Best French Press Coffee Makers 2026 — Tested for Grit, Heat and Body
August 2, 2026 · 9 min read
The French press survives every coffee trend because it asks almost nothing of you: coarse coffee, hot water, four minutes, press. What separates a great press from a bad one is heat retention, filter fit, and whether you end up chewing the last mouthful.
We brewed the same 60 g/L recipe in each of these and tasted them at one minute and at fifteen.
| Model | Capacity | Material | Heat retention | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bodum Chambord 34 oz | 8 cups | Glass + steel | Moderate | $40 |
| Bodum Chambord 8-Cup | 8 cups | Glass + steel | Moderate | $45 |
| Espro-style double filter | 4 cups | Steel | Excellent | $80 |
Best French press coffee makers of 2026.
1. Bodum Chambord — best overall French press
The Chambord is the design everyone else copies: borosilicate glass, a stainless frame, and a three-part mesh filter that seals against the wall well enough to keep most fines out of the cup. Parts are cheap and replaceable, which matters for a device made largely of glass.
Bodum Chambord 34 oz French Press
Pros
- Classic design with replaceable parts
- Borosilicate glass is easy to clean
- Makes two large mugs per brew
Cons
- Glass loses heat quickly
- Some sediment gets through
2. Stainless double-wall presses — best for slow drinkers
If you drink your press over half an hour, an insulated steel body keeps the last cup near serving temperature instead of lukewarm. You lose the visual of the bloom, and you can't see when the crust needs breaking, but the coffee stays drinkable far longer.
The technique that removes the sludge
Grind coarse — like sea salt. Pour all the water, wait four minutes, break the crust with a spoon and skim the foam and floating grounds off the top. Wait another five minutes, then press the plunger only to the surface of the liquid, not through it. Pour immediately. This is the James Hoffmann method and it removes most of the grit people blame on the brewer.
Ratio and grind
Use 60 g of coffee per litre of water — 30 g for a 500 ml brew. Water at 96°C. A burr grinder matters more here than in any other method, because blade-ground coffee dumps fines straight through the mesh.
1Zpresso JX-Pro Hand Grinder
Coarse-grind consistency that keeps sludge out of your press.
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Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Kettle
Hold 96°C exactly instead of guessing after the boil.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best French press ratio?
60 g of coffee per litre of water, which is 30 g for a 500 ml brew. Use water at 96°C and a coarse grind.
How do I stop French press coffee being gritty?
Grind coarse with a burr grinder, skim the crust and foam at four minutes, let it settle five more minutes, then press only to the liquid surface instead of plunging through.
How long should French press steep?
Four minutes before breaking the crust, then a further five minutes of settling gives the cleanest cup. A straight four-minute plunge also works but leaves more sediment.
Recommended gear
Gear used in this reviews guide
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