There’s no denying that espresso is an absolute should for a morning kickstart. In reality, in a 2024 research performed by the Nationwide Espresso Affiliation, 75 p.c of People loved no less than one cup of espresso per week. And for many who love a robust, full-bodied brew, French presses are onerous to beat. This basic technique provides a wealthy, flavorful cup that highlights the nuances of your favourite beans.
“The French press is actually a pure immersion brewing technique that permits you to extract most taste out of your espresso beans,” says Johny Morrison, a former barista and occasional blogger at Espresso About. “What makes it particular is that it permits the espresso oils and superb particles to stay in your cup, making a full-bodied expertise you may’t get from paper-filtered strategies like pour-over espresso.”
That can assist you improve your espresso sport, we rounded up the eight finest French presses on your good morning sip, all advisable by Morrison and different espresso consultants. Pleased brewing!
How precisely does a French press work?
In essence, a French press is only a massive filter. “The espresso grounds sit with the water, and steep for the complete brew time of 4 to 5 minutes,” says Heather Perry, CEO and two-time U.S. champion barista of Klatch Espresso. After you let it steep, you plunge the filter by way of to “press” the grounds out out of your espresso.“In contrast with different brewing strategies, a French press produces a robust, daring cup of espresso, as a result of method it retains oils and flavors.”
Perry recommends utilizing the next 5 steps to make a scrumptious cup of French press espresso:
Grind your espresso beans: Grind your espresso beans to a rough, even measurement—“just like that of sea salt or kosher salt,” she says. Examine the ratio: Making the proper cup of espresso with a French press is all about ensuring you may have the fitting mix of water and occasional grounds. “A terrific start line for utilizing a French press is a 13:1 ratio of water to espresso,” Perry says. To get the ratio proper, measure out 55 grams of espresso, add it to the French press, after which add 700 milliliters of sizzling water. Stir: Rotate the grounds in a round movement for a number of seconds. Steep: Earlier than you press, it’s worthwhile to let the espresso bloom. “Permit the brew to steep for about 4 minutes and 30 seconds,” Perry advises. Press: Now it’s time for the enjoyable half—the press! After permitting the espresso to steep, push down the plunger and actually press the water into the espresso. Then, depart it down and pour your self a mug.
What to search for in a French press?
Materials
With regards to selecting a French press, you’ll steadily discover variations in glass or stainless-steel. “Glass carafes provide the purest style and allow you to watch the brewing course of, however high-quality stainless-steel fashions present portability and sturdiness,” Morrison says. He recommends avoiding ones created from lower-quality stainless-steel since it will possibly have an effect on the style poorly.
Capability
Morrison recommends a 32-ounce (aka, a four-cup) French press, as they serve three to 4 folks. “For single customers, I like to recommend a 12-ounce press, to make sure you’re all the time brewing recent espresso quite than letting it sit,” he says.
Store the 8 finest French presses, in response to espresso professionals
Greatest general: Espro P7 French Press Espresso Maker – 32 oz. — $120.00
Materials: stainless Metal, polypropylene | Capability: 18 oz. or 32 oz. | Colours: 6
It could be on the pricier aspect, however the Espro P7 French press is beloved for good motive.“It really is value each penny,” Morrison says. He likes the particular double micro-filter system, which he says “delivers the cleanest French press espresso you’ll ever style, with zero grit in your cup.” He additionally loves the stainless-steel development and the way straightforward it’s to wash.
The scrumptious options don’t cease there. This French press is designed with a patented AirLock system, which stops the extraction instantly after plunging so each cup tastes precisely the identical, even hours after you’ve brewed it. You possibly can select from two sizes—18 ounces or 32 ounces—and quite a lot of colours and finishes. That is one French press that’s positive to place some pep in your each day espresso step.
Greatest funds: Bodum Chambord French Press Espresso Maker — $49.00
Materials: borosilicate glass, stainless-steel | Capability: 12 oz., 17 oz., 34 oz., 51 oz. | Colours: 1
Whereas some French presses are pretty expensive, this one by Bodum rings up beneath $50—and nonetheless makes a fairly spectacular cup of espresso, in addition. “It’s a strong alternative that gives spectacular worth,” Morrison says. He particularly likes this French press’s three-piece filter, which “truly retains the grounds out of your cup,” he says.
On the fence about whether or not to decide on a French press created from stainless-steel or glass? Properly, that is your finest guess, due to a mix of a carafe in heat-resistant, borosilicate glass and a chrome steel lid and body. You too can select from quite a lot of capacities, so whether or not you’re brewing for one or six, there’s a measurement for you.
Greatest glass: Yield French Press — $85.00
Materials: borosilicate glass, stainless-steel, Copper | Capability: 850ml | Colours: 2
For a French press that delivers on type as a lot as high quality, this one from Yield is hard to beat. “We use these for our French press service at our boutique cafe,” says Lindsey Sozio, founding father of Lavender Espresso Boutique in Denver, including that it’s “a fantastic glass French press possibility.” It’s crafted from heat-proof borosilicate glass to resist excessive warmth, and it seems to be extraordinarily stylish doing it. It additionally has a chrome steel mesh filter and a copper pull. Simply watch out with this one—it’s glass, in spite of everything.
Greatest stainless-steel: Frieling Double-Walled Stainless Metal French Press — $100.00
Materials: stainless-steel | Capability: 17 oz., 23 oz., 36 oz. | Finishes: 2
Some French presses simply look like they’re going to be good at what they do—and Frieling is definitely certainly one of them. The gleaming stainless-steel exterior is as attractive as it’s useful, due to a two-stage filter system that retains the grounds and sediment out of your cup. It additionally has a double-walled design so your espresso will keep sizzling for hours on finish. We additionally love the longer deal with, which makes this French press straightforward to select up and pour. Select from polished or brushed stainless-steel, in three totally different capacities.
Greatest for tenting: Stanley Traditional The Keep-Scorching French Press — $70.00
Materials: stainless eteel | Capability: 48 oz. | Colours: 9
FYI: Stanley does extra than simply the viral tumbler we’ve all come to know and love. This French press is a favourite of Sozio’s. “It’s an insulated, rugged press that can final years and may go alongside in your tenting adventures,” she says. From its large 48-ounce measurement to its vacuum insulation and stainless-steel mesh filter, there’s loads to like about this feature. Plus, it is available in all kinds of colours, like cream, black, pink, grey, and olive inexperienced. And, very similar to its Quencher counterpart, it retains drinks sizzling for hours on finish. Simply watch out with it, since it could drip a bit when you jostle it round.
Greatest for journey: Yeti Rambler 34 Oz. French Press — $110.00
Materials: stainless-steel | Capability: 34 oz. | Colours: 10
In case your mornings are so packed that each one you’ve received time for is slightly press-and-go motion, this French press is prepared and ready. It’s crafted in sturdy, puncture-resistant stainless-steel, with a number of options that make it good for touring. Yeti’s signature GroundsControl Filter—aka, a strong silicone flap—matches over the metallic mesh filter to stop sediment from stepping into the espresso, or from water seeping again into the espresso grounds. (A phrase to the sensible: It does make plunging a bit harder.)
It additionally has a twist-to-lock lid and it’s designed with double-wall vacuum insulation, so there’s no spillage or cooling down in your commute. I personal it in Wild Vine Purple, and certainly one of my mates lately informed me he was so jealous of it that he needs one for himself—so make of that what you’ll.
Greatest for rookies: Fellow Clara French Press — $99.00
Materials: stainless-steel | Capability: 24 oz. | Colours: 2
Fellow’s Clara French press is good for rookies because it’s received measurement traces, double-walled stainless-steel, and a weighted deal with. It additionally has an enhanced mesh filtration system to maintain out the sediment and silt when you sip. The deal with makes for straightforward pouring, and it even comes with a picket stick with stir the grounds to perfection. To not point out it simply seems to be stylish. That is definitely a strong alternative for any French press person.
Most fashionable: Le Creuset French Press — $85.00
Materials: stoneware | Capability: 34 oz. | Colours: 13
Le Creuset. Want we are saying extra? We are going to, bolstered by Sozio’s approval. “This rustic, basic French press holds warmth effectively and brings a French countryside vibe to your kitchen decor,” she says. It’s crafted from glazed, premium stoneware, which not solely provides implausible warmth retention however is designed to withstand scratches and stains. It additionally has a nonstick end and may be cleaned by hand or within the dishwasher, which units it aside from some others on this information. You possibly can even put it within the microwave, oven, and freezer. Le Creuset? Sure, method.
FAQs
What are some prime ideas and tips for utilizing a French press?
Perry advises utilizing coarsely floor beans to brew. “That’s considerably coarser than a medium grind, which is what you’ll generally discover because the grind possibility on mass-market espresso bought at grocery or comfort shops,” she says. “Begin with complete bean espresso and use a top quality burr grinder or hand grinder—simply make sure that the one you may have will provide you with evenly floor beans which are constant in measurement.”
Morrison suggests utilizing recent medium or dark-roasted beans. “Darkish roast coffees shine notably effectively in a French press,” he says. “Their daring, strong flavors are totally extracted by way of the immersion course of, making a wealthy, full-bodied cup.”
And at last, “Let the espresso bloom by pouring a small quantity of sizzling water onto the grounds and permitting it to degas by sitting for 30 or so seconds,” says Sozio. “Then add the rest of the new water.”
Can a French press be used to make drinks apart from espresso?
The quick reply? Completely! “A French press has numerous different artistic use instances,” says Sozio. She recommends utilizing it to steep looseleaf tea, or to make mulled cider. “Add aromatics like cinnamon sticks, orange peel, and cloves, pour over sizzling cider to steep, and pressure with the plunger,” she says. “So cozy!”
Morrison additionally loves utilizing a French press for milk frothing or for making chilly brew espresso. “French press is my favourite for making refreshing chilly brew espresso in the summertime,” he says.
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