I’ve owned more French presses than I care to admit. Most of them are dead now, victims of sleepy mornings and tile floors. The glass ones, especially—they lived brief, fragile lives. So when YETI, the company that turned coolers into indestructible status symbols, announced they were making a French press, I was interested. When I actually used it, I was impressed. Mostly.
What We’re Looking At
The YETI Rambler French Press comes in two sizes: the 34-ounce version ($110) that brews 2-4 cups, and the 64-ounce beast ($130) that can caffeinate a small crew—about six cups or more. Both are built from 18/8 kitchen-grade stainless steel with double-wall vacuum insulation, which is YETI’s signature move. They’ve added a ceramic lining called DuraSip on some models, and the whole thing is dishwasher safe.
The design language is unmistakably YETI: chunky, purposeful, available in colors ranging from utilitarian white and black to seasonal options like Black Forest Green and Cherry Blossom. There’s a pitcher-style handle that runs nearly the full length of the body, a clear Tritan lid with a twist-to-lock mechanism, and YETI branding that lets everyone know exactly how much you spent on your morning ritual.
The GroundsControl Filter: Where Things Get Interesting
Here’s what separates this from every other French press I’ve used: the GroundsControl filter actually works.
Traditional French presses have a mesh filter that pushes grounds to the bottom, but the brewing technically continues as long as coffee and water are in contact. Leave it sitting too long, and you get that bitter, over-extracted taste that makes people think they don’t like French press coffee. YETI’s solution is a rubber seal above the mesh that, when you plunge, creates a barrier between the grounds and the brewed coffee. The brewing process essentially stops.
In practice, this is genuinely clever. The filter doesn’t let any sediment through—no gritty sludge at the bottom of your cup, no coffee grounds stuck in your teeth. After testing it against cheaper presses, the difference in cup clarity is noticeable. You get clean, rich coffee that stays balanced even if you don’t immediately pour it out.
The catch: the filter assembly is one solid piece and can’t be disassembled for cleaning. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s mildly annoying if you like things spotless.
Heat Retention: Good, But Not Perfect
The double-wall insulation does exactly what YETI claims—it keeps coffee hot for pour after pour. Reviewers have measured temperatures above 100°F even after an hour. That’s impressive for any French press, let alone one made of metal instead of glass.
But here’s the design choice that has people divided: the pour spout on the lid doesn’t close. There’s no MagSlider or cap to seal it off. This means heat escapes faster than it would from a fully insulated vessel, and—more problematically—you can’t throw this in a backpack without risking a coffee-stained disaster.
YETI sells a separate MagSlider lid for about $12 that turns the French press into a proper pitcher, which feels like it should have been included at this price point. If you’re buying this for camping or travel, factor that into your budget.
The Durability Question
This is where YETI earns its reputation. The stainless steel construction is puncture-resistant and rust-resistant. You could probably drop this off a tailgate and retrieve it dented but functional. Compared to glass French presses that shatter if you look at them wrong, the peace of mind is substantial.
The twist-to-lock lid is secure enough for stationary use, though some reviewers note it doesn’t provide that satisfying click when seated. It’s a minor gripe, but at $110+, you expect every detail to feel premium.
Who Is This Actually For?
YETI markets this to campers and outdoors types, but I think they’re missing the real audience. The inability to fully seal the lid makes it less portable than you’d want for backcountry adventures. Where it shines is anywhere you need to brew a batch of coffee and keep it warm for a while: home offices, work kitchens, tailgates where you’re not actually moving around.
If you’re the person who makes a pot of coffee and nurses it through a long morning, this is excellent. If you want to brew at camp, hike for three hours, and drink hot coffee at the summit, you’ll need that extra lid—or a different product entirely.
The 64-ounce size also doubles nicely as a pitcher for water or iced tea when you’re not making coffee. Versatility counts for something.
The Verdict
The YETI Rambler French Press is a genuinely good coffee maker wrapped in a few frustrating design decisions. The GroundsControl filter is the real innovation here—it produces cleaner, more balanced coffee than most French presses I’ve used, and the insulation keeps it drinkable longer than any glass alternative.
But for $110-$130, expecting a closeable lid isn’t unreasonable. The oversight feels particularly strange coming from a company known for thinking through every detail of their products. You’re paying premium prices for a premium experience that’s about 85% of the way there.
If you’re already in the YETI ecosystem and want something that matches your coolers and tumblers, this makes sense. If you’re looking for the most practical insulated French press for the money, there are alternatives at half the price that seal properly. But if you specifically want something that won’t break, keeps coffee hot, and produces a genuinely clean cup, the YETI delivers on its core promises.
Just don’t put it in your backpack with coffee still inside. Trust me.
Specifications:
- 34 oz ($110): Brews 2-4 cups | 8.23″ W x 15.66″ H | 2.65 lbs empty
- 64 oz ($130): Brews 6+ cups | 7.1″ W x 10.1″ H | 3.70 lbs empty
- Materials: 18/8 stainless steel, DuraSip ceramic lining (select models)
- Features: GroundsControl filter, double-wall vacuum insulation, twist-to-lock lid
- Warranty: 5 years
- Available at yeti.com and major retailers
References
- YETI Official Product Page — French Press: YETI 64oz Coffee Press
https://www.yeti.com/drinkware/mugs/french-press.html - Downtown Magazine — “Hot or not? The YETI French Press on test” (October 21, 2024)
https://downtown-mag.com/en/hot-or-not-yeti-french-press/ - Family Handyman — “Yeti French Press Review: A Coffee Connoisseur Gives Us Their Opinion” (September 24, 2024)
https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/yeti-french-press-review/ - NBC Select — “Yeti French Press Review” (December 27, 2024)
https://www.nbcnews.com/select/shopping/yeti-french-press-review-rcna168442 - T3 — “YETI Rambler 34 oz French Press review: attractive design with incredible insulation” (September 24, 2024)
https://www.t3.com/home-living/yeti-rambler-34-oz-french-press-review - Lux Cafe Club — “Yeti French Press Review – A Durable Coffee Companion” (December 27, 2024)
https://www.luxcafeclub.com/blogs/whats-brewing-today-1/yeti-french-press-review-a-durable-coffee-companion