These days, it seems as if almost everything is made from cheap and unattractive plastic. Not only does this mean oftentimes that such products are more fragile, it also usually means that they don’t look appealing.
A French press is often a centerpiece. On top of making delicious, flavorful coffee, they have a homey look that ties a tabletop together in the morning.
If you’re looking for something better than plastic for your French press, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll be discussing the best ceramic French presses, as well as the benefits of choosing ceramic.
Best Ceramic French Press Options
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Le Creuset is legendary for the cookware they make. It’s little wonder that they’ve produced a French press as beautiful as this stoneware one.
This French press, with its lustrous blue color, is one you’ll be proud to have front and center. The material comprising it is stoneware with high-quality enamel glazing that lends it durability.
If you’re worried that it’s fragile, you won’t need to be. With its glazing, it’s tough enough to go through your dishwasher if you don’t have time to wash it by hand.
- Capacity: 34 oz
- Material: Ceramic
- Dishwasher-Safe: You can easily clean it in your dishwasher after each use.
- Enamel Glazing: Glossy enamel glazing lends durability to this beautiful French press and heightens its visual appeal.
- Thermal Resistance: Thick stoneware edges means the French press can stand up to the test in a range of settings, including your fridge or microwave.
This Uncrowned Kings French Press is easily one of the most gorgeous French press options on the market today. Although it’s made from ceramic, its exterior is designed to resemble luxurious marble. Like the Le Creuset French press before it, this is one you’ll want to display where everyone can see it.
For an added touch of personalization, the French press has been made by hand. This means that when you choose an Uncrowned Kings French press, you’re getting something that truly is one of a kind.
It’s more than just a pretty face, though. Its stainless steel plunger ends in a dual filter system that traps coffee sediment on the bottom. Furthermore, it’s designed to maintain a warm temperature longer than the average French press.
- Capacity: 600 ml (approximately 20 oz)
- Material: Ceramic, bamboo, and stainless steel.
- Unique Gift Box: Although it doesn’t impact your use of the French press, it does come in a sleek and graceful-looking box that makes it a pleasure to gift or open.
- Dual Filter System: Two filters at the end of the plunger help prevent coffee sediment from mixing in your drinks.
- Made by Hand: Each one of these French presses is made by hand, meaning you get a true one-of-a-kind product each time.
- Silicone Rubber Seal: The silicone seal on the bamboo lid firmly locks in warmth, so your coffee will stay hot longer.
Want a more affordable alternative to other expensive brands? This Chantal Ceramic French Press could be exactly what you need. You’ll get the stoneware appearance of a pricier French press, but at a more economical price.
Plus, this French press comes in several different colors. Rather than being restricted to just one that you’ll have to hope fits into your décor, you’ll be able to find a color that truly works best in your home.
Using it is ultra-simple, as well. It even has lines on the inside denoting how much water to add, which protects you from messy spills.
- Capacity: 28 oz
- Material: Ceramic and stainless steel
- Internal Fill Line: If you overfill your French press, you risk annoying spills. The fill line inside this French press will let you know exactly how much water to add.
- Color Options: Available in several different colors, you can be sure there’s an option that will blend into your kitchen’s color scheme.
- Thumb Handle: The handle is designed with a natural-feeling rest for your thumb, so gripping the French press to pour it feels comfortable.
- Beginner-Friendly Instructions: Don’t know how to use a French press? No problem, because this one comes with straightforward instructions.
If what you want is one of the most unique French presses available today, the StramperPress one is a good pick. On top of its cool white exterior, which matches with any style of décor, there’s a wooden handle with an hourglass built right in.
Brewing the perfect cup of coffee with your French press takes a few minutes. With the hourglass in the handle, you’ll know exactly when your coffee is ready, so you’ll get a delicious cup time and time again.
- Capacity: 24 oz
- Material: Ceramic, stainless steel, and wood.
- Hourglass Timer: Keeps perfect track of your coffee’s steeping time so you know precisely when it’s ready.
- One Year Replacement Guarantee: Each Stramperpress French Press comes with a one-year replacement guarantee, so you can rest assured you’ll get a new one at no additional cost if yours breaks.
- Fine Mesh Filter: The filter on the plunger is fine enough to keep coffee grounds out of your cup.
Aside from all being made out of ceramic, you might have noticed one trend among these French presses: their capacity is pretty small. Most of them can only make two or three cups of coffee, which might not be enough if you’re serving some friends and family.
Well, that’s where the Coffee Studio French Press breaks the mold. You can get it in two different sizes, and the larger of the two can hold up to a little under 52 ounces. This will give you several cups of coffee, which will often be plenty to go around.
Perhaps best of all, it’s simple to clean. You can safely put in your dishwasher for an easy cleaning cycle rather than wash it out by hand every time you use it.
- Capacity: 52.7 oz or 16.9 oz
- Material: Ceramic and porcelain
- Hand-Glazed: The sleek and shiny glaze was applied by hand for a unique aesthetic.
- Chip-Resistant: There’s no need for you to worry about the paint or parts chipping off, because the material is incredibly durable.
- Dishwasher-Safe: You don’t need to deal with washing it by hand every time you use it, as it’s dishwasher-safe.
- Microwave-Safe: Need to heat up some cold coffee leftovers? Simply put the French press in the microwave for a quick, effortless warmup.
Do you like when you get a little extra for your money? We know we do, which is why we couldn’t resist adding this Ceramic Marble French Press Coffee Maker to the list.
Of course, you’ll get a French press. However, in addition to the French press, you’ll also get two gorgeous marble-patterned cups to make it a whole set.
The mugs and the French press were all made by hand. Like with some of the other options on this list, that gives this set a warm and natural feel.
- Capacity: 28 oz
- Material: Ceramic, bamboo, and stainless steel.
- Durability: Resistant to staining and corrosion, you can anticipate a long lifespan from this set.
- Included Mugs: On top of a French press, you’ll get two beautiful mugs in this set.
- Handmade Mugs and French Press: The whole set is made by hand, lending it an organic feel.
- Dishwasher-Safe: The mugs are dishwasher-safe, so you’ll never need to spend time washing them by hand.
- Microwave-Safe: You can just place the mugs in the microwave to reheat any leftovers.
Anatomy of a French Press Coffee Maker
Lid and Plunger
French presses aren’t particularly complicated. They don’t have a ton of features, and perhaps the more important of their limited features is the lid and plunger.
The lid rests on top of the base with the plunger going through it. At the bottom of the plunger, you’ll find a filter. When your coffee is done brewing, you press down on the plunger and the filter captures all the floating grounds, pushing them to the bottom of the container while letting the liquid pass through to the top.
Ideally, your French press should have more than one filter. Multiple filters decrease the chances of floating grounds mingling with your coffee.
Read Also: Best Camping French Press
Base
The base is the second part of a French press. This is the container you’ll pour coffee out of and that your coffee will brew in.
It can be made from a few different materials, which we’ll discuss shortly. It can also come in a range of sizes, each capable of holding particular numbers of servings inside them.
A good base should also have a handle attached to it that helps disperse the heat. Additionally, the handle gives you something to hold onto as you pour yourself a cup.
Material
Stainless steel is probably one of the more popular materials for French presses. It’s incredibly durable and naturally resistant to rusting. Furthermore, if you drop a stainless steel French press, you don’t need to worry about it shattering.
Glass is another material many French presses are made out of. The main appeal to glass is that it’s attractive. There is a drawback, however: it’s fragile.
Ceramic French presses are a great option for those looking to combine durability and attractiveness into one package. They’re usually not as fragile as glass ones, and they’re very good at keeping your coffee warm.
Looking for a coffee maker that helps you brew coffee to take on the road with you? Here’s our list of the best Keurigs for travel mugs.
What to Consider When Choosing a Ceramic French Press
Capacity
As we mentioned earlier, French presses come in a range of sizes. Larger French presses can hold more coffee in them, which means you’ll be able to get more servings out of them.
Smaller ones obviously don’t hold as much coffee, but they’re easier to store and transport. If you’re looking for something to take on a trip, one of these might be better.
Try to factor in how much coffee you’d like your French press to be able to make. If you’re going to be brewing for friends and family, you may want a larger one. But if all you want is something that can make a few cups of coffee, then a smaller one will be perfectly suitable.
Would you like to try roasting your own coffee at home? Take a look at our guide to the best home coffee roasters for dark roast.
Aesthetic
While not the most important part of your French press, looks can still help you make your decision. As you might have seen just on this list alone, there are a lot of different aesthetics on ceramic French presses, since they can be glazed like pottery.
If you still can’t decide which French press to get, then think about which one catches your eye the most. You can also consider what type of decorations you have at home and choose a French press that would fit in.
Cost
Despite being so simple, French presses can get surprisingly expensive. This is especially true with those from big brands or those that are larger.
For that reason, a good starting point is to outline your budget for a French press. As you look at them, determine what the low end and the high end of your budget will be. That will help you narrow down the possibilities.
Durability
Finally, durability should always be one of your considerations. The last thing you want is to invest in a French press, only have it break within weeks or even months of your purchase. In the best-case scenario, you’ll have a French press that serves you for years.
Ceramic can already be quite tough, but you may want to look for glazing, too, as far as fragility is concerned. Glazing can help protect the French press from scratches.
Wrap Up
If you’re looking for a stylish way to brew a cup of coffee, French presses are a great option. Just because you’ve decided you want a French press, though, doesn’t mean you’ve narrowed down your choices. They come in all shapes and sizes, which means you’ll have plenty to choose from.
Ceramic French presses are fantastic for anyone who wants beauty and convenience from their coffee maker. Ceramic does an excellent job of holding in the heat. However, there are still quite a few of them available, so you’ll need to consider your own personal needs to choose the best one.
The one we’d recommend most on this list is the Ceramic Marble French Press Coffee Maker. We feel like you’ll get the most bang for your buck with it, as it includes two coffee mugs in addition to the French press.
