Best French Press Coffee Makers

The Chambord is the French press — the one that's been on kitchen counters since the 1950s, and for good reason. The borosilicate glass carafe lets you watch the brew develop, the chrome-plated steel frame is genuinely elegant, and the three-part stainless steel plunger does its job without fuss. It's not trying to reinvent anything. It just makes excellent coffee, every single time, for about the price of two bags of beans. If you're buying your first French press, this is the one.

If you've ever been turned off by French press because of the gritty sludge at the bottom of the cup, the P7 exists to change your mind. Espro's patented double micro-mesh filter catches virtually all sediment, delivering a cup that's closer to pour-over clarity while keeping the rich, full-bodied character of immersion brewing. The double-wall vacuum insulation keeps coffee hot for over an hour, and the stainless steel construction means you'll never break another glass carafe. It's expensive, but it's the last French press you'll ever buy.

Fellow makes the kind of coffee gear that looks like it was designed by someone who actually cares about your kitchen aesthetic — because it was. The Clara is a gorgeous, matte black stainless steel press with thoughtful details everywhere: an all-directional pour lid (no more rotating to find the spout), internal ratio lines so you don't need a scale, an included agitation stick for even extraction, and a non-stick interior that makes cleanup genuinely easy. The enhanced filtration mesh delivers a noticeably cleaner cup than standard French presses, and the double-wall vacuum insulation holds heat well. If your coffee gear is part of your kitchen decor, the Clara earns its spot.

If your French press needs to survive a truck bed, a campsite, or three teenagers, the Stanley is your pick. The double-wall vacuum insulated stainless steel keeps coffee hot for up to four hours (or cold brew cold for nine), the 48oz capacity brews enough for a small crowd, and the whole thing is built like the thermos your grandfather had — because it basically is. The mesh filter isn't as refined as Espro or Fellow, so expect a bit more sediment, but for outdoor use and batch brewing, nothing else comes close. Every piece is dishwasher safe.

The Brazil is proof that good French press coffee doesn't require a big investment. It uses the exact same borosilicate glass carafe and stainless steel plunger as its fancier sibling, the Chambord — the only real difference is the lightweight BPA-free plastic frame instead of chrome-plated steel. The coffee tastes identical. At around $20, it's the easiest way to find out if French press is your thing without committing to a premium brewer. Available in multiple colors if you want to add a pop to your kitchen. Been in production since the 1980s for a reason.

Okay, the AeroPress isn't technically a French press — it's an immersion brewer that uses air pressure and paper micro-filters instead of a metal mesh. But if you're shopping for a French press, there's a very good chance you'd actually love this more. It brews a clean, grit-free, full-flavored cup in under two minutes with zero bitterness. The paper filters catch all sediment and most oils, giving you a cup that's somewhere between French press richness and pour-over clarity. It's also virtually indestructible, weighs almost nothing, and is the ultimate travel coffee maker. Cleanup takes literally ten seconds — pop out the puck, rinse, done. If you're on the fence between French press and something else, the AeroPress is the "something else" worth trying.