While the French press is a simple brewing method, the types of beans will greatly affect the quality and taste of your liquid.
But, how the heck do you figure out which beans will make the best coffee with your cafetière à piston?
Best French Press Coffees You Should Take in Consideration
Let’s get right into it:
- Medium roast
- Certified organic
- Premium quality
- Suitable for upset stomachs
- Dark roast without bitterness
- Certified clean coffee
- High quality
- Perfect both for French Press and Cold Brew
- Dark roast
- Coarse ground (no grinding needed)
- Perfect for cold brew and French Press coffees
- Hand-crafted, high quality
- Premium dark roast blend
- Comes both in ground and whole beans form
- Carefully hand-picked
- Certified organic coffee beans
- Premium quality
- Highly caffeinated dark roast blend
- No bitter taste
- Certified clean coffee beans
- Best for both Cold Brew and French Press
- Awakening dark roast blend
- Also great for cold brew
- Strong and bold flavor
- No grinding necessary
- Medium roast
- 100% arabica coffee beans
- European prepared and naturally dried
- Great for iced coffee as well
After short-overview, let’s discuss these top rated French Press Coffees of 2021 in detail!
1. LifeBoost Medium Roast Coffee
LifeBoost is a coffee company on the rise, and definitely one to keep an eye on.
The coffee beans are a single origin, high-quality, no-blend coffee type. They are currently one of the healthiest and smoothest coffee types on the market.
The beans grown in the beautiful mountain shade of Nicaragua, with no pesticides or chemicals being used in the growing or hand-washing process, LifeBoost can easily boast about its USDA organic rating.
Their coffee is also fairly traded, meaning farmers are paid well for each coffee harvest, and a portion of LifeBoost profits is also donated to protect the environment, including rainforests.
This Medium roast coffee is low in acidity, and has a smooth, rich and well-balanced flavor. There are hints of nuts, chocolate, and strawberry sweetness that come through in each French Press cup.
The low acidity level of LifeBoost Medium Roast Coffee also means it’s the perfect choice of coffee bean for those who suffer from stomach issues, tooth decay, and various other high-acid associated problems.
PROS
- Certified Organic means your coffee is safe for you and for the environment
- Beans are hand-picked and hand-washed assuring quality in every bag
- Low acidity levels makes it a great choice of coffee for those with digestive problems and stomach issues
CONS
- Not cheaper
- The low-acidity may not work for those who love a higher acidic coffee bean
Bottom Line
If you are someone who cares about what exactly you are putting into your body, then there is really a cleaner or safer option of coffee bean out there. This is the perfect choice for those who love a tasty organic option for their daily cup of French Press cup of java.
2. Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Coffee – Most Natural and Fruity
If you have experienced Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Coffee before, then you know what a true treat it can be.
This particular bag of Yirgacheffe coffee beans from Volcanica is a medium roast that has a sweet and deeply complex fruit-tone. There are also notes of strawberry, dark chocolate, and lavender in each cup. The acidity of the coffee beans further brings out these unique tones, making
it an absolute delight.
Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Coffee is ideally used in a French press, as it brings the most out of its rich fruity flavors and earthy aroma.
If you really want to experience the full flavor profile of Yirgacheffe coffee, you can also consider pairing it with fruit or chocolate. Both can give your taste buds a truly unique and delicious experience.
Organically grown in Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia, the Arabica beans that come from this region have a flavor profile that is floral, with a hint of underlying fruit tones. They are rated as some of the best beans in the world and are grown at a high elevation, with each bean being handpicked.
PROS
- Organically grown and hand picked
- Sourced from wild coffee trees
- Highly aromatic with a complex flavor profile
- Freshly roasted to order
- Budget-friendly
CONS
- Can be considered too mild for those who like darker roasts
Bottom Line
If you love complex flavors that are fruit based and have hints of chocolate, you will absolutely appreciate a cup of Ethiopian Yirgacheffe coffee. While its flavor profile may not be right for every palette, a true coffee enthusiast will jump for joy over a French press brew of this deliciously multifaceted coffee.
3. Koffee Kult Coffee Beans Dark Roasted – The Gourmet of Coffee Beans
Koffee Kult coffee beans are the epitome of gourmet coffee. They are all about freshness, with their beans being roasted in small batches and immediately packaged so freshness remains intact.
Each bag comes with a roasted date and all freshly packaged bags are shipped within hours of roasting.
The dark roast profile of these beans comes from the second crack in the roasting process. They reach their ideal roast and then are quickly cooled to create a more flavorful taste.
Simplicity meets high-quality in the Koffee Kult bean world. The best part? These beans make one heck of a great cup since the French press process gets maximum oil extraction.
PROS
- Simple, high-quality, and gourmet beans
- Packaged and shipped right after roasting
- Dark roast without the bitterness quality
- Certified clean coffee beans
- Perfect for making French press and cold brew
CONS
- Not dark or strong enough for some coffee drinkers
Bottom Line
If you want an artisan style, gourmet coffee, Koffee Kult will fit the bill. It’s a simple blend but makes you undeniably delicious French press or cold brew coffees.
4. Real Good French Roast Extra Dark Whole Coffee Beans – Straight to the Point Coffee Beans
Real Good Coffee is all about quality, simplicity, and great prices.
Sourced from Central and South America, these 100% Arabic coffee beans are extra bold, dark roasted, and have a touch of a sweet finish. They feature rich undertones of raspberry and dark chocolate, with a hint of the spice, Anise. There are also no additives, preservatives, or artificial ingredients in their beans, making them a great clean coffee bean to use in your French press.
The Real Good Coffee Company prides itself on customer service and creating beans that don’t need all the bells and whistles. The company is dedicated to provide awesome coffee and fair value for both its customers and coffee farmers.
PROS
- Affordable
- Robust, smooth, and flavorful coffee beans
- Organic, Fair Trade, and environmentally friendly
- No bells and whistles, just real good coffee
- Perfect for making French press
CONS
- Not for those who love complex flavors and aromas
Bottom Line
With not many bells and whistles, Real Good Coffee provides perfectly roasted and high-quality coffee bean that will give you a French press cup of sturdy goodness.
5. Stone Street Coffee – A True Cold Brewing Treat
Stone Street Coffee is a company dedicated to producing quality, handcrafted coffees. They are ethically based and create fair trade relationships with coffee farms and growing regions.
Their roasting process has been expertly developed to ensure each bag of beans keeps its full flavor profile and unique characteristics.
The beans from Stone Street Coffee are also unique in that they are dark roast and are best used for brewing/cold pressing cold brew coffee. If you are wondering if this can be done in using a French press, it absolutely can! French press actually makes a surprisingly great cup of cold brew!
Beans are 100% Columbian Supremo and have less acidity when used to brew cold brew. The overall taste of these beans is on the sweeter side, with it being a very smooth and well-balanced blend. If you want a strong and bold coffee flavor, these beans may be ideal.
PROS
- Strong and bold flavor that is perfect for cold brew
- Handcrafted and high-quality
- Ethically sourced from farms and growing regions
- Consistent grind perfect for French press use
CONS
- Great for cold brew but not for hot coffee
Bottom Line
If you are all about the cold brew, then Stone Street Coffee is the way to go. Not only is their coffee strong and bold, but it’s high-quality and can be thrown directly into your French press, no grinding necessary.
6. Bulletproof French Kick Ground Coffee – Cleanest Coffee in Town
Bulletproof is a certified clean coffee company, well-known for its organic, rainforest alliance certified coffee beans. Not only are they a company that cares about the environment, but also the quality of the products they produce.
Bulletproof also has developed a technique that minimizes toxins that are found in beans. Their final roasts always undergo lab testing to ensure that their coffee meets the quality standards the consumers expect from their products.
The French Kick Ground Coffee is a premium dark roast blend that has a smooth and sweet taste, with chocolate undertones and medium body flavor. Using it to make French press is an absolute treat. The quality and cleanliness of the coffee really come forward, making it one heck of a good brew.
PROS
- Very affordable
- Ethically sourced and carefully hand-picked
- Comes both pre-ground and in the form of whole beans
- Certified clean coffee beans
- Rainforest alliance certified
- Doesn’t give you coffee jitters
CONS
- Not the strongest coffee out there
Bottom Line
If you want a great cup of French press java that gives you a boost without the jitters, then go for Bulletproof French Kick Ground Coffee. It’s one of cleanest coffee out there at an affordable price tag.
7. Death Wish Coffee – World’s Strongest Coffee
A killer combination of Arabica and Robusta beans, Death Wish Coffee is all about kick-starting your day.
Known as the world’s strongest coffee, they use the perfect blend of beans to create a dark, bold, and highly caffeinated coffee blend.
USDA Certified Organic assures you are getting a high-quality coffee that is 100% natural with no artificial additives or ingredients. Their use of small-batch roasting also assures you getting the fresh, consistent, and quality coffee that you deserve.
The taste of Death Wish Organic is a combination of cherry meeting chocolate. It’s smooth, never bitter, and is low in acidity without sacrificing the strength or overall flavor.
Undoubtedly, it’s just a kick-ass cup of joe.
PROS
- Super-duper strong coffee
- Created in small batches for a fresh, consistent, and high-quality product
- No bitter taste even though it is among the darkest of the dark
- Certified clean coffee beans
- Can be bought pre-ground or in beans
- Perfect for cold brew AND French press
CONS
- May be too dark of a roast for some coffee drinkers
- Bit on the pricier side
Bottom Line
If you want a cup of French press that is stronger than any other coffee on the market, Death Wish is a coffee you must have on hand. Although it doesn’t have the complex flavors and tastes of some other coffees out there, it does what a cup of coffee should do: kicks your ass into gear!
8. Peet’s Coffee Major Dickason’s Blend – Freshest of the Freshest
Peet’s Coffee is a rich, smooth, spicy, and complex coffee blend that is full-bodied and has multiple layers. It has quickly become a coffee that is known for its rich and flavorful taste.
By using high-quality coffee beans from the top growing regions, these beans are full of regional characteristics from multiple sources, creating a truly unique blend of beans. All beans are also grown and sourced responsibly, making sure communities that grow and harvest the beans are treated fairly.
As a company, Peet’s Coffee is dedicated to providing the freshest and fullest flavor in every single cup. The beans themselves are roasted by hand, with every order being tested before it is shipped out. They also make sure to label each bag of beans with a roast date, so you know you are getting the freshest of the freshest.
The Dickason’s Blend is a dark roast packed full of flavor. It has a smoky and full-bodied taste, and is the perfect coffee to use for your French press coffee.
PROS
- Affordable
- Only the best beans are used from the world’s top growing regions
- Mouth-watering aroma
- Beans are roasted by hand with the quality of each order tested before shipment
- Each bag is marked with its roast date
CONS
- Pre-ground version isn’t as coarse as it needs to be for quality French press
Bottom Line
If you are all about fresh, dark roasted quality coffee, then Peet’s Coffee Major Dickason’s Blend is a perfect choice for you. They put a lot of care into each bag.
9. Strong AF Coffee – The Most Sassiest of Coffee Beans
Strong AF Coffee knows how to get things done. Sassy and full of attitude, Strong AF Coffee is all about giving their customers a kick when it’s needed.
Strong AF coffee is also designed to have twice the standard amount of caffeine as other brands, so these beans will easily jump-start your morning in the right way.
With rich, complex aromas, these beans have a roasted, nutty flavor with hints of caramel and clove that keeps you going back for more.
PROS
- Highly-caffeinated coffee to start your morning off right
- Strong and dark coffee that is high-quality
- Great for making French press
CONS
- Little on the pricey side
Bottom Line
Nothing too fancy here other than the name, but the coffee beans are solid and you will get a strong cup of java from your French press out of these babies.
10. Primos Coffee Co. French Press Specialty Coffee – Family Owned & Operated
Primo Coffee Co. is a family-owned farm that has been producing coffee beans in Nicaragua for four generations. Their beans are harvested by hand, European prepared, and naturally dried.
Roasting the beans until a medium roasting level is reached, the flavors of the beans are more prominent, and the aromatic qualities are more rich and bold. Beans are also roasted in small batches to assure freshness and quality upon shipping.
This French press specialty coffee is a mild coffee with low acidity, a medium body, with sweet and smooth citrusy notes.
PROS
- Family owned and operated for four generations
- No blending of coffee beans ensure unique qualities remain
- Strong and robust flavor profile with enchanting aromatics
- Great for ice coffee as well
CONS
- The coffee can be too mild for some coffee drinkers
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for mild medium roast coffee beans that are full of flavor and aromatics, you just can’t go wrong with Primos Coffee Co. Not only do you get the right grind consistency but you also get a coffee that retains its amazing flavor and characteristics.
Guide to Pick The Perfect Beans for French Press Coffee
Knowing the right type of roast and grind are two of the essential components for making soul-touching cup of French press java.
So, let’s take a closer look:
Best Type of Roast for Your French Press
Light Roast
Light roast coffee beans are light in color with no oil. They generally have the highest acidity levels and bright flavors.
While light roast is one of the most common types of coffee for every day cup o’ joes, but it won’t be ideal roast to make your French press because of its gentle flavorings.
Medium Roast
For French press, mild roast could be one of the best type of roasts you can use.
Medium roast coffee beans are a little darker brown in color and have a bit of an oily surface. They have a mild acidity and a well-rounded flavor profile. When beans are roasted to a medium level, their unique flavors are preserved, and notes of sweetness and caramel are brought out.
They are well balanced and full of flavor – something every French press lover would appreciate.
Medium Dark Roast
Medium dark roast coffee beans are slightly darker than medium roast beans and have more of an oily surface. They have an even lower acidity level than medium roast beans, and are generally more flavorful and bold.
These are often the best beans for French press, as they have rich notes of floral and chocolate that you’ll taste in each cup of coffee you brew.
Dark Roast
Dark roast coffee beans are a dark brown color with highly oily surface. This is the lowest on acidity level and tends to have deeper and darker flavors. While many of the delicate notes are less apparent in a dark roast, they do tend to have a chocolatey, nutty, and caramel type of flavor.
While this type of roast is perfect for espresso, it won’t be the best coffee choice for your French press coffee specialties.
However, if you do love super strong coffee, you may find these beans perfect to use in your French press. It is really a matter of your taste preference.
The Perfect Grind
You’ll need much coarser grind to make your perfect French Press coffee.
This is because the French press method is an immersion method. Means, you will have a longer extraction time, the process will be slower and you’ll have more control to avoid over-extraction.
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Hi, I live in Canada and would like to know what beans to buy for French press that makes the house really have a coffee smell but also is not bitter, won’t bother my stomach, and tastes addicting. I drink coffee black and would like a rich sweet taste that’s not as strong as espresso flavour but definitely not weak. Your suggestions would be so appreciated. I’m new to French press and I’m searching for big time house smell and big time taste addiction. Thanks.