Hydro Flask 32oz Insulated French Press review: keep that java piping for longer
Oregon-based drinkware brand Hydro Flask made a splash in early 2024, unveiling its first French press (or cafetière, as it’s known in Britain) coffee makers. Making use of the same double-wall insulation used in its insulated bottles and mugs, this is a French press that’ll keep that steaming hot coffee piping for longer.
As something of a coffee addict, I was full of beans at the prospect of testing the French Press. I’ve enjoyed making countless fine brews from this great coffee maker – I even had the Hydro Flask 12 oz Insulated Coffee Mug to sup them from.
Meet the expert
Hydro Flask 32oz Insulated French Press: first impressions
Specifications
RRP: $67.96 (US) / £59.95
Weight: 671g / 1.48 lb
Materials: 18/8 pro-grade stainless steel
Height: 20.7 cm / 8.15” in
Diameter: 10cm / 4” in
Capacity: 946ml / 32 oz
Best use: Coffee brewing at home, work or at the campsite
I’m already a big fan of Hydro Flask’s minimalist and colorful stylings. The French Press boasts the same aesthetics as the brand’s other insulated drinkware, immediately looking the business whether enhancing a modern kitchen or out on an ancient trail.
I’ve used a standard French press countless times, so there wasn’t exactly a learning curve involved in putting this one to use. It works in exactly the same way as most and the brewing process was straightforward. As expected, the coffee was lovely, but no better than from other quality cafetières. I was looking forward to seeing (or should that be tasting?) the benefits of its insulation…
Hydro Flask 32oz Insulated French Press: features
Undoubtedly the standout feature, and the one that sets Hydro Flask’s French Press aside from most, is the fact that it’s insulated. It features the same TempShield double-wall vacuum insulation design as Hydro Flask’s insulated mugs and bottles, which means hot liquids should stay hot for an extended period. The same is true for freezing cold liquids, which makes creating a sumptuous cold brew a possibility too.
The main body is made from 18/8 pro-grade stainless steel. The 18/8 means that it’s an alloy with 18% chromium and 8% nickel, a widely used form that is highly durable and resistant to corrosion. Crucially, its neutral in terms of taste, meaning there’s no flavor transfer from the French press to the coffee inside.
The plastic press-in lid is pretty standard for a cafetière. It’s splash resistant and non-directional, meaning it doesn’t matter which way around it is when it comes to pouring your joe. The connected mesh filter is also constructed from standard French press components, with the usual gauze filter sandwiched between the holey upper and lower metallic disks. A polypropylene handle, with TPU overmold for grip, completes the feature set. Oh and it’s also totally dishwasher safe too.
It currently only comes in one color, Birch. However, knowing Hydro Flask, if the product goes on to enjoy success, I’d wager there’ll be new colors on the horizon.
Hydro Flask 32oz Insulated French Press: taste testing
My go-to for everyday coffee is usually an AeroPress, which creates a wonderfully smooth brew. When we have guests, I’ll switch to a French press, as brewing once is obviously much more efficient than three or four times with the AeroPress. I find coffee brewed in this way is a little richer, a little earthier but not as smooth, as the finer particles aren’t fully filtered out as they are with the AeroPress.
The same is true for coffee brewed in the Hydro Flask French Press and there’s no sign of any flavor transfer from the stainless steel interior. The coffee is rich, earthy and delicious, though I’d be lying if I said it tasted any better than from my standard cafetière, which is available at about a third of the price. As well as this, the filter lets through around the average amount of sediment for a french press. So, for Hydro Flask’s creation to really warrant the extra investment, I was interested to see how its insulating qualities would keep my brew hotter for longer.
“Does anyone want to finish this coffee in the cafetière?” I often find myself asking this and there’s no doubt that people are less tempted than they are when the joe is fresh and, therefore, hot as hell. Personally, I think coffee is at its best when it’s too hot to gulp down but not too much that you can’t sup away at it. Once it’s warm, forget about it – it’s just a case of diminishing returns. So, if the Hydro Flask French Press meant that a second helping managed to maintain that lovely perfect heat, I’d be sold!
The good news is that, for that post-breakfast top up, often around half an hour after the first mug, the French Press excels in keeping the java akin to lava, ie hot. Mission accomplished! It’s not a miracle worker though, I wasn’t able to brew up at 9am and return to it at noon and expect really hot coffee. I’d guess the open spout is always going to be an insulation weak spot. Returning to the last half-mug’s worth after a few hours, I found the liquid was lukewarm. In essence, it’s great for refills, not ideal if you expect a piping hot coffee several hours after brewing.
Well, that’s all that sorted, but what’s the French Press like to brew up with, to hold and to pour? Well, the press lid is smooth, but certainly not remarkable – a close inspection reveals the sort of individual components you see in most cafetières, which is perhaps disappointing considering the price point. The handle is made from a soft-touch and grippy material, which makes it very comfortable to hold.
Finally, the pour is smooth to begin with but it can start to pulse if I try to pour too quickly. The knack here is to pour slowly. This is because the opening at the spout is relatively small in order to maximize the insulation. This means that air has difficulty getting in to replace the volume of coffee that's coming out. If there's no air gap, the liquid leaving the spout starts to pulse, as air surges in. Pulsing hot liquid isn't ideal and can be a bit messy, so pour slowly. However, I like that the filter is non-directional, which means I don’t have to faff about trying to line it up with the spout.
In summary, the French Press is a super product that certainly delivers above average joe in terms of heat retention. It’s a bit of an investment but it’s durable materials should mean you’ll be brewing up for years.
