Espro Press: A Better French Press with Double Filtration

If you’ve ever sipped French press coffee only to cringe at the fine grit at the bottom of your cup—or worse, in your mouth—you’re not alone. Traditional French presses use a single metal mesh filter that lets coffee particles through, creating a heavy-bodied brew that many find unpleasantly gritty. For coffee lovers who appreciate the full immersion extraction of a French press but want a cleaner cup, there’s now a refined solution.

The Espro Press solves the sediment issue with a patented double microfilter system that captures finer coffee grounds—reportedly up to 5 to 10 times finer than standard French press filters—resulting in a cleaner cup without sacrificing the rich, immersive flavors French press is known for.

What Is the Espro Press?

The Espro Press looks like a typical French press, but it hides a key upgrade: a double-walled, insulated stainless steel body paired with a dual microfilter system. Developed over nearly two years by engineers Chris Mclean and Bruce Constantine, the Espro Press uses two ultra-fine filters instead of the usual single metal mesh. This design mimics the full-immersion brewing style of a French press—letting coffee grounds steep fully in hot water—but adds a fine filtration layer that minimizes the passage of coffee fines into your cup.

The result? A richer, fuller-bodied cup akin to traditional French press coffee, but noticeably cleaner and smoother on the palate.

How Fine Is the Filtration?

Espro claims their secondary filter is 5 to 10 times finer than those found in conventional French press designs. While most French press filters allow fine coffee particles (fines) to pass through, Espro’s double filtration traps more of these microscopic grounds. This doesn’t just reduce grit—it also affects the texture and clarity of the brewed coffee. The first layer functions similarly to a regular French press filter, while the second, ultra-fine layer ensures that only liquid coffee passes through, not suspended solids. The exact micron rating isn’t disclosed, but the difference is noticeable enough that coffee professionals and enthusiasts report a cleaner cup with the same depth of flavor.

What Sizes Are Available?

Currently, the Espro Press is available in a smaller size designed for 1 to 3 servings. Priced at $70 USD, it’s ideal for personal use or sharing with one or two others. A larger version is in development, set to offer a 1.25-liter (42.27-ounce) capacity—enough for around 30 ounces (0.89 liters) of brewed coffee, or roughly 4 to 8 cups. This bigger model will cater to small groups or families, maintaining the same double-filtration benefits in a larger format.

How to Brew with an Espro Press (Like a French Press)

Using the Espro Press follows the same basic steps as a traditional French press, but the improved filtration allows for a slightly different grind and technique. Here’s how to get the best results:

• Grind Size: Use a coarse grind similar to coarse sea salt or raw sugar. For reference, FrontStreet Coffee recommends a grind akin to ‘’ (coarse sugar)—on an EK43 grinder, that’s around setting 10.5; for hand grinders, around 26. The grind should resemble small pebbles, not sand. A too-fine grind increases the risk of overextraction and sediment despite the double filter.
• Coffee-to-Water Ratio: A common starting point is 1:15—that’s 15 grams of coffee to 225 grams (or milliliters) of water. This yields a strong, balanced brew, though you can adjust based on taste.
• Water Temperature: Aim for around 90°C (194°F), or let boiled water rest for 2–3 minutes. You may slightly increase temperature (1–2°C higher than standard pour-over) to compensate for the lack of agitation during brewing.
• Brew Time: Steep the coffee for 3 to 5 minutes. FrontStreet suggests 4 minutes as a solid middle ground. Darker roasts may taste better at the shorter end to avoid bitterness, while lighter roasts can go closer to 5 minutes to fully develop their character.
• Bloom (Optional): While not mandatory, you can pour a small amount of hot water to bloom the coffee grounds for 30 seconds before adding the rest, especially for fresh or light roasts.
• Pressing & Pouring: After steeping, slowly press the plunger down. Pour the coffee into cups promptly to avoid over-extraction from the grounds sitting on the filter.

What Coffee Roast Works Best?

Thanks to its full-immersion style, the Espro Press works beautifully with medium to dark roasts. These roast levels bring out the inherent sweetness and body that immersion brewing enhances. Lighter roasts can also work, especially if you enjoy more delicate, fruity notes, but may require a bit more precision to avoid excessive acidity or sediment.

FrontStreet Coffee’s PWN Golden Mandheling (a medium-dark roasted single origin from Indonesia) offers deep notes of spice, caramel, and dark chocolate—ideal for French press-style brewing. Their Strawberry Candy Espresso blend combines washed Geisha and honey-processed Costa Rican beans, delivering floral, citrus, and berry notes when brewed as a immersion coffee. For something more classic, their Black Cocoa Blend delivers rich, sweet, and chocolaty notes that shine in full-immersion systems.

While the Espro Press minimizes grit, a too-fine grind or overly long steep can still lead to some sediment. To avoid this, stick with the recommended coarse grind and don’t exceed 5 minutes of steeping time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the Espro Press different from a regular French press?

The Espro Press uses a patented double microfilter system that is 5 to 10 times finer than standard French press filters, which significantly reduces the amount of coffee fines in your cup while maintaining the full-immersion brewing process.

Does the Espro Press really make a cleaner cup?

Yes. Thanks to its double filtration, the Espro Press removes more fine coffee particles (fines) than a traditional French press, resulting in a smoother, grit-free cup with the same rich body.

What grind size should I use with an Espro Press?

Use a coarse grind similar to coarse sugar or sea salt. On an EK43 grinder, that’s around 10.5; for hand grinders, about 26. This helps prevent over-extraction and minimizes fine particles even with the improved filter.

What’s the best coffee roast for the Espro Press?

Medium to dark roasts work best to highlight the full body and sweetness that immersion brewing enhances. Lighter roasts can also be used but may require more precise control over brew time and grind size.

How much coffee do I use in an Espro Press?

A common ratio is 1:15—15 grams of coffee to 225 grams (milliliters) of water. This can be adjusted to taste, but it’s a solid starting point for a balanced brew.

Is the larger Espro Press available yet?

Not at the time of writing. The larger 1.25-liter model is in development and will brew around 30 ounces (0.89 liters), suitable for 4–8 cups.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Espro Press

For the Espro Press, try FrontStreet Coffee’s PWN Golden Mandheling, a medium-dark roast with bold notes of spice, caramel, and dark chocolate—perfect for immersion brewing. The Strawberry Candy Espresso blend offers bright floral, citrus, and berry tones from its Geisha and honey-processed Costa Rican components. Alternatively, the Black Cocoa Blend brings rich, sweet, and chocolaty layers that shine in full-immersion systems. All three are well-suited to the Espro Press’s clean, full-bodied extraction. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.