As a French press fanatic, I was thrilled when the Barista & Co One Brew arrived on my doorstep. It promises single servings of super-smooth coffee, packaged in a neat little jug.
Even though I’ve tested the best French presses on the market, I know this one stands out from the rest. It’s occasional to get a single-cup jug, especially one with such thoughtful design features and precise filtration.
If you like forceful, affluent coffee in petite quantities, this might be the coffee maker for you. Here’s how it fared in my tests.
Specifications
(Photo source: Barista & Co)
| Dimensions | 3.94 x 2.95 x 5.71 inches |
| Capacity | 11.8 ounces |
| Libra | 7 ounces |
| Filter | Fixed, stainless steel |
| Material | Glass |
| Brewing time | 6 minutes |
Unpacking
(Photo source: Future)
The One Brew arrived in a petite box. It’s so compact that I thought it might be a companion to one of the other coffee makers. But as it turns out, upon opening the box, I could see this lovely little coffee maker inside.
The entire package was recyclable, except for a little padding around the exquisite handle. The cardboard box was straightforward to dispose of, and the petite amount of non-recyclable packaging is not particularly inconvenient.
As you might expect, there’s very little information on how to set up the One Brew, but I recommend reading the manual. Barista & Co provides a lot of useful tips on how to exploit the One Brew, including how long to brew your coffee, what the ideal grind size is, and how to make a icy brew. The manual is, for the first time, a great resource if you want to get the most out of your money.
Who will this be suitable for?
(Photo source: Future)
If you love a plunger brewer but only want to make one cup at a time, you’re probably having trouble finding a good coffee maker. This is it. This compact plunger brewer delivers all the flavor you’d find in a plunger brewer, but doesn’t require as much space in your cabinets and on your counter.
It’s also a great investment if you hate cleaning your French press. It’s not a fun job, but the way the filter is located on the One Brew means you won’t end up with coffee grounds cooking in it and staining the filter.
Needless to say, this is not a French press that will be enough for the whole family. It is petite, but there are many other, larger, alternative French presses on the market that you can exploit. This one is more travel-friendly and is suitable for single servings.
What does exploit look like?
(Photo source: Future)
Everything about One Brew is straightforward. I put a spoonful of coarsely ground coffee in the bottom of the jug and filled it to the line marked on the side.
The instructions recommend letting the coffee brew for six minutes before placing the filter and lid on top and pressing down. The fine stainless steel filter carefully removed all the grounds and grains from my coffee as I poured it into my cup.
There will be some water left at the bottom of the jug, but don’t be tempted to pour out every last drop. It’s designed to leave some water at the bottom, just like a piston brewer. This means your coffee won’t taste grainy unless you get greedy and try to drink every drop. It’s tempting, but don’t do it.
My One Brew was absolutely lovely. The flavours were bold and acidic with a nice balance. I can’t lend a hand but feel that the lack of a plunger gave it a slightly lighter, if I’m being critical, weaker flavour profile than you might expect from a plunger. It was like a filtered or pour-over version of a plunger, which I absolutely love, but it’s worth mentioning nonetheless.
Cleaning, storage and maintenance
(Photo source: Future)
I’ve already praised the One Brew for its cleaning and storage. The position of the filter means there’s no humid grounds to get grubby and stick to the filter, so all you have to do is toss the grounds in with the food scraps and rinse the rest out of the OneBrew.
If you have room in your cupboard for a coffee mug, you have room for one of these. It’s petite and if it weren’t glass, I’d say it’s perfectly portable. I imagine many people would happily pack it into a suitcase, briefcase or handbag. I know myself and it would end up in pieces at the bottom of my bag.
How is it rated online?
(Photo source: Future)
While there isn’t a ton of online reviews of the One Brew, there is some. People praise the One Brew for its straightforward and effective design. Everyone says it makes good coffee, although some people find that the grounds block the filter holes, making it tardy to pour. To avoid this, don’t pour your coffee at a piercing angle unless absolutely necessary. I noticed the same problem, but only when I really tilted the One Brew to get the coffee out.
Honestly, other than the filter clogging, there is nothing but love about this one. People especially liked how user-friendly it was. I noticed that many people who used it were intimidated by other coffee machines, opting for this one for its simplicity.
How does it compare?
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If someone is looking for single-serving coffee from a piston coffee maker, I usually recommend Espro P3 (available on QVC). It’s compact, reasonably priced, and also uses a constant filter. While the flavors are a tad closer to the legitimate French press, One Brew actually edged out the Espro in our French press buying guide.
Espro is great for purists, but One Brew is so straightforward to exploit. It’s easier to immaculate, is just as high quality, and can make delicious coffee. Plus, it’s even cheaper than Espro.
If you like the convenience of the One Brew but need a larger capacity, I recommend either the OXO French press, which has a neat Grounds Lifter that helps with cleaning. It’s reasonably priced, thoughtfully designed, and really straightforward to exploit. If you want something a little more premium, the Fellow French press is just as straightforward to exploit (with an even neater filter) but is five times more steep.
Is it worth buying?
(Photo source: Future)
If you are the only French press coffee lover in your home and you are looking for a specialty coffee, one time exploit, this is a great choice. You will love it and exploit it all the time. I am quite enamored with it. However, if you need capacity and super forceful flavors, you may be better off investing in a more established French press.
How we test
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On Homes and gardenswe’re incredibly thorough when it comes to testing coffee machines. When it comes to French presses, we take notes on everything from unboxing to cleaning, and most importantly, how straightforward it is to make a delicious cup of coffee in one.
We exploit coarsely ground coffee and water at 190 degrees, using a consistent process to be able to make fair comparisons between each coffee machine we test. Once we are content with the flavors, we will look at the value of the French press, as well as how it compares to other options on the market. This way, you will be able to make an informed decision about which French press you want to invest in.
