It can be tricky to make sense of all of the details about the multiple “press” coffee makers which are on the market. If you’re looking to buy one, I’m going to make it simple by letting you know which two manufacturers of the style you should take note of.
The Aeropress and the french press.
Despite the similarity in the names, the Aeropress and French Press function in distinct ways. They make coffee of varying qualities, they work well in a variety of environments, and they can be adapted to fit different lifestyles.
What Is A French Press Coffee?
Coffee brewed in a French Press coffee maker is known as French Press coffee. The design of the carafe keeps the coffee grounds and water mixed for a predetermined period of time. They let the grounds soak in the water in order to draw out the flavor. This method of brewing involves immersing the ingredients in water, which is why the French Press is used.
A French Press coffee machine has a metal screen which plunges all the coffee grounds downward when pushed down. And now, pour the coffee and savor it.
Choose coarsely ground coffee beans when making coffee in a French Press because the metal filter will only block out larger pieces. Coarser ground coffee requires more area and takes more time to draw out its flavor.
French Press coffee requires a minimum brewing time of 3-5 minutes because of the extraction setup. You may need to consume a murky mixture of coffee brewed by a French Press. Coffee has a strong and distinctive taste which is a positive thing.
A metal screen is used to sift the coffee grounds in the French Press preparation.
Your cup will have a buildup of coffee grounds and residue of oil that has gone through the sieve. This means that French Press coffee has a pleasant, full sensation in the mouth.
Some like the richness of their coffee, and others enjoy a pristine cup. Which one are you?
Pros Of A French Press Coffee Maker
- Consistent good and strong coffee
- Lack of attention results in over-extracted coffee
- Easy brewing process
- Can make a cold brew
- Can make 8 cups of coffee per brewing
- Equipment is not expensive
- User controls the strength of the coffee
- No filters, less wastage
Cons Of A French Press Coffee Maker
- Can make 8 cups of coffee per brewing
- Can use coarse grind only
- It can be messy to clean
What Is An Aeropress Coffee?
Alan Adler created the Aeropress, a manual coffee appliance. An incredible, cost-effective invention. The goal was to produce single-serve coffee that doesn’t taste bitter so it can be brewed first and served later. Aero press makes a concentrated coffee like espresso.
You need an adequate amount of time to use an Aeropress to create a cup of coffee with a dynamic taste without the acridness or lengthy brewing method, according to Alan Adler.
Aeropress operates like a syringe. Put the ground coffee beans and hot water into a tube shaped like a cylinder. Stir it well for 10 sec. Push and press the coffee through the strainer. The plunger has an airtight silicone seal. Which aids in the cleansing of the round tube, propelling both the brewed coffee and the used grounds. Aeropress makes concentrated coffee like espresso-style coffee. But the concentrate makes all kinds of coffee.
Employ finely ground coffee beans to brew a cup of coffee with an Aeropress. But, Aeropress forgives about brewing time and ground size.
When using fine ground coffee. Push the plunger long and slow immediately.
While using coarse ground coffee. Allow the grounds to sit in the water for a period of time in order to draw out the flavor before pressing down.
Aeropress coffee tastes strong yet clean. The cup does not receive any of the sediments or oil because they are filtered out by the paper filter.
Coffee made with an AeroPress is around four times less acidic than a cup brewed using a drip method. And one-ninth, the acidity of French Press brewed coffee. Because of this, it’s easier on your stomach.
Pros Of An Aeropress Coffee Maker
- Clean cup of coffee in 30 sec
- Cleaning is as easy as it can be
- A travel companion
- Portable & versatile design
- Fits in a camera bag like your lens
- Can make espresso-style coffee
- Not expensive
Cons Of An Aeropress Coffee Maker
- Requires a paper microfilter
- Makes only one cup of coffee per brew
Design And Durability
The Aeropress and the french press have a straightforward structure that incorporates only a few components. The straightforwardness of these brewers makes them simple to clean, operate, and look after. They’re often buy-it-for-life items.
French presses usually have a metal casing, a heat-resistant glass jar, a lid made of either plastic or metal, and the metal filter is connected to a rod. At some point you may need to buy a new glass carafe due to something happening to the original one, however, other features of the brewer are made to be used long-term. Don’t drive a car over your press and you should be safe.
French presses come in many different sizes, starting from 8 oz and going as high as 48 oz. Even the larger press can be employed to craft smaller quantities of coffee.
This Aeropress is put together with a robust rubber material that is safe to eat and is constructed with just a few pieces: the chamber for making, the press, and a lid for the filter. This brewer is incredibly durable, able to withstand even a vehicle driving over it. Don’t ask how I know.
The Aeropress comes in only one size: 8 ounces. It’s tiny, but that’s all part of its attractiveness that I’ll show you shortly.
If you are concerned about breaking a glass French press due to your clumsiness, the Aeropress will alleviate your worries. If the noise made by an 8 oz coffee pot does not appeal to you, consider getting a larger French press.
Brewing Ease Of Use
The Aeropress and the french press are both user friendly and tolerant of mistakes, yet in different ways.
Let’s start with how they’re similar. Both brewers are what we call “immersion brewers”. The water and coffee grounds are mixed together for a period of time before they are passed through the filter. This is an action that you complete, the coffee drinker, to start the filtering process.
One can quickly identify the contrast between Aeropress and French press brewing due to the distinct strategies and methods employed.
The way a French press is typically made is as follows: add coarse grounds to the glass carafe, followed by pouring in hot water. Once the four-minute timer has elapsed, pour the brewed coffee out through the filter, and savor the drink.
This stainless steel mesh filter, connected to the bottom of a metallic rod, separates the grounds from the brewed coffee when the rod is pushed in. It’s easy, it’s painless.
The Aeropress adds pressure to the process of making coffee. This fresh component enables the Aeropress to present a variety of coffee-making techniques, inviting coffee connoisseurs to savor its intricate features. Nonetheless, it does not make the straightforward procedure that any person can adhere to any less effective.
Put medium to coarse coffee grounds and hot water into the brewing chamber. Once the amount of time that ranges from 1 to 3 minutes (according to your grind size) has gone by, press on the plunger. This creates a great deal of tension and pushes the coffee through the filter.
Coffee Flavor And Quality
Now onto the fun part: the coffee itself.
I have a fantastic announcement for you: the Aeropress and french press are both capable of crafting remarkable coffee that has a mesmerizing taste and is nicely proportioned and gratifying. Be aware of the slight variations in taste that exist.
To begin, the metal sieve associated with a French press generally yields coffee which is stout and has a robust taste. The mesh filter doesn’t stop natural oils and small coffee grounds, which contributes to the cup’s richness and intensifies the taste. These two factors tend to diminish the distinctiveness of the taste, yet generate a more intense and fuller flavor.
Since French press processes are usually consistent (a coarse grind, 4 minutes of steeping), you can be sure your coffee will be full-bodied, in harmony and fully rounded every time.
The Aeropress always ships with paper filters. The coffee that results from these filters is brighter, clearer, and more vibrant than the coffee created with a French press filter. Sadly, the delightful natural flavors and texture which contribute so much to the taste of the drink are not a part of the eventual cup. Lots of folks enjoy using the Aeropress filter that produces a cleaner and lighter cup of coffee, but if you’re in the market for a warmer, heavier cup, stainless steel filters are also available.
Aeropost brewing processes are extremely flexible, which allows you to have lots of fun while also producing amazing coffee. A cup of coffee with a bright and crisp flavor can be achieved by using a fine grind setting and a short brewing time. A recipe that calls for a coarse grind and a long steep will produce a cup of coffee similar to what one would get from a French press. Both options are delicious in their own way.
Versatility
It is possible to be versatile with either one of the brewers.
French press coffeemakers are excellent for producing hot coffee, though they only provide one style of preparation. Nonetheless, these carafes are likewise excellent containers for preparing cold blend espresso or channeling over espresso into.
By contrast, the Aeropress can be used to brew various types of hot coffee. You can brew a mug of robust and intense coffee, a cup that’s delicate and smooth, and even something similar to a shot of espresso.
The Aeropress is not suitable to be used as a cold brew coffee maker and is too small for pour over coffee.
How Much Caffeine Is In An Aeropress?
An 8oz serving of Aeropress coffee contains approximately 120-140 mg of caffeine, which yields a less bitter brew than other coffee preparation methods. There is a greater amount of caffeine in a cup when created using this method than by other brewing processes.
The amount of caffeine in Aeropress coffee is usually said to be similar to that of espresso coffee. Technically, Aeropress does not make espresso coffee. The amount of force needed to create espresso is much less than that of Aeropress. But Aeropress does make a rich coffee.
A tried-and-true method of making coffee with an Aeropress results in a full-bodied and velvety cup. The grounds were left in water for over half a minute, creating a robust tasting cup of coffee.
The caffeine content of an Aeropress coffee when brewed in an inverted method is almost the same as when brewed using a French Press.
How To Clean An Aeropress Coffee Maker?
- A thorough rinse with running water will be enough to clean the Aeropress well. The plunger, when pushed with pressure, wipes off the chamber clean.
- Any stickiness felt in the chamber, clean it with vinegar.
- Washing the silicone seal with warm water and soap once a week will help the chamber not get sticky.
- Use soapy water and scrub with a sponge for metal mesh in the filter cap. And rinse with clean water.
Travel-Friendliness
Both brewers are manually operated and don’t require any electricity to be used, meaning that they can be employed no matter where in the world you may be. I would suggest that one of them is much more adapted for traveling than the other.
French presses tend to be substantial in size and are frequently constructed with fragile glass. I have gone on many journeys by car with my friends without any trouble, however I was taking special measures to make sure everything went smoothly. I wouldn’t dare to fly with one.
The Aeropress is a fantastic option for making coffee while on the go. This product is lightweight, compact, nimble, convenient to manipulate, and near impossible to break. This is ideal for overseas journeys, climbing up mountains, and camping out in valleys.
It’s definitely a travel disadvantage that it only produces 8 oz of coffee each time, however that is its own downfall.
It is obvious that when it comes to portability, the Aeropress triumphs over the French press. The only exception is the amount of coffee one can brew in a single batch, for which the French press has the upper hand.
Which Is Right For You?
I’m not able to choose which brewery would be suitable for your hobbies or flavor preferences, however, I’ve given you all the essential info you need to make that selection. Only you can decide.
Would you like to accompany me to the grand, stunning coffee maker that produces simple yet sturdy hot and cold coffees? Will you opt for the more compact model of coffee maker which is great for travelling and can prepare many types of hot drinks?
There’s no need to worry: there isn’t an incorrect option – at least, provided that you are using the proper kind of coffee.
There is no substitute for newly toasted, premium-grade coffee beans. The beans from the grocery store are not as good as these; they taste better, have more of a sweetness to them, are more consistent in flavor, and have a bigger variety of flavors than stale beans.