The material of your French press matters. It affects the durability of your press, for one thing. For another, some have concerns about the effects the material can have on your health, which is why some look for no plastic French presses.
Glass can be a great material, but it’s not always the toughest. If you’re looking for a French press that you can be certain will stand the test of time, we’ll show you the best non-glass French presses we could find.
This is what we’ll be discussing:
- The best non-glass French presses
- Important parts of each French press
- How to pick the best press for you
- Our personal favorite press on this list and why we like it
Let’s get started…
BEST NON-GLASS FRENCH PRESSES
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In the event you’re searching for one of the largest French presses on the market, this Belwares French press should be near the top of your list. At 50 ounces (1.5 liters), it has an incredible capacity that will make you more than enough coffee to go around.
It has a matte black exterior that looks all business. Beneath the black color, you’d find stainless steel that will undoubtedly withstand the test of time.
The filtration system inside is well-designed, too. With four layers, you can be sure that your coffee won’t be filled with gritty granules once you pour it out.
- Capacity: 35 or 50 oz.
- Material: Stainless steel.
- Four-Level Filtering: The extra screens built into the press work to ensure your coffee isn’t filled with sandy coffee grains like in other French presses.
- Matte Black Color: Aside from looking chic, the matte black exterior won’t hurt your eyes in the sun if you take it along with you.
- Safety Exterior: Because the surface stays cool to the touch, you won’t burn yourself on it.
Read Also: Best Extra Large French Press
The Bellemain French press is what you get if you want a combination of class and personality in one container. Its stainless steel body comes in three stylish colors: plain steel, suave black, and fiery red.
Further increasing its flexibility, it comes in three different sizes. Because it’s sold in 20-, 35-, and 50-ounce variations, you have the option of choosing one that makes as much coffee as you want it to.
Bellemain really goes above and beyond with this press, too. In addition to the two filters already built into the plunger, this model includes an extra replacement filter at no cost.
To sweeten the deal even more, it’s covered by a two-year warranty. Should you encounter issues with the craftsmanship of the French press, you’ll have two years to reach out to the seller for assistance.
- Capacity: 20, 35, and 50 oz.
- Material: Stainless steel.
- Extra Filter: Comes with a replacement filter at no additional cost, so you can instantly replace any filters whenever you need to.
- Color Choices: Sold in stainless steel, black, or red.
- Two-Year Warranty: The French press is backed by a two-year warranty as a testament to its quality.
We’re so impressed with the Mueller French press, that we’ve included it on a couple of our French press guides. For instance, we’ve talked about its phenomenal insulation before in our article about the best double wall French presses.
It’s worth mentioning here, too. The double stainless steel walls in this French press are there to lock in the warmth of your coffee. This is fantastic for anyone that likes to spend time savoring each of their batches of coffee and needs it to stay warm.
Better yet, the Mueller French press is dishwasher-friendly. Instead of having to sit there and wash out the press manually after brewing, you can let your dishwasher do the work for you.
- Capacity: 34 oz.
- Material: Stainless steel.
- Double-Walled Insulation: Using a double-walled construction, the Mueller press can conserve the heat from your coffee.
- Cool-Touch Handle: The handle keeps nice and cold, even when the inside is filled with hot coffee.
- Coffee Canister: Includes a free coffee canister you can use to keep extra coffee grounds at hand.
If you give extra points for style, then you’ll love the Secura French press. We’ve never seen a stainless steel French press that’s sold in so many colors. With nine potential colors to chooses from, you’ll have plenty of options that can accentuate your kitchen.
Beyond visual versatility, there’s its various sizes to consider, too. It’s sold in four various sizes ranging from 12 to 50 ounces. No matter which size you’re looking for, it’s likely there’s a version of the Secura that would work for you.
It certainly doesn’t hurt that the Secura French press is dishwasher-safe. While there are many French presses that need to be washed by hand, this one saves you a little time by being suitable for your dishwasher.
- Capacity: 12, 17, 34, and 50 oz.
- Material: Stainless steel.
- Multiple Colors: No matter what kind of color scheme you have at home, this press’s wide range of nine colors probably has one that will fit in nicely for you.
- Various Sizes: Because it’s sold in four sizes, you can get exactly as much coffee as you need from it.
- Extra Screen: The press includes an extra screen you can add to the plunger for extra filtering or to keep as a replacement.
- Cool-Touch Handle and Knob: There’s minimal risk of getting burns from the press due to its cool knob and handle.
Do you want a French press that will stand out from the crowd? You should probably pay some extra attention to the Poliviar French press, then.
This one caught our eye, and we think it will likely catch yours, too. First of all, it has a gorgeous paint job that you can get in a beautiful speckled pattern or in a few solid colors.
Then there’s the German teak handle and knob. It’s the wood handle and knob that make this press truly a star of the show, and we believe you’ll agree. We have no doubt that, if you choose this press, you’ll get compliments about it every time you take it out.
- Capacity: 34 oz.
- Material: Stainless steel.
- Teak Handle and Knob: With a wooden handle and knob, we guarantee this is a French press that will draw the attention of your guests.
- Gorgeous Look: Aside from the handle and knob, the paint jobs on the press, available in a few colors, looks stunning.
- Dual Filters: Two filters on the plunger catch any coffee grounds and prevent them from ending up in your cup.
We’re back to the classic stainless steel design with the Mira French press. Classic isn’t a synonym for boring, though – this French press is anything but.
If you were to examine the material it’s made out of, you’d find high-quality food-grade stainless steel. This means it’s among the toughest options out there. You won’t need to worry about it cracking, shattering, or getting rusty with time.
Plus, if you don’t like the basic stainless steel coloration, you have the option of getting it in a matte gray color. That type of coloration could be perfect for anyone who will be using the press outside and doesn’t want to have to deal with the bright sunlight reflecting off of it.
- Capacity: 12 oz.
- Material: Stainless steel.
- Two Color Options: You can get it the classic, chic stainless steel appearance or a smooth gray.
- Petite Size: This French press is small enough to take on the go with you due to its modest capacity.
- Durability: Resistant to rust or breaking, you can expect to keep this press for years to come.
The Bakya is an excellent French press when you’re looking for something basic and reliable. It may not be sold in a bunch of fancy colors, but it’s something you can trust at all times.
There’s not a single piece of plastic in the entire press. Additionally, the handle has been firmly welded to the side of the base. This means that it’s not likely to break no matter how rigorous the wear and tear.
Literally on top of that, you have the press’s beveled lid. Because the lid has an increased thickness, it will stubbornly hold on to your coffee’s heat, ensuring each cup is as warm as the last one.
- Capacity: 31, 34, and 50 oz.
- Material: Stainless steel.
- Welded Handle: No need to worry about the quality of the build because the handle is sturdily welded to the side.
- Beveled Lid: A thickened lid does an even better job of locking in the coffee’s heat.
- Four-Level Filtering: Do you hate when coffee grounds are left in your cup? You’ll appreciate the four levels of filtering in this press.
- Safety Handle: No more painful burns with this press because its handle remains at a safe temperature.
This Stanley Adventure French press made an appearance on our guide to the best camping French presses. It’s easy to see why once you look at it a little more closely.
The key lies in how it gets the name “all-in-one.” You can effectively use this press to replace a couple different appliances because it can boil your water and brew your coffee.
It even has a folding handle on the side. Folding the handle frees up a little extra space in your bags, which means it’s perfect for taking along on a trip.
- Capacity: 32 oz.
- Material: Stainless steel and nylon.
- Folding Handle: It has a convenient handle that allows you to grip the press. You can fold the handle into the side to make some room.
- Melt-Resistant Lid: The nylon lid holds up against wear and tear, no matter how hot the liquid inside the press is.
- Dishwasher-Safe: Don’t have time to clean? You can quickly clean the press in your dishwasher.
Do you hate when your freshly brewed coffee turns rapidly cold? We do, too, which is part of the reason why we think the SterlingPro French press is so useful.
In addition to being made entirely from stainless steel, it has double walls. Because it has this extra wall, you can trust that your coffee is kept warmer even longer.
It’s designed to keep your coffee free of granules, as well. No more having to dump out the last sip of coffee from your mug, because the double filter system in this press isolates the grounds from your coffee.
- Capacity: 34, 44, and 59 oz.
- Material: Stainless steel.
- Multiple Sizes: You won’t get stuck having to purchase one that’s too large for you, because it’s sold in a few sizes.
- Double-Wall Construction: The press’s thermal design holds on to the heat of your coffee every time.
We like when we get a bit extra with our purchases. Because we think that’s something you likely enjoy, too, we think you’ll like this Coffee Gator press.
Like with the Mueller French press, you also get a little coffee canister at no additional cost. It doesn’t influence your use of the French press at all, but it’s a nice touch that allows you to always keep coffee grounds near the press, even when you’re on the move.
It also has the standard features of any high-quality French press. For instance, it has layered stainless steel sides to hold in the warmth of your coffee and a handle that always stays cool.
- Capacity: 34 oz.
- Material: Stainless steel.
- Coffee Canister: Comes with a complimentary coffee canister for storing extra servings near your press.
- Thickened Sides: The increased thickness of the sides holds on to the warmth of your coffee even longer.
- No-Burn Handle: There’s no risk of burns with the French press, because you can touch the handle at any time.
- Dual Filter Screens: Two screens inside the press stop coffee grounds from mixing in your drinks.
Crucial French Press Components
Plunger
The plunger in the lid is what makes a French press a French press. Without it, it would just basically be another pitcher.
How does the plunger work? After letting your coffee steep for anywhere from 4-6 minutes on average, you push the plunger down slowly to the bottom of the base.
As it descends, round screens attached to the end catch coffee grounds and pull them down, separating them from your coffee. What’s left behind is a delectable freshly brewed coffee with an amazingly rich taste.
Because of its key role in making French press coffee, the plunger is an important feature to consider. We suggest looking for one with more layers of filtration to lower the odds of sediment pouring into your cup.
Base
In addition to the plunger, the base is an important component of any French press, too. Your coffee steeps in it and remains in it once the plunger has been lowered, after all.
The most critical aspect of the base is how well-insulated it is. If you have a poorly designed French press, your coffee is just going to get cold fast, which is far from ideal.
Assuming you want time to savor every batch, consider looking for bases with double-walled or thickened sides. These qualities will ensure your coffee stays toasty longer than normal.
Material
What the French press is made out of is just as vital as any of its other features. Your use of the press could vary drastically based on its construction.
You probably know if you’re looking at this post that you don’t want a glass French press. That leaves two other popular options: ceramic and stainless steel. Both are great materials for their own reasons.
Ceramic is attractive because it’s usually glazed. Beyond looks, however, the glaze serves another purpose: stabilizing the temperature of your coffee. Since glaze is often non-porous, it does an excellent job of preventing heat from escaping.
Stainless steel is an excellent choice, too. It may not usually have the artisan look of a ceramic French press, but it’s far more durable and designed to retain heat.
How to Choose the Best Non-Glass French Press
Now let’s look at how you can choose the best non-glass French press for you in particular. Here are the qualities we think you should consider before picking one:
- Capacity
- Appearance
- Cost
- Extras
Capacity
French presses don’t just come in one standard size. You can get tiny travel-sized French presses that only make a cup or two, or you can get huge French presses designed to make enough coffee to serve a family. You can easily get something that’s a compromise between huge and tiny, as well.
Because of this, we think you should stop to think about how much coffee you’ll need in general when you brew a batch. A smaller French press will work better for you if you only need enough to serve yourself. On the other hand, a larger one will be best if you need to dole out cups to a few people each time you prepare coffee.
Appearance
Just as they come in a huge range of sizes, French presses also come in every color and pattern under the sun. You can certainly factor the appearance of a French press into your consideration.
For instance, if you have a certain decorating style in your home, you may want to choose a press that matches. That way, you can leave it out on your counter or table without it disrupting your surroundings.
You can also choose a particular French press simply because you like the color. It’s entirely up to you.
Cost
Like any other kitchen appliance, French presses are sold in a wide range of prices, as well. We always recommend thinking about what your budget is before you choose a particular French press.
No matter what your ideal price range is, you can likely find a press that fits into your budget. There are incredibly affordable French presses that don’t sacrifice high-quality features like extra filters and insulation.
Extras
Many French presses include some additional items to enhance the coffee-making process for you. A couple of the ones on our list, for example, had complimentary coffee canisters that came with the press.
You may find some others that come with free additional filters. You can stack them on the plunger right away to increase the fineness of your filtration or you can keep them as replacements.
These extras aren’t usually going to be a dealbreaker. However, they’re nice to have and you can keep an eye out for them to see if your favorite French press includes anything.
Wrap Up
There are a ton of fantastic non-glass options out there when it comes to French presses. You’ll have no shortage of potential contenders.
If we had to suggest one over all the others, we’d recommend the Secura French Press. This is mostly because of how versatile it is. If you choose to go with it, you’ll be able to pick the color and size of the press, ensuring you truly do end up with something that almost feels as if it was tailored to your needs specifically.