10 Best Coffee for French Press in 2024(Available on Amazon)

This is our review of the best French press coffees in 2024. 

I’m Tim, a coffee expert. I make several coffee drinks daily and use my French press multiple times weekly. As such, I’ve learned what types of coffee are best for it. 

Our top choice is the Primos Coffee Co French Press Specialty Coffee. It has fantastic tasting notes, the perfect roast level, and is pre-ground to the best grind size for French presses. 

Primos Coffee Co French Press Specialty Coffee: Best Overall

• Roast: Medium
• Strength: 6.5/10
• Flavor profile:
  • Fruit and cacao
• Available In: 12 oz bag
• Grind size: Ground, coarse grind
• Price: $$
• Origin: Single origin, Nicaragua 
• Organic: N/A

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However, everyone has different tastes and preferences. For example, you might want to grind your own beans, or you want a stronger brew. 

To cover everyone’s preferences, we made this top 10 list of the best coffees for French presses.

So let’s get started. 

Top 10 French Press Coffees

1. French Press, Coarse Ground, Primos Coffee Co – Best Overall
2. Lavazza Perfetto Ground Coffee Blend, Dark Roast Runner Up
3. Kicking Horse Coffee, Grizzly Claw, Dark Roast – Best for Cold Brew
4. Amazon Fresh Colombia Whole Bean Coffee, Medium Roast – Best Budget
5. Olde Brooklyn Italian Dark Roast Whole Beans – Strongest Coffee
6. Volcanica Sulawesi, Celebes Kalossi – Best Organic Coffee
7. Starbucks Espresso Roast – Best Starbucks Coffee 
8. Black Rifle Coffee Hazelnut Ground Coffee – Best Flavored Coffee
9. Grinders Coffee, Espresso, Roasted Beans 1kg – Best in Australia 
10. Brown Bear Colombian Medium Roast Ground Coffee – Best in the UK 

10 Best French Press Coffees in 2024

1. French Press Specialty Coffee, Coarse Ground, Primos Coffee Co – Best Overall

Roast	Medium roast
Strength	6.5/10
Flavor profile	Fruit and cacao
Available In	12 oz bag
Type	Ground, coarse grind
Price	$$
Origin	Single origin, Nicaragua
Organic	N/A

The Primos Coffee Co French Press Specialty Coffee is our top recommendation for French presses. Because it has great flavor, is produced by a sustainable, small-batch roaster (i.e., not factory mass-produced), and is coarsely ground for your French press. 

It is a medium roast, which is an excellent roast level for French press brewing. It provides plenty of flavor with fruit and cacao tasting notes. But it is not overbearingly strong. 

If you prefer a balanced cup of coffee that is smooth, sweet and has low acid, you’ll love this Primos Coffee Co coarse ground coffee. 

As I mentioned before, it is pre-ground to a coarse-grind size. Primos Coffee Co provides a consistent grind size, which never got through the filter on my French press. 

Some other pre-ground coarse-grind coffee has smaller pieces that get past the filter, which can ruin your cup of coffee. 

Compared to other pre-ground coffee for French presses, this Primos Coffee Co French press coffee costs a bit more. 

That said, it is hand-crafted and grown by a small batch roaster/coffee roaster, so it is worth the extra buck or two. 

Primos Coffee Company owns its own farm in Nicaragua and has full control from the plant to your cup.  This ensures you get a consistent product. 

The Primos Coffee Co French press specialty roast is available in a 12 oz bag that is resealable to optimize its freshness.

If a medium roast isn’t strong enough for your tastes, perhaps this Lavazza dark roast is. 

2. Lavazza Perfetto Ground Coffee Blend, Dark Roast, 100% Arabica, Full-bodied – Runner Up

Roast	Dark
Strength	6/10
Flavor profile	Caramel notes
Available In	12 oz bag, 20 oz bag
Type	Ground, coarse grind
Price	$
Origin	Multiple origins
Organic	N/A

Lavazza Perfetto Ground Coffee Blend, Dark Roast is my top recommendation for French presses due to its pleasing and seamless flavor profile, making it ideal for your everyday brew.

This dark roast coffee is balanced, with gentle caramel notes. It has slightly more acidic than medium roasts. Yet it is robust but not bitter.

The coffee is 100% Arabica beans sourced from different regions, including  Africa, Central America, South America, and Southeast Asia by Lavazza.

Due to its multi-origin, the coffee contains a variety of tasting notes that are skillfully blended to produce a flavor not possible with single-origin coffees.

Lavazza Perfetto grounds are a suitable option for individuals who enjoy dark roasts. They are versatile and are a perfect choice for your daily coffee.

Being a dark roast, the Lavazza Perfetto grounds may be too strong for some French press owners. Those looking for a less intense experience may prefer a medium roast.

This coffee is pre-ground to the perfect coarse grind size for French presses. This saves you some preparation and cleanup time but is not as fresh as grinding them yourself. 

The product is available in different sizes, such as a 12 oz and 20 oz bags, which you can buy on Amazon, other online retailers, and local grocery stores.

The grounds are packaged in securely sealed bags to ensure their freshness.

If you do not prefer this specific ground coffee for French presses, the Kicking Horse Grizzly Claw coffee may be a better choice for you.

3. Kicking Horse Coffee, Grizzly Claw, Dark Roast- Best for Cold Brew

Roast	Dark
Strength	8.5/10
Flavor profile	Dark chocolate, cacao nibs, brown sugar, and roasted hazelnut
Available In	10 oz bag
Type	Whole bean
Price	$$
Origin	Multi-origin, Central and South America
Organic	USDA Certified Organic

The Grizzly Claw ground coffee by Kicking Horse is the best option for making cold brew coffee in your French press because it tastes fantastic (trust me I have tried). 

The coffee is a dark roast with a rich flavor profile that includes hints of cacao nibs, dark chocolate, roasted hazelnut, and brown sugar. 

It offers a smooth taste without any bitterness, making it a good option for coffee enthusiasts seeking a bold cup of coffee.

Grizzly Claw, like other Kicking Horse Coffee, is reasonably priced. It falls in the middle range in terms of cost, and considering its excellent quality, it is definitely worth it.

It is whole-bean coffee, so you will have to grind the coffee to a coarse grind yourself before loading it into your fFrench press, mixing it with cold water, and leaving it in your fridge overnight. 

Kicking Horse Coffee Grizzly Claw Coffee is USDA Certified Organic– this means it is high quality and adheres to sustainable farming practices.

Furthermore, it has a Fairtrade certification, guaranteeing its utilization of farms that actively contribute to the local community.

Some individuals find the taste of Grizzly Claw coffee to be slightly bitter, although opinions on this matter vary. I, for one, enjoy it. 

One potential issue is the difficulty in opening the coffee bag. You can’t pull it apart easily, and I have spilled beans doing so.  I suggest just using scissors because the adhesive that secures the bag’s seals is quite strong.

If the Kicking Horse Grizzly Claw whole-bean coffee sounds too strong for you, the Amazon Fresh Colombia whole-bean coffee is a great, milder option. 

4. Amazon Fresh Colombia Whole Bean Coffee, Medium Roast – Best Budget

Roast	Medium
Strength	5.5/10
Flavor profile	Cocoa and brown sugar
Available In	32 oz bag
Type	Whole Bean
Price	$
Origin	Single Origin, Columbia
Organic	N/A

The Amazon Fresh Colombia Whole Bean Coffee is our top budget choice for French presses because it is inexpensive and you get a lot of coffee. Plus, the beans are of great quality for the price. 

These whole beans are a medium roast that is carefully timed to get medium acidity with citrus aromas and excellent cocoa and brown sugar tasting notes. 

It is well-balanced and smooth (and never bitter). 

This Amazon Fresh coffee uses 100% high-quality Arabica coffee beans that it imports from Colombia. This means the coffee has a consistent flavor and texture. 

The company then roasts and packs the beans here in the US. 

These Amazon Fresh whole beans are best for French press owners that prefer a balanced, fresh cup of coffee with a full body. 

And since they are whole beans, you must grind them yourself to a coarse grind level. 

This requires more prep time and cleaning than pre-ground coffee, but you get a fresher, better-tasting brew (and the pleasant smell of ground coffee in your home). 

One downside is that this coffee is only available in a large, 32 oz bag. This might be too much coffee for some people to use before it goes stale. 

Another drawback is that some customers reported an inconsistent roast level between two bags. In other words, the beans in one bag seem to be roasted longer. 

However, I haven’t experienced that myself, and based on the overwhelmingly positive reviews, it seems to be an isolated incident. 

Perhaps the Amazon Fresh Columbia Whole Bean coffee is too mild for you. In that case, consider the Olde Brooklyn Italian Dark Roast Whole Beans instead. It packs a punch. 

5. Olde Brooklyn Italian Dark Roast Whole Beans – Strongest Coffee

Roast	Dark
Strength	9.5/10
Flavor profile	Sweet and smokey
Available In	5 lb bag
Type	Whole beans
Price	$$
Origin	Multiple origins, Columbia, Brazil, and Guatemala
Organic	N/A

The Olde Brooklyn Italian Dark Roast Whole Beans is our recommendation for the strongest coffee for French presses because it is extra strong and has a taste and aroma on par with gourmet coffees. 

It is a dark roast, which gives it its strong flavor– it has a fantastic aroma, subtleness, and rich taste, which are best drawn out with a French press. 

It tastes good black and with a small amount of cream. 

That said, it might be too strong for some drinkers. I wouldn’t recommend this coffee if you prefer light and medium roasts. 

This Olde Brooklyn whole-bean coffee is multi-origin and uses a blend of Columbia, Brazil, and Guatemala beans. This mixture provides its unique taste. 

One downside is that it only comes in a 5-lb bag, which is far more than what most coffee drinkers can use before they start to go stale. 

That said, you can seal half the beans (tip: use a vacuum sealer like me) and throw them in your freezer to keep them fresh for longer. 

If you’re looking for something that has a unique taste too but is certified organic, check out the Volcanica Sulawesi Celebes Kalossi coffee. 

6. Volcanica Sulawesi, Celebes Kalossi – Best Organic Coffee

Roast	Medium roast
Strength	6/10
Flavor profile	Maple syrup, cherry, full-bodied
Available In	16 oz bag
Type	Whole beans
Price	$$$
Origin	Single origin, Sulawesi Island
Organic	Organically grown

The Volcanica Sulawesi, Celebes Kalossi whole bean coffee is our recommended organic option for French presses because it is has a Rainforest Alliance Certification and Fair-Trade Certification.

This coffee is a medium roast with tasting maple syrup and cherry notes. It has a full-bodied flavor and a strong intensity, which is typical of Volcanica roasts. Additionally, it has a mild acidity and a distinct spicy aroma.

The Volcanica roast is more expensive than other recommendations on this list.

But the higher price of this French press coffee is justified by its unique taste, which results from how the beans are grown. Volcanica only cultivates its coffee beans at high elevations in volcanic regions, which sets it apart.

These coffee beans are grown on Sulawesi Island, which gives it unique flavors that make it a popular choice in India and other nearby regions.

Coffee plants absorb more nutrients and minerals in high altitudes, giving the beans a distinct flavor. 

These are high-quality whole beans that you can grind yourself to a coarse grind size for your French press. 

It comes in a 16-oz bag, which the Volcanica recommends storing in an airtight, opaque container at room temperature to maintain freshness.

Despite its low acid content, some individuals note too much acidity in this coffee. However, I suspect they consumed stale coffee grounds, as I personally did not experience this. 

Volcanica Sulawesi, Celebes Kalossi whole beans, as well as all the other coffee from the brand, are certified by Rainforest Alliance and Fair-Trade. This certification ensures that their coffee is ethically sourced, farmed, and processed.

If you want a stronger roast instead, read on to learn about Starbucks Espresso Roast. 

7. Starbucks Espresso Roast- Best Starbucks Coffee 

Roast	Dark/espresso
Strength	8/10
Flavor profile	Rich molasses and caramel
Available In	28 oz bag
Type	Whole beans
Price	$$
Origin	Mutli-origin, Asia Pacific and Latin America
Organic	N/A

The Starbucks Espresso Roast whole bean coffee is the top Starbucks coffee for French presses because of its strength and flavor profile. 

This espresso roast has tasting notes of molasses and caramel with a strong intensity that is perfect for brewing in French presses. 

Like other options on this list, it is a whole bean product, which you will have to grind yourself to coarse grind size. This gives you fresher grounds for your French press and a better-tasting cup of coffee. 

But you have more preparation and clean-up time. 

The price of these Starbucks whole beans is comparable to other brands, slightly higher than average.

Starbucks ethically sources these whole beans from multiple sources within the “Coffee Belt,” as they do with all their coffee beans. 

This indicates that these Starbucks beans are cultivated in a manner that is environmentally friendly and does not involve unjust labor practices on the farms they collaborate with.

One potential drawback is that the espresso roast whole beans are packaged in 28 oz bags, which may be difficult to finish before the beans get stale.

Black Rifle Hazelnut ground coffee is a great choice for those who prefer a flavored alternative to Starbucks. 

8. Black Rifle Coffee Hazelnut Ground Coffee – Best Flavored Coffee

Roast	Medium roast
Strength	6.5/10
Flavor profile	Bold earthy flavors with hazelnut flavoring
Available In	12 oz bag
Type	Ground coffee, coarse grind
Price	$$
Origin	Multiple origins
Organic	N/A

The Black Rifle Coffee Hazelnut ground coffee is the best flavored coffee for French presses because it has a subtle and excellent hazelnut flavoring. 

It is a smooth medium roast with earthy tasting notes. It tastes as good out of the French press as black coffee and is great with cream and sugar. 

Black Rifle gets its coffee beans from multiple origins and mixes them to create this unique coffee. 

This coffee is a well-balanced, medium roast that is perfect for coffee drinkers who want a milder brew but still with some strength. 

This Black Rifle coffee is pre-ground to coarse grind size. This means you can put it directly in your French press without any prep work. 

Plus, it tastes great whether you brew it hot or use your French press to make cold brew.

One downside is that this coffee is expensive, much more than the average bag of 12 oz. 

That said, Black Rifle donates a large percentage of the profits to Veterans and first responders. 

That makes the extra costs worth it alone. And you also get great coffee.  

If you’re looking for the best French press coffee in Australia instead, check out the Grinders Coffee espresso roast up next. 

9. Grinders Coffee, Espresso, Roasted Beans 1kg – Best in Australia 

Roast	Medium-dark roasted
Strength	8/10
Flavor profile	Nut, fruits, and chocolate
Available In	1 kg bag
Type	Whole bean
Price	$$
Origin	Multiple origins
Organic	N/A

The Grinders Coffee, Espresso, Roasted Beans is our top pick for French press coffee in Australia because the beans are domestically roasted and have a delicious taste with the perfect strength.

This coffee has tasting notes of nuts, fruits, and chocolate, and it is strong and smooth. It is a medium-dark roast blend of Arabica and Robusto beans, which gives it considerable strength, although not as strong as espresso-roasted beans.

This Grinders Coffee is ideal for French press brewers in Australia seeking a bold flavor without being too overpowering.

It is whole-bean coffee, which means you have to grind the beans to a coarse grind size yourself before loading them into your French press. 

The Grinders Coffee whole beans are affordable compared to other coffees in Australia. One advantage is that these beans are roasted locally in Melbourne.

Additionally, the beans are Rainforest Alliance Certified, indicating that the beans are farmed in ways that support the growing regions and follow ethical farming practices.

A potential drawback is that it is only available in a 1 kg bag, which may be excessive for smaller households and result in it going stale before you can use all the beans.

Some online purchasers have mentioned that this coffee is “too bland”. I respectfully disagree. In my opinion, this Australian coffee is quite flavorful.

Looking for the best French press coffee in the UK instead? Check out the Colombian Medium roast ground coffee. 

10. Brown Bear Colombian Medium Roast Ground Coffee – Best in the UK 

Roast	Medium
Strength	3/10
Flavor profile	Hazelnut, toffee, apple, and marzipan
Available In	227 g bag
Type	Ground, coarse grind
Price	$$
Origin	Single origin, Columbia
Organic	N/A

The Brown Bear Colombian Medium Roast Ground Coffee is the best French press coffee in the UK because it has a smooth body, excellent tasting notes, and a percentage of its sales is donated to Free The Bears. 

This pre-ground coffee is made from 100% Arabica beans sourced from Columbia, which gives it a well-balanced medium body with great acidity. 

It has a natural hazelnut flavor with tasting notes of toffee, apple, and marzipan, which is unlike any coffee I’ve tasted. 

It is great for French press drinkers that want a flavorful, smooth cup of coffee.

It is pre-ground to coarse grind size, so it is ready to add to your French press when you start your brew. 

It comes in a 227 g resealable bag, which helps keeps the grounds fresher for longer. 

One upside of this coffee is that Brown Bear donates 5% of its coffee sales to Free The Bears, an organization with the goal of improving the quality of life of sun bears and Asiatic black bears. 

Some drinkers find this coffee a bit too bitter, but I do not agree with that assessment.

French Press Coffee Buying Guide

Here are some of the top considerations you should have when you’re selecting a coffee for your French Press. For more details, see our complete coffee-buying guide.

Roast

The roast level of coffee varies from blonde, light, medium, to dark and is an important factor to consider for French presses as it impacts the strength and flavor of the coffee. For French presses, I suggest opting for medium to dark roasts.

Dark roasts have intense flavors and strength, making them a suitable choice for brewing coffee in your French press.

However, the choice of roast level is ultimately your personal preference.

Whole Bean Vs. Ground

Another important consideration for French press coffee is whole beans vs. pre-ground coffee.

Whole beans last longer after you open the bag (up to four weeks). Plus, your French press coffee is fresher after grinding the beans yourself. 

You also get the added bonus of coffee aromas in your kitchen after grinding the beans. 

On the other hand, pre-ground coffee is more convenient. You just scope some into your French press, and you’re good to go. 

There’s less cleanup, but you don’t get the satisfaction of grinding them yourself, and they go stale faster. 

Grind Size

For French presses, I (and everyone else) recommend using a coarse grind size for your coffee. 

The grind size plays a role in the speed and thoroughness of the coffee grounds and hot water mixing during brewing, which in turn affects the extraction of flavor from the beans into your cup of coffee.

The filter/strainer in French presses is designed for coarse-ground coffee. If you use a smaller grind size, the grounds will get into your cup of coffee. 

Nobody likes their coffee ruined by grounds. 

Read more about this in our coffee grind size guide.

Certifications

Organic and Fair Trade certifications are essential considerations when selecting coffee for your French press.

A USDA-certified organic coffee does not contain artificial preservatives, flavors, colorings, and other additives.

A Fair Trade certification indicates that the coffee was grown and harvested sustainably and that the company provided support to the local farmers and communities involved in its cultivation.

If you are looking for a natural coffee for your French press, I recommend choosing a brand that has these certifications.

Price/Budget

When shopping for French press coffee, considering price and quality is essential.

Generally, lower-quality coffee tends to be cheaper, while higher-quality coffee tends to be more expensive. However, there are occasional opportunities to find good deals.

A 12 oz bag of whole-bean coffee can vary in price from $8 to $25, depending on factors such as quality and brand.

Single-origin Vs. Multi-origin

The origin of the coffee is an important factor to consider when selecting coffee for your French press.

Single-origin coffees are produced using beans sourced exclusively from one country, region, or farm.

Single-origin coffees highlight the distinct flavors, tasting notes, and textures of a specific type of coffee bean and the region in which it was cultivated. 

This results in a robust and consistent flavor profile. Single-origin coffees often carry a higher price tag, although occasionally, they may be more affordable than blends from multiple regions.

On the other hand, multi-origin coffees are made from beans sourced from two or more locations (usually two or more countries/regions).

The beans can be of the same species from various regions or different species from the same or different regions, allowing for unlimited combination possibilities.

Multi-origin coffees can create a diverse range of flavors by incorporating tasting notes from various locations and beans to create a distinctive blend.

However, some multi-origin blends may have inconsistent flavors and unappealing tastes. It is often the less expensive type.

There is no definitive answer as to whether one is better than the other for French presses. However, you may discover a preference for certain single origins like me.

For more info, read our article on Single-origin Vs. Multi-origin coffee.

Packaging Date

When selecting coffee for your French press, you need to look at the packaging date. 

To ensure optimal taste, freshness, and quality, I recommend choosing a coffee with a relatively recent roast date.

Whole beans have a longer shelf life compared to pre-ground coffee, while pre-ground coffee tends to go stale the quickest. 

This is due to the larger surface area of the coffee grounds, which makes it more susceptible to air contact and faster decomposition.

When/if you purchase online, it is challenging to verify the packaging date. So, try to contact the seller and politely request a fresh batch instead of one that has been stored for an extended duration.

Best Brands

As you browse for coffee for your French press, you should consider some of the top brands. These include Lavazza, Grinders Coffee, Black Rifle Coffee, Volcanica, and Starbucks. 

For example, Starbucks, Black Rifle, and Volcanica all have a wide range of whole-bean and pre-ground coffee with every roast level and flavor profile you might want. 

Plus, you can find these brands in most supermarkets, grocery stores, and online retailers like Amazon. 

Our Verdict

Here are our top 3 coffee recommendations for French presses. All of them have excellent tastes, roast levels, and quality. 

• Our #1 choice is the Primos Coffee Co. French Press Specialty Coffee, Coarse Ground is low acid, is sustainably produced, and expertly ground to the perfect grind size for your French press. 
• Our runner-up is the Lavazza Perfetto Ground Coffee Blend, Dark Roast, 100% Arabica, Full-bodied. It balances on the fine line of flavor and strength and has pleasant caramel tasting notes. 
• The Kicking Horse Coffee, Grizzly Claw, Dark Roast is the best choice for making cold brew in your French press because of its unique chocolate, cacao nibs, and hazelnut tasting notes and it is USDA Certified Organic. 

Primos Coffee Co French Press Specialty Coffee: Best Overall

• Roast: Medium
• Strength: 6.5/10
• Flavor profile:
  • Fruit and cacao
• Available In: 12 oz bag
• Grind size: Ground, coarse grind
• Price: $$
• Origin: Single origin, Nicaragua 
• Organic: N/A

Check Current Price