7 Best Coffee For French Press – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide
Nothing wakes you up like a strong, full-bodied, and flavorful cup of coffee. If you can’t help but agree, a french press might be the tool you’ve been looking for to help feed your quality coffee cravings. With simple features and easy mastery, you’re sure to be your very own barista in no time at all!
To make the best use of your coffee maker and claim your position as a true coffee aficionado, simply knowing the best coffee for your french press can be the crucial detail you’ve been missing.
Best Coffee For French Press
Let’s explore what coffee for french press stands out the most as we dive into the coffee culture and share a few insider trade secrets to help you up to your coffee game.
Real Good Coffee – Best French Press Roast
Pros
- Affordable
- Smooth, rich, and bold flavors with hints of sweetness and spice
- Natural ingredients
- French press friendly
- Premium quality Arabica beans
Pros
- Not recommended for those who prefer complex flavors
- A bit bitter
- High in acid, if you’re looking for a milder coffee
With over 30 years of experience in the art of coffee sourcing and roasting, nobody quite does it as perfectly as Real Good does. Based in Seattle, they aim to bridge the gap between affordability and premium roasts in the coffee industry. Real Good Coffee Company is passionate about its goal of providing its loyal patrons with the strongest, most sophisticated, and a solid cup of coffee.
They source their 100% Arabic coffee beans from Central and Southern America. These beans have a hint of sweetness with extremely bold, dark-roasted flavors. With undertones of raspberry, rich dark chocolate, and a touch of spice from star anise, these beans are free from artificial ingredients, additives, or preservatives.
Real Good Coffee prides itself on crafting premium and affordable coffee that doesn’t need any bells and whistles. It is dedicated to proving that its coffee precedes its reputation and is the best choice for your french press. The company also emphasizes its customer-oriented approach as it is dedicated to providing the best coffee and product value to its coffee sourcing farms and its customers too.
Opening up an avenue of bold flavors to the world at large, your first Real Good Coffee bean pack is sure to be the first of many!
LifeBoost Coffee – Best Organic Roast
Pros
- Certified Organic coffee beans
- Assured premium quality processes such as hand-picking and hand-washing
- Low acidity levels
- Well-balanced flavors
- Soothes digestive problems
Pros
- Heavy on the pocket
- Not recommended for those who prefer their coffee acidic
- Not recommended for those who prefer dark roasts
An upcoming force to be reckoned with, LifeBoost is a futuristic coffee company to keep an eye out for. Their top-notch, non-blended, single-origin coffee beans are one of the smoothest and healthiest on the market.
Their coffee beans are grown in the mountains of Nicaragua with no chemicals or pesticides used in the process. LifeBoost guarantees one of the highest organic ratings you may find on the market.
Additionally, their coffee beans are sourced quite ethically. This refers to the reasonable payout their coffee farmers receive at the end of their harvest. What’s more, the company donates a portion of its profits to organizations that work on Nicaragua’s environment and rainforest protection – adding to the rich ecosystem it depends upon.
LifeBoost’s medium roast is rich, smooth, well-balanced, and low in acidity as well. Every French press cup is accompanied by a little hint of smoothness from the addition of nuts, some sweetness owing to strawberries, and a rich chocolate aftertaste.
Its low acidic levels imply that LifeBoost’s Medium Roast Coffee is in fact, the perfect coffee bean to ease digestion and stomach centric concerns, tooth decay, and other problems arising from the presence of high levels of acid in most coffees. LifeBoost is undeniably an outstanding example of a more health-oriented blend of coffee on the market – a trend that we’d like other brands to consider following.
Death Wish Coffee – Best High Caffeine Roast
Pros
- Strong, intense coffee
- No bitter aftertaste
- Can be bought as beans or pre-ground coffee too
- Useful for both french press and cold brew methods
- Handpicked coffee beans
Cons
- Might be too dark of a roast for some
- Expensive in comparison with other brands
- Excessive consumption can be quite harmful
If you need serious caffeine hit, Death Wish’ French Press coffee beans must be a sure-shot feature on your grocery list. As the name itself implies, its strong roasts are blended for maximum caffeine output – making for a powerful energy boost.
If you’ve been looking for a beverage or a coffee roast to keep you going all day long, then this is the option for you. No need for refills – just one cup of Death Wish’ coffee and you’re good to grind the day away. With double the intensity as compared to other manufacturers, every single fluid ounce of coffee contains 60mg of caffeine.
They achieve this level of concentration of caffeine by a unique method of roasting that involves handpicking every coffee bean and then slow roasting it until the end of the dark roast. Unlike most other highly caffeinated dark roasted coffee brands, this one does not create bitter or highly acidic aftertastes.
The French press method ensures that you enjoy its fruity yet rich body thoroughly as it slowly immerses the flavors and helps them develop inside the glass carafe. Death Wish’s coffee is free from artificial additives and is always consistent with its quality and freshness.
Koffee Kult Coffee – Best Gourmet Dark Roast
Pros
- Simple, supreme, gourmet beans
- Packaged fresh as roasted
- Dark roasted but never bitter
- Perfect for cold brews and French press coffee
- Unique flavor profiles
Cons
- May not be strong enough for some coffee consumers
- May not be dark and bitter enough for some coffee consumers
- Not recommended for those who prefer medium roasts
The epitome of gourmet coffee, Koffee Kult is hell-bent on providing their consumers with an experience of freshness in every bag of coffee. Their beans are roasted carefully in small batches and packaged soon after to help retain and preserve their original freshness. Each bag is branded with a roasting date that ensures they are shipped just a matter of hours after they have been roasted.
Sourced from Sumatra, Columbia, and Guatemala, Koffee Kult’s 100% Arabica coffee beans are a blend made in heaven – with their roastmaster personally overseeing every bean shipment. Their unique sourcing and quality control dedication give the coffee a full-bodied, rich, smooth, and clean aroma that is both bold and balanced. One whiff of their blend will confirm its heaviness and its bright undertones of cinnamon.
These dark roasted coffee beans are the results of the second crack of roasting. As soon as they reach their ideal roast, they are cooled down to help their flavors shine through effectively.
With over a decade of experience and a dedicated family at the core of their business, Koffee Kult is a great option if you’re looking for the best bean possible for your french press roasts.
Stone Street – Best for Cold Brew
Pros
- Perfect for cold brews
- Handcrafted process
- High-quality natural beans
- Ethically sourced ingredients
- Consistent grind for French press
Cons
- Its sweeter profile may be less preferable to some
- Great for cold brews but not hot coffee
- Not recommended for those who prefer medium roasts
Ideal for french press coffee and cold brews too, NYC’s Stone Street’s coffee is the best coarse ground coffee in the business. With a high priority on bean sourcing and their grinding process, you can expect a pretty extraordinary cup of joe with their products.
Flown in from Columbia where they grow their very own beans, this blend of coffee is on the sweeter end of the spectrum with notes of maple syrup and a rich nutty aroma to top it all off – excellent flavor profiles for a rich, decadent brew.
Their dark roast is coarsely ground to ensure the best product for cold brews in a french press. Thanks to their three-layer packaging system, you also have the freshest and most aromatic roast of coffee at your fingertips. Their customizable roasters offer a great compromise between single-batch quality and mass production – allowing you to get great coffee at a great price.
If you are a fan of balanced flavor profiles, you’ll find Stone Street’s fresh roasted Coffee to be an absolute delight. Although their Columbian Supremo beans are less acidic, they never fail to lend the brew a strong and bold flavor.
Coffee Bros. – Best Fresh Beans
Pros
- Perfect for hot coffee
- Works well with a French press, espresso machine and drip brewer too
- Full-bodied, rich coffee
- Affordable
- Premium coffee beans
Cons
- High acidity
- Great for hot coffee but not cold brews
- Not recommended for those who prefer bitter roasts
With Coffee Bros.’ microlot coffee, also known as an extreme version of a single origin brew, the coffee beans are as special as coffee gets. No matter if you brew it in your French press, your espresso machine, or your drip brewer too, the coffee beans retain their incredibly rich, robust flavor to the very end.
Coffee Bros. sources its coffee from the finest produce of Yirgacheffe in Ethiopia & Minas Gerais in Brazil. Their technique of growing their 100% Arabica beans is the result of decades of trial and error and eventual perfection.
Although Coffee Bros. offers a large selection of coffee from light to dark roasts, their medium roasts that yield a full-bodied coffee with hints of toffee and cocoa and bright lemon acidity is the one to look out for. They offer unique varieties of coffee each with distinct flavor profiles that are rarely found on the market anywhere in the world.
Freshness is a big selling point for this brew. Thanks to sealed bags with degassing valves, the company has been able to provide its consumers with only the finest and freshest roasts available. If you’re skeptical about which variety to try first, you can try each one of Coffee Bros.’ roasts without it making a dent in your pocket.
Peet’s Coffee – Best Budget Beans
Pros
- Affordable
- Perfect for cold brews
- Hand roasted and quality checked
- Decadent aroma
- Sourced from premier coffee-growing regions of the world
Cons
- The pre-ground version is not as coarse for French press coffee
- High acidity
- Not recommended for those who prefer sweeter roasts
Ever heard of a blend of coffee infused with butter? Peet’s by Major Dickason offers a divine blend of fresh coffee beans with butter-infused essential oils. Just the fragrance of the roast is enough to get you salivating! Monitored by professionals with experience in the coffee industry, Peet’s Coffee has a rich history ever since its foundation in Berkeley, California in 1966.
With volcanic soil providing a natural layer of fertilization, this company has reinvented organic coffee. The beans are harvested by hand too, making the process completely natural and chemical-free.
Just the fragrance of the beans gives off a sweet and smoky aroma. This brew of coffee has a unique taste, with exciting notes of spices amid the decadent and rich taste of chocolate. All the flavors blend seamlessly and complement each other perfectly. If dark roasts are your thing, you’re sure to love this one!
These coffee beans are considered a ‘world blend’ as they combine the best original coffees from the world’s premier growing regions. With all the trademark characteristics from every corner of the world, this roast is truly a unique blend of beans. Peet’s Coffee’s Dickason Blend particularly is the perfect roast for French press coffee.
Your Personal French Press Coffee Buying Guide
Choosing the best roast for your French Press
Aside from baseline quality, finding the best roast for your French press is a matter of preference. Knowing the grind and roast type of the coffee you prefer is the first step in creating a soulful cup of steaming hot French pressed coffee.
The duration and temperature of the roasting process are some of the biggest factors in its flavor. Therefore, if you prefer milder brews, stick with light roasts – those who are all for bigger bolder flavors, dark roasts are your best bet. It’s just a matter of discretion.
Light Roast
Light roasted coffee beans are very faintly colored with low oil content. These generally tend to embody the highest levels of acidity to accompany its unique flavors. Although light roasts are fairly common as your everyday cup of coffee, they aren’t as ideal for a French press as their flavors are too gentle and easy on the palate.
Medium Roast
Mild or Medium roasts are a great option for French press coffee. They have a slighter darker brown color and an oily surface but overall, carry a well-rounded and balanced flavor profile. The medium roast method ensures that the original taste of the beans is preserved and sweet caramel-like hints are accentuated.
Medium-Dark Roast
Medium Dark roasts are often the best choice for French press coffee as these beans ensure you taste every note of rich chocolate and floral notes in every sip. They develop significant color in the roasting process and although they do have more of an oily surface, they embody very low levels of acidity as compared to medium roasted beans. However, they pack the most flavor and bold body in comparison.
Dark Roast
Dark Roasted coffee is the best bet for those who prefer their coffee extra strong. These beans have a distinct unmissable dark brown color, are low on acidity levels and yet are successful in their attempt to embody darker, richer, and deeper flavors with significant hints of nuts, chocolate, and caramel. While this roast is the best for a cup of espresso, it might not be the same for French press coffee.
FAQs
What is the best coffee for French press?
A dark, low acidic, bold brand of coffee like Real Good French Roast Extra Dark Whole Coffee Beans is the best coffee for French press.
How to French press coffee?
Start by adding a heaping tablespoon of coffee to a 200ml pot of hot water. Carefully insert the plunger into the pot, stopping just above the level of water and ground coffee. Let it stand for about 3-4 minutes and then slowly exert pressure by pressing down the plunger. Follow this quick guide to a french press coffee maker.
What is the perfect french press coffee ratio?
French press coffee is best in a 1:12 coffee to water ratio. For instance, if you are using 350 grams of water, throw in 30 grams of coffee. You can always adjust this according to your personal preferences.
What kind of coffee do you use in a French press?
Coarse and evenly ground coffee is the best for French press. Avoid buying espresso grade pre-ground coffee for french press as it can be a little too fine, resulting in a muddy sediment at the bottom of your cup. Your best bet for a good French press coffee is to grind your own at home.
Can you use regular ground coffee in a French press?
Although you may use regular ground coffee in a French press, it is generally agreed upon that it is best used with coarsely ground coffee and water that’s just below boiling point.
It All Boils Down To…
‘How do you make good French press coffee?’ and if that’s a question you’ve been asking yourself lately then you’ve got all the answers you need right here.
It’s quite a challenge to put together a list of the best coffees on the market, especially given the wide array of choices available. Additionally, coffee is an intensely personal choice, one man’s meat could be another man’s poison.
That being said, be sure to give Real Good French Roast Extra Dark Whole Coffee Beans a try. The perfect french pressed coffee at the best quality and affordable prices too, these coffee beans are an experience in themselves!
French press coffee is the most reliable method of brewing a cup of joe that’s true to the very soul of the bean. Although it might seem time-consuming, it’s definitely worth the time. And with our list of the top picks you should be looking out for, you’re guaranteed to brew on.
About the Author
Keren is a regular contributor at Twigs Cafe. When Keren is not actually tapping away at her keyboard, you’ll find her staring into space or drinking copious amounts of coffee.
But make no mistake, she's hard at work even then. Come close enough and you’ll hear the whooshing noise of countless words as they go whizzing by - in her head of course.
