With a French press, you pour coarse ground coffee into the bottom of the unit, then fill it with boiling water and let it steep. After the recommended time, you slowly depress a plunger attached to a mesh filter, which traps the grounds at the bottom of the pot.
An advantage over some of the other no-electricity methods is that you don’t have to watch it as closely, although it’s still not as “start it and forget it” as a Mr. Coffee.
The biggest gripe is getting grounds in your coffee if you use too fine a grind. Many people also complain that it’s hard to clean, particularly on a boat where water is precious.
A French press doesn’t use electricity but less expensive units all have glass pots. The more expensive ones have a thermal carafe that will keep coffee warm a few hours and I really prefer these as there’s no danger of broken glass.
In rough seas, this is probably the easiest system to wedge into the sink without it tipping over while the coffee is brewing but you still have to be careful not to spill boiling water on yourself when pouring it into the pot.
I’ve never owned a French press, but I know several people who love them. One of my best friends, Robin on The Cat’s Meow, uses and recommends the ones listed below. We stayed on their boat about a couple years ago and used the 17-ounce French press shown above. Great coffee and easy to use!
Pros: Some think it makes better coffee, since oils aren’t filtered out, moderate space required, no electricity, can buy a thermal carafe press without glass which keeps coffee hot for one to two hours
Cons: Some attention required to time how long coffee has steeped; largest presses produce about 50 ounces; less expensive setups have glass pots
Keeping it hot: Can get a system that makes the coffee right in a thermal carafe (which will stay hot for a couple of hours), or buy a separate Thermos to keep coffee hot up to 12 hours (depending on the Thermos)
Cost: $15 for a small press made of glass to $100 for a stainless press with thermal carafe that will make 50 ounces (4 mugs)
Good choices for a French press from Amazon.com (several sizes and variations):
- 8-cup press with stainless thermal carafe (makes 4 mugs)
- 17-ounce shatterproof press (makes one mug — not insulated) (Update: the 17 oz press is no longer available; it has been replaced with a 34-ounce one).
- Insulated mug that will fit in most drink holders
- 2 quart stainless tea kettle
NOTE: Since you have to boil water and then pour it into the press, I strongly recommend two things for safety: (1) Wedge the press into the sink before you pour boiling water into it — that will protect you if it tips or splashes. (2) Boil the water in a tea kettle to reduce the risk of boiling water sloshing out and also to enable more accurate pouring.
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Sailing Chance says
I got hooked on the french press living in Brooklyn for so many years. If I had the choice of a coffee maker or a french press I’ll take the french press any day!
Lupari Sue says
They are great!!
Jan Bogart says
I had the glass one with plastic base and handle that you have pictured. Loved it, another Marshall’s purchase.
Paul Wyand says
I prefer my Aeropress, kind of part french press part espresso maker. Easy to clean up (french press are hard to clean well because they have a wire mesh filter, think you have been there before!) and great strong almost espresso coffee.
Pat Lehnherr says
I’m a big fan of the Aeropress as well. Fantastic coffee, easy to use, easy to clean, cheap, and unlikely to break.
The Boat Galley says
Yep, I’ve written about the Aeropress too. Great except for being a bit top-heavy: https://theboatgalley.com/aeropress-coffee-maker/
Kerri Brooks says
We love our french press.
Amy Burlette says
We have several types of coffee makers on the boat, I’m not sure which one we will end up with, but I use my French press Stainless Thermos at home frequently for small amounts of coffee.
Tasha says
We use the Thermos style French press (I am not sure if this exact one, but very similar) and love it for the following reasons: It’s lid closes well so that coffee does not spill while heeling (lid is not tip-proof though); keeps coffee warm for the night watch/early AM shifts; and we use a bungee to lash the carafe through the handle to keep it in place. Overall, it works very well–and no filters!
Sharon Whitefoot says
Sterling Pro is the BEST, I have been using it for over one year! Check it out on Amazon, the reviews are absolutely accurate!
NOTE from Carolyn: See them here: https://amzn.to/2Od9cOA
Cindy Larsen says
I use a Frieling stainless French press and love it. I used it while serving in Uganda for seven years and have carried it all over the world.
David Grimm says
I did and you took it off.
Dave Skolnick says
Most of the time when I read some of the older posts from The Boat Galley I start writing a comment in my head and find I already posted it. I guess the good news is that my opinions are stable. *grin*
Somehow I missed this one.
I think concerns about glass aboard are overstated IF you put things away, IF storage has adequate cushioning, and IF you are careful. Accordingly glass French presses should not be a problem. That may not work for some people.
That said I am not a fan for two reasons, both of which Carolyn notes in her article. First is that I don’t like grounds in my coffee and I have yet to find any combination of grind size and press that doesn’t leave sludge in my cup. Second cleaning out a French press does take a lot of water. Maybe I’m fussy but I don’t like calling “close enough” clean.
Our preference for coffee is an old fashioned percolator (stainless steel). We use percolator filters from Melitta ( http://amzn.to/1STwjwd ). They keep sludge out of the coffee and make clean up fast and easy using little water.
Christine Dumaine Springfield says
I love my Keurig! I usually only have 1-2 cups of coffee a day but have used it many times to quickly get hot water. If only it didn’t take up so much real estate.
Jennifer Pierson says
We use a militia cone that sits on top of the mug. You do need to be careful pouring the boiling water, but it is worth the easy clean up. Also, you can see into the mug while pouring in the water, so there is no risk of over pouring.
Jennifer Pierson says
Alex Miller, I aways measure out the water. I just put what is needed in the mug and then into the pot, works every time!
kriskret says
http://amzn.to/2DRYSHT ……………………………… …………………………..
http://www.houzz.com/photos/1556406/Presso-Espresso-Machine-contemporary-espresso-machines …………………………………………………………………………………….. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqfdLFboEnw ………… – and many more.
PugetSoundCruiser says
My niece brought a press onto the boat last summer. It’s very similar to the one in the above link – no glass, double-walled, etc and was purchased on Amazon. Her Irish husband simply can’t survive without his morning coffee! We use the press mostly when we are at a marina, but it doesn’t seem to be difficult to clean.
Mike says
Check out the REI French press. I bought one years ago for a trip to Yellowstone and it became my primary coffee pot. Keeps coffee warm for over an hour.
Clay Greene says
Our French press went off the boat the day after we got our Aeropress. Far superior in every way.
Chris Pereira says
French press coffee may raise LDL cholesterol levels… See NIH study. Everything in moderation, but daily consumption may be too much for some! Using a paper filter seems to be the difference… But do your own research!
Lynn says
We have used a Planetary Design french press on board for 10 years. It’s insulated, durable and worked perfectly. You can find them on Amazon.
Lu says
I bought a stainless version that is double-walled at IKEA several years ago, but they no longer make it. I make coffee and drink a cup then put the rest in a thermos. Haven’t found a great way to get rid of grounds so they don’t go down sink. Have been experimenting with a coffee filer in the bottom to keep them contained and make it easier to lift the whole thing out and put in compost. Ther always seems to be too much water to just put in garbage….
Daniel says
I’m a fan of the Stanley Classic Vacuum French Press. It isn’t cheap but it makes a nice sized pot (48oz) an it keeps the coffee nice an warm. It’s worked well on our boat for the past two seasons. For me it also brings back memories of packing my Stanley Thermos to work each day. I’ve had that thermos for over 20 years (though I dont use it much now) and it’s still great.
Bev Burr says
Our first French press was a double walled stainless French press that we purchased at Starbucks. After 10 years, the rubber flange around the press disintegrated and tho the pot itself was perfect-we had to purchase a new French press because no replacement was available. We bought a new stainless double walled from Amazon but without the rubber flange, it does allow some sludge into the cups. We have just learned to leave a half inch of coffee in the cup to avoid “chewing” the last little bit. Still think the French press makes the best coffee next to a Nespresso which I cannot have on board due to power draw
Wanita says
Never never pour boiling water onto coffee grounds, it will ‘burn’ the grounds and your coffee will be bitter.
Once the water has boiled leave it sit off the burner for about 1.5 minutes, then pour and mix a little with spoon. The colour of the foam tells you it will be good coffee. A light brown one instead of a dark one.
We have a 2 cup press and usually let it brew for less than 7 mins before plunging.