French Press – Page 3 – Coffee Improved

A French press is a simple way to improve your coffee. When you start searching for one, you’ll find quickly that they are available in a very wide range of prices. What does a French press cost and how much should you pay to get a good one? Let’s find out. A French press can cost anywhere from $9 to over $100. Most normal models cost between $20 and $40. The majority of people will be best served by a French press that costs about $25 to $35. For that money you can expect a high quality French press that brews good coffee and lasts a long time. Find out more about exact prices and what you can expect in every price range below. ImageBrandPriceBuyVeken$Buy on AmazonTimeMore$$Buy on AmazonFrieling$$$Buy on AmazonEspro$$$$Buy on Amazon How much does a French press cost? French presses come in a wide range of prices. I’ve put a lot of popular models in the chart below, give it a look. There are hundreds of different French presses available. So the list below is by no means complete but it's a good cross section of the market. Brand ModelPrice (USD)Carafe MaterialFilter layers Meuller31030Stainless steel4 VekenFrench Press20Borosilicate glass4 VekenFrench Press17Borosilicate glass4 VekenFrench Press15Borosilicate glass4 VekenFrench Press30Stainless steel4 VekenFrench Press27Stainless steel4 Café du ChateauFrench Press25Glass4 Clever Chef13Plastic3 No brand?9Glass3 Brew FreshFrench Press11Plastic3 BodumBrazil29Borosilicate glass3 BodumBrazil20Borosilicate glass3 BodumBrazil15Borosilicate glass3 Bodum Chambord50Borosilicate glass3 Bodum Chambord35Borosilicate glass3 Bodum Chambord27Borosilicate glass3 Bodum Chambord30Borosilicate glass3 Bodum Columbia90Stainless steel3 Bodum Columbia74Stainless steel3 Bodum Columbia55Stainless steel3 BialettiPresziosa28Borosilicate glass3 BialettiPresziosa30Borosilicate glass3 BialettiPresziosa23Borosilicate glass3 Secura37304 Stainless steel3 Secura25.5304 Stainless steel3 Secura25304 Stainless steel3 Secura23304 Stainless steel3 Secura3918/10 Stainless steel3 Cofffee Gator28Stainless steel4 Friedling USA140Stainless steel4 Friedling USA71Stainless steel4 Friedling USA110Stainless steel4 Friedling USA55Stainless steel4 Friedling USA54Stainless steel4 Le CreusetCaribbean75Stone? GSI outdoorsJavaPress37.5Copolyester? SterlingPro60Stainless steel3 SterlingPro37Stainless steel3 Stanley65Stainless steel3 Mira21Stainless steel3 GroscheMadrid45Borosilicate glass3 GroscheMadrid40Borosilicate glass3 GroscheMadrid28Borosilicate glass3 Timemore30Borosilicate glass3 HarioOlivewood84Heatproof glass3 HarioOlivewood41Heatproof glass3 FellowClara100Stainless steel1 ESPROP6100Stainless steel2 StramperPressHourglass80Glass/stainless3 Average43.9 As you can see, you can buy a French press from about $9 all the way up to $140. That’s a pretty wide range. As you might expect there is also a pretty wide range in quality but more on that later. The average price of a French press is around $44 but since there is such a wide range of prices, the average doesn’t actually say all that much. The majority of models is in the price range from about $20 to $40. In that range you can find some good models from good brands that will last you a long time and brew good coffee. Why are some French presses more expensive? Where do the huge differences in the price come from? There are quite a few factors that impact how much a French press sells for; Size: French presses come in a lot of different sizes. The biggest ones can hold up to 60 fl. Oz of coffee while the smallest ones are only 8 fl. Oz. Obviously the bigger ones need more raw materials to be produced and are bulkier so they’re more expensive to ship.Materials: The materials a French press is made of also have a big impact on price. Plastic is cheap but not good for hot liquids. Normal glass breaks quite easily. Stainless steel and borosilicate glass are best but also cost the most. Besides the carafe you also have the handle, plunger, filter and cover. All those can be made from cheaper and more expensive materials.Fit & Finish: The most expensive materials don’t make a good looking, well working French press by itself. It has to be put together will and attention to detail makes a big difference in something as simple as a French press.Design: Some French presses are beautifully designed while others are just normal. Designing something pretty costs a bit of money and it usually means the production process is a bit more involved which costs more.Tolerances/quality control: A French press is a simple piece of brewing equipment but you want the filter and plunger clearances to be pretty tight so no grounds or coffee can slip past. Tighter tolerances are more expensive to produce and the necessary quality control does cost more as well.Brand: Of course brand plays a role in the price. Some brands just command a higher price tag. Part of that is explained by better R&D, quality control and customer service but some of it is just the name.Filter type and quality: Most French presses use a 3 or 4 layer stainless mesh. The material and construction impacts price. Some use stainless that isn’t very good and actually rusts. The most expensive presses use slightly different filter designs which are more expensive to produce.Production location: Most French presses are made in China although some are made in other locations. Labor costs, taxes and environmental regulations have an impact on production costs.Extras: Some French presses come with a few extras like new filter screens, a stirrer of little coffee container. While you get it for ‘free’ with the press, in the end you still pay for it of course. How much should to spend on a French press So now we know where the differences in price come from how much should you spend on a French press? What can you expect for your money? How much you should spend depends on what you’re expecting from your French press. Let’s go over a few scenarios; The vast majority of people just wants a good cup of coffee and good quality French press that will last for a long time. It should look decent although doesn’t have to be a super fancy piece that will catch the eye of your coffee snob friends. You can find this type of French press in the $25 to $35 price range. Good materials and working well although not super special. You can find big and small presses in this range. For $25 - $35, you can get a French press that’s usually made out of borosilicate glass. That means it’s shatter resistant and can handle heat very well. The plunger and cover will feel good. The filter is the classic 3 or 4 layer stainless mesh type which works well. Some stainless models are also available in this price range. If you just want to try out a French press to see if you like it, the least amount of money I would spend is $15. Yes, there are some cheaper ones but they just don’t work very well. The metal parts start rusting quickly, the carafe breaks or scratches easily, etc. However, the price difference between $15 and $25 isn’t that big. If you can spend the extra $10-$15, do it. You’ll get a better, longer lasting brewer. If you want something special, with very nice design and use of special materials, you can expect to pay $35 to $80. These are very nice looking presses. Some of the bigger stainless steel brewers are in this price range as well. Stainless steel is good since they’re usually double walled which means the coffee will stay hot for much longer than in a glass one. Suggested: Should you push a French press plunger all the way down? Unless you really like the design or it has a very specific feature you want, I don’t see any point in paying $80+ for a French press. Yes, they look good, are well thought out and will work well. But in the end it’s still a French press. Summary; Under $15: Avoid. You’ll only find French presses in this category that are made from cheap plastic (unhealthy), have a cheap filter (rust and lots of sediment). They don’t brew good coffee and don’t last long.$15 - $25: You can find some acceptable models that are made from a bit better materials and are built well. It’s hit or miss though. Some brands produce good presses in this price range while others are not so good.$25 - $35: The best price range for most people who are looking for a good cup of coffee and a brewer that lasts long and feels good to handle. The designs are relatively simple but most of them still look good. The carafe is usually made from borosilicate glass but good stainless models are also an option.$35 - $80: Here you can find higher end models with special designs and use of some more exotic materials. Bigger stainless models or presses made in the USA can be found in this price range.$80+: French presses that are made by the famous high end coffee brands. They look good and are really high quality. However, unless you really don’t care about spending money on something relatively simple, there aren’t any glaring benefits that warrant the higher price besides brand. Best French press for the money Above you can see what you can expect for you money. But what if you’ve got a budget in mind? What’s the best you can get for your money? Here are the best French presses at four different price points. As mentioned above, I’d avoid anything below $15 and be careful in the $15 - $25 range. Best French press $15 - $25 While this price range is a bit hit or miss, there are some models that are worth your money and can brew a good cup while also lasting. Veken French Press Coffee Maker Borosilcate glass carafe. Heat proof and shatter resistant 4 layer mesh filter for less residue Precise scale line so you dont need a separate scale Available in 34oz, 21oz, 12oz Classic French press look Buy on Amazon Best French press $25 - $35 Most good French presses are around this price so it’s quite difficult to pick the best one here. I do have a lot of experience with the TimeMore French press. I’ve been using it for a few months and am pretty impressed with it. TimeMore is one of those brands that is popular with the specialty coffee crowd but doesn’t charge the prices that usually come with that. It has a borosilicate carafe which is shatter resistant and handles boiling water with ease. The filter screens are easily unscrewed from the plunger for easy cleaning. The lid seals well and has a Teflon coating so it stays nice for a long time and is easy to clean. The cover has two sides. One side has another fine mesh filter to filter out extra sediment for a cleaner cup of coffee. The other side has coarser slits for pouring tea. Veken French Press Coffee Maker High quality carafe, plunger and filter Suitable for coffee and tea Available in 350ml and 600ml versions Double filtration system Clean, modern look Add custom text here Add custom text here Add custom text here Add custom text here Add custom text here Buy on Amazon Best French press $35 - $80 In this price range you can get a press from a high end brand with some having very nice desings and use special materials to make them look amazing. You can also find some of the large stainless steel ones and ones made in the USA in this category. Frieling is a company that makes really nice polished stainless steel French presses. They're made in the USA which is uncommon. The looks are not everyone's cup of coffee but it's not offensive in any way. Frieling USA Double-Walled Stainless-Steel French Press 17 oz. capacity High quality 18/10 stainless steel Double walled stainless steel keeps your coffee warm for hours Made in USA 4 layer filter for less sediment in your cup Buy on Amazon Best French press $80+ For this price, you want something special. A conversation piece that will impress your guests when you pull it out or maybe you like to treat yourself to something special for the first thing you touch in the morning. ESPRO P6 Unique filtration system Very sturdy build Double walled stainless steel. Keeps your coffee hot for hours 32oz capacity Striking modern and clean look Buy on Amazon