There’s no denying that espresso is an absolute should for a morning kickstart. In reality, in a 2024 research executed by the Nationwide Espresso Affiliation, 75 % of Individuals loved a minimum of one cup of espresso per week. And for individuals who love a powerful, full-bodied brew, French presses are exhausting to beat. This basic methodology presents a wealthy, flavorful cup that highlights the nuances of your favourite beans.
“The French press is actually a pure immersion brewing methodology that permits you to extract most taste out of your espresso beans,” says Johny Morrison, a former barista and occasional blogger at Espresso About. “What makes it particular is that it permits the espresso oils and fantastic particles to stay in your cup, making a full-bodied expertise you may’t get from paper-filtered strategies like pour-over espresso.”
That can assist you improve your espresso sport, we rounded up the eight finest French presses to your good morning sip, all beneficial by Morrison and different espresso consultants. Glad brewing!
How precisely does a French press work?
In essence, a French press is only a huge filter. “The espresso grounds sit with the water, and steep for the total brew time of 4 to 5 minutes,” says Heather Perry, CEO and two-time U.S. champion barista of Klatch Espresso. After you let it steep, you plunge the filter by way of to “press” the grounds out out of your espresso.“In contrast with different brewing strategies, a French press produces a powerful, daring cup of espresso, as a result of method it retains oils and flavors.”
Perry recommends utilizing the next 5 steps to make a scrumptious cup of French press espresso:
- Grind your espresso beans: Grind your espresso beans to a rough, even measurement—“much like that of sea salt or kosher salt,” she says.
- Examine the ratio: Making the right cup of espresso with a French press is all about ensuring you’ve the precise mix of water and occasional grounds. “An amazing start line for utilizing a French press is a 13:1 ratio of water to espresso,” Perry says. To get the ratio proper, measure out 55 grams of espresso, add it to the French press, after which add 700 milliliters of sizzling water.
- Stir: Rotate the grounds in a round movement for a couple of seconds.
- Steep: Earlier than you press, it is advisable to let the espresso bloom. “Enable the brew to steep for about 4 minutes and 30 seconds,” Perry advises.
- Press: Now it’s time for the enjoyable half—the press! After permitting the espresso to steep, push down the plunger and actually press the water into the espresso. Then, go away it down and pour your self a mug.
What to search for in a French press?
Materials
With regards to selecting a French press, you’ll often discover variations in glass or chrome steel. “Glass carafes provide the purest style and allow you to watch the brewing course of, however high-quality chrome steel fashions present portability and sturdiness,” Morrison says. He recommends avoiding ones produced from lower-quality chrome steel since it will possibly have an effect on the style poorly.
Capability
Morrison recommends a 32-ounce (aka, a four-cup) French press, as they serve three to 4 folks. “For single customers, I like to recommend a 12-ounce press, to make sure you’re all the time brewing recent espresso quite than letting it sit,” he says.
Store the 8 finest French presses, in line with espresso execs
Greatest total: Espro P7 French Press Espresso Maker – 32 oz. — $120.00
Materials: stainless Metal, polypropylene | Capability: 18 oz. or 32 oz. | Colours: 6
It might be on the pricier facet, however the Espro P7 French press is beloved for good motive.“It really is value each penny,” Morrison says. He likes the particular double micro-filter system, which he says “delivers the cleanest French press espresso you’ll ever style, with zero grit in your cup.” He additionally loves the chrome steel development and the way straightforward it’s to wash.
The scrumptious options don’t cease there. This French press is designed with a patented AirLock system, which stops the extraction instantly after plunging so each cup tastes precisely the identical, even hours after you’ve brewed it. You’ll be able to select from two sizes—18 ounces or 32 ounces—and quite a lot of colours and finishes. That is one French press that’s certain to place some pep in your each day espresso step.
- Distinctive dual-filter system
- Double-wall insulation retains espresso heat hours after brewing
- AirLock retains taste constant
- A number of colours and finishes to select from
Greatest finances: Bodum Chambord French Press Espresso Maker — $49.00
Materials: borosilicate glass, chrome steel | Capability: 12 oz., 17 oz., 34 oz., 51 oz. | Colours: 1
Whereas some French presses are pretty expensive, this one by Bodum rings up underneath $50—and nonetheless makes a reasonably spectacular cup of espresso, as well. “It’s a strong selection that provides spectacular worth,” Morrison says. He particularly likes this French press’s three-piece filter, which “truly retains the grounds out of your cup,” he says.
On the fence about whether or not to decide on a French press produced from chrome steel or glass? Nicely, that is your finest guess, due to a mix of a carafe in heat-resistant, borosilicate glass and a stainless-steel lid and body. It’s also possible to select from quite a lot of capacities, so whether or not you’re brewing for one or six, there’s a measurement for you.
- Inexpensive
- A number of sizes to select from
- Distinctive triple-filter retains grounds out of espresso
- Single-walled insulation
- Plunger will be wobbly
Greatest glass: Yield French Press — $85.00
Materials: borosilicate glass, chrome steel, Copper | Capability: 850ml | Colours: 2
For a French press that delivers on type as a lot as high quality, this one from Yield is hard to beat. “We use these for our French press service at our boutique cafe,” says Lindsey Sozio, founding father of Lavender Espresso Boutique in Denver, including that it’s “a wonderful glass French press choice.” It’s crafted from heat-proof borosilicate glass to face up to excessive warmth, and it appears to be like extraordinarily stylish doing it. It additionally has a stainless-steel mesh filter and a copper pull. Simply watch out with this one—it’s glass, in spite of everything.
- Lovely design
- Crafted from heat-proof glass that may stand up to excessive warmth
- A number of colours to select from
- Shatter danger
- Should be hand-washed
Greatest chrome steel: Frieling Double-Walled Stainless Metal French Press — $100.00
Materials: chrome steel | Capability: 17 oz., 23 oz., 36 oz. | Finishes: 2
Some French presses simply look like they’re going to be good at what they do—and Frieling is definitely considered one of them. The gleaming chrome steel exterior is as beautiful as it’s useful, due to a two-stage filter system that retains the grounds and sediment out of your cup. It additionally has a double-walled design so your espresso will keep sizzling for hours on finish. We additionally love the longer deal with, which makes this French press straightforward to choose up and pour. Select from polished or brushed chrome steel, in three totally different capacities.
- Double-walled insulation
- Sturdy chrome steel
- Dishwasher protected
- Further lengthy deal with for simple dealing with
- Heavier than different fashions
Greatest for tenting: Stanley Traditional The Keep-Scorching French Press — $70.00
Materials: stainless eteel | Capability: 48 oz. | Colours: 9
FYI: Stanley does extra than simply the viral tumbler we’ve all come to know and love. This French press is a favourite of Sozio’s. “It’s an insulated, rugged press that can final years and may go alongside in your tenting adventures,” she says. From its huge 48-ounce measurement to its vacuum insulation and chrome steel mesh filter, there’s rather a lot to like about this feature. Plus, it is available in all kinds of colours, like cream, black, pink, grey, and olive inexperienced. And, very like its Quencher counterpart, it retains drinks sizzling for hours on finish. Simply watch out with it, since it might drip a bit when you jostle it round.
- Stable design makes it supreme for out of doors adventures
- A number of colours to select from
- Massive 48 oz. capability
- Vacuum insulated for additional heat
- Could drop and leak when jostled
Greatest for journey: Yeti Rambler 34 Oz. French Press — $110.00
Materials: chrome steel | Capability: 34 oz. | Colours: 10
In case your mornings are so packed that each one you’ve received time for is a bit press-and-go motion, this French press is prepared and ready. It’s crafted in sturdy, puncture-resistant chrome steel, with a number of options that make it good for touring. Yeti’s signature GroundsControl Filter—aka, a strong silicone flap—matches over the metallic mesh filter to forestall sediment from stepping into the espresso, or from water seeping again into the espresso grounds. (A phrase to the clever: It does make plunging a bit tougher.)
It additionally has a twist-to-lock lid and it’s designed with double-wall vacuum insulation, so there’s no spillage or cooling down in your commute. I personal it in Wild Vine Crimson, and considered one of my associates not too long ago informed me he was so jealous of it that he desires one for himself—so make of that what you’ll.
- Dishwasher protected
- A number of options maintain espresso inside with no leaking, spilling, or cooling
- GroundsControl Filter retains grounds from leaking into espresso
- Massive capability
- Expensive
- Plunger is a bit robust to press down
Greatest for novices: Fellow Clara French Press — $99.00
Materials: chrome steel | Capability: 24 oz. | Colours: 2
Fellow’s Clara French press is right for novices because it’s received measurement traces, double-walled chrome steel, and a weighted deal with. It additionally has an enhanced mesh filtration system to maintain out the sediment and silt whilst you sip. The deal with makes for simple pouring, and it even comes with a wood persist with stir the grounds to perfection. To not point out it simply appears to be like stylish. That is definitely a strong selection for any French press consumer.
- Modern design
- Consists of measurement traces to brew an ideal cup
- Enhanced filtration system retains grounds out of espresso
- Solely the mesh filter is dishwasher protected
- Solely two colours
Most fashionable: Le Creuset French Press — $85.00
Materials: stoneware | Capability: 34 oz. | Colours: 13
Le Creuset. Want we are saying extra? We’ll, bolstered by Sozio’s approval. “This rustic, basic French press holds warmth nicely and brings a French countryside vibe to your kitchen decor,” she says. It’s crafted from glazed, premium stoneware, which not solely presents incredible warmth retention however is designed to withstand scratches and stains. It additionally has a nonstick end and will be cleaned by hand or within the dishwasher, which units it other than some others on this information. You’ll be able to even put it within the microwave, oven, and freezer. Le Creuset? Sure, method.
- Lovely design
- A number of colours to select from (extra on Le Creuset’s web site)
- Scratch- and stain-resistant
- Could drip a bit when pouring
- Espresso doesn’t keep sizzling so long as it does with glass or chrome steel
FAQs
What are some high suggestions and tips for utilizing a French press?
Perry advises utilizing coarsely floor beans to brew. “That’s considerably coarser than a medium grind, which is what you’ll generally discover because the grind choice on mass-market espresso offered at grocery or comfort shops,” she says. “Begin with complete bean espresso and use a high quality burr grinder or hand grinder—simply make certain the one you’ve gives you evenly floor beans which are constant in measurement.”
Morrison suggests utilizing recent medium or dark-roasted beans. “Darkish roast coffees shine notably nicely in a French press,” he says. “Their daring, sturdy flavors are totally extracted by way of the immersion course of, making a wealthy, full-bodied cup.”
And at last, “Let the espresso bloom by pouring a small quantity of sizzling water onto the grounds and permitting it to degas by sitting for 30 or so seconds,” says Sozio. “Then add the rest of the new water.”
Can a French press be used to make drinks apart from espresso?
The brief reply? Completely! “A French press has numerous different inventive use circumstances,” says Sozio. She recommends utilizing it to steep looseleaf tea, or to make mulled cider. “Add aromatics like cinnamon sticks, orange peel, and cloves, pour over sizzling cider to steep, and pressure with the plunger,” she says. “So cozy!”
Morrison additionally loves utilizing a French press for milk frothing or for making chilly brew espresso. “French press is my favourite for making refreshing chilly brew espresso in the summertime,” he says.
