A firsthand look at the Stanley Camping French Press

The Stanley Classic Stay-Hot French Press is a double-walled insulated stainless steel French press coffeemaker from the longtime outdoor brand that, most recently, has been a social media sensation for its colorful tumblers. Its large capacity, vacuum insulation and rugged build set it apart from other French presses, and Stanley claims that it can produce flavorful coffee with less sediment while keeping it warm for long periods of time. 

To see if the Stanley French Press was worth it, the BestReviews Testing Lab evaluated it on its heat retention, ease of use, ease of cleaning, build quality and coffee quality, and found it to accomplish much of the brand’s claims.

What is the Stanley French Press?

The Stanley French Press was the biggest French press we tested.

Product specifications

Weight: 2.5 lb | Capacity: 48 oz | Dimensions: 9.53” H x 7.13” L (including handle) x 4.88” W | Material: Stainless steel | Dishwasher-safe: Yes

The Stanley Classic Stay-Hot French Press is a 48-ounce insulated stainless steel French press suitable for outdoor use and camping. Stanley promises that its double-walled vacuum insulation can keep brewed coffee hot for long periods, a claim we confirmed during testing. Its large capacity can hold up to six 8-ounce cups or three 16-ounce servings of coffee, enough for several people. While its design seemed utilitarian to us while testing, it may appeal to travel aficionados and Stanley fans.

Pros

• Large capacity: The 48-ounce capacity of the Stanley was the largest of the French presses we tested, providing enough coffee for a group of people.
• Keeps coffee warm: The Stanley kept coffee drinkably warm for over an hour in our tests. While our recipe cooled quickly from 200 to 188 degrees upon mixing, possibly due to the press’ large capacity compared to the recipe volume, the resulting coffee registered at 150 degrees after 30 minutes, 135 degrees after 60 minutes and 124 degrees after 90 minutes.
• Good coffee quality: According to our test results, the Stanley produced full-bodied, flavorful coffee that had less sediment in it than competing products with similar mesh filters and plungers.

Cons

• Utilitarian looks: We were not terribly impressed by the design of the Stanley, with its visible metal seams and rivets. However, we recognize that this design is part of the brand’s identity, and we can’t fault the product’s performance. Like other Stanley products, the company is actively marketing limited-run or hypeworthy colors for the French press, which may increase its appeal.
• Flimsy feel: The stainless steel material of the Stanley felt light, almost flimsy, to us while testing. This may be intentional, as thicker metal would make the large 48-ounce capacity too heavy, and the double-wall construction necessarily makes the product lighter with the insulating vacuum in the walls. Nevertheless, we felt it was unexpectedly light for its size.
• Nuisance to clean: The Stanley French Press is dishwasher-safe. However, its size can be something of a challenge to situate in a dishwasher, even on the lower rack. Its lid and press assembly comes apart easily — maybe too easily, as it unexpectedly disassembled itself during testing.

Who is it for?

The Stanley French Press performs better than it looks. It’s a worthwhile purchase for anyone who wants to enjoy multiple cups of French press coffee that stays warm for an hour or more. Camping enthusiasts, hikers who don’t mind its size and other outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate its light weight and heat retention. Stanley collectors may also be interested in it as a way to make French-press coffee at home for their Stanley tumblers.

How we tested

The testing team found the Stanley French Press could keep coffee warm for over an hour.

We tested the Stanley French Press by brewing a recipe involving 200-degree hot water and a specific measure of medium-grind pre-ground supermarket coffee, following the directions that came with the product as much as possible. We used an instant-read thermometer to take the temperature of the coffee within the Stanley at 30-minute intervals for two hours. We poured servings of coffee, noting comfort, balance, lid seal and any drips or leaks. We evaluated the coffee on taste, color, translucency and sediment, filtering it through a paper coffee filter to see how much sediment it contained. Finally, we tested cleaning and maintenance by disassembling the filter and plunger and running all the parts through the dishwasher at least three times, noting off odors or flavors after each wash. 

Price and where to buy

The Stanley Classic Stay-Hot French Press is widely available from Amazon, directly from Stanley’s website and other retailers.

How to use the Stanley French Press

The Stanley French Press produced tasty, full-bodied coffee with slightly less sediment than other French presses using the same filter type.

The size of the Stanley French Press affects brew quality to a certain degree. Due to its large capacity, the water will lose some heat upon pouring; however, this can be offset by increasing the heat of your water by five degrees or more than what you’d usually use. Pour the water onto the coffee grounds and close the lid completely, making sure the lid’s pouring notch is turned away from the spout for maximum heat retention. When pouring, turn the lid’s notch to the spout. The lid itself is reasonably secure but not sealed, so you may want to hold onto it if you’re tipping the press over to empty.

To remove the grounds, shake the press firmly over an open trash receptacle and then scoop out the remaining grounds with a spatula. Avoid keeping large amounts of grounds in the product when placing it in the dishwasher as the grounds may cause a clog. When cleaning the filter, disassemble it completely and make sure to remove all the grounds that may have entered between the filter plates.

Should you get one?

The Stanley French Press is made out of stainless steel and doesn’t come in a box.

The Stanley French Press truly lives up to its claims. It’s a large-capacity French press that produces flavorful brewed coffee and keeps it warm for at least an hour. Its size may make it less suited for personal use, but if you want warm coffee while traveling, or if you’re a Stanley fan, you’ll get good performance from the Stanley French Press.