Top 5 Best Cafetières & French Press Coffee Makers

What Is A Cafetière And Where Do They Come From?

The French Press, also known as a coffee plunger, cafetière, or press pot, has a rich and disputed history.

The earliest known device resembling the modern French press can be traced back to 1852 France, with a patent by Jacques-Victor Delforge and Henri-Otto Mayer.

However, it wasn’t until the 1920s that the French Press as we know it today emerged. The first patent of a French Press that closely resembles the one used today was patented by the Italians Attilio Calimani and Giulio Moneta in 1929.

There are both French and Italian claims to its invention, so the exact origins of the French Press remain a mystery.

Despite its long history, the French press remains a popular and accessible method for brewing coffee.

Why A Cafetière Could Be A Great Choice For You?

Not quite sure if a cafetière is the right coffee maker for you?

Here are 3 reasons why we believe a French press is an amazing choice for any coffee amateur.

• Ease of Use: With its straightforward design, the cafetière is exceptionally easy to use. Simply add your preferred amount of coarsely ground coffee and hot water, let it steep for a few minutes, and then press down the plunger. This user-friendly process requires minimal effort, making it an ideal choice for both novice and seasoned coffee enthusiasts.
  
• Customised Brewing Control: The cafetière offers a high level of control over the brewing process, allowing you to adjust factors such as water temperature, steeping time, and coffee grind size to suit your taste preferences. This flexibility enables you to experiment and fine-tune your brewing method, ensuring that each cup of coffee is tailored precisely to your liking.
• Versatility: Beyond its primary function of brewing coffee, the cafetière can also be used to prepare various types of tea, infusions, or cold brews, making it a versatile addition to any kitchen.
• Minimal equipment: Once you have the press, you only need ground coffee and hot water to use it. No need for paper filters, pods or any other accessories. 

How to use your Cafetière?

If you’re a first-time French press user, here’s how to prepare a delicious cup of coffee with this coffee maker:

How We Made This List

At MaxiCoffee, we put our 20+ years of experience in selling coffee and coffee makers into providing the best possible experience to our customers.

And that includes selecting the top 5 best French press coffee makers, just for you.

To create this list, we mixed our knowledge with a thorough market analysis and took into account a wide array of user feedback.

All the cafetières selected here are durable, high quality, and vary in price, making them accessible to everyone.

Pylano Cali French Press

The Pylano “Cali” French press is our most affordable option with a unique double filtration system to eliminate bitterness and enhance your coffee experience. This 8-cup capacity press comes with two ‘Mila’ double walled glasses and has an all-stainless steel plunger, with just a lightweight ABS handle for easy handling. It boasts a dishwasher-safe design for easy cleaning and is assured with its dishwasher-safe design. Pylano, is a trusted kitchenware expert that aims to offer user-friendly products to elevate your coffee moments with stylish convenience.

Bodum Chambord Copper French Press 

Bodum is an iconic brand known for its French press coffee makers. The Chambord Cafetiere is a stainless steel French press that has come to be closely associated with the Bodum brand. The Chambord model is a staple on the shelves of coffee lovers worldwide. This particular model boasts a copper finish for a sleek, modern and elegant look. Despite its timeless design, this cafetière is still produced with the same outstanding craftsmanship as in its early days, ensuring that it continues to produce coffee of unparalleled quality and maintain its position as a classic favourite.

Fellow Clara Cafetière Black Matte 

The Clara black French Press from Fellow is a simple yet elegant coffee maker that offers a modern design. It is made from high-quality materials such as stainless steel and features a robust and practical construction. The lid is designed to be used at 360°, which eliminates the need to align it with the spout. If you’re in search of a long-lasting and durable French press that looks stylish and modern, then this is the perfect choice.

Bialetti Preziosa Stainless Steel French Press 

The Preziosa French Press by Bialetti is designed with an 8-cup (1000ml) capacity and a modern borosilicate glass jug coupled with an 18/10 stainless steel frame, incorporating the brand’s iconic shape. This kitchen-friendly French Press is both functional and sophisticated, and can be effortlessly cleaned in the dishwasher. 

Bialetti, known for producing top-quality Italian moka pots, has now ventured into the French Press market. The Bialetti French Press also boasts a large, exclusive handle that takes inspiration from the famous Moka Express, thereby representing both heritage and affordability. It serves not only as a coffee maker but also as an infuser for herbal teas, highlighting its versatility. 

To ensure a consistently smooth and flavourful cup of coffee, it is essential to use coarse ground coffee and prevent filter clogging and residue. The Bialetti French Press is perfect for fostering shared moments over coffee or for those who prefer a hot cup of tea.

Espro P5 Double Filter French Press Coffee Maker

The ESPRO Press P5, is an elegant and durable option that brings innovations to traditional French presses. It features a patented safety lock system, a wide black ABS handle, and a unique dual filtration system that ensures an ultra-clean, oil-free coffee worthy of a pour-over. The P5 from Espro is a very good choice for preparing a high-quality coffee that is ripe in flavour.

Our top Tips For Using Your Cafetière

Once you’ve invested in a cafetière, you want to learn how to make the most out of it. and there are a few valuable tips you can follow to enjoy a truly exceptional cup of coffee:

• Optimal Grind Size: Use coarsely ground coffee beans to prevent fine particles from passing through the mesh filter, resulting in a smoother, sediment-free brew. If you have a coffee grinder, the ground coffee it produces will be perfect for a French press.
• Water Temperature: Heat your water to just below boiling point (around 95°C) to achieve the perfect extraction without scalding the coffee grounds, ensuring a well-balanced and flavoursome cup.
• Steeping Time: Allow the coffee to steep for approximately four minutes before pressing down the plunger. This duration contributes to a well-rounded and robust flavour profile. If you leave the coffee to steep for too long, the result could end up bitter and unpleasant. 
• Plunge Slowly and Steadily: Apply gentle, even pressure when plunging to avoid disrupting the coffee grounds, thereby maintaining the integrity of the brew and preventing any unwanted bitterness.
• Clean and Maintain Regularly: Rinse the cafetière thoroughly after each use and disassemble it for a deeper clean regularly. This practice ensures that no residual coffee oils or grounds impact the flavour of future brews, guaranteeing a consistently delicious cup of coffee every time. This also helps ensure your coffee maker lasts for as long as possible.

If you didn’t find the cafetière that quite suited you in this list, we have many more options for you. So be sure to take a look at our wide range of cafetières, from big to small, plastic to metal, affordable to innovative and more here.