What to look for while buying a French Press (6 points!)

Buying a French Press is a tedious process. If you are a beginner, then there is a chance that you will buy the wrong coffee maker for yourself.

You could end up with a French press with a delicate carafe, prone to shattering within a mere month. Or perhaps the filter system proves inadequate, delivering a cup of coffee plagued by excessive sediment at the bottom. Such experiences can quickly sour your perception of this brewing method.

In this guide, I will tell you what to look for in French Press and 6 important things you must consider before buying a French Press.

1. What material is best for a French press?

You can find French Press Coffee makers in three different materials:

• Glass
• Stainless Steel
• Ceramic

Glass is the best and most popular choice for French Press Coffee Makers. It’s very affordable and makes your coffee brewing process visually appealing.

However, not all glass is created equal. Always choose a French Press made from borosilicate glass. This strong material excels in heat retention and durability, outperforming standard thin glass that shatters easily.

Stainless Steel French Press coffee makers are also quite popular. They are strong and can last for a lifetime. If you buy a Metal French Press, you should ensure that it is double-walled and insulated.

Double-walled insulated French presses excel at retaining heat, ensuring your coffee stays warm and flavorful for extended periods. Their sturdy design makes them ideal for travel. Some coffee enthusiasts complain that metal degrades the taste of the coffee, but it’s not the case with everyone.

Ceramic French Presses are uncommon and come with a higher price tag compared to glass ones. Yet, these Cafetieres are both attractive and functional.

Ceramic Carafe is stronger and can retain heat longer than a Glass Carafe. They also make a great coffee cup as Ceramic material does not react with any food acids and does not retain any taste or odors from the previous brew.

In short, all material has their pros and cons, but one thing is common: they all can deliver a perfect cup of coffee.

Read a detailed guide on stainless steel vs glass vs ceramic French Press. I have mentioned the pros and cons of all the materials in detail.

2. what size French press should you get

French Presses are available in a range of different sizes from 8 oz to 60 oz.

An 8 oz French Press is perfect for personal use and a 50 oz French Press is perfect for brewing 6 to 8 cups.

The standard size of a cup of coffee is anywhere between 6 to 9 oz. The table below will help you choose the suitable capacity French Press coffee maker.

3. Lid of the Carafe

Some French Press coffee makers have a very loose lid that does not fit perfectly on the top.

It causes two problems.

• It results in unnecessary heat loss during the steeping time as the heat can easily escape from the open spaces.
• Pouring coffee becomes a challenge, requiring you to firmly hold the lid in place to prevent leaks from the gaps.

So, while buying a French Press coffee maker, you must ensure that the lid fits perfectly at the top. And if it has some kind of seal, that’s perfect. The seal will prevent the leakage of coffee while pouring, and also, there will be minimal heat loss.

4. The filter assembly

The best thing about the French Press brewing style is that you don’t need any kind of paper filters. And the only filters involved in this brewing process are metal strainers attached to the plunger.

This allows you to have a rich cup of coffee full of oils and flavors from the grounds. You can also use paper filters with French Press if you want, but they are not necessary.

The filters of some French Presses are not good, and they do not precisely filter out the grounds. This way, you will end up with a cup of French press coffee with too many sediments in it. 

So, while choosing a French Press, you must make sure that the coffee maker has an ultra or microfiltration system capable of keeping away all the coffee grounds from your cup.

As there are no filters involved in the French press brewing process some people argue that French Press coffee is healthy or not. Read detailed research on this topic.

5. The Cost of a Good French Press

While buying a glass French Press, you must look for anything between 20 to 40 dollars. Never look for something cheaper than 20 dollars as it will be very fragile.

You can buy a good stainless steel French Press in the range of 30 to 80 dollars. Non-insulated steel French Presses are cheaper, but they are not worth it.

Ceramic French Presses are expensive, and you can find a good Ceramic Press if you have a budget of over 60 dollars.

6. Choose the right brand

Don’t fall for unpopular and cheaper brands while choosing French Press, even if you are getting a very good deal.

You may get a French Press from an unpopular brand at a very good price, but I am sure that it will not offer very good quality.

In glass French Presses, Bodum and Café de Chateau are very good and reputable brands.

In stainless-steel French Presses, Frieling and Mueller will be the best option.

Espro is also a very good glass and stainless steel French Press brand, but it is relatively expensive.

In Ceramic French Presses, Le Creuset or Chantel are the best brands.

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