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Nothing beats a fresh pot of French press coffee. While I appreciate a good cup of drip coffee or even a shot of hearty espresso, I still love the full-bodied, rich taste of press coffee. It has that certain “je ne sais quoi” that other coffee makers can’t replicate. While a French press is simple by design, not all presses are created equal. To help you find the right press to fuel your coffee-drinking habits, I’m going to share my top picks for the best French presses.
My #1 Choice: SterlingPro Glass 8-Cup French Press
SterlingPro Glass 8-Cup (click to enlarge)
If I had to choose one French press as a must-have in the kitchen, it would have to be a SterlingPro. This french press brews 8 cups of delicious fresh coffee, and its sophisticated design will make you feel like your sipping coffee in a Parisian sidewalk café.
Of course, looks aren’t everything though – even with a French press coffee maker. Here’s why the SterlingPro is my top pick:
Well-built: This SterlingPro’s carafe is made from borosilicate glass that’s heat-resistant. A white plastic liner is attached to the lid to prevent it from overheating, but because the liner is so close to the lid, it never touches your coffee. I’ve mentioned it before – plastic and rubber parts can make your coffee taste “off,” so knowing that neither of these materials will ever touch your coffee is a huge plus.
Affordable: Price is very affordable, the SterlingPro Glass 8-Cupper is an affordable French press that brews up a fantastic pot of coffee.
Smart Features: Most coffee presses use just a single screen to filter out grounds, which means you’re left with tiny grounds and particles at the bottom of your cup. This press uses a double screen system, so grounds stay in the pot where they belong. This means I can finally take that last sip of coffee without swallowing a mouthful of grounds.
| Click here to buy now and get the price of the SterlingPro Glass French Press. This is the most reliable and durable press on the market! |
Easy to Clean and Maintain: This french press couldn’t be any easier to clean. The carafe can be removed from its steel cage and washed in the dishwasher. Other parts can easily be hand washed and dried in between uses. And because there are no mechanical parts, maintenance is minimal. Just keep it clean and make sure you don’t drop the carafe!
If the glass SterlingPro french press isn’t your cup of tea (err, coffee), then the SterlingPro Double Wall Stainless Steel French Press is a great alternative. With a complete stainless steel exterior and interior, this press is a bit different than traditional press designs. That being said, it still can brew up a great pot of coffee. Because it uses stainless steel, the coffee’s taste is not affected. Plus, the double-wall construction keeps the coffee warmer for longer.
Runner Up: Bodum Brazil 8-Cup French Press
Bodum Brazil 8-Cup French Press (click to enlarge)
It’s hard to top the SterlingPro 8-cup press, but the Bodum Brazil comes close. Its design isn’t as sleek and it doesn’t use dual-screens for filtering, but it still brews delicious coffee.
The Bodum Brazil is my second-favorite press. Here’s why:
Quality Construction: Like the SterlingPro, the Bodum Brazil features a borosilicate glass carafe. The base and handle are made from BPA-free plastic. The lid is also made of plastic, and the coffee does come in contact with it when pouring. This isn’t a big deal, per say, but if you’re a coffee purist, it’s something to consider.
Economical: You can get your hands on a brand new Bodum Brazil for less than $25. You’d be hard pressed (pun intended) to find another French press of this quality at such a low price.
Minimalistic Design: I love this press’s minimalistic design. Unlike the SterlingPro, the Bodum Brazil doesn’t come with a steel “cage”. The base and handle provide the carafe with all the support it needs.
Three–Part Filter: The Bodum Brazil may not use dual-screens, but it does have a three-part filter that keeps grounds out while allowing for full absorption of the bean’s oil and flavor.
| Click here to buy now and get the price of the Bodum Brazil French Press. This is the most affordable french press on my list and very similar to the SterlingPro Glass press! |
Dishwasher-Safe: I love the fact that every single part of this press is dishwasher safe. It makes cleaning is a breeze.
If you prefer a look similar to the glass SterlingPro, the Bodum Chambord 8-Cup French Press is an excellent alternative. It still features the three-part filter, but the lid is metal and the carafe is housed in a steel cage. This press is a bit more expensive than the Brazil press, but it’s worth the extra cost if you’re worried about plastic touching your coffee.
A Premium French Press That Won’t Break The Bank: Grosche Madrid 8-Cup Premium French Press
Grosche Madrid French Press (click to enlarge)
If you’re looking for a premium press, but don’t want to spend a fortune, the Grosche Madrid is your best choice. With a uniquely modern design and quality construction, this is a press that will last for many years to come. I had the pleasure of testing out this model a few times, and while it still doesn’t top the SterlingPro, it’s still a pleasure to use and makes a full-bodied pot of coffee.
Like all the other presses on my list, the Grosche Madrid comes with a borosilicate glass carafe. The housing, or cage, is made of beautiful chrome.
The Madrid is similar to the Bodum presses in that it uses a 3-part stainless steel filter, but this press also comes with a secondary filter on the lid. I never had any grounds in my coffee when brewing with this pot.
It also comes with a neat little feature that lets you turn the lid to close the pot and keep your coffee warm. Aside from coffee, you can brew loose leaf or blooming tea in this press.
| Click here to buy now and get the price of the Grosche Madrid French Press. Start making premium coffee and tea today with this french press! |
My only gripe with this press, and the Bodum Brazil is that they both have plastic parts in or near the lid. I personally didn’t feel that the plastic altered the taste, but it’s important to mention nonetheless.
In terms of design, the Madrid is similar to the SterlingPro. Both have steel (in this case chrome) housing that adds a touch of sophistication to the press. One thing I do like about this press is that the knob on the top of the lid is also made of metal. It just adds to the sleek design of the press – although it can sometimes get a little hot.
The Grosche Madrid is a premium French press that won’t bust your budget.
Favorite Stainless Steel French Press: Frieling Polished 18/10 Stainless Steel French Press
Frieling Stainless Steel French Press (click to enlarge)
You won’t be able to see your coffee brew with a stainless steel press, but the pot will keep your coffee warmer for longer and won’t alter its taste. If you prefer stainless steel presses, I highly recommend the Frieling Polished 18/10 Stainless Steel press. It’s my favorite press in this category – although it’s the priciest on my list. The quality construction makes it well worth the cost.
Let’s start with its construction. The Frieling press is double-walled and made from 18/10 stainless steel. The outside of the pot has a mirror finish, while the interior is brushed. Everything from the carafe to the plunger is made from steel, which means no plastic or rubber materials will ever touch your coffee.
Thanks to its double-wall design, the carafe keeps coffee warmer four times longer than glass. It’s also more durable than glass too, which means your pot can last years – decades even – if you take care of it. If you do need replacement parts, Frieling has made them easily available.
The entire pot is so easy to assemble and disassemble. Did I mention all parts are dishwasher-safe? Just take it apart, throw it in the dishwasher in between uses and you’ll enjoy fresh, delicious coffee every day of the week.
| Click here to get the price of the Frieling Stainless Steel French Press. |
I tested this press once, and while I enjoyed the pot of coffee, it still couldn’t compare to the SterlingPro or even the Bodum Brazil. Maybe I just prefer coffee that’s brewed in a glass carafe.
That being said, if you don’t want to deal with a glass carafe, this Frieling press is a great choice. I’ve heard horror stories of glass beakers breaking (although I’ve never experienced that). Stainless steel is a smart option and great alternative to glass. This press will set you back quite a few dollars, but its quality construction and full stainless-steel design make it worth the cost.