Despite high end coffee equipment continually flooding the market, the century old french press still sells like hot cakes.
And for good reason.
It’s cheap, easy to use, and makes dependably delicious coffee (just ask the pros).
But while the French press is remarkably simple—in a world of push-button coffee—the extra user steps can become tedious over time (especially when brewing every day).
So, how do we get French press coffee without the hassle? Is there such a thing as an electric French press? If so, does it make mug-worthy coffee?
This intuitive guide touches on all the creative ways the industry has attempted to automate the French press.
In this article, you'll learn...
● Electric vs Automatic French Press: Clearing up the confusion
● Is an electric French press worth it? We put one to the test.
● All electric French presses to date (sadly, most are unavailable)
● The mystery of the automatic French press: Why aren't we seeing them yet?
● A peek at some exciting French press alternatives (immersion brewing!)
Electric French Press vs Automatic French Press
To better navigate this page, it’s important you understand the difference between these two terms.
An Electric French Press heats the water and brews the coffee all within the same unit. In other words, it’s a regular French press with a built-in heater. However, after steeping, you still have to push the plunger manually.
An Automatic French Press also heats the water and brews the coffee in the same vessel. However, the plunger is automatically depressed after a specified time interval of steeping. While a few budding inventors are giving it a go, no automatic French press exists for home kitchens at this point.
The Electric French Press
Advantages
Disadvantages
- Available products have subpar reviews
- A little pricey
- Many of the products are no longer available
Is the Electric French Press Worth It?
The key advantage of the electric French press is its space-saving design. No need for a separate kettle: the heating component and the French press are combined into a single unit.
For some people, this convenience alone justifies the minor price difference.
With that said, the number of user steps to create coffee is essentially the same—-with the exception of the Bodum Electric French Press, (within the same unit, it contains a separate water reservoir that transfers hot water over to the carafe).
So, if you're hoping for an effortless, "set-it-and-forget-it" kind of experience with your French press coffee, then the electric French press probably won't live up to your expectations.
All Electric French Press Coffee Makers to Date:
#1 Kalorik Bartista Electric French Press (Still available)
The Kalorik Bartist 8-in-1 Electric Beverage Maker heats up the water and brews the coffee all in one carafe (and clearly, it has a few other tricks up its sleeve). The carafe does detach from the base (similar to a modern-day electric kettle) and includes an agitator at the bottom to stir the coffee, which can help improve extraction and promote a healthy bloom.
The agitator can also be used to froth milk (However, it will not perform as well as a steam wand.)
Brewing Steps:
- Put the desired water into the carafe.
- Select “Hot Brew” setting.
- Unit beeps, agitator stirs water, and heating element turns on.
- Unit beeps again, and LED flashes when water hits approximately 195°F (which takes about 15 minutes).
- Add coffee grounds and stir with a spoon.
- Press center selection button again.
- Electric agitator will stir coffee-water mixture.
- After a 3-minute steep, the unit will beep and stop stirring (no adjustable timing).
- Depress plunger.
- Coffee is ready to be poured.
Advantages
- No need to preheat carafe
- Agitator is a nice thought (but can malfunction)
- Unit beeps when done: no timer needed*
- Saves Space
- Carafe detaches for easier cleaning (unlike the Mr. Coffee unit below)
Disadvantages
- Steep timer fixed at 3 minutes*
- Common complaints that motor gives out prematurely
- Common complaints about customer service
Our Take:
The idea, actually pretty cool.
The execution, not so great.
Unfortunately, Kalorik may have bitten off more than they could chew with the 8-in-1 product idea. While making cold brew or iced coffee in your French press is a nice perk, the extra tech means more things can go wrong.
Had they kept it simple and stuck with a self-heating French press, it may have lived up to its name. Instead, the addition of the agitator overcomplicates the machine.
To make sure it wasn’t just the rantings of angry customers (you know, the ones who have too much time on their hands), we bought the Kalorik Electric French Press and put it through some strenuous testing.
#2 Bodum Bistro Electric French Press (Tricky to find)
The Bodum Electric French Press is the only available model that has a separate reservoir to heat the water.
Believe it or not, this means one less user step for the brewer.
Brewing Steps:
- Add water to the right reservoir.
- Add coffee to the left carafe.
- Push the start button.
- Once water is sufficiently heated, water will automatically drip into the left carafe.
- Remove carafe and depress plunger (after desired steep time).
- Pour coffee.
Advantages
- No need to come back to add hot water
- Can dial in your water to coffee ratio
- The slow water drip naturally blooms the grounds
- Made from glass + BPA-free plastic
Disadvantages
- Left carafe does not reheat
- Cannot set the water temperature
- Must keep track of water transfer in order to time your steep
- No longer sold (except on resale sites like eBay)
Our Take:
If taking one step out of the brewing process is enough to make your life a little easier, it’s worth checking out.
However, if you’re someone who likes to fine-tune their coffee with precise temperatures and steeping times, there is still some manual work here that can make the price point hard to justify.
#3 Mr. Coffee Electric French Press (Tricky to find)
The Mr. Coffee Electric French Press heats and brews the coffee all in the same carafe. It is very similar to the Kalorik model above but with fewer settings (simpler design).
Brewing Steps:
- Put the desired water into the carafe.
- Select the start button to boil water.
- After the water comes to a boil, the heater automatically turns off.
- Add coffee grounds.
- Steep your coffee for the preferred time.
- Depress plunger.
- Coffee is ready to be poured.
Advantages
- No need to preheat the carafe
- Saves space
- Simple to use
- Customers remark it boils water very fast
Disadvantages
- Common complaints of product failing prematurely
- A bit expensive
- Currently hard to find
Our Take:
While Mr. Coffee’s design is remarkably simple, many customers have complained about miscellaneous parts breaking over time. If you get a properly functioning unit, it can definitely serve a purpose…but it’s a gamble!
With less-than-stellar reviews, it’s likely the company stopped production: If you find one, let us know by leaving a comment at the bottom of the page!
#4 Chef's Choice 695 Electric French Press (Tricky to find)
As I’m writing this, the Chef’s Choice 695 Electric French press is unfortunately no longer available. It’s a shame because we assumed this model’s simplicity would give it more longevity than some of the models above.
Brewing Steps:
- Put the desired water into the carafe.
- Select the start button to boil water.
- After the water comes to a boil, the heater automatically turns off.
- Add coffee grounds.
- Steep your coffee for the preferred time.
- Depress plunger.
- Coffee is ready to be poured.
Advantages
- Refreshingly simple
- Saves space
- Customers remark it's "fast to boil."
Disadvantages
- Common complaints of heating element failing prematurely.
- Very difficult to find (currently)
- Only a 1-quart capacity
Our Take:
Similar to the Mr. Coffee model above, the simplicity of this machine should’ve made it a homerun. Unfortunately, there seems to be a trend in these products giving out prematurely.
Personally, we’d wait until the industry comes out with an electric French press that has a track record of dependably working, long-term.
***If you find this Chef’s Choice model for sale (new or used), please let us know! We’d still love to give it a try.
#5 Bravura Press (Commercial Electric French Press)
The Bravura is a massive electric French press that's created for serving immersion brewed coffee to a large group of people. This press was designed by roasters in response to concerns that the restaurant and hospitality industries lacked the adequate equipment to brew large batches of immersion-brewed coffee in a way that safeguards its flavor.
The Bravura’s main selling points include some interesting features such as fine-tuned temperature, a brew-stopping mechanism to prevent over-extraction, and easy-cleaning elements.
Brewing Steps:
The video here outlines the brewing process.
Advantages
- Large capacity
- Elegant design
- Easy-to-clean
Disadvantages
- Very expensive
- Impractical for home use
Our Take:
A larger French press is really only practical if you own a coffee shop (or other type of operation where you’ll need to brew quality coffee in bulk on a daily basis: think hotel, restaurant, or the lobby of big agency). If you’re interested in the Bravura press, we recommend reaching out to them via their contact form at the bottom of their website.
Daily Coffee News created an article that provides a more in-depth look at the brewing process.
The Automatic French Press
Unfortunately, a completely automated French press has yet to be invented (to our knowledge)—making it the true unicorn of the coffee brewing world. While it’s hard to understand why none of the major coffee equipment companies have taken a crack at it, we have some ideas.
Depressing a plunger is easy work. Creating a mechanism to do it for you seems like a lot of work for little pay.
The French press is convenient because it’s cheap and makes great coffee. The higher price tag on an automatic French press strips it of that attractive point.
Since most electric French presses are no longer sold (and the ones that are have remarkably bad reviews), most companies have likely given up on the idea of making the French press “easier,” opting instead to produce and sell other, more in-demand coffee machines.
Can I Automate My French Press?
Despite the lack of interest from bigger coffee-tech companies, a handful of innovative individuals have taken the initiative to automate the French press themselves. You can view their valiant efforts below!
Estefannie’s Automated French Press
Once an automatic French press actually hits the market, the next obvious step will be to make an automatic French press with a grinder all in the same unit.
We look forward to the day 🙂
Alternatives to the French Press
(Immersion Brewing)
While these coffee brewing methods aren’t strictly “French press” per se, they offer a similar quality coffee and provide certain trade-offs worth mentioning.
#1 The Bunn Trifecta MB
*Unavailable...but might be able to score through certain vendors.
The Bunn Trifecta MB is an automatic “French press” with a timer. The reason we put the quotes around the term “French press” is because no filter is actually depressed to separate coffee from coffee grounds.
Instead, a mesh screen sits at the bottom of the reservoir, and gravity feeds the liquid through.
Check out the video below for a demonstration.
A few disclaimers before I get into the It’s American Press: Firstly, it isn’t really more automated; it’s just easier to clean than a traditional French press.
Second, it’s debatably more on the side of percolation than immersion brewing since clean water passes through the coffee grounds and is quickly separated into the upper compartment (depending on how slowly you depress the plunger).
Still, definitely worth mentioning.
Coffee expert James Hoffman does an awesome review of the American Coffee Press that illustrates the brewing process and sheds light on the inherent advantages and disadvantages.
#3 The Clover Coffee Machine
We had to include the Clover because it’s a marvel to watch. Although it can be quite expensive, you can still get your hands on one through eBay vendors. But beware that if it malfunctions, finding replacement parts might be impossible.
Syphon Coffee Makers
Syphon brewing is definitely not easier or more automated than a French press. It is, however, a really unique, century-old way to make immersion-brewed coffee that’s also mesmerizing to watch.
Check out the demonstration below.
And, here’s an example of a more modern version that doesn’t run the risk of setting your house on fire (at least not from direct flame).
Better Chef Electric Siphon Coffee Maker
Conclusion
After some serious research, we were a little disappointed to find there weren’t a lot of options for automated immersion brewing. You’d think with all the die-hard “French pressers” out there, the market would be flooded with them—yet the automatic French press remains the unicorn of the coffee brewing world, and the electric French press, not quite as imaginary, but still elusive!
Despite the reality, we remain optimistic, and we’ll keep our eyes open for new and upcoming products. If you find one yourself or we missed any, please leave a comment below!
Michael
FAQs
How Does an Electric French Press Work?
An electric French press operates similarly to a standard French press but with the added convenience of heating the water itself. So, you add your coffee, pour in water, and let the device do the rest. It's a plug-and-brew operation, simple as that.
Is There an Automatic French Press?
Not yet. There have been a few attempts to create such a wonder, but none have made it to market. We're as eager as you are to see one, and we're keeping our eyes peeled.
Is There a French Press that Heats Water?
Yes, this is where the electric French press steps in. But fair warning—while these gadgets exist, many currently on the market have less than stellar reviews. Most of them are also no longer manufactured, which makes them difficult to find.
Is There a Single Cup Electric French Press?
Yes, but it's a rare breed. The Chef's Choice 695 Electric French press is a one-quart model that could fit the bill. But here's the catch—it's difficult to find, as it's probably not manufactured anymore. Your best bet would be resale sites like eBay or Etsy.
