Best Coffee Beans for French Press Brewing
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The best coffee beans for French press brewing, with the right roast, coarse grind and coffee to water ratio.
The best coffee beans for French press brewing are Peet's Major Dickason's Blend for most people: a robust, full bodied dark roast of 100 percent Arabica beans whose heavy body shines in an immersion brewer. If you want organic beans with chocolate notes, Kicking Horse Grizzly Claw is a certified organic, Fairtrade dark roast, and San Francisco Bay French Roast is the best value in a 2 pound bag.
A French press steeps coffee for about four minutes and uses a metal mesh filter, which keeps natural oils in the cup. That rewards beans with body, chocolate and nutty notes and low bitterness. Below we compare six coffees for French press, then explain which roast to choose, how coarse to grind, the right ratio, how to avoid sludge, storage tips and answers to common questions. Every pick sells new on Amazon.
Best Coffee Beans for French Press: Our Top Picks
Our top pick is Peet's Major Dickason's Blend, followed by Kicking Horse Grizzly Claw for organic beans and San Francisco Bay French Roast for value. We compared roast level, origin, the flavor notes each roaster lists, bag size, certifications and how widely each coffee is bought and kept.
Peet's Major Dickason's Blend Whole Bean: Best Overall for French Press
Peet's Major Dickason's Blend is the best coffee for French press for most people because its rich, full bodied dark roast stands up to a long steep without tasting thin. Peet's describes it as flavorful, robust and full bodied, and it is 100 percent Arabica.
Peet's recommends a coarse grind, about the consistency of coarse sea salt, for French press and cold brew. The 18 ounce bag is a little larger than standard 12 ounce bags, and the blend is one of the brand's best known coffees.
- Dark roast, 100 percent Arabica
- Robust and full bodied, ideal for immersion
- 18 ounce whole bean bag
The limitation is roast level: people who like bright, fruity coffee may find it heavy. Skip it if you prefer a light roast. Expect to pay around $15.
Kicking Horse Grizzly Claw: Best Organic Beans for French Press
Kicking Horse Grizzly Claw is the best organic coffee for French press. It is a certified organic, Fairtrade and Kosher dark roast, roasted in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
Kicking Horse lists tasting notes of rich dark chocolate, cacao nibs, brown sugar and roasted hazelnut, with an aroma of condensed sugar cane and cocoa powder, and describes it as velvety and earthy. Those chocolate and nut notes come through well with the extra body of a metal filter.
- Certified organic, Fairtrade and Kosher
- Dark roast with chocolate and hazelnut notes
- 10 ounce bag
The limitation is the small 10 ounce bag. Skip it if you brew large batches daily and want a big bag. Expect to pay around $13.
San Francisco Bay French Roast Whole Bean: Best Value for French Press
San Francisco Bay French Roast is the best value coffee for French press, sold in a 2 pound bag. It is made from 100 percent Arabica beans from Central and South America, roasted dark for a bold, full bodied coffee with a smoky finish.
The beans are certified Kosher, and San Francisco Bay recommends storing them in a cool, dark place and grinding just before brewing.
- 2 pound bag of 100 percent Arabica
- Dark French roast, bold with a smoky finish
- Certified Kosher
The limitation is the very dark, smoky profile, and a large bag can go stale before you finish it. Skip it if you prefer smoother medium roasts. Expect to pay around $29.
Cafe Don Pablo Signature Blend: Best Smooth, Low Acid Option
Cafe Don Pablo Signature Blend is the best French press coffee for people who want a smooth, low acid cup. It is a medium dark roast of Colombian, Guatemalan and Brazilian Arabica beans, medium to full bodied with a very smooth, cocoa toned finish and low acidity, according to the roaster.
- Medium dark roast, 100 percent Arabica
- Colombia, Guatemala and Brazil blend
- Low acidity with a cocoa finish, 2 pound bag
The limitation is that a 2 pound bag is a lot for one person. Skip it if you brew only a cup or two a week. Expect to pay around $30.
Lavazza Qualità Rossa Whole Bean: Best Medium Roast for French Press
Lavazza Qualità Rossa is the best medium roast for French press brewers who want a velvety, chocolatey cup without a dark roast's smokiness. Lavazza rates it 5 out of 10 for intensity, with a full bodied finish and chocolate notes.
The blend combines Arabica and Robusta from South America, Africa and Southeast Asia, which adds body. Lavazza recommends it for espresso or drip, and it works well coarse ground in a press.
- Medium roast, intensity 5 out of 10
- Arabica and Robusta blend with chocolate notes
- 2.2 pound bag
The limitation is that Robusta adds some bitterness. Skip it if you want 100 percent Arabica. Expect to pay around $25.
Koffee Kult Dark Roast: Best Small Batch Beans for French Press
Koffee Kult Dark Roast is the best small batch option for French press. It is a 100 percent Arabica blend of Colombian, Guatemalan and Sumatra beans, artisan roasted in small batches, and Koffee Kult specifically recommends it for coffee press brewing.
- Small batch dark roast
- Colombia, Guatemala and Sumatra Arabica
- Recommended for French press
The limitation is price. Skip it if you want the lowest cost per cup. Expect to pay around $50 for the large bag.
What Roast Is Best for French Press?
Medium dark and dark roasts are best for most French press drinkers because they bring out chocolate, caramel and nutty flavors that pair well with the full body of an immersion brew. Medium roasts work well too and offer more sweetness and balance.
Light roasts can taste great in a French press, especially single origin African coffees, but they need a slightly finer grind or longer steep to avoid sourness. If you are new to French press, start with a medium dark roast like Peet's Major Dickason's or Don Pablo Signature.
What Grind Size Is Best for French Press?
Use a coarse grind, about the size of coarse sea salt, for French press. Coarse grounds steep evenly for four minutes and stay above the mesh filter. Fine grounds over extract, taste bitter and slip through the mesh into your cup.
A burr grinder makes a much more even coarse grind than a blade grinder, which produces dust and chunks. See our guide to the best burr coffee grinder, or choose a brewer with a built in grinder from our list of the best coffee maker with grinder models.
What Is the Best Coffee to Water Ratio for French Press?
A ratio of about 1 to 15, or 1 gram of coffee per 15 grams of water, is a good starting point for French press. That is roughly 33 grams of coffee for a 17 ounce (500 milliliter) press, or about 4 to 5 tablespoons.
Use water just off the boil, around 200 degrees Fahrenheit, steep for four minutes, then press slowly. For stronger coffee, use more grounds rather than a longer steep, which can add bitterness. Our guide to the French press coffee ratio has a chart for every press size, and our guide on how to use a French press walks through each step.
How to Avoid Sludge in French Press Coffee
To avoid sludge, grind coarser, let the coffee rest a minute after pressing and stop pouring before the last ounce. Most sludge comes from fine particles that pass through the mesh.
Some people skim the crust and foam from the top after four minutes, then wait a few more minutes before pressing gently, which lets fines settle. A press with a double or triple mesh filter also helps. Our guide to the best French press compares filter designs.
Whole Bean vs Pre-Ground for French Press
Whole bean coffee is better for French press because you can grind it coarse and fresh right before brewing. Most pre-ground coffee is ground for drip machines, which is too fine for a press and leads to bitterness and sludge.
If you buy pre-ground, look for bags labeled coarse ground or French press, or ask a coffee shop to grind beans coarse for you. Use pre-ground coffee within a week or two for the best flavor.
How to Store Coffee Beans for French Press
Store beans in an opaque, airtight container at room temperature and away from light and heat. Buy amounts you will finish within 2 to 4 weeks of roasting. Avoid the refrigerator. Large 2 pound bags offer value but should be split into smaller portions, with the rest kept sealed. Our guide to the best coffee canister compares storage options. Browse more coffees in our coffee beans section.
Common French Press Mistakes
The most common mistake is using a fine grind, which makes bitter, muddy coffee. Another is steeping too long; four minutes is a good default. Using boiling water straight off the kettle can scorch delicate flavors, so let it rest 30 seconds. Finally, leaving coffee in the press after brewing keeps it extracting; pour it all into a cup or carafe right away.
How We Chose
We chose these French press coffees by comparing roast level, origin, the flavor notes each roaster lists, bag size, certifications and how widely each coffee is bought and kept. This guide is based on research of product listings and owner feedback rather than in-person trials, and every coffee sells new on Amazon.
FAQs About Coffee Beans for French Press
What kind of coffee is best for French press?
Medium dark to dark roasts with chocolate and nutty notes are best for most people. Peet's Major Dickason's Blend is a popular, full bodied choice. Grind it coarse and use it fresh.
Can I use regular ground coffee in a French press?
You can, but most regular ground coffee is too fine and makes bitter, sludgy coffee. Choose coarse ground coffee or grind whole beans coarse.
Is dark roast better for French press?
Dark roast is a great fit because it is bold and low in acidity, and the press adds body. Medium roasts are also excellent if you prefer more sweetness.
How long should I steep French press coffee?
Steep for about four minutes, then press slowly. Adjust by a minute either way to taste, and change the dose rather than the time for strength.
How much coffee do I need for a French press?
Use about 1 gram of coffee per 15 grams of water. For a 34 ounce (1 liter) press, that is about 65 grams, or roughly 8 to 9 tablespoons.
Are espresso beans good in a French press?
Yes. Espresso roasts are usually medium dark to dark and taste rich in a French press when ground coarse.
Final Verdict
The best coffee beans for French press brewing are Peet's Major Dickason's Blend, a robust, full bodied dark roast that suits a four minute steep. Choose Kicking Horse Grizzly Claw for organic chocolatey beans, San Francisco Bay French Roast for value, Cafe Don Pablo Signature for a smooth low acid cup, Lavazza Qualità Rossa for a medium roast and Koffee Kult for small batch dark roast.
