If you are in the market for a high-end French press coffeemaker, and you want an insulated or double-wall metal design than two of the top options sold today are the Frieling and Bodum Columbia.
What Press Pots Are Being Compared?
Just to be completely clear, the two press pots under consideration are the “Frieling USA Double-Walled Stainless-Steel French Press” and the “Bodum Columbia Coffee Maker,” both of which are double-wall, stainless steel press pots. Both use insulated pots that are designed to keep your coffee hot while it sits in the pot after being pressed.
Press Pot Sizes and Finishes
The Frieling French press pot is sold in…
It is sold in either a brushed (matte) or polished stainless steel finish.
The Bodum Columbia French press is sold in…
It is only sold in a polished stainless steel finish.
Materials
Both French presses are made of 18/10 food grade stainless steel, so a long life without any corrosion whatsoever. They both use an insulated design with a double-wall stainless steel construction where an air gap inside of the steel keeps the hot coffee away from the colder ambient air. Combined with a heavy, tight fitting lid, both of these coffee pots keep hot coffee hot for about an hour, depending on what you consider “hot” and warm for about 2 hours after that.
Double-walled stainless steel in an insulated design should keep hot coffee at an optimum temperature for up to four times longer than glass alone.
The Frieling is completely plastic-free, with an entirely metal lid and a double-screen design that is also made of metal.
The Bodum has some plastic at the lid and on the screen as well as the screen surround. The plastic is BPA-free and is longlasting, but it’s plastic nonetheless, the isa also a silicone surround that acts as a gasket between the plastic filter holder and the metal body of the coffee pot.
The filter screen in the Bodum appears to be some sort of plastic or nylon. It holds up well and lasts, but it’s not a metal mesh like the Frieling and there is only one layer. The plastic mesh is finer than that of the Frieling.
Coffee Making
The coffee making experience is basically the same for both pots. They are large, metal pots, but they are both easy to hold and easy to clean. The Frieling is over 2 pounds (in the 36 oz. size) so it’s a bit heavy to lug around the kitchen, but not problematically so.
The handle on the Bodum is much larger and more comfortable than the Frieling’s. The Bodum has a wide, ergonomic handle while the Frieling has a narrow metal one that is a bit hard to hold, especially when the pot is full. The Frieling isn’t hard to use, but the Bodum is definitely better for pouring.
One annoying feature of the Frieling is that the fit of the mesh screen is very tight so if you push down too hard coffee can squirt out of the spout. It’s unlikely anyone will be hurt from this, but it can be a surprise the first time or two you use the press pot.
Coffee Taste
Both coffee makers can make excellent coffee and after using each many, many times (over 5 years in the case of the Bodum) I can say that they are roughly comparable as far as coffee taste goes. The Bodum has a finer mess screen so it produces a slightly cleaner cup of coffee. And the Bodum is better at screening out grinds thanks to the silicone gasket, so you never get grounds in your cup where you definitely do (on occasion) with the Frieling.
In the end the Bodum produces a more refined cup of coffee and the Frieling a slightly more rustic one, but both as capable of making excellent French press coffee. Both can be used for making tea as well, but I prefer glass pots for tea and haven’t tested out tea performance.
In the end I prefer the look and feel of the Bodum as well as its lower price, but the plastic design of the Frieling.
Now Read: The Best French Press Pots For Any Buyer