Bodum French Press Review 2023

This article includes a complete review and test report for the “classic” Bodum French press coffee maker. I’ll teach you how to use a Bodum French press. We’ll also go over what you need to look for when deciding between Bodum French press coffee makers, as well as explore the models available in 2021.

Bodum French Press Coffee Makers At a Glance

Here’s a list of the Bodum French press coffee makers available in 2021.

Best Overall

Bodum Chambord

Metal parts

Borosilicate glass

Classic look

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Bodum Brazil

Plastic parts

Borosilicate glass

Multiple colors

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Bodum Kenya

Plastic parts

Borosilicate glass

Modern look

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Bodum Caffetteria

Metal and plastic parts

Borosilicate glass or BPA-free plastic

Multiple colors

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Bodum Java

Plastic parts

Borosilicate glass

Multiple colors

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Bodum Eileen

Metal parts

Borosilicate glass

Honors designer Eileen Gray

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Bodum Tribute

Stainless steel

Insulated

Durable

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Bodum Columbia

Stainless steel

Silicone plunger

Durable

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Bodum Bean

Cold brew

Two lids

Plastic and silicone parts

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Bodum Travel

Portable

Metal and plastic parts

Multiple colors

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Bodum French Press Overview

Bodum French press have been my faithful companions for more than 10 years now. I simply can’t imagine what my kitchen — or my daily routine — would look like without them.

Even though I often enthusiastically talk about pour-over coffee and other coffee preparation methods, the French press method is still my favorite way to brew coffee.

If you don’t own a Bodum French press coffee maker, I highly recommend you add one to your “must have” list of kitchen tools for this year.

My personal favorite is the Bodum Chambord French press. It’s understated, yet elegant … simple, yet stylish. In fact, I’m naming this timeless cult class the “Best Overall” Bodum French press. I believe it’s the best French press you can buy … period.

When planning your purchase, remember that it’s important to get the correct size of French press for your needs. French presses in the Bodum line come in 0.35 liters (12 ounces), 0.5 liters (17 ounces), 1 liter (34 ounces) and 1.5 liters (51 ounces).

Bodum French Press Sizes

The above table lists how much ground coffee that I recommend putting in a Bodum French press. The other parameters — water temperature and brewing time — are the same for all models.

You are more than welcome to adjust the amount of coffee you use based on your personal preferences or the kind of coffee. Still, with the French press method of brewing, it’s important to always use a coarse grind. Otherwise, the coffee will become over-extracted, which will make it taste bitter or acidic.

The most common mistake that people make when learning how to use a French press is using a grind size that’s too fine. Check out my coffee grind size chart for more information.

Bodum French Press, 0.35 Liters (12 Ounces)

This is the smallest French press that Bodum offers. It makes just one mug of coffee.

Keep in mind that part of the listed volume will be taken up by the ground coffee, so the amount of liquid coffee that you get out will be a bit less than 0.35 liters (12 ounces). That’s more of an issue with a smaller press because you start out with less volume.

If you are looking for a versatile combination, it might be a good idea to get this model and a 1 liter press.

Bodum French Press, 0.5 Liters (17 Ounces)

This is obviously half the size of the 1-liter (34-ounce) French press.

Remember that the amount of coffee after pressing will be less than 0.5 liters. This can be anywhere between two to four cups, depending on the cup size and how you drink your coffee. In my case, it is much closer to two cups.

If that amount of coffee sounds good to you, then it’s definitely better to get this coffee press, as opposed to buying the 1-liter model and only filling it up halfway. I talk more about why in my article: How to Use a French Press.

One advantage of this size of French press is its low center of gravity, which makes it difficult to accidentally knock over.

Bodum French Press, 1.0 Liter (34 Ounces)

This is the “standard” size. You will find a 1-liter French press in many kitchens, although in many cases they will look a bit sad and neglected from infrequent use. However, when you do actually use a French press, everyone is always surprised at how good the coffee tastes.

This press supposedly yields 12 cups of coffee. If you ask me, that’s a pretty optimistic number — or maybe my coffee cups are just too large. I usually get about three to four large mugs of coffee from a press this size.

Bodum French Press, 1.5 Liters (51 Ounces)

This is the largest French press that I use. I break it out when I’m going to be making coffee for three or more people, which actually happens quite often.

This particular size of French press is relatively expensive, so I try to be extra careful with it. Still, mine accidentally got knocked over once and fell onto the floor. I was lucky because the frame just got a little bent.

In terms of the number of cups of coffee it can make, it depends on the cups or mugs you are using. Some people might say it’s good for 12 cups, but I would say it’s more like six to eight.

How to Use the Bodum French Press

For these instructions, we will use the 1-liter Bodum French press as an example. If you use a different size, just refer to the table above to determine how much ground coffee you should use. If you want good results, it’s important to get the proportions correct.

• Add the coarsely-ground coffee into the press (for 1 liter, use 55 grams — about 4 tablespoons)
• Pour 95-degree-Celsius (200-degree-Fahrenheit) water into the press; fill only halfway, then stir.
• Pour in the remaining water.
• Let the coffee steep for three to four minutes.

That’s the basic guide, but there are a few places where you can make adjustments. The main change you can make is to use more or less ground coffee, but it should still always be coarse. You can also adjust the steeping time. Additionally, 55 grams (4 tablespoons) of ground coffee is often too strong for many people — at least at first — so you may want to dial that down a bit.

The mechanics and use of the press are both quite simple, but you can find more detailed instructions in my article How to Use a French Press.

Bodum French Press Parts

Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever, and you may have to replace a broken part on your French press coffee maker. The main thing you definitely want to avoid is accidentally dropping it or knocking it over.

You can wash your coffee press in a dishwasher, but even there it might accidentally bump against a plate, then crack or break. However, have no worries because you can get replacement parts for your Bodum French press coffee maker!

If you have to replace any part, it will likely be the heat resistant borosilicate glass carafe — aka: beaker. You can find all the available sizes of replacement carafes on Amazon.

You can also find reasonably priced replacement filters and plunger units in case you somehow break — or, more likely, lose — either of those parts.

The Best Coffee to Use With a French Press

Of course, it’s important to find the right kind of coffee for your French press. It doesn’t matter what brand of French press you have. There are two main things you want to be sure of:

• The coffee should be as fresh as possible.
• You should grind the coffee yourself, right before using it.

Unfortunately, it’s difficult to find truly fresh coffees in most supermarkets, but you can easily find good small batch stuff online. It’s best to go with a small roaster because they tend to pay more attention to detail and quality. Good roasters also focus a lot more on sustainability, as well as fair and direct trade.

If a coffee is described as “very fruity,” it might tend to over-extract in a French press coffee maker, which can make it taste acidic. However, it’s best to just try it out for yourself. Pay attention to what you enjoy. At the end of the day, the goal is to end up with your own version of the perfect cup.

You should simply try many different kinds of coffee to find what you like best. I will be excited to hear what you come up with. Fresh brewed Bodum French press coffee is terrific, so you are in for a real treat!

How to Clean a Bodum French Press

Cleaning is an important point that is unfortunately often neglected for a Bodum French press coffee maker. It’s easy to clean the glass carafe and the frame, and most people clean those parts. When it comes to the press itself, though, many people often just give it a quick rinse under the tap and then forget about it.

Here you can see my seven-year-old Bodum French press. I have taken it apart so that you can see all the parts. When cleaning your press, you should also take yours apart like this. All of the parts can go into the dishwasher.

Personally, I wash the frame by hand to avoid any rust that could possibly come from the rivets or soldering points. However, I will admit that this is actually a very rare, fairly insignificant problem.

I have also spread out the three parts of the filter screen assembly. The fine screen is in the middle, and that’s often a problem point. Little bits of ground coffee or debris can easily get caught between this screen and the two other parts of the filter. It can quickly get nasty.

Therefore, avoid all those issues by simply taking your French press filters apart and putting the parts in the dishwasher. It’s also simple to put it back together again, though I recommend you snap a few photos on your phone as you take it apart the first time. Better safe than sorry!

Bodum French Press Coffee Makers

Bodum really does make countless kinds of coffee presses, with lots of little tweaks and changes to make each one different and unique.

Personally, I prefer the ones with as little plastic as possible. However, I’m sure some people will get excited about the color options of the plastic Bodum French press models.

When it comes to functionality and use, the materials don’t really matter much, except for the heat resistant borosilicate glass. That’s a must, for sure.

One of the great things about a French press coffee maker is that you don’t need a paper filter. This is good for the environment, as paper filters produce a lot of unnecessary waste.

Also, the press assemblies are always made from the same materials. Let’s look at a few examples of different Bodum French press models.

Bodum Chambord French Press

Like I mentioned before, the Bodum Chambord French press is my all-time favorite French press coffee maker. I named this the “Best Overall” Bodum French press because it’s a timeless class with all of the right mojo to make it great … style, functionality, durability and affordability.

Enjoying a delicious cup of Bodum Chambord French press coffee should be on everyone’s bucket list. From the first cup to the last, it’s the best way to start any day.

With any glass French press, the beaker is more fragile than I would prefer. That said, as long as you treat it with care, a Bodum Chambord French press coffee maker can last for years.

You’ll likely break the glass carafe a time or two in your lifetime, but that’s not a deal breaker by any means. The carafes are simply glass jugs that you can purchase for around the price of a bag or two of coffee beans. They slide in and out with ease so you can wash them.

Bodum does offer an option with a recyclable plastic SAN beaker that is shatterproof. I prefer glass myself, but salute the Bodum family for their efforts to sustain the environment. The shatterproof SAN carafe version is also available on Amazon. It could be a good choice for a camping French press.

Bodum Brazil French Press

The Bodum Brazil French press is much like the Bodum Chambord. The main difference is the frame or housing that holds the borosilicate glass carafe.

The Bodum Brazil is usually a bit cheaper as well, though neither model is out of reach from most consumers.

Some users have noted that the beaker can be a little harder to remove from the plastic frame than the metal one on the Chambord. I too can attest to this issue, though it primarily happens when you wait to take the coffee press apart until after you start to wash it. Water gets in between the walls of the carafe and the plastic and creates a seal that’s hard to break. Using force will result in a broken beaker and possible cuts on your hands.

The Bodum Brazil coffee maker does come with multiple color options. Bodum also is in the habit of releasing new colors each year. That’s what first sucked me into buying a Bodum Brazil to try out!

Bodum Kenya French Press

The Bodum Kenya French press is not one I get very excited about. While it’s totally functional and does its job well, I’m simply not a fan of the amount of plastic used in the design.

There are many Bodum Kenya fans though who practically swear by this coffee press. So, if the design floats your boat, don’t let my lack of appreciation stop you.

Bodum Caffetteria French Press

Details on the Bodum Caffetteria French press are a little confusing. So, there’s a version that has borosilicate glass. There’s also a version that has BPA-free SAN plastic.

The plunger on the plastic version of the Caffetteria is made of silicone, and extracts the natural oils from your coffee beans like it’s metal siblings. The claim from Bodum is that by using the silicone filter mesh you’re left with less sediment in your cup.

I haven’t tested this model, but to me it sounds like the issue they’re solving is users who have either the incorrect grind size or an inconsistent grind size. If you’re using the Bodum Bodum Bistro electric blade ginder, for example, your coffee grinds will vary in size. I talk about this more in my coffee grind size chart.

The Bodum Caffetteria also only comes in two sizes. There’s a 12 oz version and a 34 oz version of this French press coffee maker.

Bodum Java French Press

What makes the Bodum Java French press different from the Chambord? The colors, of course! The Java is basically a colorful version of my beloved Chambord French press.

The Bodum Java coffee maker is also only available in two sizes. You can purchase a 12 oz or 34 oz version.

Bodum Eileen French Press

One eye-catching model is the Bodum Eileen French press. It was made to honor the influential Irish designer, Eileen Gray (1878-1976).

She once designed an iconic villa without a lick of architectural training on her belt. It’s hard not to appreciate a woman who made a name for herself in a time period when women were often dismissed. Though I’m not a fan of this particular Bodum French press, I greatly admire Eileen.

Bodum Tribute French Press

I get asked a lot about insulated French press coffee makers. Usually those asking are looking for a way to make one into a thermos or wondering if this style of coffee press would be good for camping.

Like with any French press, leaving the ground coffee in the bottom for too long will result in a bitter or acidic taste. Heat can also escape from the pour spout. So, I recommend against trying to make any coffee press into a thermos.

However, the Bodum Tribute French press could work really well for camping. It’s more durable than a glass French press. It’s also insulated, which could offer some benefit in cooler weather.

While the stainless steel Bodum Tribute might get dinged, that won’t affect functionality … well, unless you totally smash it. So, watch what you’re doing when swinging that axe in your campsite!

The plastic handle on the Bodum Tribute French press is cool to the touch, which will protect your hands. This is important because the outside of this stainless steel coffee maker gets extremely hot. Keep this in mind before you set it somewhere, as the surface of the press will be in direct contact with what you set it on.

Some users have complained that it damaged their wooden table, for example. This is another reason I prefer the Bodum Chambord, which has stainless steel legs to create separation between the glass jug and the table.

Bodum has designed the lid to turn to prevent spills, but that’s not 100 percent foolproof. Who wants to clean up a mess when trying to enjoy a delicious cup of French press coffee?

Bodum Columbia French Press

All that I said above about the Bodum Tribute coffee press also applies to the Bodum Columbia French press.

The main difference I see between these two stainless steel insulated French press coffee makers is the style. To my eyes, I prefer the look of the Bodum Columbia coffee press. That’s personal preference of course.

Some users have reported their dissatisfaction with the silicone plunger, claiming that the gasket allows water to get trapped below the plunger unit.

The lid is also plastic, which surprises people since they are going for stainless steel when purchasing. It has been reported that the lid itself is not dishwasher safe and has a tendency to come apart.

Bodum Bean French Press

The Bodum Bean French press is Bodum’s answer to cold brew coffee. There’s a lot to appreciate about this coffee maker. I thought about naming it “Best for Cold Brew,” but that didn’t seem fair since it’s the only Bodum that focuses on a French press method for making cold brew coffee.

To brew coffee with this style of French press, you add your coarsely ground coffee to the beaker. Bodum recommends you double your normal amount, but you should keep notes and experiment to find the sweet spot for your palate.

Instead of using boiling water, you’ll want to use cold water. Fill the carafe, place the lid on top and let the coffee sit it in your fridge for 12-24 hours. After that, remove the lid and replace it with the plunger so you can separate the coffee from the grounds. I recommend you transfer it to a separate container so that it doesn’t keep brewing.

The Bodum Bean French press is dishwasher safe.

Bodum Travel Press

If you’re in the market for a Bodum Travel press, there’s a few things you need to know. First, be sure you don’t confuse it with the Bodum Travel mug which looks practically identical.

Next, note that the Bodum travel press no longer comes with an extra lid, which is understandably frustrating to many longtime users of the product. This is likely due to Bodum’s emphasis on travel mugs, which actually makes a lot more sense if you think about it.

Why you might ask? Well, first of all, it makes absolutely no sense to leave coffee grounds in a French press for more than three to four minutes. The travel press series was geared primarily toward commuters, who likely didn’t take the time to switch from the lid with the press to the one without. So, they ended up with coffee that was sour and bitter, which is what happens when you let coffee sit in a press with grounds for too long.

Next, Bodum wants to sell things. If I owned Bodum, I’d likely be much more excited to promote a line of travel mugs that any Bodum French press owner could use than a niche travel press that often resulted in a poor user experience.

In concept, having a travel press with two lids offered a lot of value … if you understood and took advantage of the concept. You’ve probably noticed on Shark Tank that investors often frown upon products that require a lot of investment in educating consumers. This is a great example of that!

When I checked Bodum’s website, the travel press is non longer available. If you’re one of the faithful Bodum Travel press users, I recommend you buy them up now before they’re gone.

However, if you’re the proud owner of any other Bodum French press, I highly recommend the Bodum Travel mug for your commute.

Summary: Bodum French Press Review

I simply have to give all five stars to the Bodum French press, so long as we’re talking about the models with as little plastic as possible. They’re both timeless and durable, but unfortunately not indestructible. I’ve had to throw out a few presses because they broke, but never because they wore out.

Still, I’ve come across plenty of French press coffee makers that have been used continuously for over eight years, and they still look good.

I have a variety of Bodum French presses in every size available, and I use them all. I don’t necessarily use each one as often as the other, but when they’re not in use, they make a great-looking decoration on my kitchen shelves.

They also fit in anywhere, from an old farmhouse to a modern apartment. If you’re looking for a great gift idea, might I recommend a French press and a manual coffee grinder?

Regardless of what brand you choose, French presses are simply a dream to use. They give you wonderfully strong, flavorful coffee.

You won’t get black coffee this good from a super automatic espresso machine. Plus, there’s another great thing about French presses — they are unbelievably affordable in comparison to many other coffee gadgets out there.

If you feel like trying out different kinds of coffee, a French press can also be your friend. Just use two different coffee presses to test each kind of coffee in a side-by-side comparison. That’s what I’ve been doing since 2008 for my coffee reviews.

Soon, I will test a few more French presses from other brands, like Bialetti or Le Creuset. Stay tuned to find out what I think about them.

Bodum French Press

This is my favorite Bodum French press and the best French press available on the market.

Stainless steel frame

Borosilicate glass

Classic look

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Bodum French Press FAQ

What’s your favorite Bodum French press? Have you discovered any secrets you might recommend for the French press method of brewing coffee? See you in the comments!