bodum travel french press review

Bodum Travel French Press Review

I’d not been convinced of the utility of a travel French press, until I bought one!

Reviewing the Bodum Travel Press I found it is the fastest way to make good coffee and take it on the go, the seal around the filter stops grounds escaping while you drink and the double walled insulation keeps your coffee hotter for longer.

I’ve actually found myself making coffee in this instead of my normal French press if I know I’m going to be busy, having the coffee stay hot and having one less dish to wash is ideal.

Quick Bodum Travel Press Review

• Cost efficient and convenient

Price & Reviews at Amazon

I love it, I’m a complete convert to its usefulness and it makes a really tasty cup of coffee. It’s strange that the plunger stops so far from the bottom but it’s not the end of the world, by far the quickest way to take good coffee on the go in the morning.

Can You Put Milk In It?

Let’s start with one of the more important questions, can you put milk directly into it?

I’m pleased to say that yes, you can put milk directly into the Bodum Travel Press, in fact they tell you to put milk and any sweetener in the bottom with the coffee before you add hot water.

The problem with this is it alters how the coffee brews because the milk will lower the overall temperature of the water you add to the flask. But if you’re only adding a little milk it won’t actually change that much, you’ll just need to add water that’s closer to the boil instead of leaving it for a few minutes.

You can add any type of milk you see fit to it, almond, oat, coconut you name it.

Pros and Cons

What review is complete without a pros and cons section?

Very convenient, I don’t commute to work any more but I did have a few errands to run in the car one morning so I made a coffee in this and took it with me to see how it would hold up being sloshed around in the car. It did really well! It stayed hot all morning, tasted good, fit in my cup holder, ideal.

Rubber Seal to stop grounds escaping I – was pleasantly surprised that no grounds made it through the filter and the coffee under the filter is sort of trapped there so even though it will continue to brew it doesn’t mix with the coffee above the press. It actually let through less fines than my regular french press does which was interesting, definitely a cleaner cup.

The only time it failed was when I held it fully upside down to see what would happen, the grounds came through and it was disgusting but as long as you don’t drink it like you’re downing a beer you’ll be fine.

Hardy Construction – The double wall outer is for insulation to keep it hot but I must say that it makes it very sturdy at the same time. This would easily handle a beating and being dropped without being properly damaged.

Ergonomic Design – Generally I hate the word ergonomic, it belongs in design labs not real life. But damn the lid is comfortable to use. The press fits down flush with the rest of the lid, the mouthpiece gently clips into place and doesn’t fall on your nose while you drink, but nor is it hard to open and close. Great design, very comfortable.

Low Price – It’s under $20 and for that you get a convenient way to take coffee with you to make in the office or to drink on the go.

Filter Doesn’t Unscrew – I would have liked to be able to take apart the filter at the bottom of the plunger to clean it but you can’t. I understand this is to make sure the rubber seal stays completely efficient but I like taking my french press apart.

Large Gap at Bottom – There is supposed to be a space at the bottom of a french press, the plunger is meant to stop to leave a space to allow the coffee grounds to sit so they don’t get squeezed through the mesh or over extracted.

But this has a huge gap, way bigger than it needs for the size of it, I can’t figure out why they would have done this but it’s a bit annoying. Not the end of the world but it’s a strange design feature.

The 2 Best Ways To Use It

Having been using this myself and looking into how other people use it I can say there are two efficient ways to use the travel press.

1. Take Coffee to Make At Work

If you’re pressed for time in the morning (pun intended) and don’t have time to make coffee you can throw the grounds into the bottom of this, screw the lid on and put it in your bag to take to work.

It’s sturdy enough to make the trip and once you get there you can get hot water and make your coffee. Then you have a quick empty of the grounds at work and you can take it home to make sure you properly wash it.

This saves you having to have an at work french press that keeps getting miss-used by others and left dirty in the sink.

It also saves boiling water in the morning and cleaning a french press before you leave and cleaning a thermos when you get to work.

2. Make Coffee Before Work

Slightly more prep but this is how I use it and the standard way most people use it, you weigh out your coffee and your boiling water, you press it down and you take it with you when you leave the house.

You need to keep it upright so you’ll have to hold it rather than put it in a bag when it’s full of coffee otherwise it will slowly start to leak out the mouthpiece and as I said if it goes full upside down the grounds will start to escape.

But the double wall both keeps it hot inside and keeps it comfortable to hold on the outside, no burning your hand required.

Doesn’t It Over Brew?

I wondered this initially too, if you leave the coffee in it won’t it over brew and keep getting stronger and more bitter?

Fortunately it won’t, the coffee doesn’t really escape back past the filter once it’s been pressed down, if you poured it for long enough it eventually would but you don’t want it too. Once it’s pressed down it won’t extract any more flavor.

Interestingly coffee tastes different at different temperatures so if the last of your coffee tastes different it might be because it’s colder rather than extracted more.

Is It Dishwasher Safe?

Yes the bodum travel press is completely dishwasher safe, it should be kept on the top shelf of course but this does make clean up easier. But because it can’t be unscrewed you’ll get surprisingly far with a solid rinsing of it.

Can you microwave it?

I’ve hunted high and low for this information and unfortunately, I can’t say for certain. It does have metal components such as the filter. I’m certain that you definitely don’t want to microwave metal.

So I assume it wouldn’t be safe which is good because microwaved coffee is not a good time.

Does it come with a second lid?

The UK model comes with a second lid that doesn’t have a plunger in it but this model is no longer available in the USA unfortunately.

Does the plunger go all the way down?

No, as I said there is quite a large gap at the bottom, which is strange and a bit annoying but 15 oz is still big enough to give you a good amount of fresh delicious coffee.

Final Verdict

The Bodum Travel Press is a great weapon in your coffee arsenal. It would also be a great gift for a coffee lover incidentally. Surprisingly useful and surprisingly effective, a great buy in my opinion.

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Bodum Travel Press Review: A French Press for Every Commuter

Posted by Jordan Parker | Aug 28, 2023 | Intel , Travel Accessories , Travel Accessories | 0 |

Bodum products have been enjoyed for decades and we know why.

Life is too short to drink bad coffee. Or at least that’s what I tell myself. I have experienced the missed-alarm-clock-rush to work only to realize I’ll be having a Keurig cup of coffee that morning. Or worse, no coffee at all. My attempts to plan ahead and prepare my coffee grinds and tumbler the night before are far and few between. Let’s be honest, no one should have to experience a coffee-less or tea-less work morning. This travel press is just what I am looking for. Functionality and quality become one in this travel french press. Take a look at our Bodum Travel Press review and see why this should be every coffee lover's new morning necessity; it's the king of espresso machines.

A Little About the Bodum Company

For decades the Bodum company has been crafting beverage accessories as well as sophisticated kitchen tools. Founded with the idea that form and function should work hand-in-hand, Bodum kitchenware continues to please aesthetic and practical purposes.

In 1958, Bodum released their very first vacuum coffee maker. Nearly two decades later their first french press coffee maker was released. Although the form has changed, the Bodum Travel Press highlights the company's cornerstone: functionality. Formerly, the french press was simply an eco-friendly way to make a cup of cafe. Now, their travel press is a way to take your favorite coffee or tea on-the-go. Pour your friends a glass in some beautiful Bodum Pavina glasses.

Bodum Travel Press Features & Benefits

A good cup of coffee or tea is always at your fingertips with the Bodum Travel Coffee and Tea Press. Made of vacuum-sealed, double-wall stainless steel with a colorful, silicone, non-slip grip, this travel press lets coffee lovers enjoy their daily fix on the go. It's quick and easy to use: add coarsely ground coffee, pour in hot water, seal the lid and take it to go.

After 4-minutes, regardless of where you are, press down on the plunger and enjoy. For those that prefer tea, the Bodum Travel Coffee and Tea Press works equally as well. The Bodum Travel Coffee and Tea Press keeps beverages hot or cold for several hours while maintaining the aroma and flavors of a freshly pressed cup.

It looks hot and stays hot. Enjoy a single-serving of French press coffee or loose leaf tea on the go with Travel Press Coffee Makers and Travel Mugs! Brew and drink or use in the place of a traditional 3 cup French Press. The stainless steel double wall design with a vacuum seal maintains heat for hours while remaining cool to the touch.

A Grande On-the-Go

Credit: Bodum / Facebook

For all us coffee connoisseurs and tea sippers taking their beverage on-the-go, we know one cup is never enough. This 3 cup french bistro press provides you with a substantial portion of coffee wherever life takes you. Of all the French presses on the market, this one is one of our favorites. In detail, the travel press holds up to 15 ounces, nearly a pint of coffee or tea goodness. You will find the 15 ounce coffee press at bodum.com as well as Amazon. Specifically, Amazon features a 12 ounce version as well. By and large, there are Bodum sizes for all consumers!

Keep the Heat

Presently, the Bodum insulated french press offers two versions of insulation. First, the clear, double-walled Bodum tumbler seals in heat with a vacuum seal. The double wall designs allows users to hold the cup as it is cool to the touch. Second, the stainless steel, double wall design keeps coffee or tea hot for hours. Again, the vacuum sealed, double wall keeps heat in while keeping the outside cool to be handled. The Bodum online shop features both the clear and stainless steel double wall design. Visit Bodum online to explore the different color options!

Features for Ease

Credit: Practical Caravan

There are several features that make this travel press easy to use. First, the Bodum coffee and tea maker keeps your beverage pure with a silicone and mesh filter. Sediments are trapped at the bottom of the tumbler instead of floating around in your drink. Next, a rubber base and silicone grip band manage to keep your Bodum french press cup in place. Notably, the Bodum thermos is versatile with the ability to function as a regular tumbler instead of a french press. An additional regular tumbler lid comes with the device to carry pre-made beverages. Last, the Bodum french press cup is dishwasher safe. No matter how you use the press, you can be sure it can fit your active lifestyle!

How to Use the Bodum Travel Press

1. put 3-4 tablespoons coarse coffee grounds or tea leaves in the bottom of the tumbler..

2. Add hot water to the tumbler.

3. stir contents., 4. replace lid and wait 4 minutes..

5. Press plunger down.

Your coffee is ready to enjoy!

Here's the full how-to video:

What travelers are saying about the bodum travel press.

Overall, coffee and tea drinkers love their Bodum Travel Press. Many users consider the french press perfect for commuting. On-the-go users report that the travel press makes a quality cup of coffee. Reviewers can’t imagine using another low-quality cup again. According to product users, the travel press is easy to clean and reuse. By far the most consistent report was, indeed, the temperature of the coffee in the tumbler. Each travel press user reported anywhere from 2-5 hours of hot coffee in their tumbler. In fact, some users felt the coffee was perhaps too warm to drink for an extended amount of time.

Although there were a majority of positive Bodum Travel Press reviews, some travel press reviewers had some misgivings about the product. Some observed excessive coffee at the bottom of the tumbler. These reviewers suggest a longer plunger to remedy the issue. Some reviewers experienced difficulty adding cream, milk, or sugar to their coffee or tea. Other reviewers suggest adding these items before plunging.

Alternative Travel Coffee Makers

Handpresso wild hybrid.

Credit: Amazon

This portable espresso maker will have you caffeinated on-the-go. The Handpresso Pump operates similarly to a bicycle pump. The device uses coffee grounds or espresso pods. Add hot water and espresso to the pump, press the dispensing button, and hot espresso will pour from the spout! The Handpresso is ideal for campers, hikers, and on-the-go espresso drinkers. The device does not require any batteries or electricity, just hot water! Similarly, the Bodum Travel Press simply requires hot water to brew a delicious cup of coffee! Yet, the Handpresso requires a separate cup or tumbler for drinking. The Handpresso Wild Hybrid would make a perfect alternative for the Bodum Travel Press. Take a look!

Espro Travel Coffee Press

This coffee press functions very similarly to the Bodum Travel Press. The device brews a coffee in the same way as the Bodum press. Coffee grinds and hot water are added to the tumbler and later pressed down by a filter. Yet, the Espro Travel Coffee Press uses a double filter system, reducing grit in the cup of coffee. Specifically, the design of the Espro press allows users to pour their coffee into a separate mug if they wish. On the contrary, the Bodum press requires users to drink from the travel tumbler. Overall, the Espro Travel Coffee Press is a highly comparable alternative. We recommend you check it out!

Primula Single Serve Coffee Brew Buddy

Some of us coffee drinkers value that cup of morning coffee in a mug. For those of you who love making your own coffee and tea while traveling, but aren’t crazy about the tumbler, try the Primula Brew Buddy . This single serve coffee maker is ideal for those that want a travel accessory that requires minimal space and is easy to clean. Coffee grounds are placed in a fine mesh filter that sits on top of your mug. In pour-over-style, users pour hot water over the grinds. Hot coffee drips into the coffee mug. Voila! Your hot cup of coffee is ready. The Primula Brew Buddy is perfect for loose tea as well! This alternative is quite different than the Bodum Travel Press, but we think for some of you, this is exactly what you’re looking for!

Bodum caffetteria

This 8 cup French press coffeemaker allows you to brew flavorful coffee in just 4 minutes. The French press coffee maker is the simplest of all brewing systems, where coarsely ground beans meet hot water right off the boil. The right temperature (92–96 °C, 195–205 °F) brings the optimal extraction power for the essential oils in the beans to develop their full flavor profile in just four minutes. An easy press on the plunger locks the grinds at the bottom of the glass carafe and stops the brewing process.

Bodum Pavina Double-Wall Insulated 12-Ounce Glasses, Set of 6

Aren't these gorgeous? The bodum pavina double wall glasses are individually handmade by expert artisans. Because this glass is mouth-blown, each one may have slight differences in height, thickness and weight. These glasses will help to keep hot drinks warmer and cool drinks cooler, while also protecting your hand from excessive heat or condensation. Because they are double wall, they don't sweat, eliminating the need for a coaster.

Liquids appear to be floating on air. Use them as wine glasses to keep you hands from transferring heat to the wine. For warm beverages and optimal heat retention, pre-heat the glass before adding hot liquids. Dishwasher and microwave safe. Please use care when placing ice into the glass to avoid fracturing the inner layer. We suggest adding the liquid first and then the ice. Please also avoid using metal spoons or placing the glass into a crowded dishwasher.

Chambord French Press

The Chambord French press brews a premium cup of coffee in just 4 minutes, simply add course ground coffee, hot water and press. This 3-part stainless steel plunger has a mesh filter that helps extract your coffee's aromatic oils and subtle flavors instead of being absorbed by a paper filter. Thanks to a durable design, the Coffee press features Bodum's patented safety lid to keep contents from spilling and is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.

Pressed coffee extracts the perfect amount of essentials oils and acids from the coffee bean for maximum flavor; the preferred method for brewing for coffee enthusiasts everywhere. This premium French press coffee maker makes 8 cups of coffee, 4 oz. each.

Bodum Pebo Vacuum Coffee Maker

No other coffee maker has fascinated passionate coffee drinkers like the Pebo (former Santos). Its exceptionally effective vacuum brewing method extracts all precious oils of your favorite coffee.

The vacuum brewing process is entirely sealed off so no aroma can escape. In addition, the brewing time and temperature are perfectly calibrated, ensuring a perfect cup of coffee with each brew. Monitor the eye-catching brewing process through the two firmly attached glass bowls! Depending on the amount of water used, the Pebo (former Santos) can brew delicious coffee within 5 to 11 minutes, serving anywhere from 4 to 8 cups.

Our Take on the Bodum Travel Press

Bodum coffee makers are excellent. The Bodum Travel Press is no different. Where some users report the lid not fitting properly when the contents are at room temperature, mine secured firmly right out of the box and maintained that seal when hot. It is not 100% leak proof however, it was never designed to be. This is done to facilitate the press.

Do not expect to fill this full of hot water and coffee and just toss it into a duffel bag without making a mess. It will however hold up to bumpy car rides and even bicycle rides assuming you have a holder for it. Should it be knocked over on your desk while closed you will have ample time to recover it and avoid liquid disaster all over your pants.

This model is also quite a bit better at retaining heat than the plastic version. It's almost too good at it in fact. You’ll find yourself unscrewing the lid just to get the coffee down to drinkable levels. Once it's at an ideal temperature, it will stay there for hours if you happen to be a slow coffee drinker. If you want some coffee more immediately then you had best be a good judge of water temperature when you but the kettle on.

The only thing we miss about my old plastic one was it's transparency. There was never any question if we had added too much water or if the coffee was done. We could see it quite easily. But if that's all we have to give up for longevity then so be it. We imagine it would be hard to add cream or sugar as well but if you drink it black that’s a non-issue.

If you want quality fresh black coffee or loose leaf tea on the go without the cost or waste of a coffee shop then look no further. Convenient, sturdy and environmentally friendly, that's this press/mug combo.

Stop and Smell the Coffee

We can hear the coffee and tea lovers rejoicing!  No longer will you settle for a bad cup of morning joe, or worse, no joe at all. For a quality cup of coffee that will stay warm until lunch time, the Bodum Travel Press is your one-stop-shop. Just pick a size, a design, and your favorite color. Cheers!

After reading our Bodum Travel Press review, what do you think? Will you give it a try, or will you opt for another travel coffee maker? Tell us below!

Related Article:  ​​ Travel Coffee Makers For The Traveling Coffee Lovers ​​​

About The Author

Jordan Parker

Jordan wears many hats, but her favorite is daughter and friend. To Jordan, relationships make the world go 'round and connecting people across the globe (in big ways and small) brings her extravagant joy. Creation is her heartbeat and stories are her breath. She never drinks as much water as she should and sometimes goes to sleep without brushing her teeth, but she vows to work towards 'better' and always needs just a bit of grace.

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Espresso Machines Reviews

Versatile and convenient: the bodum travel press review.

Looking for a coffee companion that’s both versatile and convenient? Well, look no further!

I’ve had the pleasure of testing out the Bodum Travel Press, and let me tell you, it’s a game-changer.

This two-in-one French press and travel mug is the perfect solution for coffee lovers on the go. Its double-wall vacuum-sealed stainless steel construction keeps your coffee piping hot for hours, while its compact design makes it a breeze to take with you wherever you roam.

And the best part? It’s affordable too! With its minimalist stainless steel exterior and various silicone grip and lid colors, it’s not only practical but also aesthetically pleasing. Plus, it’s dishwasher safe, so cleaning up is a breeze.

Whether you’re an office worker or a hiker, the Bodum Travel Press is a must-have for anyone in need of a versatile and portable coffee-making solution.

Key Takeaways

• The Bodum Travel Press is a two-in-one French press and travel mug made of double-wall vacuum-sealed stainless steel.
• It is compact, affordable, and keeps coffee hot for hours.
• The design is minimal and space-saving, with various silicone grip and lid colors.
• It is recommended for office workers and hikers, as it is lightweight, portable, and versatile.

What it does?

I love how the Bodum Travel Press combines the convenience of a travel mug with the delicious taste of French press coffee. The brewing process is simple and easy to use. Just add coffee grounds and hot water, let it steep for a few minutes, and then press down the plunger to separate the grounds from the coffee.

The double-wall vacuum-sealed stainless steel construction of the Travel Press ensures excellent heat retention, keeping your coffee hot for hours. This is perfect for those long commutes or busy mornings when you need your coffee to stay warm.

The Travel Press is also great for making tea or cold brew coffee, offering versatility in one compact and portable design.

Design and Features

The sleek and stylish stainless steel exterior of this travel coffee maker adds a touch of sophistication while keeping your brew hot for hours. It’s designed with both aesthetics and functionality in mind, making it a standout choice among other travel coffee makers.

Here are four reasons why the Bodum Travel Press stands out:

Double-wall vacuum-sealed stainless steel construction ensures optimal heat retention and prevents your fingers from getting too hot.

The compact design fits perfectly in any cup holder, making it convenient for on-the-go coffee lovers.

The various silicone grip and lid colors allow you to customize your travel press to match your personal style.

The spill-resistant lid provides peace of mind, allowing you to confidently take your coffee with you wherever you go.

When comparing the Bodum Travel Press to other travel coffee makers, its versatile design and affordable price make it a top choice. Whether you’re a coffee enthusiast, tea lover, or cold brew aficionado, this travel press has you covered.

Pros and Cons

One advantage of the Bodum Travel Press is its double-wall vacuum-sealed stainless steel construction, which ensures optimal heat retention and prevents fingers from getting too hot. This design feature allows me to enjoy hot coffee for hours without worrying about it getting cold quickly.

Additionally, the compact and lightweight design of the Travel Press makes it incredibly easy to use and carry around wherever I go. It fits perfectly in my cup holder and the spill-resistant lid adds to its convenience.

As for maintenance, all parts of the Travel Press are dishwasher safe, making it effortless to clean.

However, one downside is that the French press brewing method can be a bit inconvenient when it comes to adding milk or sugar.

Overall, the Bodum Travel Press is a versatile and convenient coffee maker that excels in ease of use and maintenance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the bodum travel press keep coffee hot.

The Bodum Travel Press is designed to keep coffee hot for hours, thanks to its double-wall vacuum-sealed stainless steel construction. This ensures that your coffee stays piping hot, allowing you to enjoy it at your own pace.

In terms of cleaning, all parts of the Bodum Travel Press are dishwasher safe, making it easy and convenient to maintain.

When it comes to brewing the perfect cup, it’s recommended to use the French press method and experiment with different coffee-to-water ratios to find your preferred strength.

Can the Bodum Travel Press be used to make cold brew coffee?

Yes, the Bodum Travel Press can be used to make cold brew coffee. It’s a great alternative to traditional cold brew coffee methods. The double-wall vacuum-sealed stainless steel design keeps the coffee cold for hours.

The compact and portable size makes it convenient for on-the-go use. With its easy-to-use French press brewing method, you can enjoy a refreshing cup of cold brew wherever you are. It’s a versatile and convenient option for cold brew coffee lovers.

Is the lid of the Bodum Travel Press airtight?

The lid of the Bodum Travel Press is spill-resistant, but it isn’t airtight. This means that while it helps prevent spills, it may not completely seal in the aroma and freshness of your coffee.

However, there are alternative brewing methods that you can explore with the Bodum Travel Press, such as making tea or cold brew coffee. These options offer different flavor profiles and can be enjoyed with the convenience and portability of the Travel Press.

Can the Bodum Travel Press be used to make tea?

Yes, the Bodum Travel Press can be used to make tea. It’s a versatile coffee maker that can also brew loose leaf tea. Simply add the tea leaves to the press, pour hot water over them, and let it steep for the desired amount of time.

After making tea, it’s important to clean the Bodum Travel Press thoroughly to avoid any flavor transfer. Disassemble the press and rinse all parts with warm soapy water, or they can also be placed in the dishwasher for easy cleaning.

Is the Bodum Travel Press suitable for serving multiple people?

The Bodum Travel Press isn’t suitable for serving multiple people due to its limited serving capacity. It’s designed as a travel mug, making it highly portable and convenient for individuals on the go. However, its compact size and single serving capacity make it less ideal for sharing with others.

If you need to serve multiple people, it would be more practical to consider alternative coffee makers with larger serving capacities.

Justin is a seasoned author, coffee and tea enthusiast, and an essential member of the Cappuccino Oracle team. With a keen appreciation for the complexities of coffee, coffee alternatives, and tea, Justin has dedicated his professional career to exploring these realms and sharing his insights with readers worldwide.

Justin’s immersion in the world of coffee, coffee alternatives, and tea began at a young age, kindling a passion that extended beyond mere consumption. This love for these beverages led him to combine his talent for writing with his devotion to coffee and tea, bringing him to Cappuccino Oracle as a dedicated author.

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Unveiling the espresso machine that’s taking amazon by storm.

I have some thrilling updates for all you coffee enthusiasts. I recently discovered an espresso machine on Amazon that’s causing quite a buzz, and in this post, I’ll be unveiling its amazing features and teaching you how to master it like an expert.

This best-selling machine has captured the attention of coffee enthusiasts with its compact size and user-friendly design. With just a simple turn of a knob, you can effortlessly switch between extraction and steam mode, allowing you to easily create your favorite espresso-based drinks.

Get ready to elevate your home coffee game with this espresso machine taking Amazon by storm.

• The best-selling espresso machine on Amazon.com is known for its compact size and simplicity of operation.
• The machine features manual operation with a knob for extraction and steam mode, a power button, and a one-liter water tank.
• It includes handy storage for baskets and comes with double, single, and pod baskets.
• The best-selling machine is a manual boiler machine, while the De’Longhi ECP3420 espresso machine is a thermal block machine with automation features.

Pros and Cons – Analysis

When it comes to analyzing the pros and cons of this espresso machine, there are several key factors to consider.

On the positive side, the De’Longhi ECP3420 machine’s compact size and simplicity of operation make it a convenient choice for home use. Additionally, the inclusion of different baskets allows for versatility in brewing.

However, one potential drawback is that the machine is manual, requiring more hands-on involvement from the user.

Overall, the analysis reveals a balance of advantages and disadvantages that should be taken into account when considering this espresso machine.

What We Liked

I really enjoyed the compact size and simplicity of operation of the best-selling espresso machine on Amazon.com. One of the standout features of this machine is its manual operation, which allows for complete control over the extraction and steam mode. With a power button and a one-liter water tank, it’s convenient to use.

Additionally, the machine has handy storage for baskets, including double, single, and pod baskets. Comparing it to the De’Longhi ECP3420 espresso machine, both machines are small in size and have a quick warm-up time. However, the best-selling machine is a manual boiler machine, while the De’Longhi ECP3420 is a thermal block machine with automation features.

The heated brew group of the best-selling machine is an advantage as it ensures a constant temperature for optimal extraction. Overall, the compact size, simplicity of operation, and standout features make this espresso machine a great choice for coffee enthusiasts.

What Can Be Improved

Another improvement that could be made to this espresso machine is the inclusion of a built-in grinder for added convenience. Based on user feedback, having a built-in grinder would eliminate the need for a separate grinder and streamline the coffee-making process.

Users have expressed the desire for a machine that not only brews espresso but also grinds the coffee beans in one compact unit. This would save time and counter space, making it a more efficient and user-friendly option.

With a built-in grinder, users could easily adjust the grind size to their preference and ensure a fresh and consistent coffee extraction every time.

Overall, incorporating a built-in grinder would greatly enhance the functionality and ease of use of this espresso machine, making it a top choice for coffee enthusiasts.

Quick Verdict

Based on its intriguing features and compact size, this espresso machine is the perfect addition to any coffee lover’s kitchen.

Performance analysis of the machine reveals that it consistently delivers excellent espresso shots with optimal extraction. User feedback and experiences further support this, with many praising the machine’s ability to produce rich, flavorful coffee.

The manual operation, with a knob for extraction and steam mode, allows for precise control over the brewing process. The power button and one-liter water tank provide convenience and ease of use.

Additionally, the De’Longhi ECP3420 machine includes handy storage for baskets, including double, single, and pod baskets.

Overall, this espresso machine offers top-notch performance and has received positive reviews from users, making it a reliable choice for coffee enthusiasts.

User-Friendly Design

With its intuitive controls and convenient storage options, this espresso machine is designed to be user-friendly and hassle-free. The ease of use is evident from the moment you start using it.

The manual operation is simple, with a knob that allows you to switch between extraction and steam modes. The power button is easily accessible, and the one-liter water tank provides ample capacity for multiple shots.

The machine also features handy storage for baskets, including double, single, and pod baskets, ensuring you’ve options for different coffee preferences. The controls are intuitive and responsive, making it easy to adjust settings to your liking.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced barista, this espresso machine offers a seamless experience with its user-friendly design and intuitive controls.

Design Optimization

I’ve noticed that the design of this espresso machine has been optimized to enhance the user experience and maximize the efficiency of the brewing process. The manufacturers have made significant ergonomic improvements, ensuring that the machine is comfortable to use for extended periods.

The interface has been streamlined, with intuitive controls and clear indicators, making it easy for even a novice to operate. The placement of the power button and the one-liter water tank has been strategically designed for convenience.

Additionally, the machine includes handy storage for baskets, allowing for easy access and organization. These design optimizations not only improve the overall user experience but also contribute to the efficiency of the brewing process, ensuring that you can make your perfect cup of espresso with minimal effort.

Unboxing Contents

Unboxing the contents of the espresso machine reveals a well-packaged device with several components. Inside the box, you’ll find:

• The De’Longhi ECP3420 machine itself
• A power cord
• A user manual
• A detailed documentation guide

The machine is securely wrapped in protective foam and the components are neatly organized, making it easy to assemble and set up for use.

Specifications

The espresso machine boasts a one-liter water tank and a manual operation with a knob for extraction and steam mode. With its compact size and simplicity of operation, this machine has become the best-selling espresso machine on Amazon.com.

Performance analysis shows that customers are highly satisfied with its features and functionality. The machine includes a power button and a one-liter water tank, ensuring sufficient water supply for multiple cups of espresso. Additionally, it offers handy storage for baskets, including double, single, and pod baskets, catering to individual preferences.

Customer reviews praise the machine’s ease of use and the quality of the espresso it produces. The manual operation allows for greater control over the extraction process, resulting in rich and flavorful shots of espresso.

With its impressive features and positive customer reviews, this espresso machine is a top choice for coffee enthusiasts.

Documentation and User Guide

Exploring the documentation and user guide provided with this espresso machine, I found detailed instructions on its operation and maintenance.

The user guide contains troubleshooting tips to help resolve common issues that may arise during operation. It provides step-by-step instructions on how to clean and maintain the machine, ensuring optimal performance and longevity.

The maintenance and cleaning guide outlines the necessary steps to descale the machine regularly, as well as how to clean the various components such as the portafilter, steam wand, and drip tray. It emphasizes the importance of regular maintenance to prevent clogs and ensure the machine continues to produce high-quality espresso.

The guide also provides tips on how to troubleshoot issues such as low water pressure or inconsistent steam.

Overall, the documentation and user guide serve as valuable resources for users to maximize the performance and lifespan of the espresso machine.

Features – What We Found

I was pleasantly surprised by the compact size and simplicity of operation of the best-selling espresso machine on Amazon.com.

In terms of performance comparison, this machine is a standout. The user experience is seamless, thanks to its manual operation with a knob for extraction and steam mode. With just a power button and a one-liter water tank, it offers convenience and efficiency.

The handy storage for baskets, including double, single, and pod baskets, adds to its versatility. When compared to the De’Longhi ECP3420 espresso machine, this best-selling machine stands out with its heated brew group. It ensures a constant temperature for optimal extraction.

Overall, this espresso machine provides an exceptional user experience with its compact size, simplicity of operation, and impressive performance.

Practical Applications

Using this best-selling espresso machine has been a game-changer in my daily coffee routine. The benefits of its manual operation are evident when comparing it with other espresso machines.

Unlike automated machines, the manual operation allows for more control over the extraction process. This results in a more personalized and customizable coffee experience.

In comparison with other machines, the best-selling espresso machine stands out due to its compact size and simplicity of operation. Its manual operation, controlled by a knob for extraction and steam mode, gives me the freedom to adjust the brewing process according to my preferences. This level of control isn’t found in other machines, making this espresso machine truly unique.

Whether I want a quick shot of espresso or a frothy cappuccino, this manual espresso machine delivers exceptional results every time.

Rating this best-selling espresso machine has been a breeze, thanks to its impressive performance and user-friendly features.

The performance analysis of this machine has proven to be outstanding, as confirmed by numerous customer reviews. Users have praised its consistency in delivering rich and flavorful espresso shots, time after time.

The machine’s manual operation, with its easy-to-use extraction and steam modes controlled by a knob, offers a level of control that coffee enthusiasts appreciate. The power button and one-liter water tank ensure convenience and efficiency.

Customer reviews also highlight the handy storage for baskets, which includes double, single, and pod baskets for versatility.

When compared to the De’Longhi ECP3420 espresso machine, the best-selling machine stands out as a manual boiler machine, offering the advantage of a heated brew group for optimal extraction.

Overall, this espresso machine has garnered positive reviews for its exceptional performance and user-friendly features.

Concluding Thoughts

Concluding my review, this best-selling espresso machine proves to be a top choice for coffee enthusiasts due to its impressive performance, user-friendly features, and exceptional extraction capabilities.

Viewer reactions have been overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the machine’s ability to consistently deliver delicious espresso shots. Its compact size and simplicity of operation make it a convenient option for home use.

However, for those seeking alternative options, the market offers a range of espresso machines with varying features and price points. Some may prefer automated machines for added convenience, while others may prioritize advanced temperature control. Ultimately, the best choice depends on individual preferences and needs.

Nonetheless, this best-selling machine stands out for its reliable performance and ease of use, making it a worthy investment for any coffee lover.

How Does the Espresso Machine Compare to Other Models in Terms of Price?

In terms of price, the espresso machine I’m discussing compares favorably to other models on the market. It offers a range of features and performance that make it a great value for the price.

With its manual operation and compact size, it provides simplicity and convenience without sacrificing quality. Additionally, it includes various baskets for different brewing options.

Overall, this espresso machine offers a competitive price point while delivering excellent performance and versatility.

Are There Any Additional Accessories Included With the Machine?

Yes, there are additional accessories included with the machine.

The accessories that come with the machine include double, single, and pod baskets for different brewing options. These baskets are handy for experimenting with different coffee grounds and achieving the perfect shot.

When comparing accessories, it’s important to consider their compatibility with the machine and how they enhance the brewing experience.

To use these accessories, simply insert the desired basket into the portafilter and follow the brewing instructions for the specific basket type.

Can the Machine Be Used With Both Ground Coffee and Coffee Pods?

Yes, the machine can be used with both ground coffee and coffee pods. Using coffee pods offers convenience and eliminates the need for grinding and measuring.

However, there are a few cons to consider. Coffee pods can be more expensive than buying whole beans, and they may not offer the same level of freshness and flavor.

To properly clean and maintain the machine, regular descaling and cleaning of the portafilter and steam wand are necessary for optimal performance.

What Is the Warranty Period for the Espresso Machine?

The warranty period for the espresso machine is an important consideration when making a purchase.

The pros of a longer warranty period include peace of mind and protection against any manufacturing defects.

However, the cons may be limited coverage or the need to pay for extended warranty options.

To extend the warranty period for the espresso machine, it’s recommended to check with the manufacturer for any available options or consider purchasing additional warranty coverage.

Is the Machine Compatible With Different Types of Milk for Making Various Coffee Beverages?

Yes, the machine is compatible with different types of milk, allowing for the creation of various coffee beverages. With options like whole milk, skim milk, almond milk, and soy milk, you can customize your drinks to suit your preferences.

Additionally, the machine’s advanced mode and steam wand enable you to achieve the perfect milk texture for latte art possibilities. Whether you prefer a creamy cappuccino or a velvety latte, this espresso machine has you covered.

In conclusion, this espresso machine that has taken Amazon by storm offers a user-friendly design and a range of features that make it perfect for both beginners and experienced baristas.

Its compact size and simplicity of operation make it a great addition to any home coffee setup.

With its ability to switch between extraction and steam mode, you can easily create your favorite espresso-based drinks with ease.

Overall, this machine is a must-have for anyone looking to elevate their home coffee game.

Noah, the Editor-in-Chief at Cappuccino Oracle, plays a pivotal role in shaping the voice and vision of our renowned platform. With an unwavering passion for coffee, coffee alternatives, and tea, Noah leads Cappuccino Oracle towards new horizons in the realm of coffee journalism.

Beyond his professional responsibilities, Noah serves as a mentor and guiding force for his team. His dedication to journalistic excellence and genuine love for coffee, coffee alternatives, and tea continue to inspire and motivate the Cappuccino Oracle family. In the ever-evolving world of these beverages, Noah’s leadership ensures that our platform remains at the forefront, delivering enlightening and enjoyable content to our readers worldwide.

Espresso Machine Touch Screen: The Future of Coffee Making (2024)

Espresso machines are now a common fixture in numerous homes and coffee shops, offering a simple and efficient method to savor a tasty coffee serving. Thanks to technological advancements, espresso machines have progressed to feature touch screen interfaces, further enhancing the coffee-making experience by making it more accessible and tailored to individual preferences.

Espresso machine touch screens allow users to easily select their desired coffee strength, temperature, and volume with just a few taps. This technology also allows for the customization of multiple user profiles, so everyone can have their own personalized coffee settings. Additionally, touch screens provide a sleek and modern look to the machine, adding to the overall aesthetic of any kitchen or cafe.

When purchasing an espresso machine with a touch screen, it is important to consider the size of the display and the ease of navigation. A larger display can provide a clearer view of the options and make it easier to read, while a smaller display can be more compact and fit better in smaller spaces. The navigation should also be intuitive and easy to use, so that even those who are not tech-savvy can easily operate the machine.

At the end of the day, an espresso machine with a touch screen can provide a convenient and customizable coffee experience. We have researched and tested several models to identify the ones that offer the best combination of features and usability.

Best Espresso Machine Touch Screens

Looking for an espresso machine that is easy to use and offers a touch screen display? We’ve got you covered. Our team has researched and tested the top espresso machines with touch screens on the market to bring you our list of the best options available. Whether you’re a coffee connoisseur or just looking for a convenient way to make your morning cup of joe, these machines will not disappoint. Check out our top picks below.

Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine

If you’re a coffee lover who wants to enjoy barista-quality coffee at home, the Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine is definitely worth considering.

• The intuitive touch screen display makes it easy to use and allows you to choose from a range of pre-programmed café drinks.
• The automatic milk texturing feature ensures that you get perfectly textured milk every time.
• The built-in grinder delivers the right amount of coffee on demand, ensuring that you get the freshest coffee possible.
• The machine is quite expensive, which may be a concern for some buyers.
• The instructions provided with the machine are not always accurate or complete, which may make it difficult for some users to get the best results.
• The machine is quite large and heavy, which may make it difficult to move around or store.

In our experience, the Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine is a fantastic investment for anyone who loves coffee and wants to enjoy barista-quality coffee at home. The intuitive touch screen display makes it easy to use, and the automatic milk texturing feature ensures that you get perfectly textured milk every time.

The built-in grinder is a great feature, as it delivers the right amount of coffee on demand, ensuring that you get the freshest coffee possible. We also appreciate the compact footprint of the machine, which makes it easy to fit into any kitchen.

However, we do have a few concerns about the machine. Firstly, it is quite expensive, which may be a concern for some buyers. Additionally, the instructions provided with the machine are not always accurate or complete, which may make it difficult for some users to get the best results.

Finally, the machine is quite large and heavy, which may make it difficult to move around or store. Overall, though, we believe that the Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine is an excellent investment for anyone who wants to enjoy barista-quality coffee at home.

Capresso Café TS Touchscreen Espresso Machine

If you’re looking for a compact and sleek espresso machine with touchscreen functionality, the Capresso Café TS Touchscreen Espresso Machine might be worth considering.

• The touchscreen interface is intuitive and easy to use, with four preset buttons for brewing espresso, steaming milk, preparing lattes and cappuccinos, and hot water for tea or Americanos.
• The 15-bar stainless-steel lined Thermo-Block heating system heats water immediately before brewing, ensuring perfectly brewed espresso every time.
• The machine produces consistent high-quality steam for preparing lattes and cappuccinos with smooth operation.
• The machine has a low rating of 2.8 out of 5 stars, with only 11 ratings total on Amazon.
• Some customers have reported issues with water leakage from the bottom of the machine, despite placing the water tank correctly.
• The manual is missing information, and there aren’t any tutorial videos online, making it difficult for first-time users.

We recently had the chance to try out the Capresso Café TS Touchscreen Espresso Machine, and we were impressed by its sleek look and compact design. The touchscreen interface was easy to navigate, and the four preset buttons made it simple to brew espresso and steam milk for lattes and cappuccinos.

One thing we appreciated about this machine was its Thermo-Block heating system, which heated water immediately before brewing to ensure perfectly brewed espresso every time. The machine also produced consistent high-quality steam for preparing lattes and cappuccinos, with smooth operation.

However, we did notice that the machine has a low rating of 2.8 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with only 11 ratings total. Some customers have reported issues with water leakage from the bottom of the machine, despite placing the water tank correctly. Additionally, the manual is missing information, and there aren’t any tutorial videos online, making it difficult for first-time users.

Overall, if you’re looking for a compact and sleek espresso machine with touchscreen functionality, the Capresso Café TS Touchscreen Espresso Machine might be worth considering. However, due to its low rating and reported issues with water leakage, we recommend doing additional research before making a purchase.

Zulay Magia Super Automatic Coffee Espresso Machine

We highly recommend the Zulay Magia Super Automatic Coffee Espresso Machine for anyone looking to enjoy a professional barista experience at home.

• 19 different specialty drinks to choose from
• User-friendly interface and large 7-inch screen
• Fully customizable and personalized brewing technology
• May contain chemical(s) known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects and/or other reproductive harm
• Needs regular cleaning and maintenance
• May be too expensive for some buyers

This espresso machine is designed to make your life easy and enjoyable. With its 19 different specialty drinks to choose from, you can enjoy your favorite coffee with an easy push of a button every day at home. The high-tech software allows you to customize the amount of coffee, temperature, and hot milk foam settings laid out in a user-friendly interface and large 7-inch screen perfect for both beginners and experts. You can even save these settings in 10 personalized individual profiles for future use.

The Magia Super Automatic Espresso Machine is specially designed with a wide array of amazing functions and features, such as a 19-bar Italian Pump, Wide 7-inch High Resolution Touchscreen, 8.8oz Bean Storage Container, 1800ml water capacity tank, cup warmer plate and 18 preloaded special coffee recipes. A cup of delicious coffee has never been THIS simple!

The automatic espresso machine comes with conveniently designed with an auto-clean feature. This premium feature is designed to get rid of any residue from the brewer-unit or from the milk foam system, after every use or when the coffee machine turns off, turns on or is idle. Disassemble the drip tray, water tank and coffee waste bin and put them in the dishwasher or rinse them under running water every week.

In summary, the Zulay Magia Super Automatic Coffee Espresso Machine is an excellent investment for coffee lovers who want to enjoy a professional barista experience at home. Its customizable and personalized brewing technology, user-friendly interface, and wide array of amazing functions and features make it a must-have for any coffee enthusiast.

Zulay Kitchen Magia AMPRO Automatic Espresso Machine

If you’re looking for an all-in-one coffee machine that can make espresso, Americano, cappuccino, and latte with a built-in grinder and milk frother, then the Zulay Kitchen Magia AMPRO Automatic Espresso Machine is worth considering.

• The built-in adjustable conical burr grinder allows you to make coffee light or strong, just the way you like it.
• The intuitive touch-screen display makes it easy to adjust the coffee strength, water volume, milk quantity, or temperature of your preferred drinks.
• The machine comes with a built-in auto clean feature, designed to remove any residue from the brewer and milk system.
• The water tank on the back makes access a little more effort.
• The coffee waste bin, drip tray, and water tank are removable for easy cleaning, but you’ll need to clean them regularly.
• The machine doesn’t have a built-in clock, so you can’t program it to start up in the morning.

We’ve been using this machine for a few weeks now and have been impressed with the quality of the coffee it produces. The built-in grinder ensures that the coffee is freshly ground, and the milk frother produces silky smooth froth for cappuccinos and lattes.

The touch-screen display is easy to use and allows you to customize your coffee to your liking. You can adjust the strength of the coffee, the volume of water, the quantity of milk, and the temperature of your drink. The machine even saves your preferences, so you can enjoy the same coffee every day.

The auto clean feature is a nice touch, and it ensures that the machine stays clean and hygienic. The coffee waste bin, drip tray, and water tank are removable for easy cleaning, but you’ll need to clean them regularly to keep the machine in good condition.

Overall, we’re happy with our purchase of the Zulay Kitchen Magia AMPRO Automatic Espresso Machine. It’s a great all-in-one coffee machine that produces high-quality coffee with minimal effort. If you’re looking for a coffee machine that can make espresso, Americano, cappuccino, and latte with a built-in grinder and milk frother, then this machine is definitely worth considering.

Wirsh Home Barista Plus Espresso Machine

If you’re looking for a high-quality espresso machine with a touch screen, then the Wirsh Home Barista Plus Espresso Machine is a great choice.

• The espresso pressure gauge shows the ideal espresso pressure zone, allowing you to monitor the extracting pressure to get the perfect espresso shot every time.
• The powerful 20 bar original Italian pump ensures a rich and aromatic coffee with rich crema every time.
• The instant thermal block heating system heats water in just 30 seconds, while you can customize the brew temperature and coffee volume to your preferences.
• The machine is a bit bulky and may take up a lot of counter space.
• The machine is a bit expensive compared to other espresso machines on the market.
• The machine may require a bit of a learning curve to use all of its features.

We’ve been using the Wirsh Home Barista Plus Espresso Machine for a few weeks now, and we’re thoroughly impressed with its performance. The espresso pressure gauge is a great feature that allows you to monitor the extracting pressure and get the perfect espresso shot every time. The 20 bar original Italian pump ensures that you get a rich and aromatic coffee with rich crema every time.

The instant thermal block heating system heats water in just 30 seconds, which is perfect for those busy mornings when you’re in a rush. We also love that you can customize the brew temperature and coffee volume to your preferences. This allows you to get the perfect cup of coffee every time.

One thing to keep in mind is that the machine is a bit bulky and may take up a lot of counter space. However, we feel that the performance of the machine more than makes up for this. Additionally, the machine is a bit expensive compared to other espresso machines on the market. However, we feel that the quality of the machine justifies the price.

Overall, we highly recommend the Wirsh Home Barista Plus Espresso Machine to anyone looking for a high-quality espresso machine with a touch screen. It’s a perfect addition to your kitchen, and it’s a great way to make barista-quality coffee drinks at home.

Buying Guide

When it comes to buying an espresso machine with a touch screen, there are a few key features you should consider to ensure you get the best product for your needs. In this section, we will discuss the most important factors to keep in mind when shopping for an espresso machine with a touch screen.

First and foremost, you should look for a machine with a high-quality touch screen display. The display should be clear, easy to read, and responsive to touch. A good touch screen will allow you to easily navigate through different settings and options, making it easier to customize your espresso to your liking.

Another important feature to consider is the size of the machine. If you have limited counter space, you’ll want to look for a compact machine that won’t take up too much room. On the other hand, if you’re a heavy espresso drinker or plan to entertain guests frequently, you may want to opt for a larger machine that can handle more volume.

When it comes to the actual brewing process, you’ll want to look for a machine with a high-quality grinder. The grinder should be able to produce a consistent grind, which is essential for achieving the perfect espresso shot. Additionally, the machine should have a powerful heating element to ensure that the water is heated to the optimal temperature for brewing.

Finally, you should consider any additional features that may be important to you. For example, some machines come with built-in milk frothers, which is great if you enjoy lattes or cappuccinos. Other machines may have programmable settings that allow you to save your favorite brewing parameters.

In summary, when shopping for an espresso machine with a touch screen, you should look for a machine with a high-quality touch screen display, a compact size (if space is limited), a powerful grinder, and any additional features that are important to you. By keeping these factors in mind, you can be sure that you’ll find the perfect machine to suit your needs.

Arf, an author and an innovative enthusiast of coffee, coffee alternatives, and tea, plays a crucial role as a contributor to the esteemed Cappuccino Oracle platform. Renowned for his curiosity and passion for these captivating beverages, Arf has carved out a unique space for himself in the world of exploration and writing. He realized that coffee, coffee alternatives, and tea are not mere drinks to keep one awake, but universes of flavors and stories waiting to be explored.

Arf’s articles for Cappuccino Oracle blend meticulous research with personal experiences, providing readers with an in-depth understanding of various types of coffee, coffee alternatives, and tea, along with their unique characteristics, cultures, and histories. His honest reviews and engaging narratives guide readers on their own journeys, helping them discover their preferences and find their perfect brew.

Retro Espresso Machine: A Guide to Vintage Coffee Makers (2024)

Vintage Espresso Machines: A Nostalgic Journey Back in Time

Coffee is an essential part of many people’s daily routine. Whether it’s a quick shot of espresso or a frothy latte, coffee lovers are always on the lookout for the perfect cup. One way to achieve that is by using a retro espresso machine. These machines are designed to bring back the nostalgia of the 1950s and 60s, while still providing the convenience of modern technology.

Retro espresso machines are available in a variety of styles and colors, from bold reds to sleek stainless steel. They are designed to be compact and easy to use, with features like automatic milk frothers and programmable settings. These machines are perfect for those who want to make a statement in their kitchen while still enjoying a delicious cup of coffee.

When shopping for a retro espresso machine, it’s essential to consider the type of coffee you prefer. Some machines are better suited for making espresso shots, while others excel at creating frothy cappuccinos and lattes. Additionally, factors like size, durability, and ease of cleaning should also be taken into account.

We spent hours researching and testing various retro espresso machines to identify the ones that offer the best combination of style and functionality. Whether you’re a coffee aficionado or just looking to add a touch of vintage charm to your kitchen, we’ve got you covered.

Best Retro Espresso Machines

Looking for a way to bring a touch of vintage charm to your morning routine? A retro espresso machine might just be the perfect addition to your kitchen. These machines combine classic design with modern technology to deliver delicious espresso drinks with a nostalgic flair. In this roundup, we’ve compiled a list of the best retro espresso machines on the market. Whether you’re a seasoned barista or just starting out, there’s something on this list for everyone. So sit back, relax, and let us guide you to the perfect retro espresso machine for your home.

Galanz Retro Espresso Machine

If you’re looking for a retro-style espresso machine that’s easy to use and clean, the Galanz Retro Espresso Machine might be the one for you.

• The built-in steam wand produces rich and creamy froth for your coffee drinks.
• With a 15 bar high pressure extraction, you can enjoy barista-quality espresso at home.
• The retro design gives a classic look and feel to your kitchen.
• It may take some time to get used to the manual operation.
• The noise level might be a bit high for some users.
• Some users may find the espresso output inconsistent.

We’ve been using the Galanz Retro Espresso Machine for a few weeks now, and we’re happy with its performance. The steam wand is easy to use and produces creamy froth for our cappuccinos and lattes. The 15 bar high pressure extraction ensures that the espresso is rich-tasting and flavorful.

The machine has a retro design that adds a classic touch to our kitchen. The transparent 1.5L water tank and drip tray are removable, making them easy to clean. The machine is also perfectly sized for any kitchen countertop.

However, the manual operation may take some time to get used to, especially for those who are used to automatic machines. The noise level might be a bit high for some users, but it’s not a deal-breaker. Some users may also find the espresso output inconsistent, but we haven’t experienced that issue.

Overall, we recommend the Galanz Retro Espresso Machine for those who want to enjoy barista-quality espresso at home with a classic touch.

SUMSATY Retro Espresso Machine

If you’re looking for a stylish and functional espresso machine, we highly recommend the SUMSATY Retro Espresso Machine.

• The classic retro design looks great on any countertop.
• The three-in-one filter holder allows for single or double espresso shots, as well as two individual shots at the same time.
• The adjustable milk frother creates rich, creamy foam for cappuccinos and lattes.
• The steamer can be a bit overzealous, so it’s important to pay attention while using it.
• Some parts of the machine are made of plastic and may not be as durable as metal parts.
• The water tank could be larger for those who prefer larger cups of coffee.

We’ve been using the SUMSATY Retro Espresso Machine for a few weeks now and we’re impressed with its performance. The machine is easy to use and the instructions are simple to follow. The classic retro design is a nice touch and looks great on our countertop.

One of our favorite features is the three-in-one filter holder, which allows us to make single or double espresso shots, as well as two individual shots at the same time. The adjustable milk frother is also a great addition, creating rich, creamy foam for cappuccinos and lattes.

While the steamer can be a bit overzealous, it’s easy to adjust and provides great results. Some parts of the machine are made of plastic, but overall it seems to be well-made and durable. The water tank could be larger for those who prefer larger cups of coffee, but it’s easy to refill and clean.

Overall, we’re very happy with the SUMSATY Retro Espresso Machine and would recommend it to anyone looking for a stylish and functional espresso machine.

Smeg Retro Espresso Machine

If you’re looking for a stylish and functional espresso machine, the Smeg Retro Espresso Machine might be the perfect fit for you.

• The machine is easy to use and produces great-tasting espresso.
• The retro design adds a touch of style to any kitchen.
• The adjustable settings allow you to customize your coffee to your liking.
• The machine can be a bit loud when in use.
• The steam wand is not the strongest, so it may not be the best option if you’re looking to make a lot of microfoam.
• The machine can be a bit slow to heat up and be ready to use.

We recently got our hands on the Smeg Retro Espresso Machine and have been thoroughly impressed with its performance. The machine is easy to use, with three backlit buttons for drink selections and an adjustable flow stop function that allows you to customize the amount of coffee you want.

The machine heats up quickly with its thermoblock heating system, and the stainless steel cup holder and passive cup warmer keep your espresso at the perfect temperature. We also love the chrome zamak steam lever and chrome-plated base, which add a touch of retro flair to the machine.

One thing to note is that the machine can be a bit loud when in use, so it may not be the best option if you’re looking for a quiet espresso machine. Additionally, the steam wand is not the strongest, so if you’re looking to make a lot of microfoam, this may not be the best machine for you.

Overall, we highly recommend the Smeg Retro Espresso Machine for anyone looking for a stylish and functional espresso machine that produces great-tasting coffee.

Ihomekee Espresso Machine

If you’re looking for a retro-style espresso machine that delivers professional-quality results, the Ihomekee Espresso Machine is definitely worth considering.

• The retro design adds a charming touch to any kitchen decor.
• The 15 bar pump and thermoelectric coil heating system ensure consistent, delicious results.
• The steam wand is easy to use and produces silky, smooth foam for cappuccinos and lattes.
• The machine is a bit loud when in operation.
• It may leak water if not properly assembled.
• The size of the machine may be too large for some kitchen countertops.

We recently had the chance to try out the Ihomekee Espresso Machine, and we were impressed by its performance. The retro design is definitely a standout feature, with mechanical switches and precise working pressure gauges that add a vintage touch to the machine. The stainless steel material ensures lasting performance and durability.

But the real highlight of this machine is its professional performance. The 15 bar pump and thermoelectric coil heating system deliver consistent, delicious results every time, and the digital temperature control technology ensures the stability of water temperature for the best extraction flavor. We were able to make rich, authentic espresso with ease, and the steam wand produced silky, smooth foam for cappuccinos and lattes.

While we did notice that the machine can be a bit loud when in operation, this is a minor issue compared to the quality of the results it produces. We also found that the machine may leak water if not properly assembled, so be sure to follow the instructions carefully. Additionally, the size of the machine may be too large for some kitchen countertops, so be sure to measure your space before purchasing.

Overall, we would definitely recommend the Ihomekee Espresso Machine to anyone looking for a retro-style espresso machine that delivers professional-quality results. With its easy operation, worry-free shopping, and 2-year hassle-free replacement warranty, it’s a great investment for any coffee lover.

Neretva Espresso Coffee Machine

If you’re looking for an affordable espresso machine with a retro design, the Neretva Espresso Coffee Machine might be a good option for you.

• The machine can brew a variety of coffee drinks, including espresso, cappuccino, and latte.
• The professional milk frother allows you to create silky and smooth froth for your drinks.
• The attractive retro European industrial style design with a stainless steel handle is durable and heat-resistant.
• The switches are a bit over-simplified, and the steamer doesn’t maintain pressure well.
• The machine doesn’t reach the 9 BAR pressure that espresso needs.
• The plastic construction feels flimsy and fragile.

We’ve had the Neretva Espresso Coffee Machine for a few weeks now, and we’ve enjoyed experimenting with the different coffee drinks it can make. The 15 bar professional pressure extracts quality cups of coffee, providing you with multiple options to create your favorite coffee drinks according to your personal taste preferences. The professional milk frother is convenient to adjust by rotating the side button, which provides silky and smooth froth for your coffee drinks just like in coffee shops. The machine is also easy to clean, thanks to the detachable water tank and drip tray.

However, we did notice a few downsides to this machine. The switches are a bit over-simplified, and the steamer doesn’t maintain pressure well, making it a bit finicky to use. Additionally, the machine doesn’t reach the 9 BAR pressure that espresso needs, which might be a dealbreaker for some espresso lovers. The plastic construction feels flimsy and fragile, which is a bit disappointing.

Overall, we think the Neretva Espresso Coffee Machine is a decent option for someone looking for an affordable espresso machine with a retro design. However, if you’re a serious espresso lover, you might want to invest in a higher-end machine that can deliver the pressure and quality you’re looking for.

When it comes to buying a retro espresso machine, there are a few key features to consider to ensure you select the best product for your needs. Here are some factors to keep in mind:

Design and Style

One of the main reasons people opt for retro espresso machines is their unique design and style. Consider the look and feel of the machine and ensure it matches your personal taste and kitchen decor. Look for a machine that has a timeless and classic design that will not look outdated in a few years.

Capacity and Size

The size and capacity of the machine should also be taken into account. Think about how often you will be using the machine and how much counter space you have available. If you have a smaller kitchen, a compact machine may be a better fit.

Ease of Use

Look for a machine that is easy to use and has intuitive controls. Check if the machine comes with a manual or if there are online resources available to help you get started. Also, consider the cleaning process and make sure it is not too complicated or time-consuming.

Consider what features are important to you. Some machines come with additional features such as a milk frother or a built-in grinder. Think about what you need and what you can do without.

Finally, consider the price of the machine. Retro espresso machines can range from affordable to quite expensive. Determine your budget and look for a machine that fits within it while still meeting your needs.

By keeping these factors in mind, you can select the best retro espresso machine for your home.

In the vast and diverse world of coffee, coffee alternatives, and tea, Olivia has found her calling. As an author and a dedicated coffee and tea aficionado, her work for Cappuccino Oracle reflects her profound love and understanding of the intricate complexities found within these beverages. Olivia’s passion for the subject serves as both a catalyst for her creativity and a connection point with her audience.

Olivia’s appreciation for coffee, coffee alternatives, and tea blossomed at an early age. She discovered that these beverages invigorated her senses and stimulated her creative spirit. From the nuanced flavors of single-origin roasts to the captivating narratives intertwined with coffee, coffee alternatives, and tea trade and culture, Olivia found an unlimited source of inspiration in her daily cup.

Her love for these beverages and her talent for storytelling eventually converged at Cappuccino Oracle. As an author, Olivia’s mission is to illuminate the intricate tapestry that makes up the world of coffee, coffee alternatives, and tea. Her articles span a diverse range of topics, encompassing everything from the unique flavors of different brews to the sociocultural history intertwined with their cultivation and consumption.

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Rugged French Presses for Your Coffee-Fueled Summer Adventures

A few months back, my morning ritual was thrown into total disarray. I pulled my French press from the dishwasher and caught the lip of the glass carafe on the edge of the counter, and years of faithful service abruptly ended as a tiny shards of glass scattered across the floor. I looked around for replacements and found a carafe often costs about two-thirds as much as a whole French press. It's very annoying math. I pivoted a bit and sprang for an insulated metal Bodum Columbia ($39 and up) . When it arrived, along with being able to make my regular cup of coffee again, it looked so good that I felt like I'd classed up the joint.

Like many other people around the world this past year, I went camping more than usual and, looking at the Columbia, I realized it could pull double duty, brewing large batches of Joe for Joe at home or on the road. Antenna raised, I quickly found other rugged, non-glass French presses that could safely endure car camping and still look stylish enough to have on display at home.

Stanley's Stay Hot French Press is available for $65 from Stanley and from Amazon .

I called in several contenders and integrated them into my daily routine. One of the first to arrive was the Stanley Stay Hot French Press ($65) . The company’s limited-edition press, in powdery “polar” white, was surprisingly good looking and promised to make 48 ounces (or 1.4 liters) of “caffeinated gold."

There was also the BruTrek 32 and 48 by Planetary Design ($60 and up) , campers' favorites with unique metal flaps over the plunger filter. Along with a stunning ultramarine color, it also comes in a silver version that might please Philippe Starck. (Fellow WIRED coffee nut Scott Gilbertson likes another of Planetary Design’s camp brewers .)

Also highly touted was the Espro P7 ($110 and up) with its elegant carafe, 18- and 32-ounce sizes, and its fine-mesh double filter.

For fun, I also called in a prototype that I nicknamed "The Hulk" and whose real name I shall keep a secret for reasons that will soon become clear. It was a heavy stainless bruiser with lots of right angles. My first thought when I pulled it from its box was that I was holding the perfect prop for Charlize Theron's agent Lorraine Broughton to use to pummel a foe in an Atomic Blonde kitchen fight.

Matt Jancer

David Nield

Aarian Marshall

Boone Ashworth

Outside of my tiny, half-liter Columbia (two larger sizes are available) the rest of the contenders held capacities between a scant liter and a liter and a half.

Planetary Design's BruTrek French Press. $60 and up from Planetary Design and Amazon . 

Adversaries assembled, I laid out some ground rules beyond brawn and beauty. Along with readiness for kitchen or campsite, I wanted a few other things. Simplicity and ease of cleaning—including a strong preference to be able to throw the whole thing into the dishwasher—was tops among them. (Coffee snobs may wince at this, saying dishwashing can leave residue that imparts bitterness to your coffee, to which I say you can give it a quick rinse in the sink.)  I was curious to see how all of these insulated containers would do at keeping things warm, but leaving brewed coffee in contact with the grounds after depressing a French press’ plunger is frowned upon, as it means that you'll overextract your coffee and cause the brew to take on an unwelcome bitterness. Slow sippers of large quantities like me will be much happier with a dedicated thermos to hold your coffee. Finally, of course, the coffee they made needed to be good.

I was already used to and happy with my Bodum. It uses a fairly fine filter that features a silicone ring around it, and that combination keeps most of the tinier bits of grounds known as “fines” out of the coffee once the plunger is depressed. What little of the fines that get through don’t improve the coffee’s taste, but they add a mouthfeel and richness that people like me find pleasant and even preferable to what you can get out of a “regular” coffee maker. My Bodum provided a nice, high bar to judge the competition against.

So when the Stanley arrived, it surprised me. The company’s PR rep sent that limited-edition white number and, despite a gray plastic handle, I was amazed by its good looks. I liked how wide the brewing chamber was, making stirring (aka “agitation”) easier. The plunger depressed and came out easily, and the carafe poured beautifully.

Espro's P7 French Press. $110 and up from Espro and Amazon .

For something completely different, I tried the Espro P7 , which, with those two fine filters, produced a surprisingly clear cup with even fewer fines. It's like coffee-maker coffee for people somehow forced to make only French press, or for campers too far from an outlet to plug in Mr. Coffee. This “clean cup” isn't a bad thing, but it's certainly different and perhaps not exactly what French press fans, myself included, want from a press pot. The Espro's double interlocking baskets are one more thing to clean, but I guess you'd get used to it.

For another outlier, I tried the BruTrek 32 and 48 by Planetary Designs. Despite being drawn like a magnet to the lovely blue color, I struggled with the designs of these, wanting to like them more than I did. The lid stopper gives the BruTrek a bit of a sippy-cup feeling, and you need to screw the lid on before you can depress the plunger. Also, with a rounded bottom corner it's not completely firm on its feet.

I did find its claim to fame to be an interesting idea: the flap on a metal disc above the filter turns it into something of a one-way valve; once the plunger is depressed, the brewed coffee can't circulate into the grounds and become bitter, theoretically allowing you to keep the coffee in there longer without it becoming a bitter mess. (The company calls this feature Bru-Stop.) Yet even for me, an appreciator of the ever-so-slightly-sludgy cup, this was a bit much, as the filter let a surprising amount of fines through. This was especially odd as those extra fines in the coffee seemingly negated the work of the flaps. The larger flaw, in my book, is that the BruTrek isn't dishwasher safe. Not a big deal when you're camping, but that's a deal breaker at home.

Finally, there was the “Hulk” prototype, which struggled mightily. The big problem was the hairline crack I discovered after putting it in the dishwasher. When I removed the brewer from the dishwasher, I could hear water sloshing around in the space between the interior and exterior walls. The only effective way I found to expel that water was to fill the brewing chamber with hot water, thus heating the air in the space between the walls and causing the water to squirt from the crack in the bottom corner. Furthermore, the lid was quite difficult to horse off the rest of the vessel, which is not something you want when dealing with hot, wet grounds.

Around this point, just to say I did it, I filled all five presses with just-boiled water, put the lids on and set a timer for an hour. They all emerged at least hot enough for steam to come off the top when I lifted the lid. The Bodum was lowest at 156 degrees Fahrenheit, but cut it some slack! It was half the size of the competition, and I'm feeling protective as I explain it. The Hulk and Espro came in at a just-fine 160 and 165 degrees, respectively; the Stanley Stay Hot stayed an impressively hot 175. At 185 degrees, this was the BruTrek's moment to shine. If you're not going to put your coffee in a thermos after you brew it, and the hottest coffee for the longest time is your highest priority, this might be your best bet.

Stanley's line of coffee gear also includes insulated travel mugs.

After all of my in-home testing, I was most happy to discover that while there were a few nits to pick and stylistic variations here and there, all the machines seemed to make a pretty good cup of coffee. So at this point, I brought in some coffee pros from Olympia Coffee for some socially distant testing.

Olympia co-owner Sam Schroeder and the company’s retail trainer, Reyna Callejo, met me in their Seattle coffee lab. There, while all double masked, we brewed five batches fairly simultaneously using all five French presses. We then poured samples from each carafe into five cups for each of us to do a blind tasting in opposite corners of the empty café. While all the brewers made coffee that each of us enjoyed, we did select some favorites. The deciding factors weren't over the quality of what was in our unmarked cups, it was the before and after that made the biggest difference.

Sam enjoyed the Stanley, noting its nice pour and easy cleanup. Reyna was taken with the Espro's coffee, noting "it's so clear!" comparing it to the others when she first poured it. She also then enjoyed that cup most, realizing that it was closest of the five to the Breville coffee maker she has at home. She struggled with the BruTrek's slow plunge and the way the rounded bottom created a bit of wobbly uncertainty. She also disliked needing to screw the lid on before she could push the plunger down.

"I don't want extra effort making coffee at 7 am," she said, while looking longingly at the four simpler options on the counter. "It's not a good brewer if it's hard to brew with it."

Removing that lid from "The Hulk" drove both Sam and Reyna crazy.

We were using 50 grams of coffee to 850 milliliters of water for the larger brewers, and half of those amounts in the smaller Bodum. We prepped a large grind, poured in 200-degree water, stirred at the one and five minute marks, then pressed down the plungers.

This gave us a surprisingly and uniformly low level of total dissolved solids in the coffee. Sam gave a quick definition of TDS as “the amount of coffee in your coffee” and Reyna measured ours with a refractometer, finding they were all between 0.93 and 1.13, where at Olympia’s coffee shops the crew shoots for 1.3 to 1.45.

We tried each of the coffees about 40 minutes later and, while our preference for transferring just-brewed coffee to a thermos remained unchanged, we learned two things. One was that we didn't notice much of a difference between the BruTrek—with its unique Bru-Stop flap—and the others. Two, they were all still warm and the coffee decent.

"We're calibrated to taste bad things," Reyna said, referring to their training. And considering the coffee samples had sat around for a bit, they weren't that bad.

Sam and Reyna cleaned the pots and plungers, then Sam walked over to them and nudged the Stanley and the Bodum, the two simplest and easiest to clean, to the right. Reyna, wordlessly nudged the Espro into the group with them, and presto! We had our preferred presses.

It's really splitting hairs between the Stanley and the Bodum. You can safely decide on looks alone and be confident you'll end up with a lovely cup of coffee. If you want a cleaner, less sludgy brew, get the Espro. Then make a pot, sit back in your sofa or camping chair, and enjoy your cup.

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The Best French Press

By Melissa McCart and Sabrina Imbler

If you want to make a flavorful, full-bodied cup of coffee at home, and you don’t want to spend a lot of money on gear, a French press is a great option. This brewing method is quick and consistent, and a French press doesn’t hog counter space (like a drip machine) or require a perfect pouring technique. After testing 15 presses and making more than 75 pots of coffee over the years, we think the Espro P3 is the best French press. This elegant-looking press is easy to use and relatively simple to clean. And thanks to its unique double filter, the P3 makes richer, more flavorful coffee with less residue than its competitors.

Everything we recommend

Espro P3 French Press

The best french press.

The Espro P3’s innovative filter consistently brews bright, grit-free coffee.

Buying Options

Bodum Chambord

A solid french press.

The press popularized by Jørgen Bodum in the ’70s produces a consistent pour for the price, and we love its classic lines.

Budget pick

Bodum Caffettiera

Bang for your buck with style to boot.

The Caffettiera has the same classic lines as the Chambord, but with plastic features. It also comes in shades like Pistachio and Strawberry.

Upgrade pick

Espro P6 French Press

A top-of-the-line french press.

The P6 offers the same superior filtration as the other Espro models, plus better heat retention thanks to a double-walled carafe (which comes in brushed stainless steel or matte black).

If you are seeking a French press that delivers smooth, consistent flavor, we recommend the Espro P3 French Press . All Espro models have the same bucket-shaped double filter, which is much finer than most and will keep your coffee almost as grit-free as you get with pour-over. Once you’ve plunged the press, the filter is also effective at keeping the water away from the grounds, so the water won’t pull out too many of the bitter flavors that come from over-steeping your coffee. The first cup you pour tastes as good as the last, even if you let the coffee sit in the press for up to an hour. We like the clean lines of the frame and that it’s dishwasher-safe. The P3 used to be our upgrade pick, but its price has inched downward, making it much more competitive with our former pick, the Bodum Chambord. And we think the P3 makes better-tasting coffee. Demand for French presses has been high for the past couple of years, and we’ve seen the Espro go in and out of stock. A spokesperson informed us that the company worked to increase availability in response, but if you’re having a hard time buying a P3, you may want to try another Espro model that performs similarly.

The Bodum Chambord makes an admirably consistent and flavorful cup of coffee. Although we found coffee from the Espro P3 to be brighter and more grit-free, some might prefer the deeper flavor of the Chambord’s coffee. We also love that this model has been a classic since the 1970s. The simple glass beaker and elegant frame have a refined aesthetic, and the steel filter pushes down without any scratching or stickiness, an issue with other presses. Since all of the Chambord’s parts are dishwasher-safe, it’s simple to clean. And should anything break, the company sells replacement parts.

If you want the same taste the Chambord produces for nearly half the price, we recommend the Bodum Caffettiera . It has the same filter and glass beaker as the Chambord, as well as the same lines. But this model has an all-plastic top, which brings down the price significantly. If you leave your French press out on the counter and prefer some color, the Caffettiera comes in a variety of stylish pastels.

We recommend the pricier Espro P6 French Press as a top-of-the-line model. This stainless steel press contains the same ultra-fine double filters as the P3. And even though it’s expensive, there’s no danger it will shatter if you drop it. Also, its double walls will keep coffee hot for more than an hour. As is the case with all Espro models, the P6 is designed to stop extracting once you’ve pressed, so your coffee won’t turn as bitter or sour if it sits in the press for a couple of hours. We are seeing some stock issues with the P6 as of this writing; if you’re willing to pay a bit more, the Espro P7 offers all the same features but has a curved stainless steel handle instead of a plastic one.

The research

Why you should trust us, who this is for, how we picked, how we tested, our pick: espro p3 french press, runner-up: bodum chambord, budget pick: bodum caffettiera, upgrade pick: espro p6 french press, how to use a french press, other good french presses, the competition, what to look forward to.

Melissa McCart, a former restaurant critic, spent years viewing all things food and drink with a critical eye. She has always been a French press fan, but she had qualms about glass beakers, which she overcame during testing (more on that below). For guidance on brewing methods and the best coffees to use with a French press, she spoke with Nicholas Oddo, an assistant manager at New York’s Variety Coffee and owner of small-batch coffee roaster Capacity Coffee , as well as with TJ Fairchild, founder of Commonplace Coffee in Pittsburgh.

This guide’s first writer, Sabrina Imbler, has used (and broken) many French presses since their first year of college. For guidance, they spoke with Scott Carey, owner and roaster at Sump Coffee , a coffee shop in St. Louis. At Sump, Carey experiments with a variety of brewing methods. He even has a series of instructional YouTube videos in which he explains—along with the occasional moustache twirl—how each process works. Sabrina also spoke with Matt Banbury, a regional salesperson at Counter Culture Coffee who has used a slew of French presses in his work.

A French press is for people who want a great cup of coffee, but who don’t necessarily want to surrender lots of time, space, or money for a complicated coffee setup. This method is one of the least expensive ways to start making good coffee because it doesn’t even need paper filters, and its small footprint is great for tiny kitchens. Though pour-over might be a similarly space-saving setup, a French press is much more convenient, since it doesn’t require you to stand there and slowly drizzle hot water over your coffee grounds at timed intervals. With a press, you can make more servings of coffee at once than with most pour-over methods (except the Chemex , which can produce a few servings at a time). The French press method is also fast; once your water has reached the temperature you’d like and you’ve measured out your coffee, the whole brewing process takes roughly four minutes.

French presses have a reputation for producing muddier pours and richer, less-bright flavors, but coffee expert Nicholas Oddo told us it doesn’t have to be that way. He likened a French press to the process of cupping—a way for baristas and roasters to taste coffee and assess quality. Both cupping and the French press require full-immersion brewing: steeped, with no filter. In cupping, tasters will taste the full spectrum of the coffee—including defects—because it comes into contact with the water for a relatively long time.

“You may even get a broader range of flavor with a French press,” said Oddo. “But ... coffee gurus prefer light and bright styles right now, [and] the French press doesn’t favor that style of coffee,” he added.

Commonplace Coffee’s Fairchild told us that those who are interested in using a French press should choose coffees that are better suited to it—like a full-bodied coffee from Sumatra or Papua New Guinea—over more-delicate flavors from Ethiopia. “It’s for those times you’re looking for bold, darker-roasted coffee. If you’re looking for bright flavor clarity, go for a pour-over or a Chemex,” he said.

What should you look for when you’re buying a French press? Ideally, you should get one that has a plunger with a mesh screen that fits snugly inside: This will ensure that stray grounds don’t escape into your coffee. The screen should also be sturdy enough to maintain its shape and easy to replace (should you need to). And we looked for presses that wouldn’t be too difficult to clean, whether by hand or in the dishwasher. Ultimately, all of our picks are dishwasher-safe (but note that the Espro models are safe only in the top rack).

Glass or stainless steel?

Every glass French press we’ve come across has a beaker made of borosilicate, a type of glass designed not to break when it undergoes a sudden temperature change (this can be an issue for other types of glass, something you may have experienced if you’ve ever poured hot liquid into a cool Mason jar). But even the nicest glass beaker made from borosilicate may crack for other reasons—say, if you knock it against the sink too hard.

Melissa hasn’t loved glass beakers in the past; she’d broken more than she could count and heard plenty of horror stories from restaurateurs about breaking glass presses table-side. For this update, she was fully expecting to steer clear of glass versions for that reason, and also because she didn’t think they’d hold heat as well as stainless models. Though the latter proved true, we found that the best glass versions produced coffee on a par with much pricier stainless steel presses. If you can treat glass with care, those versions are a better deal. But we did look for glass presses with an exterior frame that cushioned and protected the beaker from bumps and drops. And assuming that some breakage is inevitable, any good press should have replacement parts—such as beakers and filters—you can buy online.

Stainless steel versions are more durable, but they also tend to be more expensive (at least for a good one; we haven’t been impressed by most of the cheaper steel presses we’ve tried). Steel presses are often double-walled to keep your coffee hot longer. But if you like to immediately decant all of your coffee after pressing to prevent over-extraction, the heat-retaining capabilities may be irrelevant. (Our upgrade pick , the Espro P6, resolves this issue; it has a fairly effective extraction-halting design, so you can keep your coffee warm in the carafe without over-extracting it.) Paying more for a stainless press over a glass one won’t give you better coffee, but the cost of replacing broken glass carafes can add up over the years. So if you plan to be a long-term French press user, you may save money in the long run by investing in a stainless steel press.

What size should you get?

French presses come in multiple sizes, but we recommend buying the eight-cup version (usually 32 to 34 ounces), especially if you drink more than a cup or you’re sharing a pot. Keep in mind that different companies may define capacity differently (for example, Espro refers to how much brewed coffee a press can produce, while Bodum refers to the overall capacity of the beaker). Another consideration is whether a large French press allows you to also make smaller batches. Most do, but one quibble that some people have regarding Espro presses is that, due to the double-basket design, 24 ounces is the smallest amount of coffee you can make in the 32-ounce press.

If you go smaller, pay attention to how many ounces—not “cups”—the press can hold. For example, the Bodum Chambord three-cup model handles just 12 ounces, because the company defines a cup of coffee as being 4 ounces. (For reference, a tall cup of coffee at Starbucks is 12 ounces.)

With those criteria in mind, we sorted through dozens of presses—from simple glass beakers to elegant, fragile Japanese designs . We also studied best-selling presses on Amazon, and, for our 2021 update, got recommendations from coffee experts Nicholas Oddo and TJ Fairchild before settling on eight new presses to test against our previous picks (in our previous test we tried a total of seven). Though we mostly stuck with glass or stainless steel carafes, for our recent update we did opt to test one ceramic version: Le Creuset’s French Press . We were curious whether a stoneware option might provide a good middle ground between affordability and durability.

During our first round of testing, in 2017, we started by running all of the presses through the dishwasher to confirm that they wouldn’t break when washed in a machine. To see how the presses would handle a common, ready-bought grind that was finer than the coarse one recommended for a French press, we brewed three batches of Dunkin’ Donuts pre-ground coffee and noted how much of the grounds ended up in our cups. Between batches, we disassembled and reassembled the various stainless steel screens and plates that made up the filters, to see how easy it was to clean them.

In 2017, we also held a blind-tasting panel with four coffee fiends among Wirecutter’s staff. For the panel, we upgraded to a more luxurious bean—Café Grumpy’s Mahiga, a single-origin roast from Nyeri, Kenya. (We ground it in the Baratza Virtuoso, an older version of our upgrade pick for coffee grinder .) For each batch, we used 25 grams of coffee to 350 milliliters of water, steeping for four minutes exactly. Each panelist took notes on how clarified, acidic, or muddy the brews tasted, as well as on how much of the grounds remained in their cups. We concluded our test with a roundtable discussion of what we liked and didn’t like about each press.

For our 2021 update, over the course of several days, Melissa conducted a first round of testing with all 13 presses, brewing 25 grams of coffee in 350 milliliters of water heated to 205 degrees Fahrenheit and steeping for four minutes before pressing. Then she conducted a second round using the same coffee-to-water ratios, but this time tasted in batches by brand—all Bodum, all Espro, and then the remaining presses grouped in order of price point. She eliminated half of the presses according to notes on value, flavor, design, seal, residue, and how easy they were to wash.

Prior to the third round, Melissa hand-washed the presses—or ran those that allowed it through the dishwasher—taking note of which models were easier or harder to clean and whether there were any annoyances in the cleaning process.

For the third and final round, we assembled a group of taste testers (limited to a pod of three, due to the pandemic). Our testers (including barista and coffee roaster Nicholas Oddo, as well as another member of the food industry) blind-tasted coffee made in six French presses to come up with the final rankings based on the factor that held the most weight—flavor. We then calibrated the rankings with the other factors to arrive at the final picks.

For all of the 2021 tests, we used Counter Culture Coffee’s Forty-Six , a popular dark-roasted blend with tasting notes of smoky dark chocolate. We ground it in a Ditting grinder . This grinder is not one you’d find in someone’s home because it’s a solid, workhorse grinder for commercial use that costs thousands of dollars. But since Melissa didn’t have a home grinder, she visited her partner’s restaurant, Bread and Salt, in Jersey City, New Jersey (the restaurant was in the process of building out an espresso bar). With pandemic parameters, we took what we could get.

If you want the brightest coffee you can make with a plunger, the Espro P3 French Press (32 ounces) is a great choice and easy to use. For the price, it produces the most balanced, clean, and smooth coffee of all the French presses we tested. When we used Counter Culture Coffee’s Forty-Six coffee beans, brews produced by the P3 highlighted the blend’s slightly sweet and smoky notes.

The P3’s two bucket-shaped micro-filters make every other plunger’s filters look rudimentary. The filters lock into each other, so they stay together while plunging, but you can easily detach them when cleaning the press. The lock is an extra step that takes a few tries to get comfortable with, but we found it easy to master. During testing, the filters kept out even the most slippery of runaway grounds. According to Espro, the gauze-like mesh is nine to 12 times finer than that of typical French press filters.

Once plunged, the Espro P3’s double filter also locks the grounds and a small amount of coffee at the bottom of the press; Espro said this helps stop the brewing process (what pros call extraction ). This portion of grounds and coffee continues extracting as long as it sits in the beaker, but it’s ostensibly too thick and sludgy to pass through the filter. Meanwhile, your coffee sits above the filters, relatively separate from the grounds. So if you leave your coffee in the beaker for more than four minutes, it won’t become as bitter and over-extracted as it would in other presses. The P3’s rubber-rimmed plunger ensures a tight seal, though this can make it tougher to press than Bodum’s plunger.

To test Espro’s extraction-stopping claim , which is unique among the presses we tested, we brewed coffee in the P3 and poured half of it into a mug; we then let the other half stand in the press for two hours, tasting it at regular intervals. After 10, 20, and 40 minutes, the flavor of the coffee we left in the Espro matched that of the first pour. After the first hour, however, we noticed a slight increase in bitterness. Since it’s not unusual to drink a fresh-brewed pot within an hour, and because the difference after the first hour was ever so slight, we found that Espro’s claim held up pretty well.

The P3’s glass beaker is considerably thicker and more insulating than those of every other glass press we tested, and it will keep your coffee warmer than the Bodum models. The P3’s beaker might also be a little less fragile than standard beakers. Espro typically sells a variety of replacement parts if your beaker or filters break, but we frequently see stock issues with the replacement parts.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Overall, the P3 is visually less appealing than Espro’s more expensive models (or even than most Bodum models, with their clean lines). But if you prioritize bright pours and a grit-free mug over aesthetics, the P3 is a better choice than a Bodum.

We’ve seen comments from readers about the watery sludge that lingers at the bottom of the P3 after pressing. We think this leftover liquid is part of what ensures that your coffee is silt-free, and Wirecutter staffers who have been long-term testing the Espro agree. (By design, the Espro mimics some aspects of the French press technique that barista and YouTube coffee connoisseur James Hoffmann has popularized, which also tends to leave extra liquid at the bottom of the carafe.)

But we get that the liquid can seem like wasted coffee or be messier to clean. Some P3 reviewers have come up with their own solution for squeezing out more liquid from the bottom of the carafe; one Reddit user suggests holding the lid down and giving the grounds an extra half-pump after you’ve completed your initial press. This tip might be worth a try if you want to maximize the amount of coffee you’re making—though we have yet to try it, so we can’t vouch that your coffee will taste the same—or if you simply want to clear out more liquid before emptying the grounds into your trash or compost bin.

It’s not cheap to replace the glass beaker if it breaks, but that cost (about $25 at this writing) is not unusual among the glass presses we looked at. And unfortunately, the replacement beaker isn't always in stock. If you’re worried about having to replace the beaker, consider our upgrade pick , the stainless steel Espro P6, instead. You pay more up front, but the cost may even out in the long run depending on how prone you are to breaking things.

Also note that even though you can brew smaller portions in the larger carafes of some French presses, due to the Espro’s double filter, you cannot make less than 24 ounces of coffee in its 32-ounce press. So if you want the option of brewing smaller amounts, you might consider one of our Bodum picks. If you have your heart set on an Espro press but want to brew smaller quantities, the P7 model—which performs just like our upgrade pick but has an all-metal exterior, more color options, and a higher price—is the only one that comes in an 18-ounce size . This smaller press can make as little as 12 ounces of coffee.

The Bodum Chambord (34 ounces) makes a rich, flavorful cup of coffee, leaving behind little residue in the cup. Designed in the 1970s, the Chambord looks like the quintessential French press. Although it didn’t make the brightest coffee of the bunch, some may prefer the more classic French press flavor it produces, as well as its clean looks. The Chambord is also easier to find online and in stores, so it’s a good alternative if the Espro P3 is out of stock.

The Chambord’s polished, symmetrical steel design looks more upscale than most other presses we tested. The press has tiny feet that lift the hot glass beaker a half-inch off the counter—and they keep the beaker from breaking if you set it down with too much force. Plus, the gleaming frame looks nice in any kitchen.

Our tasters noted that the Chambord’s coffee was not too muddy and tasted better than brews made in other presses—aside from the Espro presses. And it highlighted many of the coffee’s tasting notes. We also saw few leftover grounds in the bottom of our cups, thanks to the fine mesh filter topped with a perforated steel plate.

The Chambord’s glass beaker is thinner and just a touch less insulating than the Espro’s. But since most people are unlikely to leave their coffee too long in the press (especially if you’re worried about over-extraction), this shouldn’t be a huge issue. The plastic handle feels cool to the touch and safe for pouring. And the Chambord’s plunger moves through the beaker smoothly, which wasn’t the case with some of the pricier, stainless steel options we tested.

We think the Chambord’s steel frame looks and feels significantly sturdier and more elegant than otherwise-similar, plastic-framed Bodum models (yet another reason why the Chambord is one of our favorites). That said, presses with glass beakers will never be as sturdy as their stainless counterparts. Any glass beaker is delicate and will break if you drop it or knock it too hard, and the Chambord’s beaker is thinner and likely more delicate than the Espro P3’s. In the event that the Chambord beaker does break, Bodum sells replacement parts , including filters and beakers (which are about $28 at the time of writing).

The Bodum Caffettiera (34 ounces) performs the same as the Chambord , but for almost half the price. It has the same frame, but the lid and handle are plastic, and this model comes in a fun selection of pastels. Otherwise, this press has the same beaker, internal plunger, and filtering screens as our runner-up pick. In our testing, this press produced the same brew as the Chambord—a balanced cup of coffee with few stray grounds—for an unbeatable price.

We swapped our former budget pick, the Brazil, for the Caffettiera because the Caffettiera is more stylish and didn’t look worn after multiple uses, which the Brazil can. But for the ultra-minimalist who prefers no frame around the glass, the unencumbered Brazil model is still a fine choice, and it’s normally around the same price.

The glass beaker of the Caffettiera is just as prone to breaking as the Chambord’s beaker. And, somewhat frustratingly, replacing the beaker alone will actually cost you more than the price of the Caffettiera itself. Also, the Caffettiera’s plastic lid may scratch more easily than a steel frame, though that probably won’t affect the function of the press.

If you want smooth, harmonious coffee from a modern-looking French press—or you simply don’t want to worry about breaking a glass beaker—the stainless steel Espro P6 French Press (32 ounces) is sleeker than the glass options we tested and more durable. Available in a black matte or steel finish, the P6 makes an identical brew to the Espro P3 , thanks to the same ultra-fine mesh double filter, which preserves tasting notes and traps grit.

The P6’s body has insulating double walls that allow it to keep your coffee hot longer than a glass press could. After brewing coffee in this Espro model and leaving it alone for two hours, we returned to find coffee that was not as hot as fresh-brewed, but it was still pleasant enough to drink. In most cases, we find heat retention in a French press unnecessary, since it’s usually not a good idea to leave your coffee in the pot after pressing. In a conventional press like a Bodum, that coffee continues to extract as it sits, and it can become bitter. However, as with the P3, the P6’s bucket-shaped double filter slows extraction as soon as you plunge by separating most of the coffee from the grounds; this means you can leave your coffee in the press with little to no change in flavor for roughly the first hour. (We did find that the coffee tastes slightly more bitter after about an hour in the press. So if your coffee will be around for longer than that, you may want to pour it into another container.)

At more than double the price of the Espro P3, the Espro P6 is a splurge. But a glass press will break if you drop it. This one won’t. And because of its stylish design, the P6 is also a thoughtful gift.

We think the Espro P6 serves up the best combination of value, flavor, and looks in a durable stainless carafe, but it does come with a plastic handle. If you’re looking for all-metal construction (or a gorgeous matte white finish ), you may also want to take a look at the Espro P7 French Press , which is Espro’s most popular model and our previous upgrade pick. (But note that it costs around $40 more than the P6 and doesn’t perform any differently.)

If you’re looking for a less expensive stainless steel press, we didn’t find a lot of great options, but you might consider the Coffee Gator press . It made decent coffee (though not on a par with our picks) and is under $50.

A French press (also known as a press pot or plunger pot) is one of the simplest ways to manually brew a small batch of coffee—all you need is a press, ground coffee, and hot water.

The grounds-to-water ratio you use is a matter of preference. The folks at Espro suggest a coffee-to-water ratio ranging from about 1 to 18 by weight on the lower end, to about 1 to 12 on the higher end, steeped at around 200 degrees Fahrenheit. We used a ratio of 1 to 14 for our most recent round of testing, but you can play around and see what you prefer.

Most people opt for a coarse grind for French presses. However, Commonplace Coffee’s Fairchild and Variety Coffee ’s Nicholas Oddo both said that when it comes to the French press, there’s more room to adjust than people think.

Don’t get too caught up in the details, said Fairchild. In other words, don’t be afraid to experiment—with grind size, coffee-to-water ratio, extraction time, water temperature—to determine how each affects the resulting flavor. The point is for you to discover what tastes best to you.

Should you need them, here are some guidelines. When you have your grounds in the pot, pour in water that’s around 200 degrees Fahrenheit. If you don’t have a temperature-specific water kettle , wait for 30 seconds after your water has finished boiling; then go ahead and pour. Stir the grounds to make sure they’re all saturated; then put the plunger in the press to cover the liquid, but don’t press down.

Set a timer for four minutes. Then gradually plunge all the way down. Pour your coffee into mugs or a carafe right away to stop the brewing—coffee that remains in the press will continue extracting and turn bitter and sour (though this is less of a concern with the Espro presses we recommend, since their unique filter helps stop extraction after you’ve pressed your coffee).

High-quality, fresh-roasted beans will give you better coffee no matter what brewing method you’re into. We recommend grinding your own beans before each use to get the best possible cup of coffee from your French press.

If you want an affordable steel press: We didn’t expect to like the Coffee Gator as much as we did. But it turned out to be a charming, durable, minimalist press that punched above its weight in terms of flavor and design, especially for the price. It is also easy to clean. The main downside of this press is that it leaves a few more grounds in the cup than we prefer. Still, if you’re looking for an inexpensive stainless steel press, or you’re having trouble finding our picks, the Coffee Gator is a perfectly acceptable French press at a reasonable price.

If you want a slightly different look from the two Espros we recommend: We tested three other Espro models, and we think you can’t really go wrong. The Espro P5 produces the same results and is built similarly to our top pick , the Espro P3. But its frame is metal instead of plastic, and it comes in either a polished stainless or a luscious copper finish. The Espro P7 has the same double-walled stainless carafe as our upgrade pick, the Espro P6 , but it also has a curved metal handle and a few extra colors or finishes to choose from.

If you want an inexepensive, minimalist press: The Bodum Brazil was previously our budget pick, and it remains a great option for those who want to spend a little less, don’t mind plastic fittings, and prefer a more-modern look than the retro-cute Caffettiera offers.

Our tasting panelists agreed that the Frieling French Press is a looker. But the Espro P7 has a finer filter. And the Frieling lacks the rubber rings circling the Espro P7’s filter,  resulting in a metal-on-metal plunging noise that sounds like nails on a chalkboard.

A third stainless model we were looking forward to trying, Bodum’s Columbia , is attractive but awkwardly shaped, with a handle that leaves your knuckles too close to the pot.

Speaking of good looks, we also loved the oversize Stanley French press for its handsome retro vibe. But ultimately the plunger was too loose, so the coffee was muddy on multiple tries.

We nixed Le Creuset’s French Press because its loose plunge left too much residue in the cup. And though it has a 10-year warranty, this ceramic press oddly seems more fragile than our glass picks because it’s not protected by a frame. Should it break, it’s a total loss—and a pricey one (accidents aren’t covered by the warranty).

When we first conducted research for this guide, enticingly cheap stainless steel presses resembling the Frieling dominated Amazon’s best-seller list. Of that lot, we chose to test the 1-liter Secura Stainless Steel French Press (SFP-34DS) , which often takes the number-one spot on Amazon. Our panel said this model’s brew tasted fine, but the seal on the filter did not seem that tight against the inner walls of the press. Overall, this press was like a less beautiful and less functional Frieling.

Although the Rite Press Essential Plus initially intrigued us, based on the Amazon reviews, we have concerns about the quality of this all-plastic press. The Rite Press allegedly makes coffee cleanup easier with a twist-off bottom that allows you to dump the grounds directly into the trash. Some of its features, such as an attached hourglass set for a brewing time of three and a half minutes, seem somewhat helpful. Others seem less helpful, like a removable thermometer that you can use to measure the temperature of your hot water before adding it to the pot (the thermometer doesn’t indicate numerical temperatures, and it’s easier to just use a variable-temperature electric kettle or a more-versatile instant-read thermometer ).

The Planetary Design Table Top French Press remains our favorite coffee maker for camping . It brews cleanly and offers better insulation than any other press we tested. But even though it travels well, it looks unwieldy on a kitchen counter. And if you plunge too fast, you’ll end up with splattered droplets of hot coffee on your breakfast. It’s also harder to clean, with a small metal cap that detaches from the end of the filtering pole (and that could slide into the drain if you’re not careful).

A few readers have commented that they love their inexpensive IKEA Upphetta French press , even comparing it favorably to Bodum presses they own. We’re interested in testing it against our picks in a future update.

This article was edited by Marilyn Ong and Marguerite Preston.

Nicholas Oddo, manager at Variety Coffee in New York City, founder of Capacity Coffee Roaster

TJ Fairchild, founder of Commonplace Coffee in Pittsburgh

Christopher Hendon, assistant professor of computational materials chemistry

Karol Watson, MD, PhD, professor of cardiology at UCLA and co-director of UCLA Program in Preventive Cardiology

Phyllis Johnson, president of BD Imports

Eric Rimm, ScD, epidemiology professor at Harvard School of Public Health

Peter Giuliano, head researcher, Specialty Coffee Association

Meet your guides

Melissa McCart

Freelancer Melissa McCart has been a food reporter, restaurant critic, and editor since 2003; she currently works for Mark Bittman and consults for Tasting Table. She is a coffee fiend who fairly recently segued from buying most of her cups of coffee out in the world to primarily brewing at home.

Sabrina Imbler

Sabrina Imbler is a former staff writer for Wirecutter, where they covered kitchen tools and HVAC.

Further reading

The AeroPress is a Fast, Portable, No-Frills Tool for Making Terrific Coffee

by Marguerite Preston, Daniel Varghese, and Alex Arpaia

The AeroPress coffee maker and its travel companion, the AeroPress Go , are the best way to make single cups of coffee at work or on the go.

30(ish) Wirecutter-Approved Dinner Party Essentials

by Marguerite Preston and Wirecutter Staff

Here’s everything you need to host a dinner party with confidence and ease.

Wirecutter’s 100 Most Popular Kitchen Picks of 2023

by Wirecutter Staff

These kitchen and dining items were the most-purchased Wirecutter kitchen picks in 2023.

Wirecutter’s Best Picks for Coffee and Tea Lovers

Give your caffeine routine a jolt with these Wirecutter-recommended electric kettles, coffee makers, tea steepers, mug warmers, and more.

Bodum Travel Press

The French press lid lets you brew a fresh cup of coffee on the go. A plastic flap on the lid pops open, allowing for easy, one-handed sipping. Coffee doesn't stay much warmer than it does in a cardboard cup. When the mug is tipped on its side, coffee leaks out. In stainless steel and clear.

Reviewed: August 2008

Price When Reviewed: $15.00 –$20

@media(max-width: 64rem){.css-o9j0dn:before{margin-bottom:0.5rem;margin-right:0.625rem;color:#ffffff;width:1.25rem;bottom:-0.2rem;height:1.25rem;content:'_';display:inline-block;position:relative;line-height:1;background-repeat:no-repeat;}.loaded .css-o9j0dn:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/goodhousekeeping/static/images/Clover.5c7a1a0.svg);}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.loaded .css-o9j0dn:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/goodhousekeeping/static/images/Clover.5c7a1a0.svg);}} Travel Coffee Mugs Reviews

A New Way to Avoid a Spilled-Coffee Disaster

Trudeau Sirius Travel Mug (2010) Review

Copco Xtreme Mug (2010) Review

Oxo Good Grips LiquiSeal Travel Mug (Plastic, 2010) Review

Copco Flair Mug (2010) Review

Aladdin Hybrid Stainless Steel Travel Mug Review

Base Brands Reduce Clearview Travel Mug Review

Contigo Extreme Mug (2010) Review

Liquid Solutions Trend Tumbler Travel Mug Review

Aladdin Hybrid Plastic Mug Review

Aladdin Hybrid Stainless Steel Desktop Mug Review

• Coffee & Tea
• Coffee Makers

The 3 Best French Presses, According to Our Extensive, Caffeinated Testing

Our top pick is the Fellow Clara French Press.

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

Serious Eats / Isaac Nunn

The Winners, at a Glance

• Temperature
• Grind Setting

How to Use a French Press

What we learned, the criteria: what to look for in a french press, the best french presses, other french presses to consider, the competition.

• Why We're the Experts

Straight to the Point

Our favorite French press coffee maker is the Fellow Clara French Press . Its heat retention was unmatched in our testing and it has smart design features, like a weighted handle that makes pouring easier. For a budget pick, we like the Coffee Gator French Press Coffee Maker .

Brewing coffee with a French press is highly rewarding and very simple: You pour hot water over coarse grinds, wait a few minutes, and press down. The resulting coffee is wonderfully bold and heavy, and you don't need to know too much about brewing or extraction techniques to get it right.

Almost all French presses have the same design: There’s a brewing chamber with a handle and a plunger with a mesh filter. But the details of a French press can take your brew from just okay to extraordinary. We tested a range of models (18, to be exact) and tried a variety of brewing recipes to figure out the best French press for most people. We also recently re-tested our favorites, making sure they were still the best brewers. We can happily say that our top picks have held up over two years of continuous review.

The Best French Press

Fellow clara french press.

The Fellow Clara combines innovative design with excellent heat retention. With its sleek matte finish, double-walled chamber, and weighted handle, the Clara proves that the folks at Fellow understand what makes a French press brewer great.

The Best Value French Press

Espro p3 french press coffee maker.

The Espro P3 is probably the most “innovative” of the models we tested. The filter is a two-layer mesh cage meant to filter out fine particles, which means you can play with grind settings more. (What if you ground your coffee at an espresso setting? Wild things are happening!). The resulting coffee is cleaner than any cup we made with the other French presses, but it’s more difficult to clean and doesn’t give you the hefty, almost viscous coffee you'd expect from a French press.

The Best Insulated French Press

Coffee gator 34-ounce french press coffee maker.

The Coffee Gator is made of layered stainless steel that's both sturdy and keeps coffee hot over long periods of time. The dual filter ensures that grit and coffee sludge don’t end up in the final cup but still produces coffee with the heft you’d expect in a French press. It also comes with a bonus canister to bring your beans on the road.

Serious Eats / Victor Protasio

• Brewing Tests: We made coffee with all of the presses using a standard recipe of 40 grams of coffee per 600 grams of water (1:15 ratio), stirring the coffee after one minute, and then plunging after a total of four minutes. We then took the top four brewers and tried a totally different recipe from coffee expert and barista champion Nick Cho , who recommends cranking your grinder to its coarsest setting and brewing for almost double the time typically recommended. We kept the ratio of coffee to water consistent but stirred the slurry after 45 seconds, and plunged after eight minutes. We evaluated both brews for sweetness and flavor clarity.
• Heat Retention Tests: We pre-heated each French press, and then brewed a batch of coffee. We checked the temperature right away with an instant-read thermometer , then again at five minutes, and finally at 20 minutes to assess how well each French press could retain heat.
• Usability and Cleanup Tests: We evaluated how easy each French press was to use and tested any unique design features. We also cleaned each French press by hand multiple times throughout tesitng.

What's the Best Temperature for Coffee Extraction?

Coffee is made by extracting soluble components (simply put, the flavors) out of ground coffee using water. The National Coffee Association states that the ideal brewing temperature for coffee is between 195°F to 205°F. 

Anything hotter than 205°F will result in over-extraction, which causes bitter, acrid, and unpleasant flavors. Anything cooler than 195°F will result in under-extraction, where the resulting brew is sour and hollow. “Heat typically speeds up chemical reactions, so adding heat to your brewing process will increase the extraction rate of your brewing method,” says Erica Chadé, Specialty Coffee Educator.

A French press is a full immersion brewer, meaning that the coffee and water are hanging out with each other for a long time (four minutes before plunging). This means you want to try to keep your water within that ideal brewing temperature range for as long as possible. 

To be clear, you won’t be able to do so throughout the entire brew time, and that’s not even really the point (every brew method will lose heat, even pour-overs ). Throughout testing, the water we used lost at least 20 degrees between the initial pour and the final brew. Yet, while it's inevitable that the water will lose heat, the rate it does so depends on how well the French press is insulated.

“Temperature stability is a variable that we understand will change throughout the French press brew process, and anything we can do to minimize its loss of heat helps with extraction and consistency from brew to brew,” says Akaash Saini, National Sales Manager for Ground Control Coffee Brewers in New York. “Pre-heating your vessel, and using double-walled French presses (like Fellow and Espro) will help.” (More on this below.)

What's the Right Grind Setting for French Press Coffee? 

Almost all French press recipes call for you to grind your coffee on the coarsest setting possible, but that's not what we recommend. There are two reasons: First, every grinder’s coarsest setting is different; second, you can increase extraction when you grind just a teeny bit finer. 

When it comes to determining the right grind setting, your best tool will always be your palate. We think that’s where lots of folks make mistakes—sometimes, coffee recipes are treated as prescriptive, but really, they’re meant to be jumping off points, and coffee is so easy to tinker with as long as you listen to what your palate is telling you. In general, if your coffee tastes sour and thin, try grinding finer. If it tastes bitter and syrupy, try a coarser grind setting. To start off with, though, we recommend going with a medium grind similar to what you’d use for drip coffee makers .

Serious Eats / Jesse Raub

For the best French press brews, we assembled all of our pro advice into a simple recipe that’s easy to follow and yields delicious results every time. You’ll need a kettle to heat your water, a digital gram scale , a timer, and something to stir the coffee with (a wooden spoon works well). While you can use pre-ground coffee, we also recommend grinding fresh with a high-quality burr grinder . 

• Weigh your coffee. An ideal French press ratio is 1:15—that is, one part coffee for every 15 parts water. For a French press with a 24-ounce capacity, this would be 40 grams of coffee and 600 grams of water. 
• Grind your coffee. We found the best results with a medium grind, similar to a drip coffee brewer. This extracted sweeter flavors, and our winning models had a fine enough filter screen to remove most of the grit. 
• Add your water. Set the French press on a scale and add water just off the boil (around 210ºF, ideally). Your target weight should be 600 grams of water for 40 grams of coffee, but any recipe that follows a 1:15 ratio of coffee to water will work just fine (as long as it fits in your French press).  
• Bloom the coffee. After adding water, the coffee will bloom upwards and form a crust. Let it sit for one minute, then stir the crust until it fully sinks (around 30 seconds).
• Brew. Allow the coffee to brew for at least five minutes. Because there’s no constant flow of water (like with drip coffee), a French press needs time to steep. You can let the coffee brew for up to 10 minutes before any bitterness over extracts. 
• Press gently. Press the plunger so that the filter screen just sinks below the surface of the brewed coffee, but don’t go further. Pressing the plunger to the bottom of the grounds kicks up more grit and adds bitterness to the cup.
• Pour slowly. When pouring your French press, tilt slowly at first so that the grounds naturally settle into the corner. Then, pour the coffee through the filter screen gently and out of the spout. This will yield a cleaner and sweeter brew with less sediment.

Higher Brew Temperatures Extracted Sweeter Coffee 

Across the board, insulated French presses that maintained a higher brew temperature extracted sweeter coffee. Both the Fellow Clara French Press and Coffee Gator French Press Coffee Maker only dropped around 20ºF over a four-minute brew time, and they both showed pronounced sweetness compared to uninsulated models that had more temperature loss. By maintaining a temperature closer to the ideal 195ºF to 205ºF range, insulated French presses were able to mimic the brewing conditions of high-end drip coffee makers where the water is constantly replenished and brew temperatures tend to be higher. Uninsulated models, like the Bodum Chambord , had lingering sour flavors and overall tasted flat. 

Insulated French Presses Kept Coffee Hotter for Longer

Most insulated French presses stabilized their temperature between 165ºF to 180ºF for a good 20 minutes after brewing, keeping the coffee hotter—and fresher. While there’s always the risk of the coffee in the French press continuing to extract the longer it sits (leading to a bitter finish), coffee’s natural acids start to break down when it cools off causing it to taste more sour. We found that coffee from insulated French presses was more pleasant to drink for up to 40 minutes than non-insulated ones, which started to develop unpleasant sourness around 12 minutes after brewing. 

Unfortunately, Pretty Ceramic French Presses Weren't Worth It

Most French presses are pretty basic-looking (some even border on unappealing-looking), so we understand the allure of an attractive ceramic model. We included Le Creuset's French press in our testing lineup, but were woefully disappointed. Despite the brand's reputation for quality , ceramic is simply not a good material for a French press. Ceramic, more so than glass or insulated carafes, pulls the heat out of the water, causing coffee to drop drastically in temperature over the course of brewing. This results in sour coffee—not ideal, to say the least. While you can pre-warm ceramic carafes by filling them with hot water, it takes a long time and is wasteful.

Fine-Mesh Screens Filtered Out More Grit

All three of our winning models had a fine-mesh filter screen that removed more grit while filtering. Traditional models, like Bodum Brazil , had coarser metal filter screens that allowed more particulates through, leaving the bottom dregs of our mugs gritty and chalky. We also liked that the Fellow Clara and the Espro P3 French Press Coffee Maker had silicone rings around their edges which kept particulates from sneaking around the edge of the filter while pouring. 

French Presses Were a Pain to Clean

No matter what type of filter they had, every French press we tested was a pain to clean. Wet coffee grounds are hard to scoop out into the trash or compost, and since coffee can’t go through a garbage disposal, we had to get creative. The best way to remove grounds was to swirl a little bit of clean water at the bottom of the French press to loosen the clumpy old coffee and then dump it out as quickly as possible. Even the OXO Brew GroundsLifter French Press , which has a built-in ladle to help remove spent coffee grounds, left us rinsing out annoying flecks that didn’t want to budge. 

Serious Eats / Ashley Rodriguez

A great French press has to make excellent coffee. It should be easy to use and clean and also should keep coffee hot and maintain that temperature for long periods of time. We also don't have a preference for thermal over glass French presses: Insulated models will keep your coffee hotter for longer, but glass is cheaper and easier to clean.

What we liked: The Clara gives you everything you need to brew beautiful coffee. It even comes with a wooden spoon so you can stir your grounds after the initial bloom. No scale to measure coffee? No problem! There are fill lines etched inside the brewer to indicate how much coffee and water to use (we'd still use a scale if you can because volume and weight can vary). The handle is weighted so when you pour your first cup, you’re not straining to carry a heavy brewer with an uneven weight distribution. It's beautiful, too. The matte black finish and curved lines sit nicely on any countertop. The Clara also has a heat-lock double-walled vacuum to insulate the brewing chamber, and a non-stick coating on the inside to make clean-up easy. 

In our temperature tests, the Clara kept coffee the hottest. From the initial pour to the end of the 4-minute brew, it lost about 19 degrees. Coffees on the Clara tasted like nougat and chocolate. We're not 100% convinced that has to do with the brewer directly, but rather indirectly through heat retention. On brewers where heat retention wasn’t as strong, there were noticeable sour notes and weird, lingering finishes that were unpleasant, but the coffee from the Clara drank well no matter when we poured a cup. 

It feels weird to say that cleaning a French press is a pleasant experience because they’re notoriously annoying to take apart and clean properly (if you have a traditional French press at home and you haven’t taken the bottom apart, now is a good time to unscrew the mesh screen and give it a soak to remove old coffee oils). The Clara screen is just one piece lined with rubber to create a seal so no coffee grounds slip past the side of the filter when you plunge. All you have to do to clean is unscrew the bottom. 

We know $99 is a lot to ask for a French press—the Bodum Brazil starts at $13—but this is a forever piece of equipment and, for the combination of brewing power, temperature consistency, and aesthetic and design choices, the Fellow Clara delivers on all fronts.

What we didn't like: Not much—besides the steep price, the Fellow Clara is an all-around fantastic French press. 

• Capacity: 24 ounces
• Dimensions: 4.53 x 6.69 x 7.87 inches
• Materials: Stainless steel
• Insulation: Yes, double-wall insulated
• Filter type: Single screen
• Dishwasher-safe: No

What we liked: In order to avoid sooty, sediment-laden coffee—a common French press complaint—Espro redesigned the entire bottom plunger piece, using two interlocking fine-mesh baskets to prevent any coffee particles from getting into your final cup. 

Because the Espro P3 is able to filter out so much of the sediment that ends up in coffee, this French press is actually primed for experimentation. In the section above, we talked about how to grind for a French press, and with the Espro P3, you can push your grind setting finer, which can be fun for folks who like to try new things and push the limits on coffee. 

This is also a great press for people who might not love the flavor of French press coffee, or at least don’t crave the characteristic grit produced by the brewing method. You might ask why someone would buy a French press if they didn’t care for French press coffee, and the answer is simple: It’s the easiest way to brew coffee. We think the under-$50 price tag is outstanding for the design.

What we didn't like: One thing we did miss on both Espro models we tested was the heft of a French-pressed coffee. We did get some higher notes—think more acids and fruit flavors—from the P3 and P6 versus other brewers, but that’s not what we're pulling out a French press for. We want some of the weight that comes from the coffee oils, and in every cup, we missed a little bit of that. Another downside: It's a pain to clean with its micro filters; you can't just quickly rinse it and set it aside.

But if you want to experiment and try out different brewing recipes (or hate experimenting and just want a nice, clean cup of coffee) this might be the press for you. 

• Capacity: 32 ounces
• Dimensions: 4.2 x 6.6 x 9.9 inches
• Materials: Glass, plastic
• Insulation: No
• Filter type: Dual screen

What we liked: We weren't sure what to expect from this French press. It looks like most classic presses and has the mesh screen we're used to seeing, but the folks at Coffee Gator seem to know exactly what they’re doing and this press boasted all the right features: Its double-walled carafe was one of the top performers in our temperature testing, and the small adjustments they made to the French press’s classic design only enhanced the drinking experience, including the small arrow on top of the plunger to indicate where the lid and the pour spout should align to prevent spills.

This brewer is almost ideal for traveling. It’s virtually indestructible—but it’s also pretty heavy (clocking in at almost a pound more than the Fellow). That being said, it made what we would call the most “classic” cup of French press coffee out of the bunch. Not only did it extract well, but its dual mesh filters gave some nice flavor clarity. It's also one of our favorite cold brew makers .

What we didn't like: Their website says that you can only use coarsely ground coffee for a French press, and while technically that’s not true—you can use whatever you want! Who’s going to stop you?—we likely would keep the grind fairly coarse when using the Gator. It doesn’t have the rubber seal or micro filter that the Clara or the Espro models have, so you will get a significant amount of grit if you go too fine. 

• Dimensions: 5.6 x 5.8 x 11.9 inches
• Materials: Steel
• Insulation: Yes, double-wall

While these models weren't our top picks, they still did well in our testing.

• Bodum Tribute Coffee Press : This French press is well-built and stylish and performed well in tests, but the Fellow edged it out due to better heat retention.
• Sterling Pro French Press Coffee Maker : The Sterling Pro worked well and made a fine cup of coffee. But, unfortunately, the build quality was not quite up to the standards set by our top picks.
• Espro 6 : The only measurable difference between the Espro 6 and the Espro 3 is that the 6 retains heat better, but it’s a big jump in price between models. If you’re thinking of making the leap, we think the Fellow Clara is a better pick. 
• Mueller French Press : The Mueller French press is double-walled and brewed great coffee. It’s just a teeny bit heavy and the mesh filters were a little clumsy. 
• Frieling French Press : We've seen the Frieling French press in coffee shops before, and like most of the double-walled brewers, it did a great job. However, it's expensive.
• Espro Coffee French Press P7 : Like the Espro P6, the P7 features the same dual mesh filters and insulation, only in a sleeker package. The only real difference between the two is the outer design, so, at this price point, our overall pick still stands. 
• Bodum Columbia Thermal French Press Coffee Maker : The Bodum Columbia made decent coffee, but its wide, round shape and small base made it a bit awkward to use and easy to tip over.
• Brim 8-Cup French Press Coffee Maker : Although this press made a decent cup of coffee, the build quality was subpar; it felt flimsy in comparison to our top picks. It also struggled to retain heat compared to the other French presses we tested, likely due to the glass beaker.
• Bodum Chambord : There are only a few coffee brewers as iconic as the Bodum Chambord. While it's a totally capable brewer, it just didn’t produce as flavorful a cup as some others, and the mesh screens are prickly on the sides. 
• Bodum Brazil : The Brazil is a slightly more affordable French press from Bodum. We ordered one to test how well a French press could froth milk , but as a French press, this model fell short and couldn’t retain heat well. 
• OXO Brew GroundsLifter French Press : We initially thought this French press—which features an item called the GroundsLifter, a ladle to scoop out coffee grounds—would help produce a cup of coffee with minimal grit, but its glass build didn’t extract coffee well and produced one of the thinnest cups of coffee we tried. 
• Le Creuset Stoneware French Press : Every fiber of our being wanted to love the Le Creuset French press because it’s so beautiful, but ceramic sucks heat from water unless thoroughly pre-heated, which takes forever. The coffee wasn’t as bad as we would have expected, but this brewer lost the most heat over time and couldn’t extract as well as other presses. 
• Bodum Caffettiera French Press Coffee Maker : A slightly more colorful version of the classic Chambord, the Caffettiera fell flat on flavor tests. Plus, its glass construction couldn’t hold the temperature as steady as its dual-walled competition. 
• Stanley French Press : While the insulation on this Stanley French press held up to the competition, it flunked the taste test. The lid and plunger were consistently loose, allowing grounds to bypass the filter, leaving all the cups murky and bitter.
• OXO Brew Venture French Press : With a plastic jacket, the Venture had better thermal stability than its glass counterparts, but, ultimately, the filter was lacking and produced chalky and bitter-tasting coffee.

What type of coffee is best for a French press?

Any type of coffee will work in a French press; feel free to use your favorite beans ! The most important thing to consider is the grind size. French press filters aren’t as fine as paper filters, so a coarser grind size ensures less sediment and grounds in the finished cup of coffee.

How long should you brew French press coffee?

Brew time is dependent on how coarse the beans are ground as well as how hot the water is. At a coarse grind and a water temperature of the recommended 205°F, it should take about four to six minutes to brew a pot of coffee in your French press.

What does a French press actually do?

A French press is a simple coffee brewing method: it has a large chamber where coffee and water are added and allowed to steep, with a metal mesh filter attached to a plunger that strains the grounds after brewing. It's a manual brew method that lets the user steep the coffee for as long as they like, making it a popular brewing device for people who want to customize their coffee brewing.

Is French press coffee better than regular drip coffee?

Because a French press is a manual brew method, it allows the user more control over brewing variables like steep time, water temperature, and grind size. Because cheaper drip coffee brewers brew at less-than-ideal temperatures, French presses allow the user to brew better-tasting coffee, though because the user has so much control over the brewing, there is also more room for error.

Is a French press worth it?

A French press is a relatively inexpensive brewing device that lets the user brew great-tasting coffee, and with care, can last a very long time. Because it allows the user full control over every brewing variable, it's easier to get great coffee with a French press than with a cheap, automatic drip coffee maker. There are also very few moving parts in a French press, and with many models made out of steel, it's unlikely that anything will break due to regular wear and tear.

What's the best size French press?

Our favorite French presses are 24 to 32 ounces (three to four cups). For most French press users, this is the standard size we'd recommend.

Why We're the Experts

• Ashley Rodriguez has been in the coffee industry since 2010, having worked as a barista, shop manager, and coffee trainer. She's written several coffee-related reviews for Serious Eats, including milk frothers and espresso machines .
• Jesse Raub was Serious Eats' commerce writer and spent over 15 years working in the specialty coffee industry. He was our in-house coffee expert and regularly tested coffee gear for this site.
• For this review, we tested 18 French press coffee makers. We also interviewed Erica Chadé (Specialty Coffee Educator) and Akaash Saini (National Sales Manager for Ground Control Coffee Brewers in New York).
• We recently re-tested all of our favorite French presses (as well as some new models, like the Brim 8-Cup French Press Coffee Maker), to make sure our top picks still hold up. This means our favorite French presses have stood up to years of testing and constant evaluation. 
• A couple of our editors own our favorite French presses and regularly use them at home.

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I've worked in specialty coffee for almost a decade, but I use this simple French press every day — it's been my go-to coffee maker for the past 5 years

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• I've worked in specialty coffee for almost a decade and I use the Bodum Chambord French press every day at home.
• The Bodum Chambord press is iconic, high-quality, and makes great coffee easily.
• Prices start at $32 and I've had mine for about five years, so it's been a great true workhorse.
• Read more: The best French presses you can buy

Like most people, I need to start my day with a cup of coffee. The jolt of caffeine is necessary for me to wake up, but the daily ritual of brewing my own fresh coffee every morning is equally as important.

Unlike most people though, I have spent most of my adult life working in the coffee industry. I started out behind the counter of a campus cafe in college and I eventually studied coffee for a semester during my senior year. After that, I went on to help open a cafe in my hometown and eventually spent five years working behind the scenes for a popular specialty coffee company in Los Angeles.

My standards might be a little higher than normal, but making good coffee at home is easier than most people realize. In fact, my daily brewing method is the humble French press.

Are there fancier ways of brewing at home? Sure. Pour-over devices like the Kalita Wave and Hario V60 make excellent, refined cups of coffee, but they require custom paper filters and take a bit more attention to brew properly — not my first choice at 5 am. In my experience, the French press makes much better coffee than any electric brewer and it is even easier to use.

I've used the Bodum Chamford French press every day for the past five years 

I've used a few styles of French press over the years, but the model I keep coming back to is the Bodum Chambord .

When you hear the phrase "French press," this is the product that you envision. There are a few colorway options, like brass, copper, and even red metal, but the most classic is the chrome, which is what I have. 

The French press is comprised of a metal lid, metal frame with plastic handle, glass beaker, plunger, and metal filter. If it sounds like a lot, it's not and everything is really easy to clean. The press comes fully assembled and ready to use right out of the box. 

The chrome finish gives the press a vintage look that reminds me of classic 1950s-era kitchenware. The metal frame wraps around the glass beaker, which is treated to withstand extended head exposure, and the matte black plastic handle is fixed to the frame. Attached to the lid is the plunger, and at the bottom of that is the metal filter.

The standard 8-cup Chambord has a 34-ounce capacity and measures 9 inches high and 5 inches across including the handle. This usually translates to about two or three mugs worth of coffee for either yourself or a family, but you can always use less coffee and water to adjust how much you make. There are also several different French press sizes within the Chambord line and prices start at $32 — which is extremely reasonable given its durability. No matter which colorway or size you get, there's no denying that this is a great looking piece of gear. 

Using a French press is easy and forgiving — pour freshly ground coffee and almost-boiling water into the beaker, let it sit for four minutes, and then drop the plunger

The recommended ratio of ground coffee to water is one to two tablespoons per six ounces of water, but this brew method is very forgiving if you don't have the perfect measurements.  

French presses work by a process known as immersion brewing. It's one of the easiest and most straight-forward manual brewing processes. Fresh, coarsely ground coffee goes into the bottom of the press and then hot water (just shy of a boil) is poured over the grounds. The coffee and water sit together in the beaker for about four minutes to brew, then the lid is put on and the plunger is depressed.

This process filters the grounds to the bottom of the press so nothing gets poured out into your favorite mug. When it comes to manual brewing, it doesn't get much easier than that.

Once it's time to drink the finished product, you'll find the press produces a full-bodied cup of coffee. Most of the oils and organic compounds released in the brewing process will make their way to the final cup, so it's not uncommon to see a slight sheen on the surface of your cup. You may also find a little bit of sediment or grit at the bottom of your cup. I usually skip the last sip to avoid any grit.

The Chambord is easy to clean and almost every piece has lasted at least five years; I've only had to replace the glass beaker once

One of the reasons I love this product is that it can be easily disassembled for cleaning. The metal filter is made of a few stainless steel components that can be unscrewed and separated if needed. The beaker can be slipped out of the frame and cleaned separately as well. This also makes it easy to get replacement parts should any individual component break. 

When it comes to durability, this press mostly holds up. I've been using the same frame, lid, and filter for at least five years. The weakest link in terms of quality is the glass beaker, which stands up to the heat well, but, like any glass item, can break if not handled with care. Replacement beakers are available for $25, so if yours should break, you don't have to replace the entire press. 

If you intend to use the press at home, there should be no problem, but be very careful if traveling with one. There is a "shatterproof" option for the beaker made of plastic, but in my experience, the plastic is a vastly inferior option. The plastic expands and cracks when exposed to heat, which is clearly not a desirable trait in a coffee brewer. Although the plastic may seem like a safer option, the opposite is true for quality and durability so always opt for the glass.

The bottom line

The Bodum Chambord is a simple appliance that makes satisfying and consistently delicious coffee. There is no need for paper filters, so the only repeating cost is replacement parts, though it's durable enough that replacing any of the components is a rare occurrence. Once you get used to using it, you'll find the rich, full coffee it produces to be a comforting companion every morning.  

Subscribe to our newsletter. You can purchase syndication rights to this story here. Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at [email protected] .

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Bodum Chambord French Press – classic, quick, chic coffee

I put the iconic Bodum Chambord French press through its paces

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The classic, elegant, and simple style of the Chambord is reflected in the flavors it brews. This makes some of the best French press coffee and (even better) it's easy to use. Our only issue is the carafe: it is fragile and a poor insulator.

Classic design

Easy to use

Makes smooth coffee

Great value

Available in a range of sizes

Transparent glass

Glass is thin

Not the best insulator

Filter position is very specific

You can trust Homes & Gardens. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing the latest products, helping you choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Who would it suit?

What is it like to use, cleaning, storage, and maintenance, how does it rate online, how does it compare, should you buy it, how we test.

Bodum has been making their bistro-style, domed French press for nearly 75 years. In that time, they've expanded the size and finish, but kept the same design. It's an iconic model – in fact, it's probably the one you imagine when you think of a French press. 

But that kind of longevity can easily turn into stagnation, and with newer brands making big leaps in insulation and filtration, it's not out of the question that Bodum would fall behind. 

As H&G's coffee expert and a former-barista, it was only a matter of time before I put it through our rigorous rounds of testing. I was mostly impressed with this French press. It's passed the aesthetic, taste, and process tests. The combination of style, simplicity, and delicious coffee brewing earns it one of the top spots in our buying guide for the best French presses on the market.

Specifications

Bodum's minimalistic design is reflected in their simple packaging. The Chambord arrived in a compact, smart box. Inside, there was a thin, soft plastic sleeve around the assembled French press, ensuring that it stayed shiny in transit. This might be harder to recycle than cardboard, but there's only a small amount of it and you can normally find a recycling center which will accept it.

On the countertop, this was everything I expected it would be. The elegant design looks classic and simple. Bodum throws in a neat coffee scoop, which is useful for coffee drinkers who don't want to spend lots of time weighing out their grounds. It's a nice touch.

The glass carafe lifts neatly out of the chrome-coated steel frame. I worried a little that the handle might not be comfortable to hold, but the grippy plastic is actually really tactile, with a little softness, so it's great to pour.

The sheer simplicity of the Chambord makes it perfect for first time French press owners. You can't go wrong with brewing thanks to the glass carafe. You can consult the color of your coffee to see how strong your coffee is before you plunge and pour.

Simplicity can be a double-edged sword. Whilst this is super easy to use, it lacks some finesse. The thin glass walls aren't the best insulators, so if you're forgetful, it's likely that you'll come back to a cold carafe of coffee. 

I've also tested some French presses which offer the filter pouring spout all around the whole circumference of the lid of the French press (the Fellow Clara French press, available at Amazon , does a particularly good job of this). The Chambord needs to be very specifically positioned to achieve a smooth pour.

The Chambord model that I tested has an eight-cups, which is perfect for homes of about four people. If you're a single-person home, you can opt for the smaller model and if you have more cups to fill, there's a 51 ounce Bodum Chambord, available at Amazon . It covers all options.

Bodum incudes a small set of paper instructions to show you how to make French press coffee in the Chambord. There's even videos online if you want a bit more support. However, if you're not fussed about the finer details, you won't need to consult any forums. This is easy to use.

I used the scoop to add one scoop of coarsely ground coffee. This measures at 0.4 oz (11.5 grams), so I followed the 1:12 coffee to water ratio and added 4.8 oz of hot water for a single serving of coffee. I steeped my coffee for five minutes with the filter lid screwed round to keep it as insulated as possible.

When my five minute timer went off, I touched the outside of the carafe, which was warm, but not too hot to lift if needed. The fact that the rest of the carafe had warmed up suggested to me that my coffee might have cooled too much, so I took a temperature reading. The coffee was 180 degrees, which is on the cooler side, but I didn't pre-warm my carafe, so am partly to blame.

I poured myself a cup of coffee from the carafe and it was beautiful. The double filters kept all my coffee grounds on the right side of the filter . My coffee tasted rich and smooth, although, it was surprisingly sweet for a French press. Normally there's more acidity. This could be because the beans that I were using are a slightly sweeter variety and it could also be because it brewed a little cooler.

I wanted to check that the cooler coffee brewing temperature wasn't affecting my results, so I brewed a three-cup carafe of coffee. I ran the glass carafe under hot water and dried it. This meant that it was warmed before I added three scoops of coffee into my carafe. I poured my water in accordingly and let it brew. I really enjoyed having a glass carafe. Being able to see the color of the coffee is both satisfying and incredibly useful: I could make sure that my coffee looked like it was ready to pour rather than using an arbitrary five minute timer.

I followed all the same processes, but forgot to rotate the domed lid when I was pouring. This means I didn't have my filter in the right place and the coffee sort of dribbled out. I quickly realised this fault and spun the filter around, instantly getting a much smoother pour. This isn't a unique feature of the Chambord, so I should have known better. However, it was still a little frustrating when models like the Fellow Clara have filters which go all the way around the lid (there's no need to line-up anything).

My bigger batch was still smooth and delicious. It might have tasted a little more acidic, but it was still really drinkable.

You reap the rewards of a glass carafe in the clean-up. All of the parts of the Chambord are dishwasher safe. Personally, I prefer to hand-wash mine, so that I can take the filter apart, ensuring that I get every last coffee ground out of my French press. 

I tested the Chambord in my deep drawer and it was low enough for me to still be able to close the drawer. Make sure you measure yours, but I would imagine that this means you can sit it in cupboards if you need to. This is also a very beautiful French press, so if you want to curate a coffee nook around it.

The Chambord's reputation precedes it. Given that this was designed in the 50s and is still gracing our Sunday morning coffee set-ups today, it's should come as no surprise that this is popular online. It's in most of the best French press buying guides, because it's earned a well-deserved spot in them.

Reviewers always comment on the value of the Chambord: it's one of the cheapest French presses on the market without feeling like it. In fact, it's still a pretty classy option. Lots of people love the aesthetics and range of finishes and sizes to choose from too.

Reviewers had some complaints about the Chambord, which I actually couldn't find replicated in customer reviews. They said that the plunger can wobble and that the frame slips a little in some cases. I don't know if this was an unfortunate fault, because mine was fine. However, I have a similar Alessi 9094 French press, available at Alessi , and the stainless steel frame slips on that.

I tested this alongside Bodum's slightly newer French press, the Bodum Brazi, available at Amazon . If you're choosing between Bodum models, even though the Brazil looks more modern, I would opt for the Chambord. The timeless design of the Chambord means that it's less likely to date and it is incredibly easy to use. 

The Brazil's plunger is a little fiddly to insert when the filter is lifted. I didn't have any difficulties like this with the Chambord. Plus the Brazil's fixed plastic carafe makes it difficult to clean, especially if you get coffee on the outside of your French press. 

Flavor wise, I thought I got less sediment and a slightly smoother flavor profile from the Chambord. Both were impressive, especially for more affordable models, but, after leaving my cup, I could see thicker coffee at the bottom of my Brazil glass, which means that I got to enjoy less of the full flavors.

If you're willing to look outside of the Bodum, I recommend the Espro P7, available at Amazon . This has double-walled insulation, helping to keep coffee warmer for much longer than the Chambord. It also doesn't have the Chambord's slightly awkward lid (which closes the spout for insulation) that made pouring difficult. The Espro also made slightly smoother coffee, because its filters are super-fine and really tightly sealed.

If you're clumsy, the Espro's stainless steel body can save you a lot of smashed glass and spilt coffee. However, for durability, you sacrifice transparency. As I said, this isn't to be underestimated. It makes it really easy to keep an eye on your coffee. Also, the Espro costs twice the price of the Bodum and that's at the best of times. If you're not ready to splurge and you don't need the Espro's insulation, you won't regret the Chambord.

As someone who enjoyed the elegant aesthetic and ability to watch my coffee brew, I'd buy the Chambord over almost any other French press. It's reasonably priced and, arguably the most aesthetically pleasing. However, if you're clumsy or forgetful, you'd benefit from shopping an insulated, more durably built coffee maker.

At Homes & Gardens, we have put a lot of thought into how we test coffee makers . French presses are one of the most simple ways to brew a cup of coffee, but that doesn't mean we cruise in our tests. There's still a lot of factors we need to check.

The first things we write about are the aesthetics and unboxing of French presses. Whilst we know that looks aren't everything, it's helpful if you love looking at your French press. You might even have a coffee nook where you want to store it, so it's important that you're happy with the dimensions, build-quality, and general appearance of your coffee maker. We'll also let you know if there's a lot of packaging to dispose of and if your French press needs any prep work before it can get brewing.

Next, we'll get onto the taste testing. Our experts follow the traditional 1:12 coffee to water ratio for every French press. We try to brew them with the same beans, so that we can directly compare flavors across every model we test, even if they're not all in the same place at the same time.

The first test we put a French press through is a single serving. Sometimes, all you'll want is a single cup of coffee, so we think it's important to know if your French press can maintain temperature and filtration, even if the carafe isn't full to the brim. We leave our coffee to steep for five minutes before plunging. We'll do a temperature check (hoping that the coffee is between 195 and 205 degrees) and then a taste test. Our experts drink their way through the cup, looking for sediment and grains towards the end. These could stand in the way of you enjoying every last drop of your cup.

We'll carry out all the same tests for a full carafe, so we can see how consistent the French press is across larger quantities. We promise, it's not just an excuse for our experts to drink more coffee, although, they don't mind it at all. 

After they've consumed as much coffee as they need to to feel confident on the flavors, drinkability, and consistency of the French press, we make notes on the clean-up, storage, and maintenance of the French press. We also compare the French press to all the other ones we've tested.

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Laura is our eCommerce editor. As a fully qualified barista, she's our expert in all things coffee and has tested over thirty of the best coffee makers on the market. She has also interviewed Q-Graders and world-leading experts in the coffee industry, so has an intimate knowledge of all things coffee. Before joining Homes & Gardens , she studied English at Oxford University. Whilst studying, she trained as a master perfumer and worked in the luxury fragrance industry for five years. Her collection of home fragrance is extensive and she's met and interviewed five of the world's finest perfumers (also known as 'noses'). As a result of this expansive fragrance knowledge, she always puts quality and style over quantity and fads. Laura looks for products which have been designed simply and with thoughtful finishes.  

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How to Make Coffee With a Coffee Press

Last Updated: July 23, 2023 Approved

This article was co-authored by Jaden Zhao . Jaden Zhao is a Barista and the Owner of Jiaren Cafe & Yoga Studio in Santa Clara, California. Her cafe specializes in matcha drinks, espresso, coffee, fruit drinks, and herbal drinks. Additionally, the cafe hosts classes and features a yoga studio and a community space. Jaden earned an MS from Santa Clara University Leavey School of Business and a BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 20 testimonials and 96% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 313,253 times.

A coffee press, sometimes called a French press or plunger pot, is often hailed by coffee enthusiasts as the best method for brewing coffee. It's one of the few brewing methods that allows all the natural oils and proteins in the grounds to be present in the final cup. Many drinkers also view the press as an exceptionally pure brewing method because it uses no paper filter that could alter the taste of the finished brew. Even better, making coffee with a coffee press is extremely easy once you learn the basics.

Ingredients

• ½ cup (51 g) coffee beans
• 4 cups (946 ml) water

Readying the Beans and Water

• The standard size for most coffee presses is 32 ounces (946 ml), but you can make fewer servings if you prefer. For a single serving, measure 2 tablespoons (13 g) of beans. For 2 servings, measure a ¼ cup (26 g) of beans.

• For the best flavor, coffee beans should always be ground just before brewing (ideally within 15 minutes). Grinding before this will lead to stale, oxidized coffee.
• In most cases, the finer you grind the beans, the weaker the coffee will be. The coarser the grind, the stronger the coffee will be. Pay attention to the grinder setting that you use, so you can adjust it the next time if you aren’t happy with the taste of your coffee. [3] X Research source

• If you’re making a single serving of coffee, heat 1 cup (237 ml) of water. For two servings, heat 2 cups (474 ml) of water.
• You can use tap water to make your coffee. However, be sure to drink some first to ensure that it doesn’t have a bad taste. If it does taste odd, use filtered or bottled water instead. [5] X Research source

• You can find coffee presses that feature glass or plastic pots. Unless you're traveling with your press and have to worry about possible breakage, it's best to use a glass press. Plastic pots can sometimes affect the taste of your coffee. [7] X Research source
• To make clean up easier, make sure that your press is dishwasher-safe.

Mixing the Coffee and Water

• When you’re stirring the mixture, it helps to use an up and down motion with the spoon to ensure that the grounds and water are well mixed.

• If you prefer, you can add all of the water at once and stir immediately to combine the coffee and water. However, it can be more difficult to ensure that all of the grounds are soaked if you pour in the water all at once. [11] X Research source

Brewing the Coffee

• As you become more experienced in making coffee with your press, you may realize that certain types of coffee taste better if they are steeped longer or shorter than 3 minutes. Adjust the brewing time to your personal tastes. [13] X Research source

• Pushing on the press too hard can agitate the coffee too much and leave it bitter. If you feel resistance when you’re plunging on it, back up the press a couple of inches and plunge it again until you get to the bottom.

Expert Q&A

• If you don’t plan to drink all of the coffee right away, don’t leave it in the press. It will get bitter if the grounds continue to steep in it. Instead, pour it into a carafe or other serving container. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 0
• Before making your coffee, it’s a good idea to rinse the press with hot water. That will warm it up to help keep the coffee itself warm. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0
• Try making your own coffee creamer if you're interested in making your own special flavor. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0

Things You'll Need

• Coffee press
• Tea kettle or saucepan

You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-perfectly-robust-french-press-coffee-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-113601
• ↑ http://www.seriouseats.com/2014/07/how-to-make-better-french-press-coffee-tips-technique-grind-timing.html
• ↑ http://greatist.com/eat/how-make-best-french-press-coffee
• ↑ https://ineedcoffee.com/buying-a-french-press-picking-the-right-one/
• ↑ http://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-make-french-press-coffee-the-right-way-gallery/3

About This Article

To make coffee with a coffee press, start by boiling a pot of water. Then, fill the coffee press halfway with the hot water. Once you've done that, add your coffee grounds to the press and stir them thoroughly. Next, fill the press the rest of the way up with hot water and let the coffee steep for several minutes. Finally, put the lid on the press and press down on the plunger until it reaches the bottom of the carafe. Your coffee is now ready to be poured and served! If you want to learn how to grind coffee beans to use in a press, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Bodum Travel Press Coffee Maker/Mug Review

• Author: Julia Bobak
• Last Updated: November 24, 2023

Fact Checked

• Why Trust Homegrounds?

Julia Bobak

Julia is a west coast canada-based professional coffee specialist who has spent nearly a decade immersed in the world of coffee research and professional brewing. she loves trail running, rock climbing, coffee, food, and her tiny dog — and writing about all of them. she starts every morning with a fresh americano from her home espresso machine, or she doesn’t start it at all..

The Bodum Travel Press is one of the simplest and most convenient ways to have coffee on the go. This versatile two-in-one product is both brewer and travel mug, making it the perfect compact and affordable way to bring coffee anywhere. Whether you’re crowded into a commuter train or solo on a hike, this coffee maker-tumbler won’t let you down. 

Read on to learn all the important details about this portable coffee maker and find out if it’s the best option for you.

• Two-in-one system is both French press and travel mug.
• Double-wall vacuum-seal stainless steel construction keeps coffee hot for hours.
• Great value for money.

Being a coffee maker and travel mug all in one, it’s one of the most minimal and space saving designs I’ve seen so far. – Janie, Food Writer

The Bodum Travel Press Review

The Bodum Travel Press is a travel mug and a French press rolled into one, and the result is more than the sum of its parts. This easy-to-use travel coffee maker can brew coffee or tea on the go, and its stainless steel double wall exterior keeps your drink hot for hours. ( 1 )

Whether you’re trekking through the wilderness or stressing at the office, the light and compact Bodum Travel Press lets you drink delicious coffee anywhere. And since you won’t even have to buy a separate travel mug, the value for money is hard to beat. 

Bodum Travel Coffee Press Review

• Aesthetic Appeal
• Ease Of Use
• Custom Brewing Features
• Portability
• Value For Money

Aesthetic Appeal – 4/5

The Travel Press isn’t as beautiful as some of Bodum’s other French press offerings, but that’s by design. This is a travel mug first and a travel French press second. The double-wall, vacuum-sealed stainless steel construction not only keeps your cup of coffee hot or cold, but also provides a classy look ( 2 ).

This stylish design was excellent at retaining heat and well insulated to prevent fingers from getting too hot.

The Bodum branded silicone grip and matching lid are available in a variety of bright appealing colours.

Ease of Use – 4.5/5

The is coffee maker is a French press at its core, and using a French press is as easy as can be. Just nail down two important criteria, the quantity of coffee and the grind size, and putting together a tasty brew as you dash out the house each morning is virtually foolproof. There are more advanced French press brew methods available of course, for those able to take more time.

The Bodum does lose a few marks for convenience because once the coffee has been steeped and pressed, the only way to add milk or sugar is through the drinking spout, and then there’s no way to stir. If you like your coffee sweet, avoid any hassle by adding the sugar along with the grounds at the beginning. Black coffee drinkers will find nothing to complain about here.

Additionally, Bodum has made all parts of this travel press dishwasher safe, making clean-up a breeze.

The hardest part might be waiting for your coffee to cool down, as brewing directly in an insulated mug produces a seriously hot drink.

Custom Brewing Features – 4/5

One great feature of a press style brewer is that it can also be used to steep a delicious cup of tea. If you’re an avid coffee AND tea drinker, this will be very appealing. Brew a coffee in the morning, give the press a quick rinse, and then you can use the same device to make an afternoon cup of tea.

Like any other coffee press, this coffee press can also be used to make cold brew . Just add grounds and cold water in the evening, leave the mug in the fridge overnight, and press the plunger in the morning. You’ll have a great cup of cold brew on the go and will save a ton of money by skipping the coffee shop.

Portability – 5/5

This coffee press is the very definition of portable as it was designed as a travel mug first, French press second. It’s lightweight and fits inside an average cup-holder. 

The press lid is spill-resistant, but for safety reasons, it’s not airtight. If you expect your travel mug to do some gymnastics, consider buying the Bodum Travel Press Set instead. For a few extra bucks, this comes with a plain lid, turning your travel press into a standard travel mug.

A pour-over brewer might be lightweight and portable, but you’re not going to whip it out on the bus to make a cup of coffee. The Bodum, on the other hand, just needs the hot water added before you leave home. The steeping and pressing can be done wherever you are four minutes later.

A special feature of this travel press, compared with other portable brewers, is that it’s the only one that can actually brew while you’re on the go.

Value for Money – 5/5

This travel coffee maker is great value. Not only is it one of the cheapest travel brewers on the market, but it’s two products in one . You won’t even have to buy a separate travel mug.

Do Not Buy the Bodum Travel Press If…

You’re not into French press coffee – French press style coffee is unique because the metal filter, unlike paper filters, allows more coffee oils into your final cup. Many find this a selling point, but it won’t be to everyone’s taste. There is also some evidence that heavy coffee drinkers at risk of high cholesterol should avoid this style of coffee. ( 3 )

If oily coffee isn’t for you, but you still want to caffeinate on the go, try the Aeropress or the even smaller Aeropress Go . Or if you’re into pour over coffee, the Wacaco Cuppamoka could be the one for you.

You need to serve multiple people – The Bodum Travel Press has a capacity of 350 mL. That might be enough to satisfy two people with small coffee appetites, but in general, this is not a brewer for a crowd. If you want that rich French press taste, and your friends do too, consider brewing in a larger French press before divvying it up into travel mugs. We have some great recommendations .

You’re not planning to drink it for a long time – Even though the insulated travel mug will keep your coffee hot for hours, prolonged contact with the grounds under the filter will eventually spoil your brew. This applies even more so for tea drinkers looking to avoid the bitter tannin taste that arises from over-steeping ( 4 ).

If you want to make a cup for later, consider brewing using a pour-over method, like the Kalita Wave , straight into an insulated travel mug .

You prefer a battery-operated coffee machine –  Portability is one thing, but a coffee machine can save you from the hassle of using a manual brewer. The  Makita battery-operated coffee maker  is a good choice if you’re going camping or working on-site. The coffee it makes isn’t as strong as you’d expect it to be, but it’s good enough.

The Verdict

The Bodum Travel Press is a wonderful product because it satisfies the needs of many types of coffee drinkers. Are you a harried office worker running out the door to catch the bus to work? This is a great brewer for you. Are you an avid hiker looking for a lightweight, portable coffee maker for your next camping trip? This is a great brewer for you too. As long as you love French press coffee, and you want it on the move, you will be well served by the Travel Press from Bodum.

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Every article we publish undergoes a stringent fact-checking procedure. To complement our own first hand experience, we draw from reputable sources within the industry, including coffee communities such as the coffee and espresso SubReddits, and a number of specialty coffee forums and private groups.

Our editors cross-reference every claim, statistic, and piece of data with multiple sources to verify its accuracy. We also compare our own experience to community reviews to see if there is anything we may have overlooked. Any discrepancies found are flagged and corrected before the article is published.

This meticulous process ensures that the information you receive from Home Grounds is not only engaging and useful but also trustworthy and reliable. We're committed to helping you 'Brew Better Coffee', and that starts with providing you with the best, most accurate information possible.

Homegrounds.Co Is Your Most Trusted Resource On All Things Coffee

Hey, we get it. The internet is brimming with big-shot publishers claiming to be the 'know-it-all' of everything, including coffee. But let's spill the beans here - most of the websites you find on Google are run by big media companies; not by coffee experts.

That's where we, at Home Grounds, come in. We're not just some faceless corporation; we're a tight-knit crew of coffee junkies, who live and breathe the art of coffee brewing on a daily basis. We're here to cut through the noise and give you the no-BS lowdown on coffee gear and home brewing, with real reviews from people that have actually used the items they write about.

Our team? We're a bunch of self-confessed coffee nerds, each with our own journey through the specialty coffee industry. From pulling espresso shots in hipster filled cafés, to roasting beans to perfection or tinkering with espresso machines - we've been there, done that.

And we don't just talk the talk. We put our money where our mouth is, sourcing and testing all the gear you see reviewed on our site. Each recommendation we make comes from extensive personal use.

As the industry is so fast-moving, we aim to keep our content fresh, updating our articles at least twice a year. So, when you see a machine or a coffee recommendation in our top picks, you know it's not just hot air.

We hope you'll join us on our mission to Brew Better Coffee.

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