In a rush? Our top choice is Volcanica Costa Rica Peaberry coffee!

Choosing the best coffee for French Press isn’t as hard as it sounds.

All you have to do is understand what you like and don’t like in a French Press coffee.

In this article, I’ll go over my top choices.

And then I’ll give you a quick breakdown of how I go about choosing my French Press coffees.

Let’s jump in!

Table of Contents

9 Best Coffee Brands for French Press

Volcanica Costa Rica Peaberry (Best Overall)
Peet’s Coffee, Dark Roast Ground Coffee (Best Dark Roast)
Koffee Kult Dark Roast Ground Coffee (Best fur Buying in Bulk)
Capresso Whole Bean Coffee East Coast Blend (Best Light Roast Blend)
Primos Mountain Water Process Decaf Coffee (Best Decaf Option)
Lifeboost Medium Roast Coffee (Best Central American Coffee)
Koa Estate Kona Coffee (Best Single Origin)
Stone Cold Jo Cold Brew Coffee Blend (Best for Cold Brew French Press)
Death Wish Coffee Dark Roast Grounds (Highest Caffeine Content)

Volcanica Costa Rica Peaberry

The bottom line is that this is just an all-around great coffee.

It’s a peaberry coffee, after all. Peaberries are a mutation in the coffee plant where the cherry only produces one big coffee bean instead of two smaller ones.

The result is a flavor punch coffee like this Costa Rican.

It has honey, lemon, and almond notes that make a fun French Press morning coffee.

It has a full and smooth body when brewed in a French Press.

But why is it the best overall?

Because I look for roundness in French Press coffees. And peaberry coffees have such a delicious profile that they go best in French Press.

Plus, it’s Rainforest Alliance certified, meaning that it comes from a good place, and the supply chain is held to a high standard.

The only downside is that it’s a lighter roast, so it doesn’t do as well with cream and sugar.

Pros

The honey, lemon, and almond tastes make an enjoyable French Press coffee
Peaberry coffee bean has a richer flavor than other beans, so this will be a full and delicious brew
The medium roast is a nice balance between acidic and bitter, making it a good choice for French Press
It’s Rainforest Alliance certified, so you can be sure the farming and processing are quality

Cons

Because of the lighter body, this coffee doesn’t do so well with cream and sugar

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Peet’s Coffee, Dark Roast Ground Coffee

Peet’s is a widely respected regional coffee roaster. That gives them enough credibility to claim good coffee.

But they back up that claim with, well, good coffee.

This dark roast is especially tasty. It is smooth and thick, making it a great French Press brew. I prefer coffees that have a lot of roundness and depth to the cup, and this Peet’s roast checks those boxes.

Peet’s is known for consistency, which is important when considering buying more than one bag. You can be sure that you’ll get consistent results when buying Peet’s again and again.

The dark roast is full-bodied, so if you’re looking for a classic-style French Press coffee, this is a great choice.

The only downside is that you lose a lot of unique flavors you would otherwise find in light roasts.

Peet’s is big enough that they have to blend all their coffees, and this one is no different. It’s a smooth and rich cup, but it doesn’t have any unique or interesting flavors.

Pros

Dark roast coffees like this are generally really smooth and thick in a French Press
Darker roast French Press coffees pair really nicely with cream and sugar
Peet’s is known for consistency, so you’ll get a solid roast and bag every time you buy
It’s rich and full-bodied, making it an excellent choice for a classic French Press

Cons

Because it’s a dark roast, you lose a lot of the unique flavors you would otherwise find in lighter roasts

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Koffee Kult Dark Roast Ground Coffee

Koffee Kult is an up-and-coming roaster. But they are making a mark with their quality.

This is the dark roast addition to their lineup, and it’s a great choice for French Press.

It has cocoa and cinnamon notes, making it a really interesting coffee. It is still smooth, but it has a higher acidity with a heavy body. That means it drinks well with or without cream and sugar.

It also makes for a great winter or morning coffee. I prefer coffees with heavier bodies and deeper flavors for cold mornings brewing a French Press.

It’s also a 100% Arabica blend, meaning that there aren’t any Robusta coffee beans. Arabica beans are of higher quality and generally tastier than Robusta beans, so you get a better flavor profile.

Koffee Kult works directly with farmers, so the supply line is sustainable.

The fact that this is still a dark roast means that you lose some unique and specific flavors.

Pros

It’s a 100% Arabica blend, which are higher quality coffee beans than Robusta
The notes of cocoa and cinnamon are great for making a smooth and rich French Press
Dark roasts like this pair really well with cream and sugar, making it a great morning or winter coffee
Koffee Kult is dedicated to helping their farmers, so you can be sure the coffee beans come from a sustainable supply line

Cons

A dark roast like this means you sacrifice a lot of the unique flavors you would find in lighter roasts

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Capresso Whole Bean Coffee East Coast Blend

This Capresso coffee was made specifically for the French Press.

So, that means that it tastes really good in a French Press.

It has notes of milk chocolate, honey, and brown sugar.

What does that mean? It means it has a smooth body and is super drinkable in a big batch like a French Press.

Plus, it’s a light roast. Light roasts have more interesting flavors and lighter bodies and darker roasts. That makes this coffee a nice afternoon or summer choice.

Each bag is micro-roasted. Micro-roasted coffees mean that each bag is roasted on its own and not in a big batch. That gives the roaster more control over the quality of each bag you buy.

The only downside is that this coffee doesn’t do super well with cream and sugar. So if you’re looking for a cream and sugar kind of French Press, this isn’t the choice for you.

Pros

Capresso made this blend specifically for batch brewing like French Press, so you can rest assured it will be a solid choice
Light roasts like this have more unique and interesting flavors than darker roast coffees
The milk chocolate, honey, and brown sugar tasting notes make for a smooth and drinkable French Press coffee
Each bag is micro-roasted, so you can be sure you’ll get a quality coffee each time

Cons

Lighter roast coffees like this don’t usually pair well with cream and sugar

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Primos Mountain Water Process Decaf Coffee

Any decaf drinkers out there?

This coffee is for you.

This decaf coffee is decaffeinated using the Mountain Water Process. That means it uses water instead of chemicals to decaffeinate the coffee.

The end result is a tastier and less flat decaf choice.

It also comes from a single farm in Nicaragua, meaning that you get all the benefits of buying single-origin while also getting a decaf.

Because it is decaf, it has low acidity, mellow sweetness, and a medium body. Those attributes make it a great daily drinker with or without cream and sugar.

Plus, when you order as a pre ground coffee, it comes ground for French Press.

The only problem is that it’s on the expensive side of decaf coffees. So it might only be a good choice for special occasions.

Pros

The Mountain Water Process means no chemicals in your decaf, it uses only water to decaffeinate your coffee
It comes from a single estate, meaning that this isn’t a blend and comes from a single farm, which gives you a cleaner flavor profile
This coffee has low acidity, mellow sweetness, and a medium body, making it a great daily drinker
When you order it ground, they will grind it for French Press, so you don’t have to worry about the grind being wrong or grinding it yourself

Cons

It’s on the expensive side for decaf coffees, so it isn’t budget-friendly

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Lifeboost Medium Roast Coffee

Lifeboost is another up-and-coming roaster making good coffee.

This is their medium roast addition to the lineup, and it makes a great French Press option.

It is a 100$ Arabica blend. Arabica coffee beans are tastier and generally of higher quality than Robusta beans.

Are medium roast coffees good in a French Press? Yes, absolutely. This Lifeboost medium roast has a mellow and balanced body, which means that it’s drinkable.

It’s a Central American blend. So it has a mild sweetness and medium acidity, making it a great daily drinker.

Because it’s really middle-of-the-road coffee in terms of flavors and profile, that means it drinks well with cream and sugar. But it also tastes great on its own.

The only bad thing is that it’s a blend. Central American single-origin coffees have unique flavors, and you lose some of those when they get blended.

Pros

It’s a 100% Arabica blend, so the coffee beans themselves are higher quality than Robusta beans
Medium roast coffees have a smooth and balanced body, making them great choices for slow brewing in a French Press
It’s a blend of Central American coffees, which gives it a nice mellow sweetness and a medium acidity, making it a great daily drinker
The mellowness of this coffee means it drinks well with or without cream and sugar

Cons

Blending Central American coffees means you lose a lot of the unique and specific flavors of the countries the coffee beans come from

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Koa Estate Kona Coffee

Some of the most sought-after coffee in the world comes from Hawaii. It’s called Kona coffee, and it tastes really good.

This is one such Kona coffee.

I think high-quality coffees taste better in brews like French Press than in other brewing methods.

This coffee especially works in a French Press setting.

Why? For one, it’s a medium roast, so it has a mellow body and sweetness that’s a great showcase of Hawaiian coffees.

Plus, Kona is always single-origin, so it never gets blended with coffees from other regions or farms. That gives each bag specific and identifiable flavors.

In short, it’s a really, really good coffee that you should try at least once in your life.

But the problem is that it’s really expensive. So it’s best to save buying a bag like this for a special occasion or as a treat.

Pros

Kona coffee is some of the best in the world, and it tastes great when brewed in a French Press
It’s a medium roast, so it’s a great showcase of the Kona flavor profile
Kona coffee is always single-origin, so it isn’t a blend and has a specific body and acidity that’s smooth and delicious every time

Cons

It’s expensive, so probably only best as a treat or for a special occasion

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Stone Cold Jo Cold Brew Coffee Blend

If you’re anything like me, you like making cold brew at home sometimes.

But if you are like me, you probably have spent a lot of time wondering which coffee will be best for a cold brew.

Well, we’re in luck. This Stone Cold Jo coffee is made specifically for making cold brew in a French Press.

But stop there, it also makes a pretty tasty hot French Press coffee, too.

It is a dark roast, so it’ll make a smooth and rich batch when brewed either hot or cold in a French Press.

But that also means it goes really well with cream and sugar. Or however, you like to drink your cold brew.

It’s certified Fair Trade, so the supply line is sustainable, and the farmers aren’t taken advantage of.

The only downside is that it’s a blend, so you lose some of the unique flavors you might find in a single-origin.

Pros

This coffee is specifically blended and roasted for a cold brew and French Press, so you’ll have great results every time
It’s a dark roast, so it makes a smooth and rich batch of coffee that’s low acidity
It has notes of toffee, caramel, and chocolate, so it’s a full-bodied coffee that pairs really nicely with cream and sugar
It’s a certified Fair Trade coffee, so you can be sure it comes from a sustainable place

Cons

It is a blend, so you lose some of the unique and interesting flavors of single-origin coffees

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Death Wish Coffee Dark Roast Grounds

Sometimes you need a coffee that’s a kick in the stomach with caffeine.

For those slow mornings, you should go with this Death Wish coffee.

It’s a blend of Arabica and Robusta coffee beans, which means that it’s less tasty than an all-Arabica blend. But Robusta beans have more caffeine, so this coffee is really an extra boost.

It still has notes of dark cherry and chocolate, which I find are great tasting notes for French Press.

Plus, it’s certified in both Fair Trade and Organic, so the supply chain is sustainable and good.

Because it’s so dark and a Robusta blend, it almost needs cream and sugar and doesn’t taste very good without.

That said, I do know some people who swear by Death Wish coffee without cream or sugar, so to each their own.

In my opinion, this isn’t a coffee you buy for the taste. It’s a coffee you buy for a caffeine boost.

Pros

It is a blend of Arabica and Robusta coffee beans, meaning it has a lot of caffeine for when you need an extra boost
The notes of dark cherry and chocolate make this a great French Press coffee
Because it’s so dark, it pairs really well with cream and sugar
It is certified both Fair Trade and Organic, so it comes from a good place

Cons

This isn’t a coffee you buy for the taste, this is for when you need a lot of caffeine

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Buying Guide

When buying coffee specifically for a brew method, it’s important to consider the grind, roast, and origin.

In this section, I’ll go over how to think about the grind, roast, and origin when buying coffee for French Press.

What grind size should you use?

First and foremost, the grind is the single most important aspect of brewing with a French Press.

Coffee grind size plays a huge role in determining the quality and tastiness of your cup. In a brewer that does everything from cold brew to espresso, grind size matters a ton.

For a French Press, you need a pretty coarse grind.

Why do you need a coarse grind?

Because the metal French Press filter isn’t very fine. And any grounds that are smaller than the holes in the filter will just end up in your cup. Grinds in your cup mean a gritty and unpleasant mouthfeel.

The solution? A coarse ground coffee.

Generally, you can ask for a French Press grind when you purchase coffee, and that grind is usually plenty coarse.

But it’s always a good idea to grind beans yourself right before you brew.

IN A NUTSHELL
You need a more coarse grind for brewing coffee with a French Press. Anything too fine means you’ll get coffee grounds in your cup, which isn’t ideal. Always grind the beans yourself before you brew if you have a coffee grinder.

What roast level is best?

In all honesty, the roast level when brewing French Press is pretty personal.

But there are a few generalities when thinking about roast levels for French Press brewing.

The darker the roast, the darker the brew.

That’s pretty standard. How does that translate to French Press?

A darker roast in a French Press coffee maker will usually result in a heavier body, low acidity, and more bitterness. Personally, I think that dark roasts go best with cream and sugar.

Lighter roasts will have a lighter body, higher acidity, and can be sweeter. But you can always leave light roasts in the French Press for longer to change the extraction level and how it tastes in your cup.

Medium roasts are a happy medium between the two. They’ll be a nice middle ground between light and dark roasts and generally taste good with or without cream and sugar.

BOTTOM LINE
It’s up to you. If you like your coffee with cream, then opt for darker roasts. If you’re a black coffee drinker, light roasts have a lot of interesting flavors.

Which origin is the best?

As with roast level, the origin is also a pretty personal thing.

Each coffee-growing region in the world has its own tastes and properties. And each coffee drinker has their own tastes and preferences.

That means that it’s impossible for me to say you would enjoy Costa Rican coffee instead of Ethiopian coffee.

However, I can give you my opinion.

I prefer beans from Central America in my French Press brews.

Why? Because they tend to be smoother, have more chocolatey notes, and a mellow acidity that makes them really drinkable. Especially when brewed in a French Press.

BOTTOM LINE
Try out a few different origins, or a few different origin blends. The origin is pretty personal to your taste and preference. But I believe Central American coffees are super tasty in French Press brews.