No space for a coffee machine? A French press is the chic café-core essential that every stylish person owns – I've found the 12 best you can buy right now
It's a secret weapon for serving delicious coffee en masse when hosting
The Venn diagram of good coffee and stylish homeware is an unfortunately small one – as much as I love my bean-to-cup coffee machine, it's more than a little ungainly.
But if there's one exception that never fails to tick both boxes it's a French press, which is why I've found all of the best versions available to buy this spring.
Otherwise known as a cafetière, these stylish coffee makers couldn't be easier to use. Add hot water to coffee grounds, wait just a few minutes (usually about four) and serve up enough delicious coffee to please a crowd.
That simplicity of this French café-core essential is what makes it a timeless kitchen addition – my at-home pick is Le Creuset's Stoneware version in Chambray, which is £69. On the hunt for something more affordable? Then I've got the pick for you – Bodum's eight-cup cafétiere is just £35 (via Selfridges) and has stunningly impressive reviews.
Whether you're looking for a French press as your primary method of staying caffeinated or as a timesaver to pull out when you're hosting brunch with friends, these cafétieres are not only capable of making delectable black coffee but will look great on your kitchen worktop too.
If you prefer filter coffee rather than the perculator method, I've had my eye on this stunning stoneware dripper from Fable (£34.99) – it's well worth a look if you prefer the pour-over style.
However you prefer to serve coffee at home, there's plenty to be gained from emulating our French counterparts’ effortless café culture and eye for stylish picks.
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Molly is Ideal Home’s Kitchen Appliances Editor and the Ideal Home Certified Expert on Appliances. An all-around cooking and baking enthusiast, she loves finding the next must-have product for readers that will their kitchen a better place. She joined the team in September 2022 after working on the editorial teams of Real Homes, Homes & Gardens and Livingetc.
For the last 4 years, she's been reviewing hundreds of small appliances; conducting tests at home or in the Ideal Home test kitchen.
Molly also has the lucky job of testing coffee machines, from pricey bean-to-cup models to low-faff pod machines, to serve those looking to hone their barista skills at home. She oversees an expert panel of coffee machine reviewers too, to cover every coffee niche.