Best French Press of 2024

I test French press brewers the same way I test standard drip brewers coffee makers. I start by hand washing and drying each item. Then I grind enough coffee beans to meet a specific brew ratio. For a French press, that’s 4 ounces of ground coffee to 32 ounces of water.

I then add hot water (203 degrees Fahrenheit, 95 degrees Celsius), or nearly boiling water, into the brewing chamber, stir the coffee grounds, and let sit for 4 minutes. Then, for each press, I drop the coffee plunger and pour into a sample cup. I then take a sample of the brewed coffee and measure the percentage of dissolved solids. I use a pocket reflectometer for this test. From there, I can calculate the extraction percentage for each batch of coffee I brew.

Ideally, the extraction percentage of brewed coffee should be between 19% and 22%. While this number alone is no guarantee of great coffee, it is a strong indicator. Ultimately, the truth lies in a good taste test.