Be careful not to leave it for too long, though. Once you go past the four-minute mark you risk over-extracting the coffee, which gives you a very bitter brew that most people will find unpleasant to drink. Five things we learned testing cafetieres Filter screens with small amounts of granules and sediment earned higher filtration scores than those that let more through. Heat retention Learn more about cleaning and caring for your Le Creuset Stoneware. Cafetiere With Metal Press Features Fortunately, the flavor is not affected by the material that you choose. The coffee will be delicious no matter what.

Bodum is a trusted brand that's manufactured coffee makers for decades, including many types of French presses. The Chambord is extremely popular thanks, in part, to its classic design of a glass carafe with an outer steel frame. It's available in a number of sizes, starting at 12 ounces and going all the way up to 51 ounces, as well as different colors so that you can match your kitchen aesthetic. It's more than a chic kitchen accessory, though. We were impressed by the Chambord's consistency and ease of use. The plunger is made from stainless steel with a mesh filter that helps extract the aromatic oils while leaving the grounds behind. Our home tester said it's a great value-for-money buy and an excellent starter choice for those new to French presses. The plunger felt a little wobbly at times during our testing process, which might lead to some stray coffee grounds in your mug—an issue that higher-end French presses typically avoid. The steel frame can also move around at times, but this is not a sign of durability issues. We expect the Chambord to hold up after years of use as an everyday brewing device. One last detail to keep in mind is that the coffee world is a little misleading with its measurements. Many customers assume that each "cup" equals 8 ounces. However, coffee brands consider a cup to be 4 to 6 ounces. For example, the popular 8-Cup Bodum Chambord French Press has a capacity of just 34 ounces, not the 64 ounces you would expect using standard measurements. If you’re using a super light-roasted coffee, you may need to go a little hotter with the water and a little longer steeping. With darker-roasted coffees, you maybe want to go a little cooler with your water and a little shorter steeping. Think of it as: the lighter your coffee, the more flavor components that are still in there. So you’re going to need to basically “cook it” for a little longer and a little hotter." — Timothy Johnson, Head of Education and Training at Vibe Coffee Group CapacityWe judged how convenient each cafetiere was on each of these factors and penalised them if they poured messily or took a lot of effort to press. Coffee grounds filtration We measured the rate that the temperature of each cafetiere dropped over one hour, and discovered that a 1,000ml cafetiere containing 350ml of coffee cooled down faster than a fully filled 350ml cafetiere. Stoneware is a type of ceramic known for its sturdiness and versatility. Whether it's used for bowls, plates, or French presses, the aesthetic suits many kitchens. Le Creuset's Stoneware French Press is no different. It's available in 10 striking colors, including the brand's signature Cerise option. The material has a glossy sheen that makes it pop even brighter. A cafetiere should be comfortable to hold and pour, and you shouldn't need more than a gentle push to press the filter down. The material is a great place to start narrowing down your options. French presses can be made from glass, stainless steel, or stoneware. Each one has its own pros and cons and will bring a unique aesthetic to your kitchen. Glass is by far the most common material, as well as the most affordable, but it's the easiest to break and leads to poor heat retention. Stoneware and stainless steel, on the other hand, are pricier but make up for it with better durability and heat retention.

Stainless steel cafetieres are popular for keeping your coffee insulated, and our heat retention tests confirmed that they're effective. We put the same amount of pre-ground coffee and hot water in every cafetiere, and tested each one twice to ensure consistency in our results.However, a fully filled 1,000ml cafetiere retained heat for longer than a fully filled 350ml cafetiere, so whatever the size of your cafetiere you should fill it up to capacity to keep it warmer for longer. Absolutely! Even though French presses are primarily designed for brewing hot coffee, there are many other ways to use the device. Cold brew is perhaps the most popular alternative drink to make with a French press, but users can also whip up tea, juices, and fruit-infused water. French presses can even froth milk for lattes and cappuccinos.