It’s difficult to look for a quality reusable water bottle, coffee tumbler or cooler without at least considering Yeti’s many options. Known for its durable, double-wall vacuum-insulated drinkware, the brand is a mainstay of camping gear, outdoor accessories and coffee essentials. Plus, the brand’s products make great gifts for friends and family. That’s why, when Yeti launched its French Press, I was eager to try it out.
Below, I walk through my review of the Yeti French press, including how well it filters out coffee grounds and how long it keeps brewed coffee hot.
SKIP AHEAD What is the Yeti French press? | How I tested the Yeti French press | My experience with the Yeti French press | Who is the Yeti French press best for?
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What is the Yeti French Press?
Yeti French Press
- Dishwasher safe
- Keeps coffee hot for hours
- Many colors
- Not transparent
Yeti’s French press works similarly to an average French press, which is typically made of a cylindrical glass container with metal accessories. It includes a plunging tool and a circular filter that’s attached to the lid. After adding ground coffee or espresso to the container, slowly press the plunge tool downward to separate the residual grounds from the freshly brewed coffee.
Unlike a traditional model, Yeti’s French press is made of stainless steel instead of glass, a double-wall vacuum-insulated interior and a white ceramic lining. The outside has a matte coating and a long handle similar to a pitcher, and the lid is clear plastic and twists to lock. The lid also has a small spout opening for pouring the coffee but doesn’t have a magslider like many of the brand’s water bottles.
Aside from coffee, you can also use the French Press to make a large batch of tea and you can even use it as a pitcher for water. It comes in either a 34- or 64-ounce size. The 34-ounce container ($110) makes 2 to 4 cups of coffee and the 64-ounce one ($130) makes about 6 cups, according to the brand.
Material: stainless steel | Colorways: 8 | Dishwasher safe? Yes | Double-wall vacuum insulation? Yes | Size options: 2
How I tested the Yeti French Press
Yeti sent me the 34-ounce container for testing. I tried the French Press for over a month and I am still using it every few days. I tested both ground espresso, particularly the brand La Llave, and roast ground coffee from Folgers. These are both brands I’ve used in the past, however, I had only used them to prepare drip coffee in the Mr. Coffee Brew Switch Coffee Maker my roommate and I share.
While both of these coffee brands have directions for preparing the coffee in a drip coffee maker, Yeti recommends using ⅔ cup of ground coffee (a little over 10 tablespoons) with a total of 34 ounces of water. I mainly used the French press when preparing a large batch of coffee in the mornings or on a weekend if I was planning on chilling it to make iced coffee.
Overall, the directions are straightforward. I added the coffee grounds to the container, boiled water on the stove (though you could use an electric tea kettle or simply microwave water), and added a small portion of it to the coffee ground and let “bloom” for a few minutes before adding the rest of the water. Lastly, I applied the lid, twisting it to lock it into place and slowly pushed the plunge downward. When I was done, I poured out the remaining coffee, rinsed it out with soap and water and let it dry.
My experience with the Yeti French Press
I was really impressed by my experience using Yeti’s French Press. I love that it’s easy to use, durable, portable, easy to clean by hand or in the dishwasher and that it keeps coffee warm for hours after brewing.
What I like
Double-wall vacuum insulation
Each time I made coffee in the French press, I checked on it at least an hour or two afterward and the coffee was still quite warm. This is largely due to its vacuum insulation which you’ll also find in the brand’s coffee mugs and tumblers. While I drink iced coffee more often than hot, I still think this is a great feature, especially if you not only prefer hot coffee but if you like making a large batch of it for multiple people. Also, the outside of the French press wasn’t super hot to the touch (I placed both of my hands around it for a few seconds when it was filled with freshly brewed coffee) so you don’t have to worry about accidental burns.
Easy to clean
After letting some of the brewed coffee and coffee grounds sit in the French press for at least an hour, I was able to easily pour out the remaining liquid in the sink and the solids in the garbage. The grounds weren’t stuck to the bottom or sides and there was zero staining from the brewed coffee. To clean some of the remaining grounds, I found that it was easy to rinse by hand (it’s wide enough to wash the inside with your hands using a sponge). Plus, the lid and filter didn’t have any trapped coffee grounds. I didn’t have to do any scrubbing and after letting both the lid, plunge and filter dry, they barely had any water stains.
Durability
When empty, the French press has some weight to it, which comes from the stainless steel body, but overall, I didn’t find it uncomfortably heavy, even when it was filled with coffee. The outside is also super smooth, and even after lightly cleaning it with a rough side of sponge, it didn’t have any scratches. This also applied to the inside. The handle was long and flat, and the container was easy to hold and carry without my hand hurting, even when it was full. The bottom also has a rubber cover so that you don’t loudly knock it against a table when setting it down.
Multifunctional
I always appreciate drinkware that’s suitable for various types of beverages. The Yeti French Press is great for simply holding a large amount of water and keeping it in the fridge as you would with a pitcher. Plus, you could make a large amount of hot or iced tea in the French press, according to the brand.
Fine-mesh filter
The circular filter that’s attached to the plunge and lid did an excellent job of filtering out undissolved ground coffee. The mechanism itself was easy to push down and after pulling it out before cleaning, I could see that all of the grounds were at the bottom and not floating around in my brewed coffee. Plus, while this may be dependent on the type of coffee you use, my brewed coffee was rich and dark, so I didn’t worry about it coming out bland or diluted.
Drawbacks to keep in mind
Better for strong coffee lovers
While the strength of coffee largely depends on the variety and roast level, another aspect is how you brew the grounds. While I don’t drink black coffee, I found that overall the flavor of the coffee brewed in the Yeti French Press was darker in color and slightly more aromatic compared to coffee I’ve made in my drip coffee maker.
Who is the Yeti French Press best for?
You should consider getting Yeti’s French Press if you drink a lot of hot coffee or tea on a regular basis. It’ll also be a good fit if you prefer coffee, which is a bit on the stronger side. I also think that, if you like taking a large batch of coffee with you to activities that take place outside in the cold — such as sports, a tailgate or a camping trip — then you’ll appreciate the convenience of the French press’ heat retention. That said, if you’re looking for a less costly and more compact option, you can consider Stanley’s Adventure All-In-One French Press ($26), which has a collapsible handle or Aeropress’ Go Travel Coffee Press Kit ($49.95), which has a capacity of around 8 ounces.
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I’m a commerce editor at NBC Select, where I cover kitchen and home-related topics, such as the best reusable water bottles and how to clean and store strawberries. I also work on cleaning guides including how to clean grout and how to get rid of mold.
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