Which French Press Works Best for Cold Brew? 6 Picks

The best coffee press for cold brew is a 34 oz French press with a fine, tight-fitting metal screen, and the Bodum Chambord 34 oz is the one to buy first because its glass carafe, steel frame and standard-size parts are easy to live with for years. If you want to spend less, the Bodum Brazil 34 oz uses the same borosilicate-glass idea in a lighter frame, and the Veken 34 oz is the pick when you want a cold brew pot with no plastic touching the coffee. A plain French press will never be as hands-off as a dedicated cold brew pitcher, but it is already in many kitchens, it doubles as a hot coffee maker, and with the right grind and a short filtering step it makes a clean, smooth concentrate.

This guide is research-based: we compared manufacturer descriptions, the product listings for each press and widely published cold brew ratios. We did not personally use these products, so every spec below is limited to what the maker or listing states, and anything not stated is marked “not listed”.

Bodum 51oz Cold Brew Coffee Maker, Black - Made in Portugal

Chosen because it specifies Black and Made in Portugal.

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QHH Cold Brew Coffee Maker, 64 oz Mason Jar Pitcher with Stainless Steel Filter, Pour Spout Handle Lid, Airtight & Leak-Proof for Iced Coffee,Tea & Lemonade

Chosen because it specifies 64 oz Mason Jar Pitcher with Stainless Steel Filter and Pour Spout Handle Lid.

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Bodum 51oz Cold Brew Coffee Maker, White - Made in Portugal

Chosen because it specifies White and Made in Portugal.

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Takeya Deluxe Cold Brew Coffee Maker - BPA-Free Tritan Pitcher with Airtight Leakproof Lid, Silicone Grip Handle, Fine-Mesh Filter - Shatter-Proof, Dishwasher Safe, Made in USA - 1 Quart/Black

Chosen because it specifies BPA-Free Tritan Pitcher with Airtight Leakproof Lid and Silicone Grip Handle.

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Top Picks at a Glance

• Best Overall: Bodum Chambord 34 oz, the classic carafe with a glass body and polished steel frame.
• Best Value: Bodum Brazil 34 oz, the same brand and capacity with a simpler black frame.
• Best Budget: Utopia Kitchen Borosilicate Glass 34 oz, a plain glass press with a thick-walled carafe.
• Best for a Cleaner Cup: Cafe Du Chateau 34 oz, a glass press with a 4-level filtration system listed by the maker.
• Best for Fridge Shelves and Travel: Secura 304 stainless steel 34 oz with two extra screens included.
• Best for Avoiding Plastic: Veken 34 oz, described as having no plastic touching the coffee.

Coffee Press for Cold Brew: Comparison Table

Why a French Press Works for Cold Brew (and Where It Falls Short)

Cold brew is simply coffee steeped in room-temperature or refrigerated water for many hours. A French press is a steeping vessel with a built-in metal filter, so the job is the same: coarse grounds, cold water, a long wait, then press and pour. The advantages are clear. The 34 oz size (about 1 liter) fits the fridge door, the plunger gives you a quick way to separate grounds from liquid, and the carafe is easy to rinse.

The limits are just as clear. Metal mesh lets through fine particles and some coffee oils, so a pressed cold brew is a little cloudier and heavier-bodied than a paper-filtered one. A press also has no drip-through tray, so grounds sit in the liquid until you press them down. And because the plunger is designed for hot water, a very tight stack of grounds at the bottom can be slow to filter. None of this is a deal-breaker; you simply plan around it with the right grind and a second filtering pass if you want a very clear glass.

1. Bodum Chambord 34 oz: Best for Everyday Cold Brew

• Capacity: 34 oz
• Body: high-heat borosilicate glass
• Frame: polished stainless steel
• Made in Portugal (per the listing)
• Also sold in 12 oz, 17 oz and 51 oz sizes by the same maker

Best for: people who want one press for hot coffee in the morning and a batch of cold brew every few days. Skip if: you want something that survives a drop onto tile.

The Chambord is the press most other designs are measured against, which is a practical advantage: lids, plungers and replacement screens in this style are widely sold, so the press does not become waste if a single part wears out. At 34 oz it holds enough for a concentrate batch that makes roughly a week of iced coffee when diluted. Borosilicate glass handles a hot-water rinse and a cold fridge shelf without drama, which matters for a tool that goes from steaming kettle in the morning to a 12-hour chill overnight.

In practice, the steel frame protects the sides of the carafe, and the wide opening makes it easy to scoop in grounds and stir. The weak point is the same as every glass press: the carafe itself. Treat it gently, do not run cold tap water into a hot carafe, and it should last.

Pros: classic design; parts widely available; handles hot and cold use; several sizes if you later want a smaller or larger batch. Cons: glass is breakable; the standard screen passes fine grounds, so a second filtering step helps for a clear cup.

2. Bodum Brazil 34 oz: Best Value Entry

• Capacity: 34 oz
• Body: high-heat borosilicate glass
• Frame: black (exact frame material not listed)
• Made in Portugal (per the listing)

Best for: someone trying cold brew in a press for the first time without committing to a steel-framed model. Skip if: you want a polished look on the counter.

The Brazil is the budget-friendly sibling of the Chambord: same maker, same 34 oz size, same borosilicate carafe approach. The trade-off is the frame, which is lighter and feels less premium. For cold brew this matters less than it would for hot coffee, because the press lives in the refrigerator and rarely meets boiling water. If you are curious whether you will actually drink cold brew every week, this is the lowest-risk way to find out from a name-brand maker.

One practical note: because it is a lighter press, it can tip more easily when the plunger is pushed down on a counter. Hold the handle with one hand and press with the other, and keep it on a stable surface.

Pros: low cost; same capacity as the Chambord; a recognizable brand; easy to rinse. Cons: lighter frame; fewer finish options; glass still breakable.

3. Veken 34 oz: Best for a Plastic-Free Cold Brew Pot

• Capacity: 34 oz (1 L)
• Body: thickened glass
• Parts: stainless steel; “no plastic touching” the coffee, per the listing
• Listing mentions use as a cold brew pot, as well as tea and travel

Best for: shoppers who care about the drink never contacting plastic, even in the lid area. Skip if: you want a long track record of replacement parts, since a smaller brand may be harder to match later.

The Veken is aimed squarely at people who read the fine print about materials. Listing text emphasizes glass and stainless steel contact surfaces, which is exactly what you want in a vessel that sits with coffee for 12 to 18 hours. It also lists cold brew among its uses, which is a mild signal that the maker expects buyers to steep rather than just pour hot water.

Because the details of the screen are not described beyond the general design, the sensible plan is to treat it like any other press: use a coarse grind, steep, and run the finished concentrate through a paper filter if you want a very clean cup. Rinse the screen right after pressing; cold brew grounds are fine and can clog the mesh if they dry.

Pros: glass and steel contact surfaces; 1 L capacity; cold brew named in the listing; gift-friendly look. Cons: less known brand; detailed filter specs not listed.

4. Secura 304 Stainless Steel 34 oz: Best Shatter-Proof Option

• Capacity: 34 oz (1 L)
• Body: 304 grade stainless steel, insulated
• Includes 2 extra screens

Best for: households with kids, camping trips, or anyone who has already broken a glass press. Skip if: you like to watch the coffee darken through the glass.

The Secura removes the biggest risk of owning a press: breakage. A stainless carafe will not shatter, and the insulated body helps a hot pot stay warm, though for cold brew that mostly means the fridge door shelf is a safe home. The two extra screens are the quiet selling point. Metal screens wear and clog, and swapping a fresh one in is much cheaper than replacing the press.

The cost of an opaque body is that you cannot see the grounds settle or the level of the liquid. Mark your water line with a measuring jug before pouring, and label the batch with the date, since a steel pot looks the same whether it is full of fresh or day-old concentrate.

Pros: will not shatter; spare screens included; insulated body; good for travel. Cons: opaque; heavier than glass; takes more room in a crowded fridge door.

5. Utopia Kitchen Borosilicate Glass 34 oz: Best Budget Pick

• Capacity: 34 oz
• Body: borosilicate glass, heat-resistant, thickened
• Black frame; marketed as a cafetiere and tea maker

Best for: trying the French press cold brew method as cheaply as possible, or keeping a second press at a vacation home. Skip if: you want a polished steel frame or a detailed multi-stage filter.

This is a plain, no-frills glass press. It does the same job as the pricier carafes: coarse grounds go in, cold water goes in, the lid sits on, and 12 to 18 hours later you press. Borosilicate glass handles fridge-to-counter temperature changes better than ordinary glass, which is the main thing you need from the material.

Where cheaper presses show their limits is the fit of the screen against the carafe wall. If you notice sludge in your pressed concentrate, do not blame the beans; try a coarser grind, press slowly, and pour through a paper filter. That fixes most issues at any price.

Pros: low cost; heat-resistant glass; easy to clean; light. Cons: basic finish; filter details not listed; a replacement screen may be harder to find.

6. Cafe Du Chateau 34 oz: Best for a Cleaner Cup

• Capacity: 34 oz
• Body: durable clear glass with stainless steel parts
• 4-level filtration, per the listing
• BPA-free materials, per the listing

Best for: people who dislike silt at the bottom of the glass. Skip if: you want the fewest parts possible to wash.

The listing highlights a four-layer filtration approach, which in a press usually means a spring-loaded plate, a mesh screen, a cross plate and a lid-side seal. More layers can mean fewer fine particles reach your cup, which is the main complaint about pressed cold brew. The trade-off is added cleaning: take the plunger apart after each batch, because the narrow gaps in a multi-part filter can trap old grounds and oils.

Even with good filtration, plan to pour your concentrate through a paper filter or a fine-mesh sieve once if you want a very clear glass.

Pros: extra filtration; clear glass lets you see the brew; BPA-free materials. Cons: more parts to clean; the performance claim is the maker’s, not independent.

Also Consider

Utopia Kitchen 304 Stainless Steel French Press 34 oz

The stainless sibling of the glass Utopia, listed with a double-wall insulated body, 4-level filtration and 2 extra filters. A good alternative to the Secura if you want a steel press with spare screens.

Takeya Deluxe Cold Brew Coffee Maker (2 quart)

Not a press at all, but a dedicated Tritan pitcher with a fine-mesh filter, airtight leakproof lid and silicone grip, listed as made in the USA. If you decide you want less handling and more volume, this is the dedicated cold brew route.

Primula Burke Deluxe Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker

A 1.6 qt glass carafe with a removable mesh filter and a comfort-grip handle. It brews without plunging, so there is no force on the grounds, and it fits a standard fridge shelf.

How We Chose

This guide is research-based. We compared manufacturer product descriptions, retailer listing details, and widely published cold brew ratios from coffee brands and specialty coffee publications. We looked for 34 oz presses because that size is the common standard, then separated glass, lighter-framed and stainless options so you can match the material to your habits. We did not personally use these products and we do not claim lab measurements. Where a listing did not state a spec, such as screen material details or frame plastics, we wrote “not listed” instead of guessing. We kept to a maximum of two models per brand and chose a spread of budget, mid-range and premium tiers.

Buying Guide

Size: 34 oz is the sweet spot

A 34 oz press holds about 1 liter. For a concentrate at 1:5 coffee to water by weight, use roughly 600 g (about 20 oz) of water and 120 g of coarse ground coffee. That leaves headroom for stirring and the plunger. At 1:8 for a ready-to-drink style, use about 800 g of water and 100 g of coffee. Do not fill a press to the brim; the plunger displaces liquid and grounds expand as they soak. A 51 oz press makes sense only if you drink more than about four large glasses a day. A 12 oz or 17 oz press is better for one person but turns cold brew into a frequent chore.

Material: glass, steel or lighter frame

Glass lets you see the brew and does not pick up flavors, but it breaks. Stainless steel is nearly indestructible and suits camping, but you cannot see inside. Lighter frames reduce cost and weight; check that any plastic that touches coffee is described as BPA-free. If you often rinse the press hot and then fill it cold, choose borosilicate glass, which is built for temperature swings.

Filter design: where the sediment comes from

The screen is the heart of a cold brew press. Look for a tight-fitting mesh with a spring-loaded edge that follows the wall of the carafe. Multi-stage filters help, but even the best metal screen lets some fines through, so keep a paper filter or a fine sieve on hand. Spare screens, as with the Secura and stainless Utopia, are a sign the maker expects the screen to wear.

Grind size and brew time

Use a coarse grind, similar to coarse sea salt. Fine grounds pass through the mesh and over-extract. Steep in the fridge for 14 to 18 hours or on the counter for 10 to 12, then press slowly. Do not push the plunger to the bottom with force; a gentle press leaves most of the fine particles behind.

Cleaning and upkeep

Rinse the screen immediately after use, then wash with warm soapy water. Once a month, soak the metal parts in hot water with a coffee-equipment cleaner to remove oils. Replace seals or screens when they stop sitting flush against the glass.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using a medium or fine grind. This makes sludge and bitterness. Always use coarse.
• Pressing too early. Pushing the plunger down after one hour will not make cold brew; the coffee needs hours of steeping.
• Leaving the plunger down for days. Pour the finished coffee into a clean jar. Grounds left in contact keep extracting and turn bitter.
• Filling to the brim. You need space for the plunger and for the grounds to move.
• Ignoring the screen. Dried grounds clog the mesh and make the next batch harder to press.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you make cold brew in a regular French press?

Yes. Add coarse grounds and cold water, stir, cover, and steep in the fridge for 14 to 18 hours before pressing slowly. The method works in any 34 oz press, though a tight screen gives a cleaner result.

What coffee-to-water ratio should I use?

For a concentrate, many coffee brands suggest about 1 part coffee to 4 or 5 parts water by weight, then dilute with water or milk. For a ready-to-drink batch, use around 1 part coffee to 8 parts water. Adjust to taste after the first batch.

How long should I steep cold brew in a French press?

Plan on 12 to 18 hours in the refrigerator. Shorter brews taste thin; much longer can taste woody or bitter, especially if the grind is not coarse enough.

Why is my cold brew cloudy or gritty?

A metal screen lets some fine particles pass through. Use a coarser grind, press slowly, and pour the finished concentrate through a paper filter or fine sieve for a cleaner cup.

How long does cold brew keep in the fridge?

Store it in a clean, sealed container in the refrigerator. Many coffee makers recommend finishing it within about a week to ten days; follow the guidance from your coffee brand, and discard it if it smells off.

Is a glass or stainless French press better for cold brew?

Glass shows the brew and keeps flavor pure but can break. Stainless steel resists breakage and travels better but is opaque. Either works for cold brew; pick based on how you will use it.

Do I need a dedicated cold brew maker instead?

Not necessarily. A dedicated pitcher offers a finer built-in filter and a simpler pour, but a French press you already own makes a good batch at no extra cost.

Which One Should You Buy?

If you want one press that does everything well, buy the Bodum Chambord 34 oz. If you are trying the idea and want to keep cost low, the Bodum Brazil or the Utopia Kitchen glass press are enough. Choose the Secura if breakage worries you, the Veken if you want to avoid plastic around the coffee, and the Cafe Du Chateau if fine sediment is the thing you cannot stand. Whichever you choose, use a coarse grind, steep for 14 to 18 hours, press slowly and filter once more through paper if you want a clear glass.

Sources

• Bodum manufacturer product pages for the Chambord and Brazil French presses
• Manufacturer and retailer listing details for the Veken, Secura, Utopia Kitchen and Cafe Du Chateau presses
• Takeya and Primula cold brew maker product descriptions
• Specialty coffee brand guides on cold brew ratios and steep times
• National Coffee Association brewing resources

Last updated: October 2026