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Aeropress vs. French Press: A Comparison
Aeropress or French Press...that is the question! I say why not both? Let's see what YOU think!
Published November 26, 2021
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Vasileia Fanarioti
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
Many people know that coffee is a great way to start the day, but not everyone has tried making their own. Brewing your own coffee at home can be very rewarding and budget friendly.
There are several ways to make coffee at home such as using an automatic drip machine, French press, or even an Aeropress.
The following blog post will compare two of these methods: the Aeropress vs. French Press; if you want to brew your own cup of joe at home then keep reading!
Aeropress vs. French Press: A Comparison
While the Aeropress and French Press are both great at making coffee, they differ in some key ways. The French Press is a more traditional way of brewing coffee while the Aeropress is newer and has some benefits that make it worth trying.
The Aeropress coffee plunger is a relatively new invention that has been around since 2005. It's a coffee maker that extracts the grounds with air pressure and then forces them through a filter, which produces an espresso-style drink.
The French Press is another popular brewing method that is nearly a century old if we count when its first patent was filed. It uses hot water to extract flavors from ground coffee beans using gravity as well as plunger to push it all down.
Let’s explore the similarities between these two brewers first!
Similarities between Aeropress and French Press
First of all, they are both immersion brewers, meaning that the ground coffee is placed in water/coffee then immersed. This means that there are grounds that are evenly distributed throughout your cup of coffee.
People argue that French Press is better because it produces a stronger flavor and texture to the coffee. Although this may be true for some people, Aeropress can also lead to a strong cup of joe if you know what you're doing.
And I am afraid this is pretty much where the similarities end!
Differences between Aeropress and French Press
The biggest difference between these two coffee makers is how they work. The French Press uses a plunger to push the grinds down into the pot, while the Aeropress forces water through your grinds with air pressure.
The flavour profile of your coffee with the Aeropress will be different than with the French Press, no matter what recipe you use.
This is because of the way in which both devices work, but also because the ingredients are different (coffee/water ratio). Generally speaking, coffee brewed with a French Press will have a full body, heavy mouthfeel, bitter notes and traces of sediment.
The Aeropress on the other hand will produce a cleaner cup, with lighter body and is more likely to enhance your coffee’s flavour notes without the bitterness.
One other major difference is the filter used for each method. French Press uses a mesh filter while Aeropress uses paper filters. This allows the release of sediment when using a French Press while Aeropress users will not experience this.
Aeropress, due to its design, will produce a cleaner cup of coffee than the French Press. This is because Aeropress filters out oils and sediments that are released when making coffee with a French Press.
Another difference is their size. The Aeropress is much smaller than the French press, which means that it's great for traveling and camping. The French press on the other hand, is perfect for serving large groups of people, plus it comes in different sizes.
They also differ in material as the Aeropress is made from plastic whereas the French Press can be made from glass, stainless steel and it can also be ceramic.
Aeropress Pros and Cons
Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons for both brewers.
Pros
- Compact size - The Aeropress is much smaller than most other coffee makers, which makes it perfect if you are traveling or camping.
- Ease of use - Putting the Aeropress together is very easy and doesn't require any special tools. All parts are able to be disassembled for cleaning, which is a plus. when compared to many automatic drip brewers and espresso machines.
- Versatile - You can make both standard and espressos with this brewer.
- Cost efficient - This brewer costs about $30-$50
- Compact design - When assembled, the Aeropress only takes up around 12 inches of space on your countertop.
Cons:
- Temperature inconsistency - This unit does not maintain a set brewing temperature very well.
- Partial immersion brewing can be hit-or-miss - Sometimes you'll find your coffee grounds are under-extracted while other times they are over-extracted.
- Higher risk of stalling or clogging if the user doesn't use enough turbulence during "pumping" process.
French Press Pros and Cons
Pros:
- The coffee made with a French press is usually much richer than others.
- You can customize the strength of your coffee by regulating the amount of water to be used and how much time to steep it for.
- You can use it to brew coffee for large groups
- It’s aesthetic and pleasing to the eye
- Perfect for those who love a heavy cup of coffee
- Cost efficient - This brewer costs about $15-$30
Cons:
- The coffee made with a French press can often result in bitter notes that many don’t enjoy.
- Some people find the sediment at the bottom of the cup to be unpleasant or just annoying to drink.
- You have to clean all the parts thoroughly, which can take time. Otherwise your brew might not taste great next time you use the French Press.
- Not very convenient to travel with.
Last Thoughts
You can't go wrong with either of these coffee makers. It really comes down to personal preference -- like everything else in life, after all! Aeropress is easier to use and clean up than the French press, but both are great options for different people.
If you're still not sure which one suits your needs best, try out a few cups from each one before making a decision...or maybe just buy both so you have an extra on hand when company stops by!? Up to you!
About the author
Vasileia Fanarioti
My name is Vasileia and I’m here because i decided to combine my two favourite things: writing and coffee. I love travelling around the world and visiting coffee shops but my biggest goal is to visit a coffee farm, to see where it all starts! You can follow my coffee adventures via my blog: thewanderingbean.net
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