There’s no denying that espresso is an absolute should for a morning kickstart. In reality, in a 2024 research achieved by the Nationwide Espresso Affiliation, 75 p.c of Individuals loved not less than one cup of espresso per week. And for many who love a powerful, full-bodied brew, French presses are exhausting to beat. This basic methodology gives a wealthy, flavorful cup that highlights the nuances of your favourite beans.
“The French press is basically 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 advantageous particles to stay in your cup, making a full-bodied expertise you’ll be able to’t get from paper-filtered strategies like pour-over espresso.”
That will help you improve your espresso recreation, we rounded up the eight greatest French presses in your excellent morning sip, all advisable by Morrison and different espresso consultants. Completely happy 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, as a result of approach 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—“just like that of sea salt or kosher salt,” she says.
- Examine the ratio: Making the proper cup of espresso with a French press is all about ensuring you may have the correct mix of water and occasional grounds. “A terrific 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 just a few seconds.
- Steep: Earlier than you press, you should 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, go away it down and pour your self a mug.
What to search for in a French press?
Materials
In relation to selecting a French press, you’ll steadily discover variations in glass or stainless-steel. “Glass carafes supply the purest style and allow you to watch the brewing course of, however high-quality stainless-steel fashions present portability and sturdiness,” Morrison says. He recommends avoiding ones produced from lower-quality stainless-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 folks. “For single customers, I like to recommend a 12-ounce press, to make sure you’re all the time brewing contemporary espresso relatively than letting it sit,” he says.
Store the 8 greatest French presses, based on espresso professionals
Finest 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 motive.“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 stainless-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 possibly can select from two sizes—18 ounces or 32 ounces—and quite a lot of colours and finishes. That is one French press that’s positive 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
Finest price range: Bodum Chambord French Press Espresso Maker — $49.00
Materials: borosilicate glass, stainless-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, in addition. “It’s a strong alternative 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 stainless-steel or glass? Effectively, that is your greatest wager, because of 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 could be wobbly
Finest glass: Yield French Press — $85.00
Materials: borosilicate glass, stainless-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 ravishing glass French press possibility.” It’s crafted from heat-proof borosilicate glass to face up to excessive warmth, and it seems to be 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.
- Stunning design
- Crafted from heat-proof glass that may stand up to excessive warmth
- A number of colours to select from
- Shatter threat
- Should be hand-washed
Finest stainless-steel: Frieling Double-Walled Stainless Metal French Press — $100.00
Materials: stainless-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 one among them. The gleaming stainless-steel exterior is as attractive as it’s useful, 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 stainless-steel, in three completely different capacities.
- Double-walled insulation
- Sturdy stainless-steel
- Dishwasher protected
- Additional lengthy deal with for simple dealing with
- Heavier than different fashions
Finest 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 large 48-ounce measurement to its vacuum insulation and stainless-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 should you jostle it round.
- Stable design makes it supreme for outside adventures
- A number of colours to select from
- Giant 48 oz. capability
- Vacuum insulated for additional heat
- Might drop and leak when jostled
Finest for journey: Yeti Rambler 34 Oz. French Press — $110.00
Materials: stainless-steel | Capability: 34 oz. | Colours: 10
In case your mornings are so packed that each one you’ve received time for is somewhat press-and-go motion, this French press is prepared and ready. It’s crafted in sturdy, puncture-resistant stainless-steel, with a number of options that make it excellent for touring. Yeti’s signature GroundsControl Filter—aka, a strong silicone flap—matches over the steel mesh filter to stop sediment from stepping into the espresso, or from water seeping again into the espresso grounds. (A phrase to the smart: 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 Purple, and one among my buddies not too long ago instructed me he was so jealous of it that he needs 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
- Giant capability
- Expensive
- Plunger is a bit robust to press down
Finest for inexperienced persons: Fellow Clara French Press — $99.00
Materials: stainless-steel | Capability: 24 oz. | Colours: 2
Fellow’s Clara French press is good for inexperienced persons because it’s received measurement strains, double-walled stainless-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 seems to be stylish. That is definitely a strong alternative for any French press consumer.
- Modern design
- Contains measurement strains 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 are going to, bolstered by Sozio’s approval. “This rustic, basic French press holds warmth effectively and brings a French countryside vibe to your kitchen decor,” she says. It’s crafted from glazed, premium stoneware, which not solely gives implausible 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 aside from some others on this information. You possibly can even put it within the microwave, oven, and freezer. Le Creuset? Sure, approach.
- Stunning 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 stainless-steel
FAQs
What are some prime 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 possibility 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 sure that the one you may have gives you evenly floor beans which might be constant in measurement.”
Morrison suggests utilizing contemporary medium or dark-roasted beans. “Darkish roast coffees shine notably effectively in a French press,” he says. “Their daring, sturdy flavors are absolutely 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 new water.”
Can a French press be used to make drinks aside from espresso?
The quick reply? Completely! “A French press has numerous 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.
