There’s no denying that espresso is an absolute should for a morning kickstart. In reality, in a 2024 examine accomplished by the Nationwide Espresso Affiliation, 75 p.c of Individuals loved at the least one cup of espresso per week. And for individuals who love a powerful, full-bodied brew, French presses are arduous to beat. This traditional technique affords a wealthy, flavorful cup that highlights the nuances of your favourite beans.
“The French press is actually a pure immersion brewing technique 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 will help you improve your espresso sport, we rounded up the eight finest French presses on your excellent morning sip, all really useful by Morrison and different espresso consultants. Pleased brewing!
How precisely does a French press work?
In essence, a French press is only a large 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 means 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, because of the 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 dimension—“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 got the appropriate mix of water and occasional grounds. “An ideal 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. “Permit 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, depart it down and pour your self a mug.
What to search for in a French press?
Materials
Relating to selecting a French press, you’ll incessantly 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 may 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 individuals. “For single customers, I like to recommend a 12-ounce press, to make sure you’re all the time brewing recent espresso slightly than letting it sit,” he says.
Store the 8 finest French presses, based on espresso professionals
Greatest general: 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 cause.“It actually is price 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 scrub.
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 a wide range of colours and finishes. That is one French press that’s certain to place some pep in your day by 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 dear, this one by Bodum rings up beneath $50—and nonetheless makes a reasonably spectacular cup of espresso, besides. “It’s a stable selection that gives 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? Effectively, that is your finest wager, because of a mixture of a carafe in heat-resistant, borosilicate glass and a chrome steel lid and body. You may as well select from a wide range of capacities, so whether or not you’re brewing for one or six, there’s a dimension for you.
- Reasonably priced
- A number of sizes to select from
- Distinctive triple-filter retains grounds out of espresso
- Single-walled insulation
- Plunger could 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 fashion 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 stupendous glass French press possibility.” It’s crafted from heat-proof borosilicate glass to resist excessive warmth, and it appears extraordinarily stylish doing it. It additionally has a chrome 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 face up to excessive warmth
- A number of colours to select from
- Shatter threat
- Have to 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 certainly one of them. The gleaming chrome steel exterior is as beautiful as it’s practical, because of 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 select up and pour. Select from polished or brushed chrome steel, in three completely different capacities.
- Double-walled insulation
- Sturdy chrome steel
- Dishwasher secure
- Additional lengthy deal with for straightforward dealing with
- Heavier than different fashions
Greatest for tenting: Stanley Basic The Keep-Sizzling 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 may final years and may go alongside in your tenting adventures,” she says. From its huge 48-ounce dimension to its vacuum insulation and chrome steel mesh filter, there’s so much to like about this selection. Plus, it is available in all kinds of colours, like cream, black, pink, grey, and olive inexperienced. And, very similar to its Quencher counterpart, it retains drinks sizzling for hours on finish. Simply watch out with it, since it could drip a bit in the event you jostle it round.
- Strong design makes it perfect for out of doors adventures
- A number of colours to select from
- Massive 48 oz. capability
- Vacuum insulated for further heat
- Might 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 every one you’ve obtained time for is a bit of 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 excellent for touring. Yeti’s signature GroundsControl Filter—aka, a stable silicone flap—matches over the metallic mesh filter to stop sediment from entering into the espresso, or from water seeping again into the espresso grounds. (A phrase to the smart: It does make plunging a bit harder.)
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 Purple, and certainly one of my associates not too long ago advised me he was so jealous of it that he desires one for himself—so make of that what you’ll.
- Dishwasher secure
- A number of options hold espresso inside with no leaking, spilling, or cooling
- GroundsControl Filter retains grounds from leaking into espresso
- Massive capability
- Dear
- Plunger is a bit powerful 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 obtained 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 straightforward pouring, and it even comes with a wood keep on with stir the grounds to perfection. To not point out it simply appears stylish. That is definitely a stable selection for any French press person.
- Modern design
- Contains measurement traces to brew an ideal cup
- Enhanced filtration system retains grounds out of espresso
- Solely the mesh filter is dishwasher secure
- Solely two colours
Most trendy: Le Creuset French Press — $85.00
Materials: stoneware | Capability: 34 oz. | Colours: 13
Le Creuset. Want we are saying extra? We are going to, bolstered by Sozio’s approval. “This rustic, traditional French press holds warmth properly and brings a French countryside vibe to your kitchen decor,” she says. It’s crafted from glazed, premium stoneware, which not solely affords improbable warmth retention however is designed to withstand scratches and stains. It additionally has a nonstick end and could 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
- Might 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 ideas and methods 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 possibility on mass-market espresso offered at grocery or comfort shops,” she says. “Begin with entire bean espresso and use a high quality burr grinder or hand grinder—simply ensure that the one you’ve got offers you evenly floor beans which can be constant in dimension.”
Morrison suggests utilizing recent medium or dark-roasted beans. “Darkish roast coffees shine notably properly in a French press,” he says. “Their daring, strong flavors are totally extracted by means of the immersion course of, making a wealthy, full-bodied cup.”
And eventually, “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 recent water.”
Can a French press be used to make drinks apart from espresso?
The brief reply? Completely! “A French press has plenty of different artistic 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.