ESPRO P3 French Press Coffee Maker, 18 oz, Black, Double Micro Filter Press

I bought my first Espro (a 32 oz. double-walled stainless steel model) in 2015 - mainly for its insulation as I like to keep my coffee hot while consuming 3 cups each morning. It proved to be a better alternative to the several classic glass French presses my wife and I have used over the years – for several reasons that equally apply to the P3 (which I first learned about reading NY Times Wirecutter). What’s to Like about the P3 (pics included) • Very effective double micro-filter with silicon seals. Some reviewers find this filter tedious to clean and overkill on filtration (I’ll address both issues) but I’m a big fan. The filtration system is as good as it gets in keeping grounds out of one’s coffee cup, and trapping residues that can appear in roasted coffee. Using the plunger takes more effort as the finer the grounds the more they will cling to the walls of the filter, impeding the flow and requiring more pressure to squeeze the plunger. But the good news: it is those same fine grounds that escape conventional French press filters, and that end up spoiling a cup of coffee. They just don’t get through. Plus, the filtration method minimizes the “extraction” process (it continues as the grounds sit in hot water) that can make the last cup bitter. • Dishwasher safe: The micro-filter is easy to disassemble, clean and re-assemble (see two pics). It may seem like a chore initially, but the filters are quite easy to take apart using a simple counterclockwise twist of the outermost filter from the plunger. A ½ inch twist is all that’s needed. Though Espro recommends hand-washing the entire unit, we put the plunger and disassembled filter in the dishwasher. It has survived over 100 washings so far without a glitch. Re-assembly is just as easy (see pics). Just align the slot on the outer filter with the tab on the inner filter and give it a clockwise twist to snap it back into place. • Easy to remove the glass carafe from its plastic housing for cleaning. Espro has incorporated a clever design for this. There’s a plastic tab (flange) affixed to the glass carafe (see pic) which, when it’s in the correct “pouring” position sits below the top ring of the plastic housing with handle, keeping the glass body securely in place. Just grip the top of the glass carafe, turn it until the tab sits directly above the handle and lift (see pics). Just reverse the steps to put the glass carafe securely back in the plastic housing. That said, rather than disassembling the glass body after each use we put the entire press in the dishwasher. No problems experienced. • Two water levels. There’s both a “max” and “min” setting on the glass carafe so that you can choose how much coffee to brew (see pic). The difference is about 1 cup of coffee. What you may not to Like • Coffee does not stay as hot as it does with Espro’s insulated brushed steel models. • Wasted coffee tradeoff (?): It’s debatable. This is an issue for some reviewers, but not for me. Unlike conventional French presses the Espro filtration method ends up with about 5 ounces of coffee and sludge remaining in the carafe after plunging it, which sits just above the plastic housing (see pic). You’ll get less wastage with a conventional press, but you’ll also get more grounds and bitterness towards the last cup. My take: I’m happy to trade off those 5 ounces to enjoy 27 ounces of very good coffee.

My Sister-N-Law introduced me to a French Press while on vacation and I loved it. A little extra work in preparation and cleaning than the normal way of making coffee, but it is worth it. The double filter has been great on reducing grinds in the cup. The final product has been great and a better quality of coffee is the end result. Actually, I have found that I use less coffee in the brewing process. Especially, using a better grade of coffee. I love a dark roast coffee and this press has helped to achieve my desired results.

More coffee equals more better. My only gripe is the paper filters strip the flavor of the French press but the mesh filters don't filter a ton more as I had hoped. Still very good though.

My espresso machine died after a decade and I decided to try a French press again. I ordered the P3, whole beans and a Haribo ceramic burr hand grinder. The overall improvement in coffee flavor and enjoyment have been remarkable. It took a few days to find the right beans, grind fineness, amount of coffee and brew time to satisfy my taste, but it was worth the effort. Now, I consistently use 25 grams of a single source Ethiopian dark roast, a finer than recommended grind (I like a strong flavor), fill my 32 oz P3 to the “min” mark and brew for 4 minutes. I actually get up earlier in the morning, eager to have my first cup. Of course, it’s mostly the coffee and brew recipe that determines the taste, but the press plays a roll too. I’ve had Bodums and other brands and they all allowed sludge to get through and end up at the bottom of my cup. Eventually the rather coarse metal screens will deform at the edges and allow larger grounds to pass to the top side. That doesn’t happen with the P3. There are two silicone wipers that seal tightly to the glass and force all the liquid to go through the screens. The first screen filters out all but the smallest coffee particles while the second screen blocks those. It’s nice to have sludge-free coffee. To those reviewers who say their coffee was too weak, you have complete control of strength. Add more coffee, or use a finer grind, or brew longer, or use a darker roast. Use a kitchen scale rather than a spoon to measure if you want day-to-day consistency. A spoonful of a finer grind weighs more than a coarser grind. Weight is more accurate than volume for predicting strength. For those who say the plunger requires a lot of force to depress, use a coarser grind. If there are lots of fine particles, those will clog the screen and slow down the plunger. Maybe get a burr grinder. Burrs produce more consistent particle sizes. The spinny metal bladed spice grinders create every size particle from large chunks to fine powder. Those fine ones will clog the filter baskets for sure. Most grocery store grinders are burr machines and do a better job than the spice grinders. I recommend being patient and pushing the plunger down very slowly, like over 30 seconds. Pushing quickly causes churn which stirs up the grounds and causes even more clogging. Pushing really hard can force grounds to bypass the filters and push past the seals. For those who say it’s hard to clean, I find it is as easy/hard as any other French press. I pour the grounds through a fine mesh sieve and tap it into my compost pail. A once over with a soapy sponge removes the coffee oils from the glass. The screens usually just need a rinse. Although I prefer to hand wash, the instructions say that all parts can go on the top rack of the dishwasher. If this is too much trouble, you might want a Keurig. For those who say it wastes a lot of coffee, I’ve measured what remains after you’ve poured your last cup. On my 32 ounce P3, once the grounds were removed, there were 5 fluid ounces of very sludgy liquid trapped below the screens. I wouldn’t want to drink it so I don’t think of it as waste. But if this is important to you, you might consider a pour-over brewer instead where nearly every drop ends up in your cup. For those that say it’s cheaply made, it is their least expensive entry-level model. I find it robust enough to use every day. If you want something sturdier, they have other models with borosilicate glass (this model has plain glass) and metal frames. I chose the Espro French press based on a recommendation from the New York Times product reviewing site Wirecutter. I chose a French press over other types of brewers based on the YouTube videos of coffee expert James Hoffmann. I recommend both sources.

I had to come back to update my previous review. I took 2 stars away because of the amoubt of coffee this press makes vs others. The double basket is so large (deep) it takes up the space of a single cup of coffee. You can only fill it up, at most, less than 3/4 of the way feom the top. Otherwise, when putting in the press, the coffee and grounds spit out everywhere. I went from 3-4 cups of coffee, to share, to only 2 cups of coffee. When taking out the press, it will stick at the lip of the glass and will shoot grounds everywhere, making a huge mess. I don't use a lot of grounds in my press, so I wouldn't expect this hassle. Still makes a wonderful cup of coffee, just not as impressive as most claim it is. (Previous review) I have been using your basic run of the mill French press. It would spill with every poor, coffee grounds would stick to the sides of the glass, and would pour grounds of coffee into my cup. I thought my coffee was good, but the moment I used this press and then drank my coffee, I knew I made the right decision. The coffee doesn't stick to the sides of the glass if the press, it does not spill one drop when pouring, and the flavor of my coffee...Holy hell, it is amazing. I had no idea there was more flavor to my coffee. I saw this press in an article about the best French presses. It was on sale and I thought, why not. I am so happy I made this purchase. It works beautifully, holds 3 cups of coffee, and for $40, who can complain?! The one tip I never thought of was to turn the lid with the spout around to the back to keep the coffee/tea warm. You turn the spout to pour and turn it back to keep in the heat and freshness. I love this and am so happy.

This was my second purchase (I broke my first one-totally my fault) and this time I bought two, one for coffee, one for tea. In summertime I love iced tea and iced coffee and it is perfect for both but once you’ve put coffee and something it’s ruined for tea, which is why I bought the second. The system is easy to use and clean and the coffee is fantastic. It does a good job of keeping the grind residue to a minimum; there is none for tea. I highly recommend.

This was my first French press. Made a great cup or small thermos of coffee. The double filter works as advertised and no grit particles of coffee floating in my cup. Good product as advertised and the cost made it a great deal

I have been using this French Press daily for over a month and love it. The 18oz size is perfect for one generous cup of coffee. Once you've experienced a well made French Press cup of coffee you will never go back to your old method. The duel basket allows for using beans ground for drip coffee, which is incredibly convenient. The novelty of grinding your own beans wears off quickly, at least it did for me when I ventured into French Press years ago. Traditionally, French Press calls for a course ground, not the grind you find in prepackaged grounds, that being the main reason I went back to drip. An added bonus is the ability to use a paper filter. Not only does it ensure no grounds end up in your cup, it also traps the coffee oils which can contribute to increasing cholesterol levels, in the event that is a concern. Granted, a cup a day is no big deal, but if you indulge throughout the day it may be. You can purchase the pre-cut filters made to size, however I found could purchasing generic filters at the store and cut several at a time to size for a fraction of the cost of the pre-cut ones. The Press comes with a few pre-cut filters, I just saved one to use as a guide. I saw some reviews stating that the carafe was hard to clean. I simply scoop out the grounds with a rubber spatula into the trash, pretty simple. If you have a garbage disposal keep in mind that coffee grounds are not it's friend. Yor plumber may not thank you for putting most of the grounds in the trash, but your pocketbook will!

Good quality material

It cracked spontaneously while I was pouring water into it.

Großartige Erfindung! Anders als sonst kommt dank dem 2. Filter und einer sehr guten Dichtung so gut wie kein Kaffeesatz durch. Der Kaffee schmeckt so gut wie von FrenchPress bekannt und ist so sauber wie guter Filterkaffee.

Better than all the others, just get it.

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