outside of our immediate wheelhouses, we do our best to seek out trustworthy voices and opinions to help guide people to the very best recommendations. We know we don’t know everything, but we’re excited to live through the analysis paralysis that internet shopping can spur so readers don’t have to.

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