What to Look for When Buying a French Press

Are you thinking about retiring your standard drip coffee maker for something a little fancier? YES! 👏👏 A French press is one of those home brew methods that rewards you instantly. No paper filters here—just coffee oils, flavor, and that luxurious creamy mouthfeel that makes every sip feel like a tiny indulgence.

Here’s our low-key guide to what to consider before buying a French press, and the things that’ll make your first cup feel like magic.

Solid Material

You’ve probably seen French presses at Target, Walmart, or that trendy home goods store downtown. Materials vary from plastic to glass to stainless steel. Our take? Skip the cheap plastic, go glass or stainless steel.

• Glass: Classic, elegant, lets you watch the coffee bloom. Just be careful—it’s fragile.
• Stainless steel: Durable, keeps your coffee warmer for longer, and feels premium in hand.
• Plastic, ceramic, or other materials: Cheap, light, but can mess with flavor and don’t last. We generally recommend going for products built with higher quality materials, but if this is your first French press rodeo, you might want a cheap starter to test if you really like it!

The Right Size

If you’re brewing just for yourself, a smaller 3–4 cup press works fine. But here’s the thing: bigger is often better. Some mornings, one cup isn’t enough; other times, you’ve got friends over and need a full pot.

We recommend sizing your press for your habits:

• Solo or duo: 12–17 oz (roughly 1–2 cups).
• Family or entertaining: 34–51 oz (3–4 cups or more).

No one wants to grind twice the beans and heat twice the water when you can make one glorious batch in your big-boy press.

In my opinion, the bigger the better—some 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!

Brand Matters

As with anything, there are cost differentiations between different brands of coffee makers.

• Luxury: We consider the Cadillac of French Press Coffee Makers to be the Frieling Coffee Press—sold for $160 on Amazon. It’s elegance is unmatched, and it makes 3-4 solid cups in its double walled, insulated carafe.
• High end: Another higher-end option with great brand equity is the Fellow Stagg French Press ($110). That design is just dreamy, and would pair well with the kettle that made them famous (see our review of the Fellow Stagg Kettle here).
• Mid-market: Prefer a mid-shelf equivalent? We recommend this Cafe du Chateau’s French Press Coffee Maker for $40 on Amazon. It also has some stainless steel in the body, plus a four level filtration system and a lifetime guarantee.
• Budget-friendly: And if you’re 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 $20 on Amazon. Bodum is just a powerhouse… it’s always reliable and always sleek in design. You can even get it in bright green or red!

Pro tip: don’t obsess over price alone. Think about longevity, flavor, and how it feels in your hands.

Other Considerations

• Look and feel: Does it match your kitchen vibe? Are you proud to leave it on the counter?
• Maintenance: Can you clean it easily? Dishwasher safe or not? (Dishwasher compatibility is a HUGE factor in our household).
• Warranty: Some presses give you peace of mind if you’re clumsy with glass.

At the end of the day, the “best” French press is the one that fits your lifestyle and coffee obsession perfectly.

Making Your First Cup

Now that you’ve got a press, here’s how to make your first cup actually taste amazing.

1. Buy awesome French press coffee. Here’s our picks for the best coffee beans for French press
2. Grind coarse: Not espresso fine, not drip fine—coarse, like crunchy sea salt.
3. Heat water right: Around 200°F. Bring to a boil, let sit 30 seconds.
4. Measure coffee: About 2 tablespoons per 6 oz water.
5. Bloom and submerge: Pour water over grounds, push plunger just below water line to fully saturate beans.
6. Steep 4 minutes: Stretch, breathe, or check your mail.
7. Plunge and pour! Enjoy a cup of coffee that’s creamy, rich, and basically the best decision you’ve made all week.

Final Thoughts on the French Press

Buying a French press is like upgrading your at-home coffee game from “meh” to “whoa.” If you’re hunting for a simple, easy-to-master brew method, it’s hard to beat.

We <3 you, French Press!