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AeroPress vs French Press Comparison Easy Guide
AeroPress and French press are two of the most popular press coffee makers. Find out all about these method.
Published November 23, 2021
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Erik Hedlund
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
AeroPress and French press are two of the most popular press coffee makers that you can get your hands on today. But choosing between the two is not always easy. You might have read conflicting reviews and testimonials of both, leaving you wondering which is going to be the best option for you to use for brewing your perfect cup of coffee. Keep reading to find out more about the AeroPress vs French press, what kind of results you can get with either one and how to make the right choice for you based on your coffee needs and preferences.
AeroPress Basics
If you are a coffee enthusiast who loves spending time outdoors, having an AeroPress in your traveling gear is definitely something worth considering. It’s a steep-force-drink brewer that is simple to use and very functional, using air pressure and your hand to brew. The process for making air press coffee is quite simple, yet innovative. All you need to do is allow your coffee to steep for around 10-50 seconds, before pressing the plunger to force the coffee through the filter and into your cup.
French Press Basics
Anybody who is enthusiastic about coffee will be familiar with French Press coffee brewing. The French press basics are quite simple; it’s a tall carafe with a metal filter that is used to brew the coffee, allowing more aromatic oils and flavorful fragments from the coffee grinds to pass through into your mug compared to paper filters. This brewing method involves hand pressing. It is easy to use; all you need to do is add your coffee grounds and water, allow it to steep for a couple of minutes, and then press the filter down with your hand and the coffee is ready to pour into your mug.
AeroPress Advantages
When it comes to brewing your coffee in an AeroPress, there are lots of benefits to consider. One of the biggest reasons to choose this method is that it’s quick and convenient, along with being very portable and a versatile option. Using an AeroPress allows you to easily adjust the amount of grounds that you use and customize your coffee strength to exactly how you like it.
While the AeroPress does only brew one cup at a time, this can be a pro if there are several coffee drinkers in your home who all like to drink their coffee a different way. Due to the fact that the AeroPress relies on hand pressure to extract all the components from the coffee grounds, it will produce a cup that’s rich in flavor and super clean. If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to brew coffee that is similar to espresso, this could be just what you are looking for. The final result is a brew that has a tasty, mellow flavor without any sharp kicks or a bitter aftertaste.
French Press Advantages
There are also many perks to consider if you are thinking about using a French press to brew your coffee. It is simple and convenient to use, along with the fact that many French presses are quite simple and elegant, making an ideal addition to your kitchen counters. When using a French Press, you can easily set it and forget it, and there is minimal prep work when it comes to enjoying your favorite thick, rich, aromatic coffee each morning. You can also brew multiple cups of coffee reliably in a French press, making it ideal for brewing a pot of coffee to serve with breakfast. If you are environmentally-conscious and want an eco-friendly option for brewing your coffee, the French press is an ideal choice as there are no paper filters or plastic pods involved. Not only does this mean less waste, but you will enjoy a fuller, more aromatic coffee flavor thanks to the metal filter.
AeroPress Vs French Press: The Differences
While these two brewers can look very similar to one another at first glance, any keen coffee drinker who has tried both will know that the experience with each one is quite different. Some of the main differences between the AeroPress and French Press that you should be aware of include:
- The AeroPress will only brew one cup of coffee at a time, but you can make several cups in a French press, which usually accommodates around 28-35oz of coffee.
- Since the AeroPress uses more pressure to brew compared to the French Press, the coffee you make in this brewer will have a closer taste to espresso.
- The French press uses a metal filter, while you will need paper filters for the AeroPress.
- Due to the metal filter, using a French Press leads to a fuller coffee taste, and there will usually be some leftover grit from the grinds in the bottom of your cup due to more being allowed through the filter and into your cup. On the other hand, the use of paper filters in the AeroPress leads to a more mellow, cleaner cup of coffee.
- It will take several minutes to brew your morning coffee in the French Press, while your cup can be ready in less than a minute when using the AeroPress.
- The best coffee in an AeroPress uses coffee that is finely ground, while you will usually get better results from using a coarser grind in a French press.
Which Press Makes the Best Coffee?
There’s no clear answer to whether you’ll get the best coffee from an AeroPress or a French press, since it is all down to your personal taste and preferences. If you prefer a coffee that is hearty, full-bodied, rich, and aromatic and don’t mind some coffee fragments at the bottom of your cup, then a French Press might be the best choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer your coffee milder and less intense and want a clean cup without any grinds at the bottom, you will probably prefer using an AeroPress.
How to Use Each Press for Making Coffee
AeroPress: To brew coffee in an AeroPress, start by placing a paper filter into the cap and adding enough water to make it wet. Then, assemble the press and add around 15g of finely ground coffee to it, before pouring twice that amount of boiling water over it. Let the coffee steep for 30-50 seconds, before fastening the cap, placing your cup, and pressing with your hand.
French Press: To start, add coarsely ground coffee to the French Press and pour boiling water over the grounds. Stick to a 1:12 coffee to water ratio for the best results. Gently stir the mixture before putting the lid on and allowing the coffee to steep for around four minutes at the most. It’s a good idea to set a timer, as any longer could ruin the taste. Then, press the plunger down and serve your coffee immediately.
Which Press is Easier to Clean and Maintain?
Both French press and AeroPress cleaning methods are simple and convenient, so you can be sure that no matter which press you decide to use, you will not have trouble when it comes to cleaning it. Both require some slightly different maintenance steps, but the good news is that they are both very easy to clean, with no deep cleaning or tough scrubbing needed.
Cleaning the AeroPress
One of the main reasons why the AeroPress is perfect for outdoor and travel use it that it’s one of the most low-maintenance brewer options out there. All you need to do is run the seal under some warm water or wipe it clean after each use. However, you will need to give the brewer a deeper clean from time to time since the plunger can get sticky over time as a result of the oils and other by-products of brewing that stick to it and build up over time. However, this is also easy as all you need to do is soak it in a detergent and warm water mixture for a while before gently wiping and rinsing.
Cleaning the French Press
Cleaning a French Press is just as easy as cleaning a kettle and other pots in your kitchen. All you need to do is unscrew the filter and rub some dish soap over the plunger before rinsing well with warm water. You can wash the outside of the press and carafe in the same way as you wash any other dishes. By doing this regularly, you can make sure that your French press remains easy to maintain. If you’re in a rush, you can simply fill the pot halfway with warm water and a couple of drops of dish soap, press the plunger down, and rinse thoroughly before drying off.
Deciding on whether the AeroPress or French press is the best coffee brewer for you can be tricky. If you like experimenting with coffee and prefer a cleaner brew, or want a brewer that you can take with you anywhere, an AeroPress is a good choice. On the other hand, if you want to brew more coffee at a time and prefer a fuller-bodied brew, the French Press is for you.
About the author
Erik Hedlund
With Era of We and The Coffee Lab, I hope to share knowledge, increase the value of coffee – and secure the future of coffee.
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