A French press is a carafe, a plunger and a metal filter, so the differences come down to three things: what the body is made of, how fine the filter is, and how much coffee it brews. These five cover the main choices, glass or insulated stainless steel, and a standard mesh screen or a finer double filter. Specs come from each maker’s own product page.

Quick Comparison

Press Body Filter Sizes listed by the maker Standout listed feature
Bodum Chambord Borosilicate glass carafe, chrome-plated stainless steel frame Stainless steel plunger 12, 17, 34, 51 oz Bodum counts 1 cup as about 4 oz
Espro P3 Borosilicate glass, BPA-free plastic frame Dual micro-filter; paper filters sold separately 18, 32 oz Locking frame holds the glass carafe
Espro P7 Double-wall stainless steel Dual micro-filter; paper filters sold separately 18, 32 oz Minimum brew 15 oz (18 oz) or 24 oz (32 oz)
Frieling (Amazon search) Double-wall 18/10 stainless steel body and lid Patented 3-piece filter 17, 23, 36, 44 fl oz Dishwasher safe; 5-year warranty
Fellow Clara (Amazon search) Vacuum-insulated stainless steel, non-stick interior Stainless steel mesh filter 24 oz Only the mesh filter is dishwasher safe

1. Bodum Chambord: The Classic Glass Press

Bodum Chambord French Press, 34 oz on Amazon

The Chambord is the press most people picture. Bodum makes the carafe from heat-resistant borosilicate glass and the frame and lid from stainless steel with a chrome-plated finish. The handle is polypropylene, and a stainless steel plunger holds the grounds back as you pour.

Bodum sells the Chrome Chambord in 12, 17, 34 and 51 oz sizes. Its instructions call for one rounded teaspoon or one Bodum scoop of coarsely ground coffee for each cup, which Bodum defines as about 4 oz of water, and four minutes of brewing before you plunge.

Glass lets you watch the brew. If coffee often sits in the press after the first pour, one of the insulated stainless steel presses below fits better. Our Bodum Chambord review covers it on its own.

2. Espro P3: Glass With a Finer Filter

Espro P3 French Press, 32 oz on Amazon

The P3 keeps a glass carafe but swaps the single screen for Espro’s dual micro-filter. Espro describes the carafe as extra-thick borosilicate glass held in a BPA-free plastic frame with a locking mechanism.

Two Espro features set it apart from a standard press. Espro says its Air Lock design stops extraction once you plunge, so coffee left in the press does not keep brewing. And the P3 takes paper filters, sold separately, which Espro says filter out oil and particles.

The 32 oz P3 has a minimum brew size of 24 oz, so it is not built for a single small cup. Espro also sells an 18 oz size.

3. Espro P7: Insulated Stainless Steel With the Dual Filter

Espro P7 French Press, 32 oz on Amazon

The P7 uses the same dual micro-filter, Air Lock design and paper-filter option as the P3 in a double-wall stainless steel body. Espro lists two sizes: 18 oz, with a 15 oz minimum brew, and 32 oz, with a 24 oz minimum brew.

The 32 oz model measures 6.7 x 4.6 x 10.1 inches and weighs 2.6 lb. The P7 comes in several finishes, including brushed, polished and matte black. Choose it over the P3 if you want an insulated stainless steel body with the same filter.

4. Frieling: All Stainless and Dishwasher Safe

Search Amazon for Frieling 36 oz French Press

Frieling builds its press from 18/10 double-wall stainless steel inside and out, including the lid, and says there is no plastic anywhere. Frieling also says its patented 3-piece filter leaves zero sediment in the cup and that the press keeps coffee hot four times longer than glass.

Frieling calls the whole press dishwasher safe. It sells it in 17, 23, 36 and 44 fl oz sizes in brushed or polished finishes. The 36 oz brushed model (item 0144) stands 9.5 inches tall and weighs 2.5 lb. The warranty is 5 years, and Frieling sells replacement parts, including the plunger assembly, for every size and finish.

5. Fellow Clara: Insulated With a Non-Stick Interior

Search Amazon for Fellow Clara French Press

The Clara is a 24 oz vacuum-insulated stainless steel press. Fellow says the design keeps coffee hot for second and third cups. The interior has a PTFE non-stick coating, which Fellow says is PFOA-free and releases grounds for easier cleanup.

Brewing aids are built in: ratio lines to fill to and an included agitation stick for stirring. Fellow says only the mesh filter is dishwasher safe, so the body is washed by hand. It comes in one size, 24 oz.

How to Choose

  • Size by ounces. Bodum’s “cup” is about 4 oz, so check the ounce figure rather than the cup count. Check minimum brew sizes too: a 32 oz Espro needs at least 24 oz of water.
  • Glass or stainless steel. Glass shows the brew. The P7, Frieling and Clara are double-wall or vacuum-insulated stainless steel, which their makers say holds heat for later cups.
  • Filter. If grit in the last cup bothers you, the Espro presses add a dual micro-filter and a paper-filter option, and Frieling says its 3-piece filter leaves zero sediment.
  • Cleaning and parts. The Frieling goes in the dishwasher and has spare parts for every size. The Clara’s body is hand-wash only.
  • Grind. Any press needs a coarse, even grind. Our French press grinder picks cover that half of the setup.

For filter design, size and maintenance in more depth, see our French press buying guide . If you are still deciding on the method, compare French press and pour-over coffee .

Frequently Asked Questions

What size French press should I buy?

Go by ounces, not cups. Bodum counts one cup as about 4 oz, so its 34 oz Chambord is about 8 Bodum cups. Espro also lists a minimum brew size: 24 oz for its 32 oz presses and 15 oz for the 18 oz P7.

Can I use a paper filter in a French press?

In the Espro P3 and P7, yes. Espro says both take paper filters, sold separately, which filter out oil and particles.

Which French presses here can go in the dishwasher?

Frieling says its whole press is dishwasher safe. Fellow says only the Clara’s mesh filter is dishwasher safe, so the body is washed by hand.

Sources