Espro P7 vs Bodum Chambord vs Fellow Clara: Which French Press to Buy

Specs current as of November 2026.

Owners disagree on whether the Espro P7 and Fellow Clara make a cleaner cup than a basic press

A French press filter is a metal mesh, so some fine coffee particles pass through and settle at the bottom of the cup. The Espro P7 uses two mesh baskets, one nested inside the other, with a silicone edge that seals against the wall. Espro says its two filters are 9 and 12 times finer than other French press filters, but it publishes no measurement. Fellow calls the Fellow Clara's single mesh ultra-fine and publishes no figure either.

Espro P7 owners and Fellow Clara owners both disagree among themselves. Some describe smooth coffee with almost no grit, and others say they see no improvement over an inexpensive press. One Fellow Clara owner, who chose it over the Espro P7 for the design, says it filters no better than a basic Bodum and points people who want a clearer cup to the Espro P7. Several Espro P7 owners who get grounds in the cup blame a fine grind or plunging fast, and Espro says the same. A coarse grind and a slow press help on all three presses. Our guide to how to grind coffee beans shows the coarse setting.

If you want less grit, you can add one of Espro's paper filters to the Espro P7. Paper also removes the coffee oils that give French press its heavy texture.

The Espro P7 leaves some coffee behind its filter

Many Espro P7 owners complain about this. The seal traps some brewed coffee under the filter with the grounds, and you can't pour that coffee out. One owner of the Espro P3, which uses the same double filter, estimates the loss at about 10% of the pot. To end up with two full mugs, brew a little more water than two mugs hold.

The Espro P7 and Fellow Clara keep coffee hot, and the Bodum Chambord cools faster

The Espro P7 and Fellow Clara each have two steel walls with insulation between them. Owners of both say coffee stays hot for a long time. One Fellow Clara owner reports hot coffee two or three hours after brewing. One Espro P7 owner and two Fellow Clara owners say it cools sooner than they expected. Neither maker publishes a measured test, so don't choose between the two on heat.

The Bodum Chambord has one wall of glass, so the coffee cools faster. To keep a second cup hot, pour the coffee into an insulated mug or carafe after brewing. Pouring it off the grounds also stops the coffee from steeping further.

The Fellow Clara rinses clean, and the Espro P7 goes in the dishwasher

Used grounds are the messy part of owning a French press. Cleaning is the thing Fellow Clara owners praise most after heat, and they credit the non-stick interior. Only the mesh goes in the dishwasher, so you wash the pot by hand. Metal utensils can damage the coating, so stir with a plastic spoon.

Every part of the Espro P7 can go on the top rack of a dishwasher, and its two filters twist apart for washing. Bodum owners who break a carafe usually do it while washing, by hitting the faucet or by letting the glass drop out when the frame is turned upside down. Wash the Bodum Chambord's carafe out of its frame and away from the faucet.

Owners report tearing mesh on the Espro P7, chips and loose handles on the Fellow Clara, and broken glass on the Bodum Chambord

One Espro P7 owner has used theirs for about ten years. The part that wears out is the filter, whose mesh can tear away from its plastic frame. Espro sells replacements, though they do not fit every model made or bought before January 2020. Some buyers also object to the plastic in the filter and lid at this price.

Fellow Clara owners report two recurring problems. The black finish can chip, sometimes within weeks, and the handle can come loose or break off. One owner tightened a loose handle with a hex wrench. Check the handle from time to time, because the press holds hot coffee.

Bodum owners split between those who have used one glass carafe for 15 to 20 years and those who have broken several. Bodum's warranty excludes the glass. Bodum sells spare carafes, so if the glass breaks, you can buy a new carafe and keep using the press. One owner reports that a replacement carafe did not fit well.

The October 2026 US recall of Bodum Chambord carafes

On October 29, 2026, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall of about 5.9 million Bodum French presses with replaceable glass carafes, including the 8-cup and 12-cup Bodum Chambord. A carafe that is cracked or damaged can break during use, and stirring with a metal spoon can cause that damage. The notice lists 70 reports of carafes breaking and 48 reports of burns. The remedy is to stop stirring with metal and to contact Bodum for a plastic spoon and a warning label. The notice offers no refund or new carafe. You can read the full recall notice.

The notice lists US stores and does not mention Canada. As of November 5, 2026, Health Canada and Bodum's Canadian site show no matching notice. We would follow the same advice in Canada: stir with a plastic spoon, and stop using a carafe that is cracked or damaged.

The Bodum Chambord comes in the most sizes, and the Fellow Clara comes in one

Bodum counts a cup as about 4 oz, so the 34 oz 8-cup Bodum Chambord fills three or four mugs. The 3-cup is 12 oz, the 4-cup is 17 oz, and the 12-cup is 51 oz, the largest press here.

The Espro P7 needs a minimum amount of water each time you brew: 15 oz in the 18 oz model and 24 oz in the 32 oz model. Neither size suits brewing a single mug. The Fellow Clara holds 24 oz, which fills two or three mugs.

Best overall: Espro P7

The Espro P7 is the best overall pick because it keeps coffee hot, comes in two sizes and goes in the dishwasher. The Fellow Clara and Bodum Chambord each give up at least one of those. Choose the size by the smallest amount you brew, and expect to lose a little coffee behind the filter on every pot.

Great for easy cleanup: Fellow Clara

The Fellow Clara suits someone who brews two or three mugs at a time, is happy to wash the pot by hand and wants grounds to rinse out easily. If you would rather use the dishwasher or brew a larger pot, the Espro P7 fits better.

Best glass press: Bodum Chambord

The Bodum Chambord suits someone who prefers brewing in glass, wants to spend the least of these three, or needs the 51 oz size. Stir with a plastic spoon, because of the US recall of the 8-cup and 12-cup carafes. Take care at the sink, and pour the coffee into an insulated mug or carafe if you want it to stay hot.

To compare a French press with other brewers, see AeroPress vs French press and moka pot vs French press. Our comparison of the Chemex and AeroPress covers two brewers that use paper filters. A French press also makes cold brew, and our cold brew guide shows how.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Espro P7 worth it?

The Espro P7 is worth it if you brew a French press most days and want insulation, top-rack dishwasher cleaning and a choice of two sizes. Owners disagree on whether its two filters make a cleaner cup than a basic press, and some coffee stays behind the filter on every pot.

Is the Bodum Chambord French press good?

The Bodum Chambord is a good glass press, and some owners of Bodum glass presses have used theirs for 20 years. The Bodum Chambord's 8-cup (34 oz) and 12-cup (51 oz) carafes were recalled in the United States in October 2026, so stir with a plastic spoon and stop using a carafe that is cracked or damaged.

Is the Fellow Clara better than the Espro P7?

The Fellow Clara is easier to rinse clean, because of its non-stick interior, and the Espro P7 comes in two sizes and goes in the dishwasher. Owners of both say the coffee stays hot. Neither maker publishes a measured test of heat or filtering.

Is a glass or metal French press better?

A steel press keeps coffee hot longer and survives a knock, and a glass press lets you watch the coffee brew. Of these three, the glass press costs the least. Glass can break, and Bodum's warranty excludes it, so a spare carafe is worth keeping if you choose glass.

Which French press is the best insulated?

The Espro P7 and Fellow Clara both have double-wall steel bodies, and owners of both say their coffee stays hot. Neither maker publishes a measured test. The Bodum Chambord has a single wall of glass and cools faster.

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