Best Cafetière UK 2026
For most UK buyers the best cafetière is the Bodum Chambord: the classic glass-and-chrome design, made in Portugal, for around £30. Want to spend less, look better, keep coffee hot or avoid grit? Here's the pick for each.
Quick Picks
The best cafetières, reviewed
The cafetière most people picture, and for good reason. Made in Portugal with heat-resistant borosilicate glass and a chrome frame, it makes a rich, full-bodied cup, the parts are replaceable, and it is widely available for around £30. The easy pick for most buyers.
Pros
- The classic, great value
- Replaceable glass and parts
- Widely available
Cons
- Glass can break
- Cools faster than insulated
Proof you do not need to spend much for a proper Bodum. Same brewing design as the Chambord but with a plastic frame, bringing the price under £20. Same rich cup and replaceable beaker, just a slightly less premium feel. Beats unbranded rivals comfortably.
Pros
- Genuine Bodum quality under £20
- Replaceable glass beaker
- Light and simple
Cons
- Plastic frame feels less premium
If you want a cafetière that looks beautiful on the counter, this is the obvious choice. The glazed stoneware body holds heat far better than glass, is very durable, and comes in Le Creuset colours. A genuine buy-it-for-life object that keeps coffee warmer for longer.
Pros
- Stunning looks
- Much better heat retention than glass
- Very durable body
Cons
- Heavier and pricier
If your coffee always goes cold, the Columbia solves it. Its double-walled vacuum stainless steel keeps coffee hot far longer than glass, dropping only a few degrees over 20 minutes, with no risk of shattering. For slow sippers and cold kitchens, this is the pick.
Pros
- Keeps coffee hot for an hour or more
- Will not break
- Multiple sizes
Cons
- Pricier than glass
- You cannot see the brew
The single biggest complaint about cafetières is sediment, and the P7 all but eliminates it. Its double micro-filter strains the coffee far more finely than a standard mesh, giving the cleanest cup of any press we know. Also double-walled steel, so it keeps coffee hot.
Pros
- By far the cleanest, grit-free cup
- Keeps coffee hot
- Superb build quality
Cons
- The most expensive here
- Filters are a consumable
How to choose a cafetière
Glass, steel or stoneware
Glass is classic, cheap and lets you watch the brew, but breaks and cools fastest. Stainless steel is durable and keeps coffee hot. Stoneware looks best and holds heat, but is heavy.
Size: cups are small
An 8-cup cafetière makes about 1 litre, roughly three mugs, which suits most couples. Solo drinkers can go for a 3-cup.
Filtration
A standard single mesh lets some fine sediment through, which most people don't mind. A double micro-filter (Espro) gives a much cleaner cup.
Heat retention
Glass cools quickly, so if you sip slowly or your kitchen is cold, a double-walled steel or stoneware model keeps coffee drinkable for much longer.
Whichever you choose, the secret to great cafetière coffee is a coarse grind and a four-minute brew. If you're weighing it against other brewers, see moka pot vs cafetière.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best cafetière to buy?
For most people it is the Bodum Chambord: the classic glass-and-chrome design, made in Portugal, for around £30. Step up to the Le Creuset stoneware for looks and heat retention, or the Espro P7 for a grit-free cup.
What's the difference between a cafetière and a French press?
None. "Cafetière" and "French press" are two names for the same brewer, a jug with a plunger and a mesh filter. "Cafetière" is the usual UK term.
What grind should I use in a cafetière?
A coarse grind, similar to sea salt. Too fine and the coffee turns gritty and slips past the mesh, and the plunger becomes hard to press. A coarse, even grind gives a clean, full-bodied cup.
Why is my cafetière coffee gritty?
Usually because the grind is too fine, or because a single mesh filter lets fine particles through. Use a coarser grind, or choose a double-filter cafetière like the Espro P7 for a much cleaner cup.
How long should you brew coffee in a cafetière?
About four minutes. Add coarse grounds, pour in water just off the boil, give it a gentle stir, wait four minutes, then press the plunger down slowly and serve promptly.
The bottom line
For nearly everyone, the Bodum Chambord is the best cafetière in the UK: the classic look, a great cup and superb value. Choose the Kenya to save money, the Le Creuset for looks and warmth, the Columbia to keep coffee hot, or the Espro P7 for a grit-free cup.