After having tried many different coffee makers, including bean-to-cup coffee machines, pod models and the humble kettle, it’s safe to say that I’m a complete coffee addict – and that I know a good coffee maker when I see one. While I love my bean-to-cup, the process can be a bit of a faff at times, so I thought I’d go back to basics with my coffee making, which is why I was excited to try the YETI Rambler 34 oz French Press.
Best known for its coolers, YETI is most recognisable with its sleek colourful designs and bold branding. Aside from its tumblers, bottles, mugs and other drinkware, the YETI Rambler 34 oz French Press stood out to me, as it promises to make delicious coffee that stays hot for hours.
But is it more style over substance? I tried the YETI Rambler 34 oz French Press to find out.
YETI Rambler 34 oz French Press review: price and availability
The YETI Rambler 34 oz French Press is available for £110 / $110 on the YETI website. It’s available in core and seasonal colours, including white, tropical pink, key lime and wild vine red, to name a few. In this review, I tried the navy version. There’s also a 64 oz model available for £130 / $130.
YETI Rambler 34 oz French Press review: design
Before I explain the design, it’s important to understand what a French press is. A French press or cafetiere is a step up from a kettle or pour over coffee machine, as it doesn’t require any paper filters or boiling. Instead, you add ground coffee beans into it before adding hot water, letting it immerse and brew, before pushing down the plunger to separate the grounds from the water.
Now that’s out of the way, the YETI Rambler 34 oz French Press has a classic cafetiere-style design that includes the main jug, a GroundsControl Filter and a clear Tritan lid with a plunger. When empty, it weighs 2.65lb and it can brew 2-4 cups when full.
Part of the Rambler collection, the YETI Rambler 34 oz French Press has double-wall vacuum insulation to keep your drinks hot for long periods of time. The GroundsControl Filter separates the grounds from the water when you press down the plunger, and it’s been engineered to stop the brewing process after plunging so your drink remains hot but you don’t over-extract your coffee.
The YETI Rambler 34 oz French Press is made from stainless steel, and has an extra long handle that spans the length of the body. YETI branding is bold and clear, with two logos printed towards the bottom and a YETI engraved plunger top. The lid screws on easily and it has a large spout to pour coffee or tea from.
YETI Rambler 34 oz French Press review: performance
I’ve always been a big fan of the way YETI products look, as while they have an attractive design, they’re actually very practical, too. The YETI Rambler 34 oz French Press does have an outdoorsy camping aesthetic which might look out of place if you want to use and store it in your kitchen, so it might not be for everyone. However, it’s not all about looks and the YETI Rambler 34 oz French Press looks great and can be used in your kitchen, garden, on camping trips and wherever you’d like to take it with you – as long as you have hot water available, of course.
Despite its height, the YETI Rambler 34 oz French Press is relatively easy to travel with and its long handle makes it easy to carry, hold and pour. When full, the YETI Rambler 34 oz French Press can get a little heavy, but that’s somewhat to be expected! I particularly liked the pouring spout in the lid, as it was pretty wide so you could get a good stream of coffee rather than a trickle. The YETI Rambler 34 oz French Press makes a good amount of coffee for multiple people. With a normal-sized mug, you can definitely get about four cups worth, so it can serve four people at a time – or just one, if you’re a caffeine addict.
The thing I was most impressed by was the insulation. I made coffee in the YETI Rambler 34 oz French Press at 9:30am and the drink inside stayed warm until 2:30pm, so I got hot coffee for about five hours in total without having to boil the kettle multiple times. But the best part was that the outside of the YETI Rambler 34 oz French Press didn’t get hot at all, and stayed cold and easy to handle while the contents remained hot inside.
YETI Rambler 34 oz French Press review: verdict
The YETI Rambler 34 oz French Press is a cafetiere worthy of your time, as it makes multiple drinks of tea or coffee at a time and stays hot for several hours without the outside getting affected. The design is classic and quintessentially YETI, and while it can become a permanent fixture to your camping trips, it’s a nice product to have on hand when you need to make a round of hot beverages.
Putting the weightiness aside, the main drawback of the YETI Rambler 34 oz French Press is the price. At £110 / $110, you can get a kettle or pod coffee machine for the same price if not cheaper, If you love using a cafetiere, the YETI Rambler 34 oz French Press is a great choice but if not, then you might not want to spend the money.
YETI Rambler 34 oz French Press review: alternatives to consider
If you want something that’s better suited to a kitchen aesthetic rather than a camping one, the Le Creuset Stoneware Cafetiere has a beautiful design and is made of enamel and stainless steel Like YETI, it comes in multiple colours and stays hot for a long time – it also holds a litre of hot water.
For something of a similar price that’s a bit more advanced, you might want to look at the best pod coffee machines.
