How to Buy a French Press: Complete Buyer’s Guide for 2024

French press coffee: two words that warm my heart just about every single morning. There’s nothing like the full mouthfeel and robust flavor you can get from this immersion style of brewing.But not all French presses are created equal, and the journey to coffee nirvana starts with choosing the perfect one. In this guide, I’ll explain how to buy a French press coffee maker and what features to look for to get you one step closer to that perfect cup.

Why Your French Press Matters

As much as coffee seems like an art form at times, coffee brewing is straight up science. Before I start explaining how to buy a French press that will deliver delicious coffee day after day, you need to know a little about how a French press works. Basically, you’ll put your coffee through two rounds of extraction: primary and secondary.

Primary Extraction

This is the initial contact between hot water and finely ground coffee beans, and it takes place within the brewing chamber of your French press. During this phase, water penetrates the coffee grounds, dissolving soluble compounds that bring forth the coffee’s distinct flavors and aroma. Key compounds extracted during primary extraction include the following:

Caffeine: The stimulant that gives coffee its energy-boosting properties.
Acids: These organic acids contribute to the coffee’s bright, lively character. Notable acids include citric, malic, and acetic acids that add fruitiness and tartness to your cup.
Sugars: Sugars are essential for the coffee’s sweetness, offering balance to the brew. Sugars can help balance out bitterness.
Phenols: These compounds add complexity to the flavor, with notes of bitterness and astringency. These come primarily from plant matter in the beans breaking down.

Secondary Extraction

Once the primary extraction is complete and you press and pour your coffee, a silent but equally important phase begins. Secondary extraction occurs when the brewed coffee continues to interact with the small coffee particles that slip through the French press’s filter screens.\

French press coffee is considered “unfiltered.” Even though it passes through two mesh filters, the fine coffee particles and coffee oils remain in your cup. In other brewing methods, these would normally be absorbed or filtered out by a paper filter.

During secondary extraction, additional compounds are pulled out of your grounds, including the following:

Chlorogenic Acids: These compounds can contribute to the coffee’s bitterness and astringency.
Lipids: Fats and oils found in coffee, which can enhance the body and mouthfeel of the brew.
Polysaccharides: Complex sugars that contribute to the brew’s viscosity.

Some secondary extraction can be a good thing for balance, but you do want to limit it.

Flavor Profiles Unveiled

So, what does all this scientific jargon have to do with the flavor of your coffee? In essence, the choice of your French press can significantly affect which compounds are prevalent in your brew, and, in turn, determine the flavor profile that dances on your palate.

A well-crafted French press tends to highlight specific characteristics in coffee:

Full-Bodied: The lack of a paper filter leaves oils and fines in your cup, which make the mouthfeel fuller and more intense than with filtered coffee.
Rich and Earthy: The combination of primary and secondary extraction often accentuates the coffee’s earthy, robust notes, making it particularly appealing to those who savor deep, bold flavors.
Full Aroma: A French press captures and retains the aromatic compounds released during the brewing process, creating a captivating sensory experience.

However, if you compromise on the quality of your French press, you’ll miss out on these qualities in your cup. A poorly designed French press can lead to an uneven extraction, causing under-extracted and over-extracted pockets within your coffee. The result? An unbalanced and disappointing brew. Is your French press coffee overly bitter or lip-puckeringly sour? It might be because of a poor quality French press.

Furthermore, low-quality French presses often struggle with containing the fines—tiny coffee particles—that escape through the filter screens, leading to undesirable secondary extraction. This over-extraction can result in an overly bitter, unpalatable brew.

So…yeah…that’s why you should take some time to make sure you’re buying the best French press possible!

What to Look for in a French Press Coffee Maker

There are a few key elements I recommend you focus on if you want the best French press available within your budget. I’ll explain them below, and I’ll put them in order of importance, at least according in my opinion.

Material: Glass vs. Stainless Steel vs. Stoneware French Press

The choice of material is a crucial factor in selecting your ideal French press. Each material offers distinct advantages and limitations.

Stainless Steel French Press

Stainless steel, known for its rapid heat conduction, can have a substantial impact on your coffee because it rapidly pulls heat from your brewing coffee. To counter this, most stainless steel French presses come with a double-wall construction. This extra layer acts as a buffer, minimizing heat loss from the brewing chamber.

Still, though, the inner layer will draw heat out of your coffee in seconds, so pre-heating your stainless steel French press is advisable. This ensures your coffee maintains its ideal temperature throughout the brewing process for even, balanced extraction.

Stainless steel French presses usually fall within the mid-range price category and are virtually indestructible, making them a durable and long-lasting choice.

Glass French Press

Glass, in contrast, is highly insulative and does not transfer heat as quickly as metal. For this reason, glass French presses typically do not require a double-wall construction. While pre-heating is a good practice, it’s not as crucial as with stainless steel models.

Glass French presses are the most budget-friendly option but come with the caveat of being more fragile. Handle them with care, or you may find yourself with a shattered morning ritual.

Stoneware French Press

Stoneware, like glass, is highly insulative and doesn’t necessitate a double wall. Pre-heating is beneficial but not essential. These French presses are often the priciest option, known for their artistic, decorative designs. However, their fragility should not be underestimated, as a single drop can result in a coffee catastrophe.

Single-Wall vs. Double-Wall French Press

The distinction between single-wall and double-wall French presses is often closely tied to the material used.

Stainless steel French presses are usually double-walled due to their heat-conductive nature. Glass and stoneware French presses usually have a single wall, which should be fine for most people.

The ideal brewing chamber would be a double-wall glass French press, but this option is rare, expensive, and not widely available. For most coffee enthusiasts, a double-wall stainless steel French press offers the best balance of insulation, practicality, and durability. I personally use a stainless steel French press every morning.

Filter Size & Options

The metal mesh filters in a French press come with various perforation sizes, and the choice you make can affect your coffee quality. The science behind it involves grind size and the prevention of fines passing through.

For a French press, the ideal grind size ranges between 1,000 and 1,200 microns. However, no grinder is perfect, and they all produce some fines. Smaller perforations in the filter are technically better at reducing secondary extraction, but they are more challenging to manufacture, so they’re more expensive.

If you have a low-quality grinder that produces an abundance of fines, it may be wise to opt for a French press with a paper filter. This additional filter halts secondary extraction and prevents bitterness from infiltrating your coffee by removing fines. However, it will also pull out oils, making the mouthfeel a bit thinner.

Some French presses also offer basket filters, which facilitate easier cleanup but are not essential for a great brew.

Capacity

French presses come in various sizes, and choosing the right capacity is vital, especially if you enjoy brewing coffee for multiple people. Immersion brewing, like that of the French press, is more accommodating at higher volumes compared to methods like pour-over. Still, the largest commercially available French press typically holds just 1.5 liters of liquid, and most are a liter or less.

You should choose the size that matches your most common brewing batch for convenience. Selecting the perfect size ensures you have enough coffee to go around without waste.

Spout Marker

For those opting for non-transparent French presses, a spout marker is a helpful feature. This small addition prevents coffee spills when pouring, as it shows you which side of the lid is open and will allow the coffee to flow out neatly. While it might not be a deal-breaker, it certainly enhances your overall coffee experience. Personally, I’ll never buy another one without it.

Durability

The durability of your French press is linked to the chosen material. Stainless steel options are robust and long-lasting, capable of withstanding the test of time. I’ve had mine for about 10 years, have dropped it numerous times, and still have no issues with it. You can throw these in the dishwasher, too, for easy cleanup.

Glass, while insulative, is fragile and requires gentle handling. You should also wait to clean it with cold water until it has cooled after brewing. You can put these in a dishwasher, but it’s not recommended, as it will eventually break.

Stoneware, with its artistic appeal, is equally breakable. Consider your lifestyle and how careful you are with your coffee gear when assessing the importance of durability in your French press. These are the most visually appealing, and some can handle washing in the dishwasher.

Price

Budget considerations are always a factor when shopping for a French press. Glass French presses are the most affordable, making them a practical choice for cost-conscious consumers. Stainless steel models are often mid-range in price, offering good durability and performance. Stoneware French presses are typically at the higher end of the price spectrum due to their artistic designs, but they come with the drawback of increased fragility.

Handle

While not often a concern, the handle’s location can occasionally be problematic. If it’s positioned too close to the brewing chamber, there’s a risk of burning your knuckles during pouring. This issue is relatively rare but can be frustrating, so it’s worth checking handle placement when making your selection.

Appearance

For some coffee aficionados, a French press isn’t just a tool; it’s a statement piece. The appearance of your coffee maker may matter more to you than it does to me, especially if you enjoy putting your coffee-making prowess on display. Stoneware French presses, with their intricate designs, often appeal to those who seek an aesthetic touch in their kitchen.

Wrapping Up: How to Buy a French Press Coffee Maker

Selecting the perfect French press is a matter of personal preference and needs, but you should also consider the science behind brewing coffee as you shop.

Take your time to consider the material, filter size, capacity, spout marker, durability, price, handle placement, and appearance that best align with your lifestyle and coffee-making habits. Whether you opt for the durability of stainless steel, the insulative properties of glass, or the artistic charm of stoneware, your French press should reflect your love for coffee and enhance your daily brewing journey.

In the world of coffee, precision and personalization are paramount. So, embark on this journey to select the French press that suits your needs and style, and brew your way to coffee nirvana, one cup at a time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary difference between French press and other coffee brewing methods?

The primary distinction lies in the extraction process. In a French press, coffee grounds steep in hot water, allowing for full immersion brewing. This method extracts a wide range of flavors, resulting in a full-bodied and robust coffee. In contrast, drip coffee makers use paper filters, which remove fines and oils, offering a cleaner taste. Pour-over methods, like the Chemex and V60, employ precise pouring techniques to regulate the extraction in combination with paper filters. French press stands out for its rich and intense flavor profile, making it an excellent choice for those who relish the bold nuances of coffee.

Is it necessary to pre-heat my French press before brewing coffee?

Pre-heating your French press is a good idea, especially if it’s made of stainless steel. This process ensures the coffee maintains its ideal temperature during brewing. For glass and stone presses, it’s less critical, as these materials don’t conduct heat as rapidly as metal. However, for stainless steel models, pre-heating is essential to prevent heat loss. While not strictly necessary, pre-heating is a wise practice to maintain coffee temperature and get consistently delicious coffee that isn’t under-extracted.

How does the filter size affect the quality of coffee in a French press?

Perforations in a French press filter come in various sizes, influencing the amount of fines that pass through, and since fines continue to extract in your cup, a high-quality mesh filter can avoid bitterness and astringency in your coffee. Smaller perforations reduce secondary extraction but are pricier to manufacture. If you own a grinder that produces many fines, consider a French press with a paper filter to curb bitterness. Filter size is a crucial consideration for a balanced and delectable cup of French press coffee.

What is the ideal capacity for a French press, and how does it affect the brewing process?

The ideal capacity of a French press depends on your brewing needs, but a 1-liter French press is the standard. Immersion brewing in a French press is adaptable for larger batches, unlike methods like pour-over. The largest commercially available French press typically holds 1.5 liters. Select the capacity that aligns with your typical brewing quantity. Brewing a smaller amount in a larger press can lead to an under-extracted brew, while brewing too close to a French press’s maximum capacity may result in inconsistent extraction. Finding the right size ensures your coffee is consistently delightful.