Stanley French Press Review: Not Just For Camping!

A typical French Press might just belong in your kitchen, but the not-so-ordinary Stanley French Press goes above and beyond. It’s suitable for all coffee lovers, including home brewers and outdoors enthusiasts! Whether you’re road-tripping, rock climbing, or gossiping with gals while glamping, your brew’s coming with you to sip and share.

Let’s review how the Stanley French Press coffee maker suits your brewing needs at home, in the office, and on the road.

Summary: The Stanley Classic Stay Hot French Press

• Double-wall insulated stainless steel French press.
  
• Large 1.4-litre capacity to serve the whole crew.
  
• Durable enough for a lifetime with the Stanley brand guarantee.

I purchased [the Stanley Coffee Press] for camping but use it at home every morning. Absolutely love it! My coffee stays piping hot for hours! It’s one of the best investments I’ve ever made.

– Shauna, Stanley French Press Owner

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The Stanley Classic Stay Hot French Press Review

The Stanley brand has been around for 110 years, embracing the lifestyles of adventurous coffee drinkers with sustainable, practical, and lifetime-guaranteed coffee products (1). They are best known for innovating products with durable designs and exceptional build quality – in short, products made to travel.

Stanley French Press Review

• Aesthetic Appeal
• Ease Of Use
• Custom Brewing Features
• Portability
• Value For Money

3.8

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William Stanley Jr. founded the company in 1913, and generations of coffee drinkers are still keeping their hot drinks hot and their cold ones cold to this day, thanks to him.

Are you thinking of joining them? Let’s assess the experience of owning the Stanley Thermos French Press before you get a French Press coffee maker. How does it look? How does it brew? And, more importantly, is it worth your money? Keep reading to find out.

Aesthetic Appeal – 4/5

The Stanley Classic Stay Hot French Press is bold, beautiful, and big. It measures 18.1 cm long by 12.4 cm wide by 24.2 cm tall and weighs a whopping 1.1 kilos. Plan accordingly if you hope to take it camping, pack it in your luggage, or even store it in a cupboard.

The Stanley Classic Vacuum French Press body comes in 5 colours to suit your stationary or on-the-move coffee brewing aesthetic. Our personal favourite is the iconic hammertone green, an earthy tone that feels destined for enjoying around a campfire.

It is built to last with a double-walled, vacuum-sealed body, and its base and insulated lid are both constructed from stainless steel. Some plastic is used in its build, but it is fortunately BPA-free. Stanley prioritizes recycling practices to reduce overall waste. This extends through the supply chain, from the manufacturing process to the choice of materials and packaging.

Ease Of Use – 5/5

French presses, in general, are celebrated for their ease of use, and this one is no exception. Coffee lovers of all levels of expertise can brew delightful, full-bodied cups, making the Stanley Classic an excellent introduction to specialty coffee, according to professional barista Fabiola Solano (2).

Here’s a simple guide on how to make your own French pressed coffee the Stanley way:

• Preheat the interior of the Stanley Classic Stay Hot French Press with hot water.
• Measure the desired amount of medium-coarse grind coffee. We recommend 75 g of your favourite coffee grounds. For the best flavour, freshly grind whole beans right before use.
• Fill the French Press with 93-degree Celsius water. Add this off-boiling water to just below where the canister flares out with its wide mouth, or else the grounds will swim around the stainless steel mesh filter and find their way into your final brew.
• Steep the ground coffee for four minutes, then press the steel plunger softly all the way down to avoid forcing the grounds around the edges of the stainless steel mesh filter.
• Serve and enjoy an amazing cup of joe – or two or six!

The leak-proof lid of the Stanley Classic Stay Hot French Press prevents spills and heat loss when locked. The arrow on top of the lid must be aligned with the lip of the French Press to pour. To stop it from pouring, twist it, and you’ll be able to store it worry-free from any messes.

The mesh plunger disassembles from its filter assembly to allow for easy cleaning. The body of the French Press is more than wide enough for any hand to fit inside, and wash it with a soft rag steeped in warm, soapy water. All of the pieces are also dishwasher-safe.

Custom Brewing Features – 4/5

The Stanley French Press 1.4-litre capacity brewer is one of the largest coffee presses I’ve encountered. It brews enough to satisfy six coffee lovers with a great cup of coffee each, and it’s large enough to substitute for a drip coffee machine in your home kitchen. If you’re looking for a more average-sized model, the 950 ml Stanley Boil and Brew French Press serves four.

As with all French presses, you can expect a full-flavoured cup of coffee with a rich body. The metal filter allows the coffee oils, and minimal sediment, through into the final cup. It produces that characteristic heavy mouthfeel that lovers of this style of coffee can’t get enough of (3).

It retains the heat of hot coffees for up to 4 hours and seals the chill in cold coffees for up to 9 hours. Add ice to the mix, and it will stay cool for up to 24 hours. Whatever brew you’re craving, you’ll get it, and a lot of it!

The Stanley Classic Vacuum French Press is compatible with brewing loose-leaf tea. All you need to do is steep your favourite loose-leaf tea for a few minutes and press the plunger down exactly as you would brew a cup of coffee. A quick rinse is all that stands between you and your loved ones being able to enjoy coffee and tea. Perfect for entertaining guests and their various palettes.

Portability – 2.5/5

The Stanley Classic Vacuum French Press is not the best choice for a light, practical, and travel-friendly option. Its 1.1-kg weight makes it too heavy for effective backpacking or more adventurous mountain climbing.

On the other hand, it is an excellent travel coffee maker for car camping or glamping or for use in a hotel or the office. Unlike glass French press alternatives, Its stainless steel design is more than durable enough to handle the bumps and bruises that come with life on the road.

The Stanley Adventure All-In-One Boil Brew French Press is a more portable pick for backcountry enthusiasts. It’s less expensive, 700 g lighter, and the brew chamber doubles as a pot for heating brew water.

Value For Money – 3.5/5

The Stanley Stay Hot French Press is one of the more expensive models on the market, but we think its attributes justify its cost – at least for the right user.

It is one of few large capacity models with the capability to brew for up to six people at a time, a big win for large family camping trips when the whole crew wants to enjoy great coffee. And its durable build ensures it’ll be the last French press you need to buy for a long time.

The Stanley brand has an excellent reputation for building quality gear and backing it with impeccable customer service. They guarantee a lifetime warranty for each French Press and will replace yours if anything goes wrong. You’re not just paying for a coffee maker; you’re paying for peace of mind, and it’s hard to put a price on that.

Do Not Buy The Stanley Stay Hot French Press If…

• You prefer the taste of filter coffee: If the full body and creamy mouthfeel of traditional French pressed coffee aren’t your cup of tea, the original Aerobie Aeropress is a great alternative travel coffee maker. While it can’t match the capacity of a French press, its plastic build is much lighter and more compact – perfect for stuffing it into your pocket or bag and making a much-needed caffeinated brew anywhere.

• You want a portable coffee maker with a mug included: For a portable coffee maker that does it all, consider the Bodum French Press travel mug – a French press and travel mug in one. It’s a simple, compact, affordable option for making, carrying, and enjoying your coffee. It even saves you the cost of buying a separate vacuum-insulated mug. A suitable stylish alternative to the Bodum French Press is the Espro Travel Press, another classic travel mug French press.

• You just want to drink coffee on the go: If you want portable coffee more than a portable coffee maker, a coffee thermos is the answer. The best thermoses for coffee will keep your coffee hot much longer than a French press, even an insulated one, and far outperform an average travel mug.

The Verdict

The Stanley Classic Stay Hot French Press is sturdy, durable, and large-capacity French press. Its stainless steel build and lifetime guarantee make it suitable for the rigours of travel and an outdoor lifestyle. And the six-cup capacity and dual-wall vacuum insulation make it equally useful as a home brewer.

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There are better models for deep woods or off-trail exploring, however. That 1.4-litre capacity and metal build make this French press one of the heaviest portable coffee makers. Serious backpackers should consider the Aeropress or Bodum travel press as alternatives.