The 6 Best Single Cup French Press Coffee Makers

If you’re anything like me you like the concept of making a single cup of coffee at a time but you don’t like the idea of resorting to Keurig-style coffee makers.

Enter the tiny, single serve French press. There are lots of them out there and some are better than others.

The first French press I ever bought was a mid-sized 34-ounce French press made by Bodum. It worked fine but as I started making smaller and smaller batches of coffee, sometimes a single cup at a time, a few times per day, the bigger coffee press proved to be too big and annoying to use.

These days I cling to my single serve Espro Press and haven’t really used my old Bodum in a long while.

Espro coffee presses are just about the best French presses sold today but there are actually a few single cup french press coffee makers that are even smaller.

I’ve reviewed six of the best small French press coffee makers lower on this page but first let’s look at a summary of them in the following table.

I’ve Reviewed Each of These Single Serving French Presses Below
Image Product
Frieling USA Double Wall Stainless Steel French Press Coffee Maker with Patented Dual Screen, 8-Ounce
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Frieling USA Double Wall Stainless Steel French Press Coffee Maker with Patented Dual Screen, 8-Ounce

► The Best Quality of Them All
► Frieling makes this extremely popular and well reviewed press. It’s tiny, perfect for a single cup and insulates very well. No plastic parts in this unit anywhere!

Brillante Small French Press Coffee Maker, 12 Ounce Single Serve Cafetiere
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Brillante Small French Press Coffee Maker, 12 Ounce Single Serve Cafetiere

► The Best Value By Far
► If you are fine with a glass carafe then the price and filtration quality of this press can’t be beat. The bottom is non-slip and the coffee passes through an extra mesh screen when poured.

Highwin Small Stainless Steel French Press - 3 cups Double Walled for an Individual Serving
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Highwin Small Stainless Steel French Press – 3 cups Double Walled for an Individual Serving

► Cheapest Double Walled French Press
► This stainless steel French press is sized for one cup of coffee and is priced as low as they come and still gets very high ratings from past customers.

Espro P3 18oz Dual Filter French Press Coffee Maker
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Espro P3 18oz Dual Filter French Press Coffee Maker

► My #1 Recommendation All-Around
► This press has the best filtration of fine particulate and above average durability and insulation. It is the best IMO.

KONA French Press Small Single Serve Coffee and Tea Maker - 12 Ounce
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KONA French Press Small Single Serve Coffee and Tea Maker – 12 Ounce

► Best Selling Single Cup Press for Years
► The Kona is a small, inexpensive glass carafe press that is sturdy and time tested.

Bodum Columbia 17-Ounce Stainless-Steel Thermal Coffee Press Pot
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Bodum Columbia 17-Ounce Stainless-Steel Thermal Coffee Press Pot

► Time Tested Bestseller From Bodum
► This pot reminds me of the Frieling above. It’s a long-standing bestseller and customer favorite. Built to last for years.

If you want a really great French press for one person then check out the list above or the reviews below where I’ve outlined and reviewed some of your best options.

You can also click here to see some of the best French press travel mugs, perfect for one person and this post where I outline my favorite French press coffee grinders to get the best quality coffee possible.

Let’s take a look shall we?


Related – Check out the following posts to see my favorite insulated French presses and the largest French presses I’ve experimented with.


Single Cup French Press Reviews – The Smallest Units Sold Today

When I originally started researching this topic I didn’t expect there would be so many different brands making single serving press pots… and even if there were a number of them surely they wouldn’t be too confusing or anything.

When I actually looked into the subject though I found out that there were a dizzying number of options. Even I was confused at first, but then I studied closer and now I’m here to finally help you.

Here are our favorites – surely you’ll find one that fits your needs and budget.

Frieling USA Double Wall Stainless Steel French Press Coffee Maker with Patented Dual Screen, 8-OunceFrieling USA Double Wall Stainless Steel French Press Coffee Maker with Patented Dual Screen, 8-Ounce

Okay, so let’s get started, now. The Frieling USA Double Wall Stainless Steel French Press Coffee Maker is, by far, one of the main models in the foreground. Not only is this model  made of great, quality material, but it also has a great dual screen, making it both more functional and more durable.

At the same time, it’s also worth noticing that this model has a capacity of 8 ounces. So if you’re looking for a 8 oz French press, this might be your first choice.

Brillante Small French Press Coffee Maker, 12 Ounce Single Serve CafetiereBrillante Small French Press Coffee Maker, 12 Ounce Single Serve Cafetiere

Now the Brillante Small French Press Coffee Maker is truly brilliant! It is one of those single serve French press makers which are known, not only for functionality and utility, but also for looks. I have to agree, this does an excellent job at combining aesthetic and functionality!

So, it hasn’t compromised on anything and this model is a proud 12 oz French press that you simply must check out if you’re looking for a machine to make small servings or even a single serving with. This machine is certainly worth a look.

Highwin Small Stainless Steel French Press - 3 cups Double Walled for an Individual ServingHighwin Small Stainless Steel French Press – 3 cups Double Walled for an Individual Serving

Okay, when I said single serve French press, I didn’t LITERALLY mean a 1 cup French press. I meant smaller ones that let you prepare coffee in smaller quantities. So, I’m going to add this model into that list, even though it can make about 3 cups of French press coffee at once.

The Highwin Small Stainless Steel French Press is well known for its beauty. It is said to enhance the look of any kitchen with its shine. And guess what? It has a reputation for being highly durable, as well. It’s just one of those models where you can’t make a wrong decision.

Espro P3 18oz Dual Filter French Press Coffee MakerEspro P3 18oz Dual Filter French Press Coffee Maker

Espro is one of the most well known companies when it comes to making French presses. In fact, if not for our current size requirement, the model, here, would be at the top of the list. However, even though this is one of the higher sizes of the models presented here, it is still a highly recommended model by almost all those who have used it.

If you aren’t aware, Espro models are loved for having dual filter. This keeps the sediment out of your coffee and keeps it delicious for you. This model has a capacity of 18 oz, which is pretty decent for a small sized coffee maker. A great choice, honestly.

KONA French Press Small Single Serve Coffee and Tea Maker - 12 OunceKONA French Press Small Single Serve Coffee and Tea Maker – 12 Ounce

The Kona French press is also a much loved model. As is obvious from it’s very name, people have found alternate uses for it already. You can make coffee as well as tea with this model, without having any difficulty or difference in taste. I believe that’s enough to prove how versatile this model really is.

Of note is the 12 ounce capacity of this model. 12 oz French press models are usually treated as the ideal sized models by many, because they are the best fit for making small amounts of French press coffee and that gives one more reason this model is held in high regard!

Bodum Columbia 17-Ounce Stainless-Steel Thermal Coffee Press PotBodum Columbia 12-Ounce Stainless-Steel Thermal Coffee Press Pot

Finally, we come to the Bodum Columbia 12-Ounce Stainless Steel Thermal Coffee Press Pot. Who knew that the smallest Bodum French press model would be a 12 oz French press? Oh well, turns out that they have still equipped it with quite a lot of features.

To begin with, it has a beautiful stainless steel body. This would make any prospective buyer even more interested. On top of that, it’s also a thermal model that’s great at holding in the heat. No wonder it’s one of those models everyone simply loves! Come on now, let’s be honest, who wouldn’t love this model?

Buyer’s Guide

Now, you might be wondering what we brought into account while making this list. Of course, as a reader here on Gamble Bay Coffee, we think it’s your right to know and my duty, as your host, to make you aware about what we have considered. Please keep in mind that you’re free to contact us to tell us if we should consider anything else as well- we’re open to suggestions!

  1. The first thing we’ve compared is that they indeed are French press coffee makers, because otherwise this would be a very poor list of French presses. So, that is one of the things we had to keep in mind and ensure from the very beginning.
  2. Next, we had to consider the capacity of every model. Since this post is about the smallest models that are available, we had to keep that in mind too. We couldn’t simply list just any model, no matter how recommended. We had to find out small sized models that were loved.
  3. After that, we considered other important features, such as the double filter from the Espro model. These are those things that require consideration. In fact, most of the people tend to keep these in mind when making a purchase so leaving them out isn’t an option at all.
  4. Then we considered the aesthetic aspect. Yeah, while it might seem pointless for some, it’s still an important factor. You wouldn’t want your kitchen to look less beautiful simply because of something you bought without consideration, right? Well, don’t you worry, even if you’re not that good at finding what matches your looks, we’ve got some models here that will suit all the kitchens out there- yours included!
  5. Finally, we also considered the durability of every model. We believe that durability is a really important factor for just any model, because it actually indirectly pays for itself. So that’s one of the things we’ve kept strictly in mind when making this list.

Comparison Information for Mini French Presses

Now, there were so many things to consider, as you just saw. You must understand that it wasn’t really easy. A lot of thought and research had to go into the making of this list,  even aside from experimenting with them to write the reviews. So, all we can say  is that a lot of hard work finally led us to our conclusions that we are presenting before you as a list.

We hope that you find at least something new and informative in here. We also hope that you’d be able to get at least one step closer to finding the best model for yourself. Keep in mind that we’re here and we’re always on the lookout for opportunities to help you find the best model for yourself.

Single Serve French Press FAQs

At this point, your mind must have a lot of questions. I can assure you that it’s natural and, once again, as your host, it’s my responsibility and pleasure to answer any queries that you might have. However, since I can’t really ask you questions as I write this article, I’m going to leave the answers to the most commonly asked questions for now and I’m going to hope that you would reach out to me if you have any queries about anything.

Once again, Gamble Bay Coffee is always here to help you find the best model for yourself.

  • Why would I need a small French press coffee maker?
    Hmm, it’s a really great question. But frankly speaking, the answer depends on you. Someone might just be making some morning coffee or even just some coffee for themselves randomly and may never intend to drink ten glasses of coffee in one sitting. For such a case, a small French press coffee maker is extremely useful and the simple fact that there are so many models out there selling so many such machines makes it clear that there is obviously demand for it in the market.
  • Are the small models any different from the larger ones?
    Except the capacity/size, not really. The whole mechanism is the same; it’s only the size that’s different to suit some specific needs in some specific cases. Besides that, a French press is a French press and you might go for any of them.
  • What is the best mini French press coffee maker?
    We just saw a whole list of machines, didn’t we? Well, as I already mentioned, the right one for you depends on your specific needs. So you’ll have to find it out by judging the model(s) according to your specific needs. However, the whole list of models available outside is so huge that it can be really confusing. That’s why we hope the options we’ve chosen help to make it easier for you to choose the best one for yourself!
  • Is there sediment in the coffee I make with these machines?
    This is one of the questions I get asked a lot. Well, honestly speaking, some of them do have some sediment left since most of these machines have just one filter. However, that’s not the case with every single one of these machines. There are some machines such as the one from Espro which provide you with a dual filter just to remedy this problem.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, you must not forget that you’re buying it for yourself and that all that you can find online are generalized suggestions. So there is obviously the need to judge for yourself before you go for any model.

You must keep in mind that the best model for others out there might not be the best for you. The best model for you is the one that serves all your needs at the most affordable price. So, keep that in mind and judge every model according to your specific needs.

Gamble Bay Coffee is here to always help you out with more information so that you can do it more easily. We hope that we’d be able to help you with finding the best model for yourself so that you can be proud of yourself and Gamble Bay Coffee!


The 9 Best Single Serve 12 Oz French Press Coffee Makers

There are many out there who prefer the French press for their coffee needs.

However, not everyone has the space for a large, multiple cup French press.

It can often be easier to just use a smaller option that makes a more manageable amount at a time.

For many coffee lovers, a 12-ounce French press can provide the perfect amount for just one to a smaller group of people.

Furthermore, there’s such a wide variety of French presses in this size!

It can really sometimes be hard to find the right one for you!

To assist in your shopping, we’re taking a look at 9 12Oz French press coffee makers.

Continue on to discover these great options!

Ovente 12Oz French Press

One of the first things users notice about the Ovente French press is a interesting design.

It has an elegant appearance due to a combination of glass and metal.

Furthermore, it allows you to be able to see what you’re doing without sacrificing style.

It’s also made to be a rather durable device, so you’ll be able to rely on it for a long time.

The 12-ounce option also comes at a highly affordable cost, one of the cheapest on our list.

In addition, the glass used for making this French press is made to be able to handle higher temperatures without a problem.

Aside from great coffee, this device can also be used for making many other beverages like cocktails, fresh juice and even use it to infuse fruit into water.

Overall, many find that French press coffee has a much bolder flavor, making it a preference for quite a few coffee-lovers.

It’s also a great choice for those who are new to French press!

Le Creuset French Press

For those who are on the hunt for something with a little more color, the Le Creuset French Press is a great option.

One of the great aspects of this French press is that it comes in a wide variety of colors so you’re likely to be able to match just about any decor.

It’s also made from stoneware, which allows it to be very durable.

In addition, it’s going to be safe in the dishwasher, microwave, oven and even freezer.

The enamel on the exterior or the French press is also made to resist staining or scratching.

If you find you really like the design, there are plenty of other Le Creuset dish options.

It is important to keep in mind that this is one of the more expensive options, but many find it’s well worth the cost!

GROSCHE CHROME French Press

If what you want is something with a very unique look, the GROSCHE CHROME French Press is an ideal option.

This French press comes with a unique design made from a combination of glass and metal.

In addition, it also provides you with the plunger as well as a secondary filter built into the lid.

Because of this, you’ll be able to rely on a well-filtered drink without the need for paper filters.

Furthermore, it’s an option that is dishwasher safe, making it easy to get clean after use.

The compact design also makes it easy to take just about anywhere you need to.

That said, those who want a larger option for larger groups can also choose a 34 ounce version.

Like with many French press devices, you’ll be able to use this to make not only coffee, but also tea and other beverages as well.

It’s definitely a stylish, functional option!

Bodum Eileen French Press

Another option with a fantastic design is the Bodum Eileen French Press.

This one even takes the style up a notch by not only offering multiple sizes, but also several different colors including pink, green and black.

The frame is made from stainless steel, and offers a great look as well as protecting the glass French press from damage.

Furthermore, this option also includes a convenient mesh filter to ensure your drink doesn’t contain a lot of sediment.

When you’re done using the device, you’ll also be able to easily toss all the pieces into the dishwasher.

Due to the efficient design, you’ll also be able to have brewed coffee in as little as 4 minutes.

It’s truly an easy to use device that will allow you to get the rich, flavorful coffee you need.

Many also find that it’s an option that is easy to travel with, thanks to the small size.

Bodum New Kenya French Press

If you like the look of the Bodum Eileen, but don’t necessarily want the stainless steel frame, then the Bodum New Kenya might be the ideal option.

This option provides you with the same kind of style, made up of a strong glass with a plastic frame covering.

The plastic frame is convenient both due to the look and because it’s able to help protect the inner glass.

Furthermore, all of the included pieces are safe for use in your dishwasher, to ensure easy cleaning after use.

Like many other French presses, you also won’t need any paper filters while using this one to make coffee.

With the 12-ounce size, you’ll also get just enough coffee to suit the needs of one or two people.

At it’s price it is also a very affordable option when compared to some of the more complicated coffee makers out there.

Bialetti 6860 French Press

If you’re looking for a simple, low-cost option then the Bialetti 6860 is a great way to go.

It’s a smaller device, meaning you’ll be able to make 3 cups of coffee rather easily.

Once you’re finished with the brewing, it’s able to easily be tossed into the dishwasher for cleaning.

You’ll also be able to rely on the durability thanks to the borosilicate glass and 18/10 stainless steel.

In addition, the 12-ounce option comes in at a very low and fair price for something you may be able to get years of use from.

The manufacturer itself offers you a 2 year warranty, so you’ll likely be able to expect the French press to last at least that long under regular use.

Like many other French presses, this one is easy to use.

Even those who are new to using a French press will quickly be able to learn with this fantastic device.

Brillante French Press

For those who prefer the glass look, the Brilliante French press is well worth a look.

It offers a simple look made up of a glass body and easy-to-use lid.

Because of this, you’ll easily be able to watch the brewing process while waiting for your coffee to be ready to drink.

The glass this device is made from is German-made, ensuring durability for a long-lasting product.

It also contains two filtering spots, one within the plunger and a second at the spout.

Furthermore, this is a great option for those who want something small enough to produce a single serving.

It’s truly an easy device to use, and can allow you to make a delicious cup in minutes.

Many who have tried out this French press have found it to be an ideal option for daily use, proving itself to be a truly reliable option.

Highwin French Press

When it comes to French presses, some prefer the stainless steel build, like the Highwin French Press.

This is largely due to the undeniable durability that you can get from this kind of French press.

That feature is also reflected in the high ratings given to this option by those who have tried it out.

In addition, this option is also made with a double-walled design, which is made to keep your coffee hot while the outer portion of the container stays cool.

The simple, elegant look also allows it to look great just about anywhere you may decide to keep it.

This is also an option that comes in low in price making it a very budget-friendly choice.

With a French press like this one, you’ll have delicious, rich coffee in no time at all.

MIRA French Press

A similarly reliable stainless steel option is the MIRA French Press.

This is a simple device that gives you a durable, long-lasting device for making French press coffee.

It’s able to make coffee in a matter of minutes, so you won’t need to wait too long for a cup.

In addition, it’s a lightweight device that is very easy to travel with.

You won’t even need to worry about having to plug it in anywhere!

The double-walled design also allows it to keep the heat where it belongs.

Overall, this is a device that makes brewing coffee easy, efficient and the results are delicious!

Brian Mounts

Head blogger, editor, and owner of "Top Off My Coffee", a website that has been educating readers about coffee brewing techniques and equipment since 2012.

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