diff --git a/esphome/components/button/button.cpp b/esphome/components/button/button.cpp
index d57b46e9aa..0a5c6567bc 100644
--- a/esphome/components/button/button.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/button/button.cpp
@@ -18,11 +18,7 @@ void Button::add_on_press_callback(std::function<void()> &&callback) { this->pre
 uint32_t Button::hash_base() { return 1495763804UL; }
 
 void Button::set_device_class(const std::string &device_class) { this->device_class_ = device_class; }
-std::string Button::get_device_class() {
-  if (this->device_class_.has_value())
-    return *this->device_class_;
-  return "";
-}
+std::string Button::get_device_class() { return this->device_class_; }
 
 }  // namespace button
 }  // namespace esphome
diff --git a/esphome/components/button/button.h b/esphome/components/button/button.h
index b21a96b8e1..f60c2a2bc5 100644
--- a/esphome/components/button/button.h
+++ b/esphome/components/button/button.h
@@ -45,12 +45,12 @@ class Button : public EntityBase {
  protected:
   /** You should implement this virtual method if you want to create your own button.
    */
-  virtual void press_action(){};
+  virtual void press_action() = 0;
 
   uint32_t hash_base() override;
 
   CallbackManager<void()> press_callback_{};
-  optional<std::string> device_class_{};
+  std::string device_class_{};
 };
 
 }  // namespace button