6 Best French Press Coffee Makers

It’s sexy. We know that. You know that. And, we’re pretty certain this French press knows it too. If that were all that set this coffee maker apart from the crowd, we’d probably still include it on this list. But, it’s not. The stainless steel exterior hides an insulation layer that keeps your coffee hot for a remarkably long time.

And, if you’re looking for other reasons to fall in love, how about dishwasher-safe, several sizes available, and free extra screen filters. What we don’t love is the appearance of fingerprints on the outside and that it’s not very good at making tea. But, take another look at it. It’s just so good looking.

Volume? We suggest going in for the standard 34 ounce size. Even if the insulation keeps drinks warmer for longer, that doesn’t mean they’ll be hot forever. But there are larger sizes available if you’re keen.

Dishwasher-safe? We know you’re going to fall in love with the ability to tuck this into the dishwasher. However, we have a word of advice on that. You don’t want to leave it sitting in a dishwasher with water droplets or you will see those spots for the rest of your life.

Can you get replacement parts? You get two extra screens with this French press which is a real bonus and it means you’ll probably never need to order more. But, they are available for order if you discover you need them.

Will it break the bank? The MSRP is a whopping $80. You won’t need to pay that though. You’ll fork out roughly half. That’s a little on the expensive side for a French press, but still not out of the reasonable range. In fact, given the styling, the extra filters, and the insulation, we believe it’s more than fair.

There are definitely more things to like than dislike about this French press. For a start, it’s made of German-quality Borosilicate glass. That makes it remarkably resilient. Then, there’s the chrome styling features that really make this the sexy coffee maker you want to show off – whether you’re making tea or coffee.

But, it’s the double filter system that makes us so happy. You’re not going to find grinds in your cup because the manufacturers have taken every precaution to avoid it. They also have a social mission, there are multiple sizes available, and when you consider the value of this French press, you’ll find it justifies the price.

Volume? We recommend the 34 ounce French press; that’s the standard 1 liter size. However, you can go bigger or smaller if you like. Some users are totally confused because the images make this coffee maker appear a little wider than others. Make sure you’re ordering the correct size.

Dishwasher-safe? YES! Despite the styling, this is super easy to clean in the dishwasher. You can, of course, hand wash it if you’re worried.

Can you get replacement parts? You won’t find GROSCHE replacement filters easily (though there are generic ones). That said, this comes with a satisfaction-guaranteed warranty for 1 year. That should give you plenty of time to uncover any problems, but we don’t think you will.

Will it break the bank? This isn’t the cheapest French press you can get. Indeed, we think they’re pushing it on the price just a little. But, we have to qualify that before you turn away from this one. You see, if we lined up all the faves on this list, it wouldn’t be on the high-end because the MSRP is $60. You should pay about $55 for it through Amazon which means the manufacturer has a solid understanding of the value of their product. Compare that to other faves listed at $80 but selling for $40. We don’t mind knowing this machine is worth what you’ll pay for it. How about you?

Most users can’t imagine life without this French press. They need it. And, we totally understand that. On the surface, it doesn’t appear that there’s anything special about this coffee maker, but that may be what’s most appealing – it gets the job done without having to brag.

We appreciate that the filters never allow grinds to pass into your mug – and that you get a spare filter in the box. Given the price, that’s pretty awesome. We really wanted to push this into top position, but the hand wash only recommendation just didn’t allow for that.

Volume? This is a standard 34 ounce size. In case you’re wondering, that’s equivalent to 1 liter or 8 cups. You can also buy other sizes in the range, but this one is standard and definitely the place to start.

Dishwasher-safe? The manufacturer hasn’t specified that this can go in the dishwasher. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t do it – only that you’re doing it at your own risk. For that reason, we suggest hand washing. Sorry.

Can you get replacement parts? Yes, the filters are readily available, but you will pay for them; they’re not cheap. That said, you get two filters when you buy this French press and that should give you about 4 years of use… As long as you care for them.

Will it break the bank? Unbelievably, the MSRP is close to $70. If you had to pay this price, it would be too much. But, you should typically find this for about $30, maybe $40. We think that’s a fair price, especially considering the extra filter.

Bodum is a classic French press range. Indeed, many people just call any coffee makers of this type a “Bodum.” And, we definitely like this one – even if we can’t give it full marks. We’ll get into that in a minute. First some pros – it’s great for loose-leaf tea and is made of borosilicate glass. It features a stainless steel frame and the handle is heat resistant. We’re also fans of the extra filter in the spout.

But, we’re rather appalled by the instructions, erm warnings, printed on the side of the carafe. That’s a little insulting, isn’t it? You’re the one pouring the hot water in; you know how hot it is. It detracts from the otherwise lovely features on this French press. Still, given the price and the quality, we know you’ll find this one difficult to exclude – as did we.

Volume? This is the standard 1 liter, or 34 ounce, size. You can find other coffee makers from the same range, but this is likely to be the one you want.

Dishwasher-safe? Absolutely. You like that, right?

Can you get replacement parts? Yep, you’ll find them.

Will it break the bank? Nope. You will likely pay less than $40 for this French press. Bodum suggests selling it for closer to $55. We think the current price (about $35) is a good deal. Actually, anything less than $40 is fair.

We really wanted to exclude this from the list because there are drawbacks to it. But, it’s also totally unique and has a place in gourmet kitchens, so… here we go. It’s great for making tea, as well as coffee, and keeps beverages warmer longer. The stoneware is resilient and available in many different colors. It’s also dishwasher-safe.

But… it’s expensive. It’s smaller than standard French presses, and you won’t find replacement parts. And, a few users experience problems with grounds finding their way into their mugs, which is due to the lack of seal on the plunger. If this were a glass or stainless steel French press, we would have excluded it. Except, too many people love it – and if you have a kitchen full of Le Creuset, you’ll need it.

Volume? The standard size French press is 34 ounces. This one is only 27 ounces. So, it’s not great for a thirsty crowd. Although you won’t find bigger sizes, you will be able to choose the colors you want.

Dishwasher-safe? It is dishwasher-safe. You’ve got to love that – especially as you shouldn’t necessarily wash other items in the Le Crueset range.

Can you get replacement parts? Sadly, no.

Will it break the bank? Um, okay. It’s not as if this is several hundred dollars, but it is seriously pushing the limits in the realm of French presses. The MSRP is $85, but you should pay closer to $65. That’s not completely out of line with the brand, but it is hard to justify if you are just after a coffee maker.