Best French Press Coffee Makers (2026)
Six verified picks: the ESPRO P3 for a clean cup on a budget, the classic Bodum Chambord, the insulated Bodum Columbia and Fellow Clara, the premium ESPRO P7, and the easy-clean OXO GroundsLifter.
A French press is the simplest way to make rich, full-bodied coffee at home: no paper, no pods, no electricity beyond your kettle. But the press you choose decides whether you get a velvety cup or a mug of sludge, and whether your second cup is hot or lukewarm.
We built this guide from published testing by Wirecutter, America’s Test Kitchen, Serious Eats, and Bon Appétit, plus maker specs for capacity, materials, filtration, and weight. Every Amazon listing below was checked by product title and model number on October 16, 2026.
Your grinder matters as much as your press: French press needs a coarse, even grind, so see our best burr grinders under $200. Prefer a brighter, cleaner cup? Read our best pour-over coffee makers guide, or browse the full Coffee & Espresso hub.
How We Chose These French Presses
We looked for presses that make full-bodied coffee with as little grit as possible, hold heat long enough for a second cup, pour without dribbling, and are easy to clean. We cross-checked hands-on test results from Wirecutter, America’s Test Kitchen, Serious Eats, Bon Appétit, and Business Insider, read maker specs for capacity, materials, filtration, and weight, and confirmed each US Amazon listing by product title and model number (never guessed). We have not run our own lab tests on these presses; scores are our editorial ratings based on that research. Prices move, so always check the live listing.
Jump to: ESPRO P3 · Bodum Chambord · Bodum Columbia · Fellow Clara · ESPRO P7 · OXO GroundsLifter · Comparison · Also Considered · Buying Guide · FAQ
ESPRO P3 French Press, 32 oz (Black)
A glass French press with ESPRO’s bucket-shaped double micro-filter, which traps far more fine sediment than a standard single mesh screen.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Our score | 9.3 / 10 |
| Price | ~$40 on Amazon at our check |
| Capacity | 32 oz brew (minimum 24 oz); 18 oz size also sold |
| Carafe | Thick borosilicate glass in a polypropylene frame |
| Filter | Dual-layer stainless micro-filter; accepts ESPRO paper filters (sold separately) |
| Insulation | None (glass) |
| Weight | 1.8 lb (ESPRO spec) |
| Dimensions | 6.1 × 4.3 × 9.5 in |
| Model | 1432C-BK |
| ASIN | B011WTM622 |
Wirecutter’s current top French press pick is the ESPRO P3. Its testers found it made the most balanced, clean, and smooth coffee of the presses they tried, keeping coffee close to grit-free, and said the last cup poured tasted as good as the first even an hour later. Bon Appétit also names it its best inexpensive French press.
The secret is the filter. Instead of one flat mesh disc, ESPRO uses a deep double-walled basket of very fine mesh, so far fewer fines slip past as you plunge, and the grounds stay sealed below the filter once you press. You still get the heavy body and oils that make French press worth doing, just without the muddy last sip.
The trade-offs are small. The frame is plastic rather than chrome, the glass carafe will break if you drop it, and there’s no insulation, so pour within 20–30 minutes if you like your coffee hot. Pair it with a coarse, even grind from a good burr grinder for the best results.
- Cleanest, least gritty cup of any glass press we researched
- Grounds stay sealed under the filter after plunging
- About the same price as a Bodum Chambord
- Optional paper filters for an even cleaner, pour-over-style cup
- Glass carafe can break
- No insulation; coffee cools in about half an hour
- Plastic frame looks less classic than chrome
Bodum Chambord French Press, 34 oz
The design that made French press famous. A borosilicate glass beaker in a chrome-plated stainless frame with a three-part stainless plunger.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Our score | 9.0 / 10 |
| Price | ~$40 on Amazon at our check |
| Capacity | 34 oz (Bodum “8 cups” of 4 oz each) |
| Carafe | Borosilicate glass |
| Frame & lid | Chrome-plated stainless steel |
| Filter | Stainless steel mesh plunger (single mesh) |
| Insulation | None (glass) |
| Made | Portugal (per Amazon listing) |
| Model | 1928-16 |
| ASIN | B00008XEWG |
Few products are recommended as widely as the Chambord. America’s Test Kitchen names it its Best Buy, Business Insider calls it the best overall French press, and Wirecutter makes it the runner-up to the ESPRO P3. Wirecutter found it made an admirably consistent, flavorful cup, though one with more grit than the P3; some people actually prefer its deeper, heavier body.
Using it couldn’t be simpler: add coarse grounds, pour, stir, steep four minutes, and press. Replacement beakers and filters are easy to find, which is part of why so many Chambords last for decades. ATK notes the uninsulated glass keeps coffee hot for about 30 minutes, so decant what you won’t drink right away.
Expect a little sediment at the bottom of your cup. Pouring slowly and leaving the last ounce in the pot helps a lot.
- Timeless look; huge owner base and spare parts
- Rich, full-bodied coffee
- Simple to use and clean
- Inexpensive
- More grit than double-filter presses
- Glass can break
- Coffee keeps steeping if left in the pot
Bodum Columbia Thermal French Press, 34 oz (Double-Wall Stainless)
A double-wall stainless steel press with a silicone-rimmed mesh plunger and a lid that closes off the spout to hold in heat.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Our score | 8.9 / 10 |
| Price | ~$67 on Amazon at our check |
| Capacity | 34 oz (Bodum model 1308-16) |
| Body | Double-wall stainless steel |
| Filter | Mesh plunger with silicone rim |
| Insulation | Double wall; Bodum says up to two hours hot |
| Care | Dishwasher safe (per listing) |
| Model | 1308-16 |
| ASIN | B00005YY9X |
America’s Test Kitchen made the Columbia one of its two co-winners. Testers found it as easy to use as a glass press but much better at keeping coffee hot, and its tasting panel described the coffee as rich, rounded, nutty, and full-bodied. ATK also liked the silicone-edged plunger, which held back more fine particles than the Chambord’s wire rim, and the lid that seals the spout between pours.
Because it’s stainless, it’s effectively unbreakable in normal kitchen use, and the parts go in the dishwasher. The downside of an opaque pot is that you can’t see your brew, and like any standard mesh press, coffee left sitting on the grounds keeps extracting, so plunge fully and pour within the hour.
- Keeps coffee hot much longer than glass
- Shatterproof stainless steel
- Silicone-edged plunger catches more fines than a wire rim
- Dishwasher safe
- Can’t see the brew
- Heavier than glass presses
- Single mesh still lets some silt through
Fellow Clara French Press, 24 oz (Matte Black)
A vacuum-insulated stainless press with an enhanced mesh filter, an all-direction pour lid, fill lines, and an agitation stick.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Our score | 8.9 / 10 |
| Price | ~$100 on Amazon at our check |
| Capacity | 24 oz |
| Body | Vacuum-insulated stainless steel; non-stick PTFE-coated interior (PFOA-free) |
| Filter | Enhanced mesh with gasket |
| Weight | About 2 lb (917 g, Fellow spec) |
| Dimensions | 170 × 115 × 200 mm |
| Care | Only the mesh filter is dishwasher safe |
| Model | 502030103 |
| ASIN | B094WQ6YT6 |
Serious Eats named the Clara its favorite French press after testing 17 models. Its editors praised the weighted handle for a balanced pour, the lid that pours from any direction, and the double-walled body: in their testing, coffee was still 122°F after three hours. The fine filter and rubber gasket left minimal grit, and the non-stick interior makes cleanup quick. Business Insider picks it as its upgrade French press, too.
The catches are capacity and price. At 24 oz, it brews about two big mugs, versus three or more in the 32–34 oz presses, and it costs about two and a half times as much as the Chambord. Fellow says only the mesh filter goes in the dishwasher. If you prefer to avoid PTFE (non-stick) coatings, choose the ESPRO P7 or Bodum Columbia instead.
- Excellent heat retention
- Balanced, dribble-free pour from any side
- Low grit for a mesh press
- Non-stick interior is easy to rinse
- Only 24 oz
- Pricey
- PTFE-coated interior; hand wash the body
ESPRO P7 French Press, 32 oz (Brushed Stainless)
The same dual micro-filter as the P3, in a double-wall stainless steel body that keeps a full pot hot without over-extracting it.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Our score | 8.8 / 10 |
| Price | ~$145 on Amazon at our check; ESPRO lists $119.95–$132.95 |
| Capacity | 32 oz brew (minimum 24 oz); 18 oz size also sold |
| Body | Double-wall vacuum-insulated stainless steel |
| Filter | Dual micro-filter; paper-filter compatible (10 paper filters included per listing) |
| Weight | 2.6 lb (ESPRO spec) |
| Dimensions | 6.7 × 4.6 × 10.1 in |
| Model | 1132C2 |
| ASIN | B011WTMV1I |
America’s Test Kitchen recommends the P7 for anyone who wants French press coffee with less of the typical grit, and Bon Appétit names it the best French press overall. Its double micro-filter and double silicone seal keep brewed coffee and spent grounds separated after plunging, so the insulated body can double as a serving carafe.
Wirecutter likes ESPRO’s stainless presses too, but notes they make the same coffee as the much cheaper P3. You’re paying for insulation and durability, not a better-tasting cup. That makes the P7 a great buy if you sip a full pot over a morning or have broken glass presses before, and an unnecessary one if you drink your coffee right away.
Drop an ESPRO paper filter between the two mesh layers and you get a cleaner, lighter, almost pour-over-style cup; leave it out for classic French press body.
- Cleanest cup in this guide, especially with a paper filter
- Insulated and shatterproof
- Grounds stay sealed off after plunging, so coffee doesn’t turn bitter
- Two sizes and several finishes
- Expensive
- Same coffee as the P3 if you drink it right away
- Heavy at 2.6 lb
OXO Brew 8-Cup French Press with GroundsLifter, 32 oz
A borosilicate glass carafe inside a protective stainless steel housing, with OXO’s GroundsLifter for no-dig cleanup.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Our score | 8.5 / 10 |
| Price | ~$50 on Amazon at our check |
| Capacity | 32 oz (8 cups) |
| Carafe | Borosilicate glass in a stainless steel housing |
| Filter | Fine stainless steel mesh |
| Cleanup | Stainless-and-silicone GroundsLifter |
| Care | Hand wash only (OXO spec) |
| Model | 11294500 |
| ASIN | B084L3LZFN |
Cleaning is the worst part of owning a French press, and OXO attacked it directly. After you pour, lift the GroundsLifter by its handle and it scrapes the spent grounds out of the carafe like a squeegee, so there’s no digging with a spoon or flushing grounds down the drain. Bon Appétit’s reviewer specifically called out the GroundsLifter as an innovation they prefer over the classic Chambord.
The stainless housing protects the glass from knocks, and the soft, non-slip handle is comfortable to pour. The filter is a standard fine mesh, so expect Chambord-level body and a little sediment, not ESPRO-level clarity. OXO says the press is hand wash only.
- Fastest, cleanest grounds disposal of any press here
- Stainless housing protects the glass
- Comfortable non-slip grip
- Reasonable price
- Hand wash only
- Standard mesh: some sediment
- One more part to keep clean
French Presses Compared
| Press | Body | Capacity | Filter | Insulation | Price | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESPRO P3 | Glass | 32 oz | Double micro-filter | None | ~$40 | 9.3 |
| Bodum Chambord | Glass / chrome | 34 oz | Single mesh | None | ~$40 | 9.0 |
| Bodum Columbia | Double-wall stainless | 34 oz | Mesh + silicone rim | Double wall | ~$67 | 8.9 |
| Fellow Clara | Vacuum stainless | 24 oz | Enhanced mesh + gasket | Vacuum | ~$100 | 8.9 |
| ESPRO P7 | Vacuum stainless | 32 oz | Double micro-filter | Vacuum | ~$120–$145 | 8.8 |
| OXO GroundsLifter | Glass in steel housing | 32 oz | Fine mesh | None | ~$50 | 8.5 |
Capacities and materials come from maker specs or the Amazon listing. Prices were checked on Amazon on October 16, 2026 and change often.
Also Considered
Stanley Classic Stay-Hot French Press, 48 oz. America’s Test Kitchen’s other co-winner: a wide, sturdy insulated pot that made excellent coffee and stayed piping hot for more than an hour. It is the best choice for big households, but most colors were listed as currently unavailable on Amazon when we checked, so we’re not linking it until stock settles.
YETI Rambler French Press. Serious Eats found coffee only dropped to 130°F after three hours, with minimal silt. It is heavy, the lid opening dribbles, and it costs about $110 for 34 oz, more than the Fellow Clara.
AeroPress. Not a French press, but a fast, near-grit-free immersion brewer for one mug at a time. It’s a better pick for travel and single cups.
How to Choose a French Press
Filtration. A standard single mesh screen (Chambord, OXO) gives the classic heavy body plus some sediment. A silicone-edged or gasketed plunger (Columbia, Clara) holds back more fines. ESPRO’s double micro-filter (P3, P7) is the cleanest by a wide margin and seals the grounds away after plunging.
Glass vs stainless. Glass is cheap and lets you see the brew, but it breaks and loses heat in about 30 minutes. Double-wall or vacuum-insulated stainless keeps coffee hot for an hour or more and survives drops, at a higher price and weight.
Capacity. Brand “cups” are usually 4 oz, so an “8-cup” 34 oz press makes about three real mugs. Most presses also need a minimum fill to work well; ESPRO lists 24 oz for its 32 oz models.
Cleanup. Wet grounds are the chore. The OXO GroundsLifter and the Clara’s non-stick interior make it easier. Never pour grounds down the sink drain; tap them into the compost or trash.
Grind and water. Use a coarse, even grind from a burr grinder, not a blade grinder, and water just off the boil (about 195–205°F). A variable-temperature electric kettle and a kitchen scale make every pot consistent.
Basic method. Preheat the press with hot water and dump it. Add about 1 gram of coffee per 15–16 grams of water, pour, stir, put the lid on, and steep four minutes. Press slowly and steadily, then pour everything you won’t drink right away into a mug or thermal carafe.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best French press for most people?
Is a glass or stainless steel French press better?
How do I make French press coffee less gritty?
What coffee-to-water ratio should I use in a French press?
Can I leave coffee in the French press after plunging?
What size French press should I buy?
Is French press coffee bad for cholesterol?
Can I make cold brew in a French press?
Final Verdict
Buy the ESPRO P3 if you want the best French press coffee for about $40: full body with far less grit. Choose the Bodum Chambord for the classic look and taste at the same price, or the Bodum Columbia if you want an unbreakable, insulated pot without spending $100. The Fellow Clara is the most refined small-batch press, the ESPRO P7 is the cleanest and hottest cup money can buy, and the OXO GroundsLifter takes the mess out of cleanup.