7 Best Coffee Beans For French Press (2024)

French press coffee is a full-bodied coffee that is brewed by steeping coarsely ground coffee beans in hot water. And that's why the types of whole coffee beans used can greatly affect the flavor and quality of the end product.

In this article, I have listed the best coffee beans for a French press that will help you brew a perfect French press coffee.

What types of coffee beans are suitable for brewing French press coffee?

When selecting whole coffee beans for a French press, it is recommended to choose medium- to dark-roasted coffee beans with a rich and full-bodied flavor profile. Here is the list of coffee beans that are well-suited to brew good French press coffee.

1) Colombian coffee beans

Colombian coffee beans are known for their rich and bold flavor profile with a slightly sweet finish. As a result, they are a popular choice for brewing French press coffee.

2) Brazilian coffee beans

Due to their low acid content and smoother profile, Brazilian coffee beans are often used in French press brewing. Also, these beans are known for their chocolatey and nutty undertones. So, if you are a fan of these two, you must go for them.

3) Ethiopian Coffee Beans

Ethiopian coffee beans are highly valued for their complex flavor profile, which includes fruity and floral notes as well as bright acidity. When these beans are brewed in a French press, their flavors get amplified, and you get delicious French press coffee.

4) Sumatran coffee beans

Sumatran coffee beans have a distinctive earthy and spicy flavor, a heavy body, and low acidity. These characteristics make them a great choice for French press brewing.

Ultimately, the type of coffee beans you choose for your French press will depend on your personal taste preferences.

If you are just starting your French press brewing journey, it is recommended that you experiment with different beans and brewing techniques until you find the perfect cup of French press coffee.

Now, we will discuss the factors that you need to look for before buying coffee beans for the French press.

What factors should you check before buying French press coffee beans?

1) Roast level

While brewing French press coffee, it is necessary to choose either medium or dark-roasted coffee beans. It is because the French press coffee is known for its bold and full-bodied flavor and medium or dark roast coffee beans can easily provide both.

Apart from this, medium or dark roast coffee beans are lower acidic and can help to create a thicker and more velvety textured coffee which is one of the characteristics of French press coffee.

2) Freshness

Once the coffee beans are roasted, they start losing their flavor and aroma, so it's important to choose beans that are as fresh as possible. To do so, you can look for the date mentioned on the packet or bag with a label that says "roasted on" or "best before".

3) Origin of the coffee beans

As I mentioned above, the origin of the coffee beans can have a big impact on their taste characteristics and flavor profile. So, you should consider trying beans from different countries or regions to find your suitable taste.

4) Flavor profile

Apart from all the points mentioned above, you also need to look for the flavor profile of the whole beans that you're about to buy. French press coffee tends to have a full-bodied, rich flavor, so you may want to look for beans that have notes of chocolate, caramel, or nuttiness.

I hope you have a clear idea about what to look for before buying the roasted whole coffee beans for French press.

What are the best coffee beans for the French press?

I have listed these coffee beans based on their origin, roast level, and flavor profile.

1) illy Classico whole coffee beans

If you love to use a classic, well-balanced, medium-roasted arabica bean with a slight fruitiness in its flavor,  you will definitely like to purchase these whole coffee beans. These beans are composed of nine varieties of Arabica coffee. These whole-roasted coffee beans have lingering sweetness and delicate notes of caramel, jasmine, and orange blossom.

Illy uses unique pressurized coffee packaging (air-free) that helps preserve the flavor and aroma of the roasted coffee beans. So, whenever you open the packet, you get the coffee beans at their optimal freshness.

Since these whole coffee beans are medium roasted, they are well-suited to brew a perfect French press coffee on your own.

2) Copper Moon dark roasted whole coffee bean

Above, while discussing the suitable types of whole coffee beans, I recommended you use Sumatran coffee beans to brew French press coffee. So, the second whole coffee brand I am listing for the best coffee beans for French press coffee is Copper Moon Sumatran whole coffee beans.

These premium whole coffee beans are dark-roasted and have been sourced from remote areas of Indonesia. These beans will let you enjoy French press coffee with a uniquely smooth, smoky character and herbal notes mixed with roasted almonds and an earthy aroma.

Copper Moon whole coffee beans are gluten-free, non-GMO, kosher-friendly, and also free from allergens.

This whole-bean coffee is prepared in single batches and is perfect for coffee lovers who prefer to grind the beans at home for peak freshness and brew using a French press coffee maker. All the beans used in this product are 100% Arabica.

3) DEATH WISH dark roast coffee beans

The whole roasted coffee beans sold by the DEATH WISH brand are dark-roasted and come with stone fruit and dark chocolate flavor which can surely transform your cup of French press coffee into a delicious, bold, and intense beverage that has the capabilities of giving you a boost in the morning.

DEATH WISH has used premium Arabica and Robusta whole coffee beans that have been sourced from different regions of the world.

All the coffee beans used in this product are 100% organic and USDA-certified.

4) Starbucks medium roast whole bean coffee

We all know that Starbucks never fails to deliver exceptional coffee, and that's the reason I have included their medium-roasted coffee in our list of the top whole coffee beans for the French press.

Each bag of this ground coffee weighs 12 ounces and contains premium-quality coffee beans.

These medium-roasted coffee beans come with the toffee and dusted cocoa notes of Starbucks House Blend coffee.

You'll always get a fresh taste with Starbucks whole bean coffee, as they adhere to the highest quality standards. All the coffee beans used in this product are 100% Arabic and sourced 100% ethically.

5) Peet’s whole coffee beans

The next whole coffee bean product that is suitable to be used in a French press coffee maker on our list is Peet's dark-roasted coffee beans. This product contains 18 oz of whole roasted 100% Arabica beans.

These coffee beans have a very robust and full-bodied flavor. You may wonder, but this product was developed by Mr. Peet himself and his most discerning customer, Major Dickason, so you can imagine how good the product is going to be.

Apart from the French press, you can brew this coffee in a variety of ways, depending on your choice of brewing method. If you want to make espresso at home, you need to finely grind these beans. For cold brew, grind them to coarse ground. And if you want to brew the pour-over coffee using a Chemex, you need to grind these beans to medium grind size.

Here, one thing that you need to keep in mind is to use this product within 90 days after you receiving it.

6) Kicking Horse whole beans

Kicking Horse provides one of the best organic coffee beans for the French press. It provides a medium-roasted, whole-bean coffee with a chocolaty concoction.

The coffee beans come with this note of sugarcane and milk chocolate, with a honeyed berry body. The coffee beans used in this product are sourced from Africa, Central America, and South America and are grown in a socially and environmentally responsible way.

The coffee beans used in this product are 100% organic, kosher-friendly, and shade-grown. All the beans used in this product are 100% Arabica.

7) AmazonFresh Colombian whole coffee beans

If you are looking for decaffeinated coffee beans, you can consider AmazonFresh Colombian whole coffee beans, as they are balanced, full-bodied, and have a smooth finish. And since they are medium-roasted, they are well-suited for French press coffee.

This product comes with three bags of decaf coffee beans, each containing 12 ounces of medium-roasted coffee beans made up of 100% Arabica coffee beans grown in Colombia.

One more thing to add to this product is that it is an Amazon brand, so you can trust that it will definitely meet the high standards you expect from Amazon.

The best grind size for the French press

The most recommended grind size for French press coffee is coarse, with a consistency similar to sea salt. The major reason for choosing a coarse grind size is that coarse grounds allow for better extraction during the brewing process as water can flow through the grounds more easily and evenly.

Is there anything wrong with using too fine or too coarse grind coffee?

Yes, if the grind size is too fine, it can lead to over-extraction and a bitter taste in the coffee. On the other hand, if the coffee bean grind size is too coarse, it can result in under-extraction, resulting in a weak and watery cup of coffee.

So, to achieve the best flavor in your French press coffee, it's important to use a consistent, coarse grind size. Of course, you can experiment with different grind sizes, but the coarse grind will get you the best French press coffee.

How to grind the whole coffee beans for French press?

Well, grinding the whole coffee beans for the French press is an easy task and can be efficiently done using a manual or electric grinder (preferably the burr one). Here, I have included a step-by-step method to grind the coffee beans.

1) First, use a digital coffee scale to calculate how many coffee beans you'll need to grind.

2) Set your grinder to coarse grind size.

3) Start grinding. Make sure you grind the exact amount of coffee you need for your brew. It is because pre-ground coffee starts losing its flavor and aroma.

How to store French press coffee beans for a long time?

1) Store the beans in a tightly sealed container

When the coffee beans come into contact with the air, they start getting stale quickly. So, it is very important to store them in an airtight container. You can use a container with a one-way valve that allows carbon dioxide to escape but doesn't let air in.

2) Keep the coffee beans in a cool, dry place.

When the coffee beans come into contact with heat, light, or moisture, they get affected by the flavor of the beans. In order to keep the whole coffee beans fresh, you need to store them in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight and moisture.

3) Don't store the beans in the fridge or freezer

When the coffee beans are stored in the fridge or freezer, it can actually cause them to go stale faster. Apart from this, the cooler and closed environment of the fridge can affect the aroma and flavor of the coffee beans.

4) Better to buy the coffee beans in smaller quantities

If you don't drink much coffee throughout the week, it's better to buy smaller quantities of beans more frequently to ensure that they stay fresh.

Wrapping up

Here, I have got you covered with the best coffee beans that you can use to brew your French press coffee. Based on my research, I can surely say that if you want to brew a perfect cup of French press coffee, you should use a medium- or dark-roast coffee with a rich, full-bodied flavor.

In my opinion, Brazilian, Colombian, and Ethiopian beans are some of the most popular options that can provide a satisfying and flavorful cup of coffee. Apart from this, you should also make sure that you buy freshly roasted coffee beans and not those that were roasted 2-3 weeks ago.