7 Best Coffee Beans for French Press

Confused about which coffee beans you should pick up for making wonderful French press coffee every day? Here comes the answer – this post lets you know about the best coffee beans for French Press available in today’s market.

The French press has secured a steady place in hundreds of global coffee drinkers’ hearts because of its clean, simple, and efficient brewing ability. Each cup you make with your French press delivers robust flavors and the right caffeine kick. The plunger pot mechanism of the French press allows it to retain coffee oils throughout the brewing process, helping you brew full-bodied, flavorful cups daily. So the moral of the story is, if you have a French press, nobody can stop you from enjoying great cups of coffee consistently – right? Well, partial truth it is! 

The excellence of French press coffee doesn’t derive only from the mechanism of a functional French press but also from the coffee beans you are using. Not all coffee beans make fantastic French press coffee, but some do. So folks, if you are a diehard French press lover, let’s make your experience even better. In this guide, we have shared the handpicked list of the best coffee beans for French Press in 2022. Read on and get the key to a coffeelicious day!

Also Read – Our Guide to the Best Coffee Beans in the World

Best Coffee Beans for French Press – Top 7 Picks

1. Estate Dark Roast from Koa coffee

Founded in 1997 by Cathy Artuckovich and Marine Artuckovich, the Koa coffee plantation is one of the world’s most trusted Kona coffee roasters. The plantation is located on the slopes of Mounaloua, more known as the Koa coffee belt.  The name Koa points to a native Hawaiian Koa tree that grows naturally in the volcanic soil of the island, helping the beans to adopt a more delicate and appealing aroma and flavor profile. 

The volcanic mineral turns the bean naturally reddish, differentiating them from all other coffee variants. Native Hawaiians have always been pretty much dependent on these specialty beans, and they have become an integral part of the Hawaiian culture. The roaster, Koa Coffee, managed to enlist itself as the best coffee in America (Forbes magazine, 2001). 

The next year, it won the best coffee awards at the Gevalia Kona coffee cupping competition. The roasters have integrated their planation vertically – they grow, process, and roast their high-quality beans on the same site. The plantation houses imported dry milk from Brazil and Colombian wet milk. 

The Estate dark roast version of Koa Coffee perfectly fits the requirements of the French Press method. Roasted to perfection, these beans allow you to preserve the natural oil in your coffee which results in a full-bodied and well-rounded cup. In addition, when brewed using French Press, these beans let you cherish all of their subtle flavor notes, including citric, fruity tones, and mild chocolaty touch. 

These avant-garde Kona beans are highly admired because of their rich cocoa, dark chocolate cup notes, and rich mouthfeel.

Who is this for?

Anyone who is looking for the best high-quality coffee beans that go well with the French Press brewing method. In addition, it could be a good pick for those who prefer to buy single-origin, Fair Traded, and sustainable coffee beans.

2. Lifeboost Coffee Medium Roast Beans

Lifeboost coffee is popular for its organic and healthy coffee beans. To broaden its appeal as a gourmet coffee brand, it keeps on adding innovative products frequently. From seasoned baristas to newbies- Lifeboost has something for everyone. All of the beans that Lifeboost markets are Fair Trade, low acid, shed-grown, and organic. Besides, Lifeboost sends them for unbiased independent lab testing to ensure they are free from mycotoxins, mold, and other solvents.

The brand boasts a huge product selection with all roast levels, including decaf coffee, coffee pods, and specialty roasts. They roast beans only after receiving orders to ensure the highest freshness. The brand has managed to link the three disparate – health, quality, and growing environment, ensuring delectable and healthful cups in every brew. 

Lifeboost’s founder and CEO, Dr. Charles Livingston, established the brand with the mission of providing the world’s healthiest coffee to consumers, keeping the cups palatability intact. Due to this reason, a cup of coffee made with Lifeboost beans doesn’t only help you to enjoy the coffee rush, but it works well as a fantastic nutritional supplementary beverage. 

The Lifeboost medium roast coffee beans are grown at an elevation of around 6,000 feet in the coffee-growing region of Nicaragua. These high-quality arabica beans are USDA certified, ensuring they are not contaminated by any kind of pesticide or abrasive chemicals. Besides, they are shade harvested under the branches of guava trees, which helps the coffee cherries ripe slowly, developing more complex nuances.  

Lifeboost is the brand that produces among the world’s top 2% of high-quality coffee. The medium roast beans are single-origin, and they are tested for around 500 contaminants. Needless to say, these beans are low acid, making them gentle to your stomach. When you grab a cup of coffee made from Lifeboost medium roast beans, the blended chocolaty, woodsy, and cocoa notes freshen up your mood and leave you with an intricate feeling of rejuvenation. 

Who is this for?

Lifeboost medium roast coffee beans are meant for health-conscious coffee connoisseurs who are also pretty sensitive about the Fair Trade and socio-economic-friendly coffee growing methodology. 

3. Volcanica’s Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Coffee

If the scintillating aroma of freshly brewed French press coffee makes your day better, brewing it with Ethiopian Yirgacheeffe beans from Volcanica is worth trying. These beans are highly popular for their fruity notes and extraordinary flavors. The roaster sources them from the coffee-growing region of Central southern Ethiopia. 

From distinct undertones, flavors, and nuances to delectability – the Volcanca Ethiopian Yirgacheffe coffee scores well in every parameter. The brand is well-known and reputable, and it markets beans that hold multiple certifications, which evidence the quality and healthfulness of the product. 

Volcanica is pretty serious about its customer experience; thus, they roast these avant-garde beans to perfection to ensure that even the most subtle flavors are precisely captured. The Ethiopian Yirgacheffe medium roast variant from Volcanica is flowery and fruity. The beans feature an unusual blend of medium-bodied and complex flavor. 

The beans are naturally washed and treated, which impacts the final taste of the cups significantly. Because of the natural processing and washing, they hold a different degree of clarity, resulting in cups enriched with unique overtones and brightness complemented by light yet enjoyable nuances. Syrupy textures, blueberry flavors, and chocolaty undertones make Volcaninca Ethiopian Yirgacheffee beans stand out in miles. 

Who is this for?

If you are looking for light-bodied yet acidic coffee beans that lose their tartness after brewing with a French press and produce cups with complex flavors and subtle nuances, Volcania Ethiopian Yirgacheffe coffee is your pick. These beans are Fair Trade certified, organically grown, and kosher certified.

4. Bourbon Variant from Spirit Animal Coffee

Spirit Animal is based in Honduras, and the roaster sources green micro-lot coffee from the local Honduran farms. With the aim of developing regenerative agriculture and sustainable technique-centered agricultural practices, the brand has partnered with local farmers. The Honduran Bourbon lot is produced by one of such farmers – Alejandro Martinez Aguilar. 

These beans grow in Bourbon and Catuai arabica plants – one of the highest quality coffee plants on the planet. The roaster always prioritizes quality over quantity. Due to this reason, they ensure that they use beans that are hand-picked for harvesting when they are ready. To perform this job precisely, Spirit Animal employs updated technology applications like refractometers, which help identify when each bean is ready for plucking. 

When you brew these beans using a French press, you will realize the fact that these are meant for a cup of robust and rejuvenating joe. Rich color and woody bark smell will float out of your mug, making you fall for your cup again and again. If you use a swirled mug, the coffee will gently cling to its side, more like wine which means the brew is thicker. 

The cup’s texture made from Spirit Animal  Bourbon Variant coffee beans is buttery and talking about the taste, it’s more like sweet blackberry followed by lemony notes, which create a wonderful balance. 

Who is this for?

Those who are looking for an utterly straightforward, well-rounded, and sweet-toned Honduras cup that features distinct nut and floral notes throughout.

5. Volcanica’s Costa Rica Peaberry coffee

The roasters sources this exceptional quality beans from the Aquiares in the Tres Rios region on the Pacific coast. These single estate shed-grown and rainforest-certified beans come from plants that thrive at an altitude of approximately 5200 feet. The flavor intensity and balance of the beans have helped them become one of the most wanted coffee variants in the world. 

This kosher-certified coffee variety from Volcvanica renders honey, lemony, and fruity nuance, followed by chocolaty and almond undertones. They are mildly sweet and highly bright. In addition, being one of the rarest crops on the planet, these beans are highly prized as well. 

Volcanica, being a high-end coffee brand, ensures that you will buy nothing but the best. Due to this reason, just like any other Volcanica variant, the Costa Rica Peaberry variant also features a generous satisfaction guarantee, making it a safe purchase. These beautiful, oily whole beans partner well with a full immersion brewing process like the French press, making it your go-to choice for that typical everyday coffee ritual. 

Although noted as a medium roast, these beans produce more of a sipping cup that’s dedicated to giving away pure pleasure. Instead of giving you the robust punch, a cup of coffee made with Volcanica Costa Rica Peaberry lets you enjoy the most desired mild moments on a tiresome and frustrating day. 

Who is this for?

Those who are looking for a simple cup with outstanding balance, versatility, and consistency can rely on Volcanica’s Costa Rica Peaberry beans. Apart from French press brewing, you can use these forgiving beans for espresso, pour-over, and many other brewing methods.

6. 365 by Whole Food Markets Pacific Rim Vienna Roast Beans

Last update on 2024-12-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Origin: Peru, Latin America, the Pacific Rim Islands

Roast: Medium-dark

Tasting notes: Chocolaty, 

Whole Food Markets has been able to be in the limelight since its inception. While some say it’s a convenient, well-stocked supermarket stuffed with trustworthy organic and natural foods, others see it as a symbol of capitalism’s ills – a cornerstone of the industrialized organic concept which is fueling the demolition of small farmers. 

There are even people who lie somewhere in between – neither can they overlook the one-stop solution image of Whole Foods in terms of supplying healthy and delectable goods, nor can they prevent their skepticism about the consciousness of the brand since it’s grown into a publicly traded corporation. So what actually is Whole Foods?

Well, it’s a humble startup that opened its doors with a tiny natural food store in Austin, Texas. The owner of the brand John Mackey was a 25-year-old college dropout then. Now, Whole Foods has more than 300 stores across the US and UK. The brand markets its Viena roast premium quality coffee beans under its 365 everyday value brand, which strives to supply high-quality, daily consumables without their customers’ banks.

The beans are non-GMO, and their quality standards are identified as one of the industry’s top. The company follows a stringent parameter of unacceptable ingredients and ensures they won’t appear on your shelf when you buy gourmet coffee or any other coffee from them. These 100% arabica beans are Fair Trade certified. They reach straight to your mug from small farms, helping the growers earn fair wages. In addition, the beans also hold the Kosher certification. 

Who is this for?

For those who are looking for natural and well-rounded cups with rich cocoa tones, followed by chocolaty and smoky undertones. These beans turn out to be wonderful when brewed using a French Press.

7. illy Classico coffee beans

Last update on 2024-12-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Origin: Different high-quality coffee growing regions, including Latin America, Costa Rice, etc 

Roast: Medium

Tasting notes: Caramel, Orange Blossom, Jasmine

Regarded as the godfather of contemporary espresso, illy is the brand that has revolutionized the industry with its high-quality espresso machines and avant-garde coffee beans. Illy has been serving the market since 1933, and to date, their enthusiasm for changing the landscape of coffee is still unparalleled. The Classico blend from illy comes in a  well-branded tin can, and as soon as you open it, the palatable and bold coffee flavors rejuvenate you.

Though people take illy Classico blend as a dedicated solution for espressos, these beans make flavorful, robust, less bitter, and well-bodied cups. The delicate notes of citrus and caramel help you punctuate your coffee experience like never before. By blending nine different Arabica beans sourced from farms across the globe, illy curate these extraordinary, smoky beans, making them one of the most discerning options for flavorful cups. 

Who is this for?

Anyone who is looking for a cup of sense opening French press coffee that closely mimics the experience of robust espresso shots. Pure, energizing, and euphoric – these beans can help you start your mornings on a different note.

How to buy the best coffee beans for French Press?

Now that we have narrowed down your search by listing the best French press beans in the world, here are a few factors you need to consider to make a uniform and rational purchase. Delve deeper! 

Mind the gap between the French press and other brewing methods 

While buying the best beans for French Press brewing, it’s essential to keep two factors in mind – your French press uses a filter to make cups and the maximum brewing time ranges between 4-6 minutes. The use of a filter indicates that your cup will feature a fuller body, and the time lets you know about the sweetish flavors you can expect. 

Keeping this in mind, always pick up medium to dark roast beans for making your cup of French Press. These beans lock the nuances at their best, and even after crossing the barrier of a filter, they can replicate the same flavor every day. 

Check for tasting notes 

As said before, the French press makes well-balanced cups, and it can lock the strongest flavor of the beans. Check for the tasting notes carefully before you proceed with the purchase. For example, if you prefer mellow cups with chocolaty undertones, always pick up the beans that promise to enrich your cup with the said nuances. However, it’s worth remembering that, according to professional baristas, sweeter and nutty flavors make a cup of French Press coffee even more palatable. 

Looks for freshly roasted beans 

When coffee beans are freshly roasted, they are more delicious. This occurs because the air exposure causes oxidation, making the beans bland, bitter, and rustic. Therefore, always beans that are freshly roasted. You can find many roasters who roast the beans in small batches. Some of them even start roasting after receiving the order from their customers. 

Certifications 

Before buying coffee beans for your French press, ensure that you have checked the certified level on the package. This will always allow you to pick up high-quality and healthful beans. 

Price

Well, price matters! How much you want to spend for your cuppa joe is one of the must-check facts before delving deeper into the purchase process. When you know how much you can spend, your search is even more narrowed down, making your job quick and convenient.

Wrapping up

The method of brewing coffee with the French press has been in existence for decades, and it’s an undeniable fact that there is still nothing quite like a French press. Thus, select your beans, brew them using your French press and enjoy their flavors, nuances,  and delectability to the fullest.

Frequently Asked Questions