The Fellow Clara Is My Go-To French Press Coffee Maker

I’m a big fan of making French press coffee at home. It’s a manual, old-school process that requires precision, but with the right gear and great beans, a full-bodied cup from a French press beats drip coffee any day. Over the years, I’ve gone through several French presses, including a glass-carafe model that shattered in moving boxes, a stoneware option that looked gorgeous on my counter but left sediment at the bottom of my coffee mug, and a few options with wobbly plastic lids and sticky plungers. But I recently tested the Fellow Clara French Press, and it has blown me away with its thoughtful design.

I’m not the only one impressed, either. When we tested 21 French press coffee makers, this option from Fellow wowed us, earning the title of Best Design. As the temperatures have dropped and we’ve officially entered fall, I’m swapping my daily cold brew for excellent French press coffee from the Fellow Clara. Psst: It’s on sale right now.

Fellow Clara French Press

San Francisco-based coffee gear brand Fellow first caught our eye with the launch of its Stagg EKG Kettle. After multiple rounds of testing, we remain impressed with the electric kettle’s design and have given it the coveted top spot in our tests of the best gooseneck kettles. Beyond the kettle that started it all, Fellow’s other coffee tools have also consistently performed well in our tests. The Fellow Carter travel coffee mug impressed us with its top-notch insulation and easy-to-clean ceramic interior, and Fellow’s Ode Gen 2 won us over in our coffee grinder tests. Its Rocky Tumbler recently earned top marks for durability in our outdoor glassware tests, too. So it’s really no surprise that its French press followed suit. 

A few key design elements distinguish the Fellow Clara from the competition. First, and most importantly: the lid. One of the most frustrating aspects of making French press coffee is the struggle to align the small strainer with the spout before pouring the coffee. If these pieces are misaligned, the coffee spills when poured. We’ve identified leaks due to this design flaw in several popular French presses during our tests, including a newer model from Yeti. Fellow, however, gets this design element right. The brand cleverly designed the Clara with an all-directional pour, which means I can plunge and pour quickly without worrying about aligning multiple parts. And the fine-mesh stainless steel filter works well, preventing any grounds from entering the carafe during immersion, which means there is no sediment at the bottom of my coffee mug — even after the second or third cup.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t also give the rounded, insulated stainless steel body and ergonomic handle the praise they deserve, since they are some of the most striking design elements. A common complaint I’ve had with most glass French press carafes is that they lack insulation and don’t keep coffee hot after the first cup. But the Fellow Clara features a stainless steel body with double-walled vacuum insulation, keeping my coffee piping hot for at least two to three hours. The body also features a nonstick, PFOA-free interior, making cleanup effortless. The ergonomic handle is smooth, short, and easy to grip. More importantly, it stays cool to the touch. One lesser-known design feature I love is the inclusion of helpful ratio markings for coffee grounds and water on the interior of the body. It has become a much-appreciated visual guide for busy mornings.

In a little over six months of testing, I have identified only two downsides to the Clara French press. First, only the mesh filter is dishwasher safe. The carafe body requires hand-washing. Luckily, I’ve found the nonstick interior to be quick and easy to clean by hand. Plus, in my experience, sometimes hand-washing is the price you pay for quality coffee gear (cutting boards and chef’s knives, too). My second gripe relates to the material: Unless you splurge for the model I tested with a walnut finish, which features a wooden plunger and handle, the original (and slightly more affordable) Fellow Clara uses plastic on the lid and handle. If you strictly use non-toxic cookware in your kitchen and coffee station, I highly recommend the wooden finish.

Overall, I’d still recommend the Fellow Clara over any other French press I’ve tested. Its clever design makes mornings easier, and I love the spillproof all-directional pour spout and vacuum-insulated carafe that keeps my coffee hot. Now that we’ve fully entered fall, it’s looking cozy on my kitchen counter, and I look forward to sipping my piping hot coffee all season.

Shop More Fellow Coffee Gear We Love at Amazon

Fellow Atmos Vacuum Coffee Canister

Fellow Carter Move Travel Mug, 12-Ounce

Fellow Clara Insulated Coffee Maker, Matte Black

Fellow Stagg EKG Pro Electric Gooseneck Kettle

Fellow 10-Ounce Rocky Lowball Tumbler

At the time of publishing, the price was $110.