Coffee & gear / Field guide 02

The Best French Press Coffee Makers

A French press should feel simple, not flimsy. We compared the brewers that keep heat in, grounds down, and the morning ritual pleasantly low-tech.

See our top picks Read the buying guide

Reviewed August 2026 7 min read

Slow extraction Metal filter

04:00steep time

The short answer

Choose the press you will actually enjoy using.

For most kitchens, the Bodum Chambord remains the clearest value: familiar, easy to replace, and available in useful sizes. If heat retention and durability matter more than seeing the brew, choose the Espro P7.

No press removes every trace of sediment. That textured cup is part of the method. The best designs simply make the plunge smoother and cleanup less annoying.

The shortlist

Four presses worth making room for.

Different materials solve different problems. Start with the way you drink coffee, then choose the vessel.

01Best overall

Bodum

Chambord

The classic glass press still gets the fundamentals right. Its open frame makes the brew easy to watch, replacement beakers are widely available, and the filter assembly comes apart without a fight.

Best for: everyday brewing
Material: borosilicate glass
Sweet spot: 34-ounce model

9.2Our score

02Best upgrade

Espro

P7

A double micro-filter produces the cleanest cup in this group, while the insulated steel body keeps a second serving warm.

Build: Stainless steel
Best for: Low sediment

03Best insulated

Frieling

Double-Wall Press

Substantial, polished, and hard to break. The snug screen and steel carafe suit slow breakfasts and busy households.

Build: Stainless steel
Best for: Heat retention

04Best for travel

AeroPress

Go Plus

Not a traditional press, but the compact immersion brewer is faster to clean and far more forgiving in a suitcase.

Build: Tritan plastic
Best for: One cup anywhere

At a glance

Compare the finalists.

Capacity is stated by the maker and may use smaller “coffee cup” measurements rather than full 8-ounce mugs.

Model	Body	Capacity	Filter	Best quality
Bodum Chambord Our pick	Glass	12–51 oz	Single mesh	Value & availability
Espro P7	Steel	18 / 32 oz	Double micro	Cleanest cup
Frieling	Steel	17–44 oz	Dual screen	Heat retention
AeroPress Go Plus	Tritan	10 oz	Paper / metal	Portability

Glass or stainless steel?

Glass is affordable and lets you watch extraction, but it loses heat quickly and can break. Double-wall steel is tougher and warmer; the tradeoff is price and a brew you cannot see.

Match capacity to your mug.

A “three-cup” press often fills one standard mug. Check ounces, not cup count. Leave a little headroom so grounds do not crowd the filter when you plunge.

Filter design changes texture.

Traditional mesh allows aromatic oils and fine particles through. Nested or micro-filter systems make a cleaner cup, but add parts that need to be rinsed thoroughly.

Cleanup is part of the product.

Look for a filter that unscrews without tools and a mouth wide enough for your hand. Grounds belong in compost or trash—not down a drain where they can collect.

A better first brew

Four moves. Fewer bitter cups.

Use this as a baseline, then change one variable at a time.

01
Grind coarse
Aim for even particles like coarse sea salt, not boulders mixed with dust.
02
Pour at 200°F
Let boiling water rest about 30 seconds before saturating all the grounds.
03
Steep four minutes
Break the crust gently near the end and skim loose foam if you prefer.
04
Plunge, then pour
Press slowly and decant immediately so the coffee does not keep extracting.

Our standard

We favor repairable parts, honest capacity, a stable plunger, and a vessel that is easy to clean. No feature compensates for a filter that tilts or a handle that feels unsafe when full.