If you’re still drinking automatic, it’s time to junk the drip and get a french press, which will give you smooth, mellow coffee that’s never once been touched by our mechanical overlords. Almost as old as coffee itself, the french press is a magically simple way of making coffee that is easy to clean, easy to use, and requires no more know-how than boiling water. When you’re prepared for superior coffee with less effort and fewer scrubbing sessions with industrial cleansers, you’re ready for the best french press coffeemakers on the market today.
GSI Outdoors Personal Java Press
Sole Survivor: While many products claim to be “rugged,” the Personal Java Press actually delivers. A 20oz all-in-one system, the Java Press is completely free of BPA’s since it uses polypropylene, which won’t let adulterants through. Both a thermos and a mug, as well as a coffee maker, this is everything any lone wolf needs. Purchase: $28
KONA French Press
Basic Brewer: At a convenient 34oz this is no wilting lilley. It’s nicely sized, meant for families or individuals who need a massive jolt to get going. KONA guarantees that your coffee will be free of grounds, and the company ensures you’re fully satisfied. With a handy thermal handle for easy pouring and a glass body, we’re inclined to agree with them. Purchase: $29
Kuissential Stainless Steel Cafetiere
Doppelgänger: You’ll see that this looks almost exactly like the SterlingPro double-walled further down the list. That’s because it is little more than a smaller version of that exact piece. At 33oz, it’s meant for the more modest buyer who wants the same impeccable double-walled construction, easy pouring, and stainless steel, without the size (or the price). Purchase: $30
Bodum Chambord French Press Coffee Maker
Survivor: Made of glass and hardened stainless steel with a triple-component mesh filter, you can expect this Chambord piece to live on your counter for many years to come. The body is borosilicate glass that’s tough to break, and handles intense heat like an asbestos suit. Purchase: $33
FreshTek Red Best French Press
Shine On: Originally intended as a short-run Valentine’s Day gift, the bold coloration of this plunger coffee maker has made it a fan favorite. It’s constructed with 18/10 stainless through and through, which puts it on par with the top names in the industry. Unbreakable and striking, it’s much more than flash. Purchase: $40
SterlingPro Double Wall Stainless Steel French Coffee Press
Industrial Option: It’s hard to find fault with this fantastic press. The mirror finish reflects your personal style, so it blends into any house. Stainless steel through and through and able to make as much jump-start-juice as you could possibly need with a liter or a liter-and-a-half-capacity, even the price tag is beautiful. Purchase: $47-$60
Le Creuset Stoneware French Press
Homemade: When you want something rustic but still desire a french press, your options are limited. Beneath the lid is a stainless steel plunger, giving it all the modern conveniences while still using an enamel-coated stonewear coating on the exterior that is non-porous for fighting off stains and resisting chips and cracks. Purchase: $65
Francois et Mimi Double Wall French Coffee Press
Mass Production: At 50oz, you might expect to throw coffee out, but the brew this produces is so smooth that you’ll easily go through the immense pot over the course of a day without even realizing it. Dishwasher safe and double-walled for better insulation and easier handling, it’s also a blunt weapon if you’re ever assaulted in the kitchen. Purchase: $73
Grosche Madrid Premium Coffee and Tea maker
Café Companion: The elegant chrome frame makes this look more like an apothecary’s instrument than a coffee pot, but the glass body and steel mesh filter are all business. While it’s good for coffee, we found that it steeps loose tea leaves in an especially flavorful way with little effort. Purchase: $28-$80
Hario Olivewood Cafepress
Between Two Worlds: When placed into a home full of sharp lines and stark black and white decorations, the stainless steel shines, accented by the wooden top and handle. Take it to a more quaint locale, and the wood stands out, with the steel singing backup. The more basic cousin to our next offering, it’s everything great about Hario’s line without becoming too much of an art-house piece. Purchase: $91
Hario Double Wall Cafe Press Olive Wood
Style to Spare: This is delicate, even for a glass french press. It does make delicious coffee, thanks to the all-glass construction, and is easy to use with a double-walled interior. The striking olivewood can be removed for easy cleaning, but tends to get damaged over time. This is the piece to use for showing off rather than daily brewing. Purchase: $93
Frieling Polished 18/10 Stainless Steel French Press
Wide Selection: You can buy this Frieling in any number of sizes, starting at a single cup and working your way up to a full jug, all in a variety of finishes. Whichever one you choose you’ll get an carafe that doubles as an insulated pitcher complete with full-length handle for superior pour control. Purchase: $63-$100+
La Cafetiere Lexi
Stark Relief: Built using bone china, you’re asking to damage it if you use it on a daily basis, but if you hold coffee and tea brunches at your château, then serving out of anything less would be…uncivilized. Purchase: $104
Nambe MT0719 Bulbo French Press
One of a Kind: Designed by Lou Henry and made entirely by hand, it’s possible to buy as many of these as you want and still have no two alike. Always stable thanks to the Bulbo bottom, it bears accents of acacia wood along with a pleasingly flared handle for a look that’s all its own. Purchase: $125
Muuto Push
Naturalist: A beechwood handle tops off a body made of stone with a stainless steel filter for getting the best out of every last drop. Made in the frozen land of Denmark, the Push is extremely proficient at keeping coffee hot as hell, even when the winter winds bite. Purchase: $149
Alessi Aldo Rossi Press Filter Coffee Maker or Tea Infuser
Upgrade: This is what would happen if the Grosche Madrid piece above was made by one of the most forward-thinking names in coffee. Ultra-modern with 18/10 stainless steel and glass that resists heat and shattering, there’s a significant amount of engineering in this little carafe that allows it to look so minimalistic while performing so spectacularly. Purchase: $181
