Are you considering trading in your run-of-the-mill drip coffee maker for something a little nicer? YES! đđ Buying a French Press can be a great home brewing method if you’re new to the world of slightly more upscale coffee. And you are rewarded like WHOA. The coffee this brew method makes is unlike any otherâwith no filters to withhold the delicious natural coffee oils, youâre left to indulge on a cup of coffee that feels creamier and more delectable than the rest.

Hereâs what to look for in a high-quality French Press coffee makerâand the things to think about before buying a French press.
The best French Press Coffee makers will check off these boxes:
1. Solid Material
Youâve probably seen a variety of French Press Coffee Makers available at your favorite home goods storeâmaybe even Wal Mart or Target. These can vary in materials from plastic to steel to glass. But which is the best French Press coffee maker for first timers? We recommend glass or stainless steel. Itâs a step up from the cheap nasty plastic stuff, but isnât such a high investment that youâre left questioning if the steep costs were worth it.
2. The Right Size
If youâre planning on using the French Press Coffee Maker as your at-home default and youâve got a family of three or more, we recommend purchasing a version that can make at least X ounces of coffee (that gives everyone roughly one cup). If youâre just making a batch for lilâ ol you, you can self-determine how much coffee youâd like to make at any given time.
In my opinion, the bigger the betterâsome days you need more than one cup, and some days you need to make a big batch for all of your lovely house guests. Instead of grinding up 2x the coffee and warming up 2x the water, just make a bigger batch in your big boy instead!
3. A High-Quality Brand
As with anything, there are cost differentiations between different brands of coffee makers. We consider the Cadillac of French Press Coffee Makers to be the Espro Press P7, Stainless Steel French Pressâsold for $110 on Amazon. It’s elegance is unmatched, and it makes 3-4 solid cups in its double walled, insulated carafe.
If youâre looking for a good top-shelf equivalent that doesnât eat up ALL of your disposable income, check out the Espro P3 for $65 on Amazon. Espro makes remarkably high-quality machines and should be your first stop when buying a French Press. The P3 is different than the P7 in that it is not stainless steal (simply glass) and that it makes twice as much coffee at a time (win!).
Prefer a mid-self equivalent? We recommend this Cafe du Chateau’s French Press Coffee Maker for $24 on Amazon. It also has some stainless steel in the body, plus a four level filtration system and a lifetime guarantee.
And if youâre reeeeally unsure of the cost and only want to make a nominal investment in this new brew-haha, the cheapest one we can feel good about recommending is Bodum’s Brazil from $17 on Amazon. Bodum is just a powerhouseâalways reliable and always sleek in design. You can even get it in bright green or red!
4. Other Factors You Might Consider
For your first time buying a French Press Coffee Maker, you might also care about whether or not it looks sharp / matches your kitchen decor, or perhaps if the machine has a warranty for a given period of time. Ultimately, you have to choose the best French Press Maker for youâfollow these guidelines, and you’re bound to find something that checks off all of your boxes STAT.
Now that youâve got yours picked out, hereâs how to make your first cup GREAT
Here’s how to nail French press coffee makingâall it takes is about 7 minutes!
- Grab your brand new shiny coffee maker. Aren’t you pleased you went through with buying a French press?!
- Grind your coffee to the correct size. You want it coarse compared to what you used in your drip maker or what you’d find in espresso grounds.
- Heat the water just rightâand only use the right amount. Aim for around 200 degrees Fahrenheit (this is easily accomplished with a Gooseneck Electric Kettle or by bringing water to a boil and letting it sit for about 30 seconds before you pour it over your coffee grounds). Use 2 tablespoons of coffee grounds for every six ounces of water.
- Pour in the coffee grounds and water, then push the plunger down just below the top of the water line. This ensures all the beans are submerged and making magic.
- Let it steep for 4 minutesâmaybe do a quick stretch? Some deep breaths? Run to get the mail?
- Delight! Push the plunger down and pour yourself a fresh hot cup of friendship. MMmmM.
Buying a French Press is the best decision you can make this year

If you’re on the hunt for an easy to master home brewing coffee method, buying a French Press just makes sense.
What French Press have you found and loved? Do you have any secrets to how to make the best French Press cup of coffee EVER? Comment below! <3
Our recommendations for the best French Press Coffee Makers on the market:
- Luxury: Espro Press P7
- High end: Espro P3
- Middle ground: Cafe du Chateau
- Standard: ďťżBodum
Hello, I appreciate the advice you gave as this is my first french press purchase. However I didn’t feel good reading the line where you assumed all of your readers make at least $24 an hour. I currently do, but I know several people who are coffee drinkers and don’t make $24/hour or don’t work at all due to childcare responsibilities. I hope that you don’t intentionally want to exclude people who make less than $24/hour from your readership, and so I wanted to leave the feedback that this comment may unintentionally make some readers feel unwelcome to your blog.