Bodum 34oz Chambord French Press, Borosilicate Glass, White Review (2026)

The Chambord Design

The Chambord is Bodum's flagship French press shape, recognizable by its dome topped lid, curved handle, and chrome plated stainless steel frame wrapped around a glass carafe, and this listing is the 34oz size in white trim. Bodum states the carafe is made from high heat borosilicate glass, a material chosen because it resists thermal shock better than standard glass, meaning it is less likely to crack when hot water is poured in. The 34oz capacity is sized for roughly eight standard four ounce cups, which puts it in the range for a couple sharing a pot or one person wanting enough for a couple of refills. The frame's black accents and stainless trim give it the look most people picture when they think of a classic French press, and it is built to sit on a breakfast table or serving cart rather than just a countertop.

Materials and Brewing Method

French press brewing works by steeping coarse ground coffee directly in hot water inside the glass carafe, then pressing a mesh plunger down through the grounds to separate them from the liquid, and the Chambord uses this same full immersion method. Bodum's mesh filter is a metal screen rather than paper, so natural oils and fine particles pass through more than they would with a paper filter, which is part of why French press coffee is described as fuller bodied than drip coffee. Both the glass carafe and the metal frame components are listed as dishwasher safe, though hand washing the glass extends its life since dishwasher cycles and quick temperature changes are the most common way French press carafes develop cracks over time. The plunger assembly comes apart for a more thorough clean between the mesh discs and the cross plate.

What to Expect Day to Day

Brewing with the Chambord takes a few minutes of steeping after the grounds and hot water are combined, followed by a slow, steady press of the plunger, and the result is a heavier bodied cup than what most drip or pour over methods produce. Because the mesh filter does not catch every fine particle, a small amount of sediment typically settles at the bottom of the carafe and in the last portion poured, which is normal for any metal filter French press rather than a flaw specific to this model. The glass carafe lets a brewer see coffee color and steeping progress, which is useful for judging strength before pressing. Cleanup involves rinsing the carafe and disassembling the plunger to clear out trapped grounds from the mesh, which takes a bit more effort than a paper filter brewer.

Who This Suits

This press fits someone who already prefers French press style coffee and wants a well known, widely available design rather than a lesser known brand, since Bodum sells replacement parts and the Chambord shape has been in production for decades. The 34oz size works well for two people or for one person who wants enough for a refill, but a household serving more than that at once should look at Bodum's larger capacity Chambord options. Anyone who has broken a glass carafe before, or who wants a brewer for a kitchen with young children or a lot of counter traffic, may prefer one of the all stainless steel Chambord versions instead, since this white model still relies on a glass carafe inside the metal frame.

Care and Value

The borosilicate glass carafe is the part most likely to need eventual replacement, since it can crack or shatter if knocked against a hard surface or dropped, and Bodum sells spare beakers separately so a chip or crack does not mean replacing the whole press. Bodum's standard warranty covers manufacturing defects on the frame and plastic parts for one year, but glass breakage is typically excluded from that coverage, which is worth knowing before relying on a warranty claim for a cracked carafe. Compared to buying a generic all metal French press, the Chambord costs more, and that premium mostly buys the recognizable design and Bodum's parts availability rather than a functional advantage in how the coffee tastes. For someone planning to keep and maintain the same press for years, having spare glass and mesh parts on the market adds real long term value.

Frequently asked questions