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.
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This item: ESPRO - P3 French Press - Double Micro-Filtered Coffee and Tea Maker, Grit-Free and Bitterness-Free Brews, Ideal for Loose Tea and Coffee Grounds - (Black, 32 Oz)
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Reviews with images
My third Espro, the first glass P3. It's that good
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.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2024
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.
Size: 32 OunceStyle: ESPRO P3Verified Purchase
My third Espro, the first glass P3. It's that good
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2024
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).Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2024
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.
Images in this review
Top reviews from other countries
Cory
The Best French Press
Reviewed in Canada on June 26, 2024Size: 32 OunceStyle: ESPRO P3Verified Purchase
Alux
Excelente
Reviewed in Mexico on December 18, 2023Size: 32 OunceStyle: ESPRO P3Verified Purchase
Francie Bañuelos
Excelente calidad, muy resistente
Reviewed in Mexico on May 1, 2023Size: 32 ozStyle: ESPRO P5Verified Purchase
Marcia Regina
Excelente, bebida sem resíduos.
Reviewed in Brazil on May 8, 2022Size: 32 OunceStyle: ESPRO P3Verified Purchase
Garrick Burron
Perfect french press coffee
Reviewed in Canada on November 6, 2020Size: 32 ozStyle: ESPRO P5Verified Purchase
