VonShef 8 Cup Cafetiere, 1L French Press…

The VonShef 8 Cup Cafetiere suits anyone who prefers proper filter coffee to instant but doesn't want the cost or space of an electric machine. It holds up to 1 litre, enough for a full pot to share over breakfast or with guests, and it's made from heat-resistant borosilicate glass rather than the thinner soda-lime glass in cheaper cafetieres, so it copes better with hot-to-cold cycles without clouding or cracking. The stainless steel frame and plunger feel sturdier than plastic-framed alternatives, and VonShef backs it with a 4.5 rating from several hundred reviews, a strong showing for a manual brewer. Typically priced £11.99–£29.99, it's well within reach for a first cafetiere or a replacement for a cracked one.

The main trade-off with any cafetiere, this one included, is that the mesh filter lets through more fine grounds than a paper filter would, so the last mouthful can taste gritty unless you pour carefully. It also needs a coarser grind than a drip machine, so it isn't forgiving if you only buy pre-ground coffee for other methods. For those happy to grind to size, though, it produces a fuller-bodied cup than most machines, and the glass carafe makes it easy to see how much is left. It suits one to four people who drink coffee regularly rather than the occasional cup.