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 the exact prices and what you can expect in every price range below.
Contents
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;
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.
Favorite French Press Brewing Tools
Here are some things that help you brew better coffee:
- French press: This beautiful stainless steel Meuller French press (Amazon) is high quality yet affordable and the double filtration system means less sediment in your cup.
- Grinder: Fresh beans have to be ground. A hand grinder like the Hario Slim (Amazon) is affordable yet effective hand grinder that will improve your cold brew.
- Scale: The amount of grounds you use makes a big impact on what your cold brew tastes like. A simple set of scales will makes your brews more consistent. I’ve been using this one (Amazon) for over a year with great success. Not the most aesthetic but effective.