French press brewing is forgiving. You can throw almost any coffee in there, wait four minutes, and get something drinkable. But if you use the right beans, you get something special.
The best beans for French press share certain characteristics: they’re coarsely ground (or grindable), medium to dark roast, and have flavor profiles that shine when extracted in an immersion brew. Here are ten I keep coming back to.
What Makes a Bean “Good” for French Press
French press produces heavy-bodied, full-flavored coffee because the metal mesh filter lets oils and fine particles through. Beans with rich, bold flavors work better than delicate, bright beans.
Light roasts with subtle floral notes? Those are wasted in French press—the brewing method overwhelms the nuance. Save those for pour-over.
Dark and medium-dark roasts with chocolate, caramel, nutty, and earthy notes? Those are French press territory.
1. Peet’s Coffee Major Dickason’s Blend
My default French press coffee. Major Dickason’s is a dark blend with smoky, chocolate notes that stand up to the heavy extraction of French press brewing.
The body is full without being muddy. The chocolate notes come through clearly without being buried by bitterness. It’s what French press coffee should taste like.
Roast: Dark
Flavor notes: Dark chocolate, smoke, dried fruit
2. Counter Culture Big Trouble
A chocolatey blend designed specifically for bold brewing methods. Big Trouble is sweeter than most dark blends, with notes of brown sugar and roasted nuts.
The sweetness makes it particularly good for French press—the full extraction doesn’t turn bitter because the underlying bean is balanced.
Roast: Medium-dark
Flavor notes: Chocolate, brown sugar, roasted nuts
3. Kicking Horse Kick Ass
Bold, earthy, and intense. If you want your French press coffee to make a statement, Kicking Horse delivers. The Indonesian and Central American blend creates a complex dark roast.
Fair warning: this is strong. Some people find it too much. I think it’s exactly right for those mornings when you need serious coffee.
Roast: Dark
Flavor notes: Earth, dark chocolate, smoke
4. Stumptown Hair Bender
Stumptown’s flagship blend works surprisingly well in French press despite being a medium roast. The complexity—citrus, dark chocolate, caramel—survives the heavy extraction.
It’s a good choice if you want something less aggressively dark but still substantial enough for French press.
Roast: Medium
Flavor notes: Citrus, dark chocolate, caramel
5. Café Bustelo Espresso
The budget pick. At $5-6 per can, Café Bustelo is absurdly cheap for decent coffee. It’s pre-ground, which isn’t ideal, but the grind works for French press.
The Cuban-style roast is dark and sweet with chocolate and molasses notes. It makes a strong, satisfying cup.
Roast: Dark
Flavor notes: Chocolate, molasses, roasted nuts
6. Intelligentsia Black Cat Classic Espresso
An espresso blend that’s phenomenal in French press. Black Cat is sweet and syrupy with notes of chocolate, caramel, and berry.
The medium-dark roast level means it’s not too heavy, but it has enough body to work with the brewing method.
Roast: Medium-dark
Flavor notes: Chocolate, caramel, berry
7. Stone Street Coffee Colombian Supremo
A single-origin option that works well in French press. Colombian Supremo beans are known for balanced flavor with nutty and chocolate notes—exactly what French press showcases.
Stone Street roasts fresh and ships quickly. The freshness makes a noticeable difference.
Roast: Medium-dark
Flavor notes: Chocolate, nuts, caramel
8. Lavazza Super Crema
An Italian blend usually marketed for espresso, but it makes excellent French press coffee. The flavor is smooth and sweet with honey and almond notes.
Lower acidity than most dark roasts, which makes it easy-drinking in the morning.
Roast: Medium-dark
Flavor notes: Honey, almonds, brown sugar
9. Tim Hortons Original Blend
Canadian diner coffee that translates well to French press. It’s not fancy—medium roast with straightforward nutty, slightly sweet flavor.
Sometimes you don’t want complexity. Sometimes you want coffee that tastes like coffee. Tim Hortons delivers that.
Roast: Medium
Flavor notes: Nuts, mild sweetness, clean finish
10. Death Wish Coffee
The high-caffeine option. Death Wish is marketed as “world’s strongest coffee,” and while that’s marketing hype, it is noticeably higher in caffeine than average.
Flavor-wise, it’s a dark roast with cherry and chocolate notes. Surprisingly smooth for how intense it is.
Roast: Dark
Flavor notes: Cherry, chocolate, bold
French Press Brewing Tips
Grind coarse. Coarser than you think. Fine grounds clog the filter and make muddy, over-extracted coffee. Aim for sea salt consistency.
Use the right ratio. About 2 tablespoons (15g) per 8 oz cup. Adjust to taste, but start there.
Steep 4 minutes. Set a timer. Under 4 minutes is weak; over 5 minutes gets bitter.
Don’t press hard. Gentle pressure on the plunger. Forcing it stirs up sediment.
Pour it all out. Don’t let coffee sit in the French press—it keeps extracting and gets bitter. Pour everything into cups or a carafe immediately.
Final Thoughts
French press is one of the most accessible brewing methods. No filters to buy, no complicated technique—just coffee, water, and four minutes of patience.
Match it with the right beans and you get rich, full-bodied coffee that rivals anything from a coffee shop. Start with one of these recommendations and adjust based on what you like.
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