French Press vs AeroPress (Here is Why They Are Different)

Which coffee brewing gadget should you pick between French press vs. AeroPress? Let’s be clear that it’s not really about choosing the best. You need to decide based on your personal preferences and what you love about the brewing process.

For anything related to coffee, your preferences determine which gadgets work best. Some coffee lovers enjoy the frothing wand, while others want to push a button and pour some steamed milk. In this manual brewing comparison, while both the French press and the AeroPress will give you unique cups of coffee, they are very different. Find out what works for you.

The French press and AeroPress are the same because you don’t need a power outlet to make them work. All you’ll need is some hot water, coffee grounds, and patience for the brewing time. But they differ in everything from brewing capacity to the time you have to wait before you can pour a cup.

French Press and AeroPress Compared

What is a French Press Coffee Maker? Use our summaries and explanations to add the right appliance to your kitchen next.

You’ve probably seen these in cafes, stores, and on your friend’s kitchen counter because the french press has been around for decades. The french press is a well known and famous coffee brewing maker that almost anyone can use to brew quality coffee with lots of flavors.

A French press has the following components:

• A mesh filter attached to a long wand
• A carafe with a pouring spout, usually made of glass.
• The carafe handle which can be metal, plastic, or other substance

French Press Brewing Process

To brew your coffee with a French press, you’ll do the following:

• Add coffee grounds to the carafe, enough for the amount of water you’ll pour in.
• Place the filter on top to minimize heat loss.
• Wait for a time of three to five minutes for your coffee to steep—you’ll have to experiment to determine the time that suits your taste preferences as well as the grounds you use
• Gently press the filter down by pushing down on the wand—don’t press too hard because if there’s too much pressure, it will push the coffee grounds past the filter on the sides of the carafe.
• Press the filter to the bottom and pour your coffee while the filter keeps back the grounds

You can leave the coffee inside the French press but know that the grounds at the bottom may keep steeping and affect the taste of the coffee left over.

What is an AeroPress?

An AeroPress is a nifty little gadget designed in 2005 that allows you to brew a cup of coffee and deposit it straight into your cup.

Unbox your AeroPress, and you’ll find the following components:

• One large cylinder is called the chamber.
• A cylinder with an airtight seal called the plunger.
• You can use paper or metal filters, although most people prefer paper type.
• A filter cap to place on top of your cup
• Some sets will also contain a funnel, scoop, and stirrer.

You can now also look for an AeroPress Go, which is slightly different and made explicitly for traveling. It’s more compact, and part of the design is the cup from which you can drink. The mug and cap turn into a storage unit, making for a travel companion.

AeroPress Brewing Process

To work with your AeroPress, imagine how a syringe works, where you push one component to slide through the other. The steps are:

• Placing the filter cap on top of your cup
• Attach the brewing chamber to the cap
• Pour in your grounds and your hot water.
• Give the mix a stir
• When the grounds have steeped, place the plunger into the chamber.
• Firmly press down to force the coffee through the filter into your cup.

There is also an inverted brewing method if you don’t want the water to start dripping through the filter from the start. You’ll use the two cylinders together. Keep the plunger, placed inside the chamber, upside down, resting on the smaller cylinder. Pour in your grounds and water and only turn it to filter into your cup once you believe it has steeped enough.

Note: this method does take some skill to do it fast enough, so you don’t make a mess. But after a few tries, you’ll know-how, and it does give a satisfactory result.

Is AeroPress that Good?

Don’t underestimate the AeroPress’ simple design. If you use it correctly, it’s possible to obtain a drink that closely resembles an espresso strength drink. So, if you often want an espresso during your travels, you can now keep your tastebuds happy, whether there’s a quality restaurant nearby or not.

Also, note that this coffee’s acidity is lower than the coffee from your drip coffee machine. This could be good news for health-conscious coffee drinkers or someone whose stomach tends to act up from too much acidity.

If you want to see this nifty innovation in action, here is how to get it right.

From Grind to Capacity—French Press and AeroPress Differences

It’s a common question among coffee lovers. Is AeroPress better than the French press? Or is it the other way around? These differences will help you see which is suited to your preferences.

For one thing, you’ll need a coarser grind when using a French press because you don’t want the grinds going through that filter and enter your coffee. If you know something about coffee, you know that the grind size affects the brewing process. Coarse grounds take longer to steep and brew simply because there’s less surface area of the grounds exposed to the water. This means you’ll wait a little longer before you can pour a cup.

Size is an essential difference in the French press vs AeroPress discussion. While you’ll find different sized French press devices these days, an AeroPress will produce only one cup (8oz) at a time. Therefore, if you’re making coffee for the family or hosting a party, an AeroPress definitely won’t work.

Aeropress vs. French Press Similarities

These are both manual brewing devices—no pressing a button and letting a machine do it all for you.

With both brewing methods, you can look forward to quality coffee that tastes fresh since you drink straight after brewing. The coffee brewing is similar because there are steeping processes where the grounds and the hot water stay together. It results in thick brews with lots of flavors.

You can also get creative and grind up your favorite coffee beans, so there’s no limit to the flavors you can try.

AeroPress—Why Should You Pick it?

Note that even if your grounds are coarse with a French press, some particles will pass through the filter. They will leave some texture in the coffee, which some people don’t like. If you’re one of them, you’ll appreciate the AeroPress, which uses a paper filter that blocks all the grinds.

The AeroPress has the benefit of being made of plastic, while paper filters are easy to store. This makes an AeroPress portable and an ideal travel gadget. You can have quality coffee brews no matter where you are. Carry coffee grounds with you and, as long as you can get your hands on a cup, you don’t have to settle for bland old hotel brews.

You may also prefer the AeroPress if you have a hectic lifestyle. You can have your coffee ready in as little as 30 seconds, depending on how strong you like it.

French Press—Why do People Love it?

In a French press vs. AeroPress comparison, the reason to pick the French press would usually be the amount of coffee you can make. You don’t have to fill the carafe up to the top, so you’re flexible in how much coffee you brew. Whether you need one cup of 8oz or multiple cups for you and the family, one gadget does it all.

Some consumers may simply not like purchasing plastic items, even though it’s safe, like the BPA-free substance used to manufacture the AeroPress. If you’re safety-conscious or want to be more environmentally friendly, you may opt for the French press’s glass carafe. Pick one with a handle made of a substance you feel comfortable using, rather than plastic. With the many models available in today’s market, it won’t be too difficult to find your ideal buy.

Don’t feel too limited in what drinks you can create with your French press. There are multiple options, including the cold brew coffee many people love.

Which Drink is Best for You?

Who Should Buy a French Press?

A French press is ideal for the family who loves drinking quality coffee at home. You can cater for everyone at once. It’s also a space-saving option if you don’t have counter space for large coffee machines. You may also prefer this more sustainable option of using coffee pods that are difficult to recycle.

It’s an effortless process since you can let it steep while you tend to other tasks. So, if you make it part of your morning routine, it won’t mess up your schedule. Once it’s steeped, pour in your travel cup and go. You can leave the rest to drink as a cold brew later and clean up afterward.

Should You Buy an AeroPress?

AeroPress is a definite must for the coffee lover who travels a lot. If you want an espresso-style coffee without buying an expensive espresso brewer, this is an option.

This is also one of the quickest ways of brewing a quality cup of coffee, so for a fast-paced living, it’s a welcome gadget.

French Press or AeroPress Alternatives

You’re spoiled for choice these days about what you can use to make coffee. Here are comparisons with some other coffee making options.

AeroPress vs Pour Over

With pour-over coffee, you pour hot water onto the coffee grounds and let it steep, close to using a French press. However, the grounds are usually inside a filter and won’t contact the final brew product. This means French press coffee tends to be stronger than pour-over coffee. But both taste great.

French Press vs AeroPress vs Chemex

A Chemex is a good idea for someone who enjoys getting creative with coffee. But remember, it will never travel as well as an AeroPress. When comparing Chemex to the French press, you’ll enjoy the Chemex more if you prefer a brighter taste to a French press brew’s full body.

Final Thoughts on French Press vs. AeroPress

You can look forward to quality brews, whether you use an AeroPress or a French press. The question is, what will suit your lifestyle?

Do you want a large French press to treat all your family members? Or are you after an exciting gadget that will give you an almost-espresso and help you brew when you’re traveling and on the go?

It’s good to know that your favorite coffee drinks can still come to life without large and expensive machines.