Starbucks French Press: Does It Live Up To Cafe Quality?

Does Starbucks sell French Press coffee makers? Yes, they do. Starbucks is the world’s largest coffee company, with thousands of stores in 80 countries selling literal tonnes of coffee. So our expectations are high; they must know how to design a good coffee maker.

This review will focus on the 8-cup plastic Starbucks Coffee Press and Tea Maker in the classic style. This is not to be confused with the recalled glass version. Read on to find out if it measures up to cafe quality.

The Full Starbucks French Press Review

The plastic Starbucks coffee press reviewed here is not the glass one that was recalled in 2019 (1). At that time, Starbucks recalled its glass recycled coffee presses due to nine laceration incidents in North America due to the press plungers breaking (2).

The Starbucks French press is actually manufactured by Bodum. As Bodum are one of the biggest brands in the coffee space, you can rest assured the Starbucks press is perfectly safe. So keep reading to see if it’s right for you.

How We Rated It

• Aesthetic Appeal
• Ease Of Use
• Coffee Flavor
• Custom Brewing Features
• Portability
• Value For Money

3.7

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Aesthetic Appeal – 4/5 

There are numerous sizes of French press. The black Starbucks coffee press has an 8-cup capacity. It has a classic sleek Swiss look on brand with Bodum’s other products like the Bodum Brazil and Chambord. The rubber handle lets you grip it steadily for pouring, and it stays put thanks to a skid-proof base. It has a locking lid to seal in the heat. 

It’s a lightweight, compact coffee maker, measuring 10.2 x 6 x 5.71 inches and weighing just over a pound. It’s right in the sweet spot of being large enough to serve a crowd yet not so big as to take up all your counter space. 

These coffee presses are made in Portugal. The body is made from BPA-free Tritan plastic, one of the safest plastics for handling drinks and food (3). Forty percent of the plastic used is post-consumer recycled, and the world is better for it. 

Ease Of Use – 4/5

This French press coffee maker is simple to use, just like any other best coffee press.

Anyone can pick up one of these simple brewers and get started.

How To Use Starbucks French Press Coffee Maker

Here are the Starbucks French Press instructions for how to use this plastic coffee maker. Keep in mind they don’t specify how much coffee or water to add, so use your best judgment and experiment to find what suits your taste when making coffee.

1. Remove the rubber gasket-covered plunger and warm the coffee maker with hot water.
2. Add medium coarse ground coffee to the French press coffee maker.
3. Ensure the water temperature is just below a boil before pouring it over the coffee grounds. Fill it up until the water line sits below the French Press lip.
4. Cover the grounds with the lid and let the coffee brew for about 4 minutes.
5. Secure your hold on the coffee press and push on the plunger slowly. You don’t want the grounds to float into your brew.
6. Enjoy a rich cup of great coffee!

To clean, wash it with warm, soapy water, or run it in the dishwasher.

Coffee Flavor – 4/5

French press coffee is known for its robust flavor and heavy mouthfeel. Unlike the paper filter of a drip coffee, the metal filter of a French press allows the coffee oils into your final cup. This gives it the full-bodied appeal that French press coffee lovers crave.

The Starbucks French Press is a cheap brewer, but it still delivers great-tasting coffee. For the best flavor, I used freshly ground medium or dark roast coffee with a relatively coarse grind size. Because this brewer doesn’t have a particularly robust filtration system, a coarser grind is the best way to avoid sediments in the cup. Use a slightly longer extraction time to compensate.

You can also brew light roasts in this French press. However, light roasts extract better at higher temperatures and finer grind sizes. So if you’re a real light roast lover, I’d recommend spending a bit more on a double-wall insulated metal French press with a double or triple-layer mesh filter.

Custom Brewing Features – 4/5

There aren’t any bells and whistles with this or other French presses, but you can customize your brew by experimenting with grind size, water-to-coffee ratio, and steeping time, just as you would with any manual brewing method (4).

French presses can also make more than just hot coffee. Pour cold water over coarse ground coffee and store in the fridge overnight to make cold brew. Or use it as a tea maker to brew bagged or loose-leaf tea.

Portability – 3/5

This French press coffee maker has a few factors working in its favor when it comes to portability. It’s small and lightweight, and the locking lid prevents spillage if you need to brew and run. The plastic build is a safer travel option than glass but is less durable than stainless steel. It wasn’t designed as a travel coffee maker but can handle its fair share of bumps in the road.

	Reviewed item
Manufacturer	Bodum	Sterling	BaristasBuddy	Fellow	Bodum
Model	Starbucks french press	Pro	The Parisian	Clara	Chambord
Product category	French press	French press	French press	French press	French press
Housing material	Plastic and glass	Stainless steel	Food-grade stainless steel	Stainless steel	Stainless steel
Color options	Black	Stainless steel	Black, Mint, Pink, Yellow (matte)	Black Matte	Chrome
Carafe	Plastic	Stainless steel	Food-grade stainless steel	Stainless steel	Glass
Available sizes	1	3	1	1	4
Water tank size	34 fl oz	34, 51, 60 fl oz	34 fl oz	24 fl oz	51, 34, 17, 12 fl oz
Number of cups	8	8, 12, 14	4	3	12, 8, 4, 3
Plunger type	Rubber gasket-covered plunger	Double-screen stainless-steel	Stainless steel	Enhanced-filtration mesh	Stainless-steel plunger
Lid type	Plastic	Stainless steel	Stainless steel	BPA-free plastic	Dome-shaped lid
Double wall	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Brews with	Ground coffee	Ground coffee	Ground coffee	Ground coffee	Ground coffee
Brew styles	3	4	4	4	3
Dishwasher safe	Yes	Yes	No	The mesh only	Glass carafe and the press
Dimensions	10.24 x 5.98 x 5.71 inches	4.4 x 6 x 9 inches	4.1 x 7 x 8.4 inches	4.53 x 6.69 x 7.87	4.2 x 5.5 x 9 inches
Customer review	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5
Warranty	1 year	1 years	30-day money return	30 days	1 year
SCA certified home brewer	No	No	No	No	No
Price	No products found.	No products found.	No products found.	No products found.	No products found.
	SEE ON AMAZON	SEE ON AMAZON	SEE ON AMAZON	SEE ON AMAZON	SEE ON AMAZON

Value For Money – 3/5

This French press is an affordable coffee maker, though not the absolute cheapest option. The repurposed plastic build is cost-effective. The cost savings come from the plastic build quality, which won’t last as long as the stainless steel models and won’t look as nice as glass. It also has a relatively basic filter design that will leave some fines in your cup.

Do Not Buy The Starbucks Coffee Press If… 

• You prefer glass – Glass may not be shatterproof, but it sure is beautiful. If your home environment does not risk your beloved French Press breaking, go with the glass Bodum Chambord French Press coffee maker.

• You value durability – Stainless steel is the best for the longevity of your French press coffee maker. There is a Starbucks stainless steel French press, but we recommend the higher-end Frieling double-walled French press, which keeps your brews warm and sediment-free. A more affordable option of comparable quality is the Sterling Pro French Press coffee maker.

• You want good taste in looks AND brews – You can always count on Fellow to deliver coffee gear as gorgeous as it is functional, though it’s not cheap. The vacuum-insulated stainless steel Fellow Clara French Press, featuring a matte black finish and walnut handle, is a beauty.

The Verdict

The Starbucks Coffee Press matches any decor, is easy to use and clean, and makes delicious cup of full-bodied coffee – all at an affordable price. Does it live up to cafe-quality? Yes, if used with care. On the other hand, if you’re in the market for a prettier or sturdier French Press, up your budget and consider alternatives.

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