Can the same people who make water bottles and coolers succeed in the coffee world? A coffee connoisseur tested the Yeti French Press to find out.
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ANTHONY O'REILLY FOR FAMILY HANDYMAN
I’m a proud “weird coffee person,” which means I get nerdy about my morning cup of Joe. How weird am I? Well, as of this writing, I have about six different coffee-making devices ranging from moka pots to pour-overs.
Recently, one of my favorite ways to self-caffeinate in the mornings has been the Yeti French Press. Yup, you read that right. The same people who make some of the best water bottles and outdoor coolers have entered the coffee game.
I’ve been using the Yeti French Press rambler for about a month, making daily hot brews and even using it as a cold brew maker to see just how good a coffee maker made by an outdoor brand can be. Spoiler alert: It’s pretty good, but as with any Yeti product it has a steep price tag. This coffee connoisseur will tell you if it’s worth the price tag, and how it differs from other French presses.
The Yeti French Press is what you’d get if a traditional Yeti tumbler and a French press had a baby, and Yeti raised the child. It has double-walled vacuum insulation to keep your drink hot for hours, is incredibly durable, comes in all your favorite Yeti colors and allows you to make a large “pot” of coffee right in the rambler.
While there are some differences between other French presses and Yeti’s, more on those in the next section, it operates the same. You place your ground coffee at the bottom of the rambler, pour the appropriate amount of boiling water and let it steep for a few minutes before slowly pressing the plunger. If you’re new to making French Press coffee, I’ll have some tips later in this post.
There are two sizes: 34 and 64 ounces, both of which have a spout so you can easily pour it into your favorite coffee cups (we recommend the Yeti stackable cups).
Last, but certainly not least, every part is dishwasher safe.
At more than $100, the Yeti French Press is not a cheap investment, even for a coffee nerd like me. That said, I think there are a few things that may make it worth the price.
ANTHONY O'REILLY FOR FAMILY HANDYMAN
Two of the most common complaints about French press coffee are that it can get bitter due to over extraction and that grounds can end up in cups even when using a coarser grind. Yeti may have found a way to fix these issues with their “GroundsControl Filter” at the end of the plunger that separates the grounds from the brew.
Let’s take a look at Yeti’s plunger compared to a traditional French press. Notice how the old-style one on the right has a screen (similar to a sieve). This allows the water to remain in contact with the grounds at the bottom of your cup, which means it will keep extracting flavor from them and eventually become bitter due to over-extraction.
Now look at Yeti’s. It’s solid and prevents the water from coming in contact with the grounds. I’ve left this rambler on the counter several times, and each time I’ve poured a new cup, it tastes as fresh as the first one.
This also does a better job of keeping the grounds where they belong—at the bottom of the French press and out of your cup.
I will say that the one downside to this plunger is it’s a little harder to push than your traditional French press due to the material used on the “GroundsControl filter.” You’ll have to apply just a little more elbow grease the first few times you use it, though I’ve noticed it gets easier the more I’ve used it (or I’m just getting stronger because of it).
Yeti is known for keeping beverages cold, whether in their Yeti Roadie 48 cooler or their better-than-Stanley water bottles (yeah, I said it). The Yeti French Press uses the same double-wall insulation to keep your coffee piping hot.
(See how the Yeti cooler performed in our Oyster Tempo vs. Yeti Roadie comparison.)
That shocked me during my first use because the cap has a pour spout that can’t be closed off unless you’re willing to cover it. That said, I don’t think you have to. My coffee was kept hot for about an hour. Other reviewers have said it stayed above 100 degrees for longer than an hour, but to be honest, it’s very rare that my coffee lasts that long anyway.
As with their other products, Yeti markets this product to campers or anyone else looking to make coffee in the wild. I think a more appropriate audience would be secretaries or anyone else who needs a large amount of coffee that can stay warm for long periods of time. It’s also a bit too heavy for backpackers or hikers.
Many French presses are made with glass that can easily shatter when dropped. The Yeti French Press is made with 18/8 stainless steel, which means it contains 18 percent chromium and eight percent nickel. This composition is used in many food applications, such as fridges because it is hygienic and corrosion-resistant.
This thing also just feels durable. Honestly, you could use it for self-defense if needed. Yeti also boasts that it is puncture-resistant.
The Yeti French Press is completely dishwasher safe, and if you’ve spent any time around French presses you know that’s a big deal because not many of them are. That said, the ceramic lining makes it easy to clean by hand—though most of the time I just throw it in the dishwasher.
ANTHONY O'REILLY FOR FAMILY HANDYMAN
I’ve used the Yeti French press on several occasions over the past month to make coffee, tea and cold brew.
Yeti recommends using 60 grams (roughly 9-10 tablespoons) of coarsely ground coffee for the 34-ounce French press and 110 grams (16-17 tablespoons) for the 64-ounce rambler.
You’ll then want to pour just enough boiling water to cover the grounds and let them sit for 30 seconds. This is what’s known as the “bloom” stage, an essential part of French press coffee making that allows carbon dioxide, CO2, to escape from the beans. While this step is somewhat controversial among weird coffee people, myself and many others believe it results in a better-tasting coffee and I’m glad Yeti is recommending it to people. The only change I’d make would be to swirl the water in a clockwise motion as you pour it onto the grounds to guarantee even distribution.
Yeti recommends a 30-second bloom stage, though some baristas may even let it sit for even longer than that, up to four minutes.
After that, pour the water into the bottom of the inner rim. Stir, and place the plunger on top, so it sits on top of the water (don’t press down yet). Twist and lock the lid and set a four-minute timer.
After four minutes, press the plunger slowly. And I do mean, slowly. After that, pour and sip.
This makes a great-tasting cup of coffee. The flavors really shine through, and the “GroundsControl filter” really does a good job of keeping the bitter flavors away.
I’ve used it several other times using a 1:12 ratio of coffee grounds to water, which requires a food scale, but when you’ve gone as deep down the coffee rabbit hole as I have you have a couple of those lying around. I also let it bloom for two minutes instead of 30 seconds. I personally think this results in a slightly better-tasting brew than simply following Yeti’s instructions, but the first way still tastes as good as any cafe.
ANTHONY O'REILLY FOR FAMILY HANDYMAN
The Yeti French Press can also be used to make a batch of cold brew concentrate. Simply put the same amount of coffee in the bottom of the carafe and use cold water. Let it sit for at least 48 hours before plunging. Depending on how strong you’ve made it, you’ll want to cut this with some water.
This is one time when the non-closable pour spout is a little annoying. I notice the cold brew can take on some of the other flavors in your fridge if you don’t cover the spout, but if you do, you’ll be rewarded with a cold brew that will keep you energized throughout the whole day.
Yes, every part of the Yeti French Press is dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup.
The Yeti French Press works like most French presses. You place ground coffee at the bottom of the rambler, pour enough boiling water to cover the grounds and let it steep for 30 seconds. Then, pour more water until it reaches the bottom of the inner rim. After it’s had about four minutes to steep, press the plunger slowly. Then, pour into your favorite cup and drink.
Yes, the Yeti Rambler French press has double-walled insulation to keep your contents hot or cold for several hours. That said, there is no way to close the rambler’s pour spout, which could cause some temperature loss.
As of this writing, the Yeti French Press has a 4.6 average rating on the company’s website with more than 300 reviews. The most common complaint is not being able to close the spout, though some customers have said their presses are already chipping or leaking despite the company’s claims of a puncture-proof French press.
It should be noted Yeti offers a five-year warranty with your purchase, so if anything goes wrong you’ll likely be able to have it replaced at no cost.
Yeti and Stanley water bottles are often pitted against each other, but the two companies have experience with portable French presses. While brand loyalty often plays a huge role in which one people pick, there are some notable differences between their coffee-making tumblers.
Stanley’s Adventure All-in-One Boil + Brew French Press has a leg up on the Yeti because you can boil, steep, and press your coffee all in one container. The Yeti French Press has a rubber ring on the bottom, so you can’t put it on a hot plate or any surface. This makes the Stanley French Press a better choice for campers who are trying to cut down on the amount of items.
I’d still recommend the Yeti French Press for people who are serious about their coffee simply due to the “GroundsControl” filter. The Stanley French Press is designed like a traditional French Press, which makes it susceptible to over-extraction.
Stanley can hold up to 32 ounces, whereas the Yeti French Press has an option for a 64-ounce tumbler. Stanley, however, is much less expensive at only $26 (Yeti is more than $100 for both sizes).
The Yeti French Press has earned a place in my coffee rotation due to its innovative features, chief among them being the “GroundsControl filter.” If you really love coffee or identify as a weird coffee person, I think the filter alone makes this worth the hefty price tag.
While it could be used in camping situations, I still think this is better suited for commuters or people with desk jobs who need a lot of coffee that can stay hot for hours.
The 34-ounce Yeti French Press costs around $110 on the company’s website, and the 64-ounce rambler French Press costs $130.
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