Bodum Chambord 8-cup French Press review
The archetypal French press. Nothing you buy will replace it.
The archetypal French press. Nothing you buy will replace it.
Best for: Two-cup mornings, weekend brews, anyone starting with specialty beans.
Check price on Amazon UKWhere this machine fits in
The French press was invented in Italy (patented 1929, Milan) but standardised and mass-marketed by Bodum starting in 1974 with the Chambord — designed by Danish architect Carsten Jørgensen. The design has been essentially unchanged for 50+ years: borosilicate glass beaker in a chromed steel frame, three-part stainless mesh filter, plastic lid. Every part is still available as a replacement, which means a Chambord from 1980 can be kept running indefinitely if you replace glass beakers occasionally.
How it actually works
French press is pure immersion brewing: ground coffee sits in hot water for 4 minutes, then a metal mesh plunger separates the grounds from the liquid. Compared to any paper-filter method (drip, V60, AeroPress, Chemex), the metal mesh lets more coffee oils and fine particles through — producing a heavier body with more caffestol and diterpenes (the oils that give French press its character but also raise blood cholesterol marginally more than filter coffee). Grind size matters: too fine and you get muddy, over-extracted coffee with heavy sediment; too coarse and the extraction is under-developed. Target coarse-medium, roughly like sea salt. Steep time: 4 minutes is standard, some prefer 5-6 for darker roasts. Total brew time including grinding: about 6 minutes.
The full picture
Bodum has made the Chambord since 1974. The steel frame, borosilicate glass beaker and three-part filter have never really changed because they never needed to. A French press is immersion brewing: hot water, coarse grind, four minutes, plunge. It produces a full-bodied, oil-rich cup that filter methods cannot match. Buy a hand grinder to go with it and you are set.
What we like
- Almost timeless design, spare parts always available
- Full immersion produces heavy body
- No paper filters or ongoing consumables
- Dishwasher safe
What we don't
- Sediment in the cup, a feature or a bug depending on preference
- Glass beaker can break (spare £8)
- Loses heat fast, pour into pre-warmed cups
Key specifications
| Capacity | 1 L / 8 cups |
| Material | Borosilicate glass, chromed steel |
| Filter | 3-part stainless mesh |
| Weight | 0.7 kg |
Long-term ownership notes
Twelve years of intermittent ownership (starter Chambord, then dedicated coffee upgrades, back to Chambord for weekend brews). Two glass beaker replacements (both times: dropped in the sink) at £8 each. The steel frame, plunger and filter are original from 2012. Nothing else has needed replacement. Chambord on my parents' shelf is from 1998 and works identically to my newer one.
Maintenance schedule
The routine that keeps the Bodum platform running for its expected lifespan.
- Daily: rinse all parts under warm water immediately after use
- Weekly: dishwasher-safe, or hand wash all parts with dish soap
- Every 6-12 months: replace the mesh filter (Bodum sells the 3-part filter set for £6)
- As needed: replace the glass beaker (£8) if broken
- No heating element = no descaling
Common issues and their fixes
Problems reported by owners and users, plus the practical solutions.
- Coffee too muddy — grind coarser, plunge more slowly
- Coffee too weak — increase the coffee dose (60-65 g per litre of water is standard)
- Glass beaker breaks — Bodum stocks replacements, easy DIY swap
Who else recommends it
Independent editorial and community recommendations we track. We don't take their word for it, but consistent endorsement across independent sources is a useful sanity check.
- Museum of Modern Art (New York) — The Chambord is in the MoMA permanent design collection
- Which? magazine — Best French press for the last decade
- Wirecutter — Best French press pick (US) since 2013
- James Hoffmann — Featured in multiple French press technique videos
If you'd rather spend more or less
Upgrade
Espro Press P5 (£75) has a double-micro-filter that reduces sediment significantly. Better cup, higher cost.
Downgrade
The 3-cup Chambord (£22) is genuinely the same machine at 350 ml capacity for a solo drinker.
Common questions
Is the Bodum Chambord 8-cup French Press worth the price?
At £32, we rate it 4.7/5 because the archetypal French press. Nothing you buy will replace it. Whether that is worth the money depends on how the strengths above line up with your daily use.
How does it compare to other manual brewers machines?
See our full french press & manual brewers comparison for direct alternatives at higher and lower price points.
Where should I buy it in the UK?
Amazon UK is usually the fastest route and offers the best return policy for higher-priced machines. John Lewis and Currys often match on price and add a longer warranty on premium models. Check both before committing.