How Much Does a French Press Cost? Does It Matter?

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.

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	Model	Price (USD)	Carafe Material	Filter layers
Meuller	310	30	Stainless steel	4
Veken	French Press	20	Borosilicate glass	4
Veken	French Press	17	Borosilicate glass	4
Veken	French Press	15	Borosilicate glass	4
Veken	French Press	30	Stainless steel	4
Veken	French Press	27	Stainless steel	4
Café du Chateau	French Press	25	Glass	4
Clever Chef		13	Plastic	3
No brand	?	9	Glass	3
Brew Fresh	French Press	11	Plastic	3
Bodum	Brazil	29	Borosilicate glass	3
Bodum	Brazil	20	Borosilicate glass	3
Bodum	Brazil	15	Borosilicate glass	3
Bodum	Chambord	50	Borosilicate glass	3
Bodum	Chambord	35	Borosilicate glass	3
Bodum	Chambord	27	Borosilicate glass	3
Bodum	Chambord	30	Borosilicate glass	3
Bodum	Columbia	90	Stainless steel	3
Bodum	Columbia	74	Stainless steel	3
Bodum	Columbia	55	Stainless steel	3
Bialetti	Presziosa	28	Borosilicate glass	3
Bialetti	Presziosa	30	Borosilicate glass	3
Bialetti	Presziosa	23	Borosilicate glass	3
Secura		37	304 Stainless steel	3
Secura		25.5	304 Stainless steel	3
Secura		25	304 Stainless steel	3
Secura		23	304 Stainless steel	3
Secura		39	18/10 Stainless steel	3
Cofffee Gator		28	Stainless steel	4
Friedling USA		140	Stainless steel	4
Friedling USA		71	Stainless steel	4
Friedling USA		110	Stainless steel	4
Friedling USA		55	Stainless steel	4
Friedling USA		54	Stainless steel	4
Le Creuset	Caribbean	75	Stone	?
GSI outdoors	JavaPress	37.5	Copolyester	?
SterlingPro		60	Stainless steel	3
SterlingPro		37	Stainless steel	3
Stanley		65	Stainless steel	3
Mira		21	Stainless steel	3
Grosche	Madrid	45	Borosilicate glass	3
Grosche	Madrid	40	Borosilicate glass	3
Grosche	Madrid	28	Borosilicate glass	3
Timemore		30	Borosilicate glass	3
Hario	Olivewood	84	Heatproof glass	3
Hario	Olivewood	41	Heatproof glass	3
Fellow	Clara	100	Stainless steel	1
ESPRO	P6	100	Stainless steel	2
StramperPress	Hourglass	80	Glass/stainless	3
Average		43.9

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.

Not sure how to exactly make good coffee in a French press? Click here for my step-by-step guide.

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.

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.

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.

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.