Searching for the best coffee for French press? We’ve sifted through the top brands to pick ten of the tastiest medium to dark-roast coffee beans on today’s market.
The best coffee for French press is a medium to dark roast, coarsely ground. This type of roast and grind provides a rich and bold taste that coffee drinkers enjoy. The slow-brew process of the French press allows the coffee essence to seep out slowly and evenly, preventing bitterness in the brew.
Brew time, water temperature, and your coffee-to-water ratio are all important for achieving the best French press coffee. However, first, you must start with high-quality coffee beans.
Our top pick in this category is Kicking Horse Coffee’s Kick Ass Dark Roast with its chocolate malt, molasses, licorice, and sweet vanilla flavor notes. Whether you’re searching for organic, single-origin, low-acid, flavored, or high-caffeine coffees, we’ve sifted through the best coffee for French press and found ten tasty choices to tantalize your tastebuds.
Take a look at our top picks for French press coffee and decide which bag of beans is best for you!
Our 10 top picks for the best coffee for French press at a glance
- Best overall: Kicking Horse Coffee Kick Ass Dark Roast
- Best value: Lavazza Espresso Italiano Coffee Blend
- Best gourmet coffee blend: Stumptown Coffee Roasters Founder’s Blend
- Best organic: Stone Cold Jo Dark Roast Organic Coffee
- Best Starbucks coffee for French press: Starbucks Pike Place Medium Roast Whole Bean Coffee
- Best single origin: Gevalia Special Reserve Guatemala Medium Roast
- Best high-caffeine: Death Wish Coffee Medium Roast, Whole Bean Coffee
- Best low-acid: Lucy Jo’s Coffee Organic Mellow Belly Low-Acid Blend
- Best flavored coffee: Bones Coffee Company Shark Bite Buttered Rum Flavored Coffee
- Best decaf: San Francisco Bay Decaf French Roast
Ten of the Best Coffees for French Press on today’s market:
Here are 10 of the best coffees for French press available. We ranked these whole beans and pre-ground coffees according to taste, purity, and popularity:
1 Kicking Horse Coffee Kick Ass Dark Roast
Kicking Horse Coffee’s Kick Ass dark roast is our overall top pick for French press coffee. This Arabica coffee is a blend of Indonesian and South American beans for a smoky, sweet coffee taste with hints of chocolate, molasses, vanilla, and more.
The whole beans allow you to grind coffee fresh for each batch you brew. Kicking Horse Coffee is dedicated to sustainable practices, and this delicious coffee is USDA Organic for a clean flavor you will love.
Pros
- Arabica dark-roasted whole bean coffee
- Exoctic blend of flavors from Indonesia and South America
- Smoky chocolate malt, molasses, licorice, and sweet vanilla flavor notes
- Certified USDA Organic and Fair Trade coffee
- Full-bodied mouthfeel
- Deep flavors, but not bitter
Cons
- Price fluctuates
2 Lavazza Espresso Italiano Coffee Blend
This Lavazza Espresso Italiano Coffee Blend is designed for brewing espresso. However, this medium-roasted Arabica blend also lends itself well to French press coffee. Its flavor profile leans away from the deep chocolate tones and incorporates many summery fruity and floral notes, instead.
Although the taste is light and smooth on the palate, you still get a rich, full-bodied mouthfeel with this tasty Lavazza coffee. If you are looking for a delicate coffee full of flavor, Lavazza Espresso Italiano is an excellent choice.
Pros
- 100% Arabica medium roast whole bean coffee
- Tastes fruity and floral with origins in Southeast Asia, Africa, Central/South America blend
- Non-GMO and sustainable
- Brighter, smooth-tasting flavors with full-bodied mouthfeel
- Affordable price
- Makes excellent French press or grind finely for espresso
Cons
- The flavor is not as intense as darker roasts
3 Stumptown Coffee Roasters Founder's Blend Medium Roast Organic Whole Bean Coffee
Stumptown Coffee Roasters Founder’s Blend coffee is a chocolate-forward coffee with notes of vanilla. This 100% Arabica coffee bean blend is organically grown in Central and South America. Stumptown Roasters’ Direct Trade program ensures high-quality care through the cultivation, picking, and processing of coffee beans.
The medium roast and delicious cocoa flavor notes make this coffee blend an excellent choice for your next French press brew.
Pros
- 100% Arabica medium-roast whole bean coffee
- Delicious vanilla and cocoa powder flavor notes
- Blend from Central and South American beans
- Fully-washed beans for clear, vibrant flavors
- Smooth and strong without bitterness
- Versatile flavor profile to suit many different brew methods, including French press, espresso, cold brew, and pour-over
Cons
- More expensive than other brands
4 Stone Cold Jo Dark Roast Organic Coffee
If you are looking for a top-tier coffee for your French press, you can’t beat this Stone Cold Jo Dark Roast Coffee. Jo Coffee chooses from the top 2% of specialty-grade organic Arabica raw coffee beans worldwide to bring you the best beans and blends. The coffee beans are then roasted in Jo’s micro-roastery for a hand-crafted dark roast.
Stone Cold Jo is a perfect pick for low-acidity, rich flavors, and a silky-smooth mouthfeel. Enjoy the delicious naturally occurring flavors of toffee, caramel, chocolate, and grape for your morning brew or afternoon pick-me-up.
Pros
- 100% Arabica coarse-ground coffee
- Uses top 2% specialty grade of organic Arabica raw coffee
- Non-GMO, USDA Certified Organic, Fair Trade, and Kosher
- Tasted of toffee, caramel, chocolate, and grape
- Hand-crafted dark roast with low-acidity
- Silky smooth mouthfeel
- Jo Coffee is a member of the Professional Roaster's Guild and the Specialty Coffee Association
- Perfect for French press or cold brew coffee
Cons
- Pre-ground coffees may deteriorate faster than whole beans
5 Starbucks Pike Place Medium Roast Whole Bean Coffee
You can get the Starbucks flavors you love for a fraction of the price when you brew Pike Place coffee in your French press at home. These beans are ethically sourced from Latin America and roasted to medium intensity for a smooth, well-rounded brew. This medium-roast coffee tastes especially delicious when you use a slow-brew method.
Enjoy the rich flavors of cocoa and nutty praline in each cup of freshly brewed Starbucks Pike Place coffee.
Pros
- 100% Arabica medium-roast whole beans
- Strong coffee with a good value
- Cocoa, nutty praline, and soft spice flavors from Latin America
- Ethically sourced coffee beans
- Use for French press, a standard drip brewer, pour-over or moka pot
Cons
- Beans are not certified organic
6 Gevalia Special Reserve Guatemala Medium Roast
Gevalia Special Reserve Coffee has gourmet smoky chocolate flavors. This single-origin high-altitude coffee comes from the mountains of Guatemala. The beans are then slow-roasted and snap-cooled to lock in their rich flavor. This delightful coffee is ground coarsely and ready to brew in your French press.
Pour a hot cup of this freshly brewed coffee and add a splash of heavy cream or a vegan milk substitute to balance the acidic chocolate flavors.
Pros
- 100% Arabica medium roast coffee beans
- Pre-ground coffee is coarse and ready to use in a French press or for cold brew
- Smoky, cocoa flavor
- Single origin from Guatemalan high-altitude mountains
- Slow-roasted and snap-cooled to preserve flavor
- Rainforest Alliance certified
- Affordable price
Cons
- Pre-ground coffee may lose its flavor faster than whole beans
- High acidity
7 Death Wish Coffee Medium Roast
Death Wish proudly wears the badge of “the world’s strongest coffee.” This blend of Arabica and robusta beans includes twice the amount of caffeine as the average cup of coffee. So, don’t be surprised if one cup of coffee gives you enough energy to last the rest of the day.
The coffee beans grow at higher altitudes, and the careful roasting process gives them more flavor and less acid. You can taste delicious notes of caramel, chocolate, and stone fruit in each cup of French press coffee.
Death Wish Coffee is not for the faint of heart. However, if you need to boost your energy (and attitude), this Medium Roast Death Wish Coffee may be just what the doctor ordered.
Pros
- Arabica & Robusta medium roast whole beans
- Delicious flavors of caramel, nuts, apricot, and milk chocolate inherent in the beans
- 2x the caffeine of regular coffee
- Grown at higher altitudes for more flavor
- Lightly acidic with complex tastes
- Organic and Fair Trade certified
- Highly rated by customers
Cons
- Not recommended for those with health concerns related to caffeine content
8 Lucy Jo's Coffee Organic Mellow Belly Low-Acid Blend
Love the taste of coffee, but don’t love the stomach ache after? Lucy Jo’s Organic Mellow Belly Low-acid blend may be your new favorite coffee. The beans are harvested in Indonesia and Brazil and then roasted until they are medium-dark in color.
The beans’ origins combined with Lucy Jo’s small-batch roasting process bring you sweet and smooth, earthy flavor tones with a low-acid content. Your mouth and belly can enjoy this delicious Mellow Belly coffee.
Pros
- 100% Certified Organic Whole Bean Arabica Coffee
- Sweet earthy flavors with a hint of spice from Indonesia and Brazil
- Rich and smooth medium-dark roast
- Small batch coffee roasting for more precise flavors
- Low-acid
Cons
- Expensive compared to other brands
9 Bones Coffee Company Shark Bite Buttered Rum Flavored Coffee
Bones Coffee Company Shark Bite Buttered Rum Coffee lets you take a break from your ordinary routine to try something extraordinary. This coffee starts with ethically sourced 100% Arabica beans which are roasted to a medium level in small batches.
The beans are infused with delicious Spiced Buttered Rum flavors to make your palate water for more. This medium-roast dessert coffee is perfect for a mid-afternoon treat.
Pros
- 100% Arabica medium roast beans
- Infused with Spiced Buttered Rum flavoring
- Flavors are dairy-free with no added sugar or carbs
- Keto and vegan-friendly
- Smooth on the palate with low-acid
- Beans are ethically sourced and carefully selected
- Artisan small-batch roasted for high-quality flavor
Cons
- This product uses some artificial flavors
10 San Francisco Bay Decaf French Roast
Even if you are cutting back on caffeine, you can still enjoy the rich flavor of a dark roast coffee with San Francisco Bay Decaf French Roast. This coffee is grown in Central and South America for delicious smoky flavors of chocolate and flowers. Then the coffee beans go through a Swiss Water Process (SWP) to remove 99.9% of caffeine.
San Francisco Bay Decaf ensures you get the rich coffee taste of a regular cup without the caffeine (or the chemicals of regular decaf processing). With this full-bodied decaf French roast, you won’t have to worry about getting the coffee jitters.
Pros
- Arabica dark roast whole bean coffee
- Deep smoky chocolate and floral flavor blend from Central and South America
- Swiss water processed decaf to remove 99.9% of caffeine
- No chemicals used in decaffeination process
- Sustainable, Eco-Farmed coffee
- Grown at high altitudes and hand-picked for quality
Cons
- This dark roast can taste bitter if you drink it without milk or sugar
Tips for making the best coffee for French press
To make French press coffee at home, you just need hot water, a French press, and quality coffee. However, your French press coffee can easily become bitter if it’s over-extracted or sour if it’s under-extracted.
Here are a few helpful tips to bring out the best flavors of your brew.
Use filtered water
Chlorine in your water can taint the natural flavors of your coffee, so using filtered water is best. Not only does filtered water retain healthy minerals and compounds, but it also gives your coffee the cleanest-tasting flavor.
Warm up the French press carafe before use
To keep your coffee hot for longer, warm up the French press carafe before you brew with hot water. Let the hot water sit for a few minutes while you brew water for your coffee. Then, empty the water and brew your coffee in a warm carafe.
Heat water to approximately 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 Celsius)
Using boiling water in your French press can give your coffee a burnt or bitter taste and may even crack your carafe. For the best flavor, the water you use to brew coffee should be around 200 degrees Fahrenheit. If you don’t have a thermometer, you can boil water and let it rest for about a minute to achieve the appropriate temperature for brewing French press coffee.
Bloom the coffee grounds
Before you fill your French press with water, first cover the coffee grounds with hot water and allow them to bloom for 30 seconds to one minute. Add the rest of the water and stir with a wooden spoon to break up any lumps of coffee for an even extraction.
Steep your French press coffee for about four to five minutes
If you are brewing coffee in an average-size French press, it usually takes about four or five minutes to release all the flavors. Brewing for a shorter time may cause your coffee to taste weak, watery, or sour. However, if you let it brew past five minutes, your coffee may be too bitter to drink.
Setting a timer can help you know when to stop the brewing process and press down the plunger.
Don’t leave any extra coffee in the carafe
Coffee can continue steeping inside the French press even after you push down the plunger. So, once you serve the first round of coffee, pour any leftover brew into a warming carafe to keep your coffee hot and preserve its delicious flavor for longer.
Wash your French press thoroughly after use
After you finish using your French press, try to clean it immediately (or after you enjoy your coffee!). Old coffee grounds and oils can cause future coffee batches to taste sour or stale, so clean your French press thoroughly and dry it after each use.
Check out our step-by-step guide How to Use a French Press for more tips and step-by-step instructions!
Buyer’s Guide: What is the best coffee for French Press brewing?
The roast
A medium or dark roast complements the French press brewing method well. These roasts give you a rich coffee taste with a full-bodied mouthfeel. Chocolaty, smoky French roasts, and espresso roasts are common favorites for French press. However, you can also vary your options with a floral or fruity medium roast.
The grind size
Since a French press uses a slow brewing method, a coarse grind (75 mm to 1 mm in size) will release flavors at the appropriate rate to prevent bitter flavors. Fine coffee grounds (such as espresso grinds) can over-extract and easily slip through the French press’s filter and fill your brew with unpleasant grounds.
Choosing a whole-bean coffee and grinding it fresh in a burr grinder can give you the most potent flavors. You also can keep your coffee bean options open as most pre-ground coffees are too fine to use in a French press.
However, if you don’t have a grinder at home (yet), choose a coarse pre-ground coffee. (Many cold brew coffees also work well for French press.)
Single-origin coffee VS. Blends
Coffee beans have “flavor notes” naturally present in the beans. The bean origins and processing style can influence the final taste of your coffee. For example, coffee beans sourced from Guatemala, El Salvador, Brazil, India, and Vietnam tend to have deep chocolate flavors. However, washed or naturally processed coffees from Ethiopia, Burundi, and Rwanda often have sweet floral and fruity notes.
Coffee blends can give you a wider variety of coffee flavor combinations. However, some coffee purists enjoy the fresh, unadulterated tastes of single-origin coffees.
Our verdict
Our best coffee for French press is Kicking Horse Coffee’s Kick Ass Dark Roast. This blend combines deep exotic flavors from Indonesia and South America to tease your palate. The whole beans are also organically grown and ethically sourced. A splash of heavy cream transforms this rich, full-bodied coffee into a delicious treat at any time of day.
Now that you’ve seen our best coffee for French press, it’s time to pick your favorite. Check the bean roast, grind size, and flavor profile to see if the coffee is a good fit for your brew method and tastebuds. Whether you prefer an old faithful from Starbucks or want to try new and exciting flavors from around the globe, the choice is yours.
Happy brewing!
