Brewing coffee is one of my favorite things to do.
A beautiful thing to wake up for is a brewed cup of coffee. Isn’t it?
French Press and Aeropress are the most popular and go-to kind coffee makers.
Making coffee using the French Press and Aeropress is almost comparable. We can say that both use immersion brewing methods. But, there is more to it.
Which Is Better: French Press Or Aeropress?
The decision to choose French Press or Aeropress comes down to the brewer’s preferences. Choose an Aeropress coffee if you want to carry a coffee maker with you, making a single-serve coffee within 30 seconds. And also, you can play with the brewing methods as you like. Or go for the French Press coffee, which makes 4-8 cups of full-body, bold coffee. With the simplest brewing method within 4-5 mins.
In simple words, if traveling with the coffee maker is important to you then the Aeropress suits you best. If making coffee for more people is your first choice then French Press is for you.
The French Press and Aeropress coffee makers are the best coffee makers available. Depending upon the usage and travel friendliness, you can choose any coffee maker.
| French Press | AEROPRESS | |
| PRICE RANGE | $20-$40 | $29 |
| MATERIAL | STEEL, CERAMIC & GLASS | PLASTIC |
| GRIND SIZE | COARSE GRIND | FINE GRIND |
| SERVINGS | 4-8 PER BREW | SINGLE SERVE |
| BREWING TIME | 3-5 MIN | 30-60 SEC |
| TRAVEL FRIENDLY | NO | YES |
Here’s my favorite French Press maker and highly recommended AeroPress.
Dig deeper to know more about these two coffee makers. This extensive list of things about the French Press and Aeropress will give you a clear idea.
Let’s start!
What Is A French Press Coffee?
A French Press coffee is made by a French Press coffee maker. The carafe design holds the coffee grounds and water for a specific period. They allow the grounds to steep in the water for extraction. Because of this procedure, the French Press uses an immersion brewing method.
A French Press coffee maker has a metal mesh that pushes all the coffee grounds down when plunged. And now, pour the coffee and savor it.
Use coarse ground coffee beans when using a French Press coffee maker as the metal mesh can only filter bigger granules of coffee. And coarse ground coffee takes more surface and takes longer for extraction.
- You can choose Best Coffee Beans For French Press Coffee here.
- Caffeine In A Shot Of Espresso
- Best Coffee Beans For Cold Brew
Due to the extraction process, French Press coffee needs at least 3-5 minutes for brewing. You might have to drink a muddled cup of coffee in a French Press. On the brighter side, coffee has a rich and bold flavor.
A metal mesh filters the coffee granules in the French Press method.
Your cup will have coffee grounds deposit and oil passed through the mesh. Due to this, French Press coffee has a great mouthfeel.
Some prefer their coffee with an excellent mouthfeel, and some enjoy a clean cup of coffee. 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
How To Use A French Press Coffee Maker?
- A French Press requires a little pre-work to make coffee.
- Add hot water to the carafe and rinse it.
- This allows the carafe to meet the temperature of the water. (This step helps in not delaying the extraction process)
- Now add desired amounts of coffee grounds to the carafe.
- Pour hot water and let it steep.
- Give it a good stir and close the lid.
- Let the coffee brew for 3-5 minutes.
- Push the long stem down.
This allows the metal mesh to push all the coffee grounds to the bottom of the carafe. Although in this process, fine grounds of coffee and oil may still be floating. Pour coffee into a cup.
A French Press coffee maker consists of a carafe and a metal mesh attached to the lid with a long stem. The French Press brewing method is an easy, clean, and less attention-seeking procedure.
Why Use A French Press Coffee Maker?
The vital factor of using a French Press coffee maker is, It makes 8 ounces to 48 ounces of coffee every time. Depending upon the size of the carafe you choose. You can trust the quality of French Press coffee for its consistent flavor profile. When in a group or to brew coffee for the entire family, a French Press coffee maker is the one to go.
First, we have to admire the beautiful style of the French Press coffee maker. With its sleek design. Easy-to-use method and reliability for a punch of caffeine in the morning. The French Press coffee maker is available in different sizes. Different colors, glass made, ceramic and stainless steel. The French Press models look amazing on the kitchen counter.
French Press coffee maker is perfect if you are a coffee snob. Who wants several cups of refill throughout the day.
Is French Press Coffee Travel-Friendly?
A French Press coffee maker is not designed for travel friendliness. A stainless steel French Press coffee maker might make it easier to travel with. But the cleaning of the French Press coffee maker is the biggest drawback.
The French Press coffee maker is a must-have for every home, with its sleek design but not a convenient travel partner.
The delicate design of the French Press does not allow it to be handy enough to travel with.
What Is The French Press Coffee Process?
The French Press uses a technique called immersion brewing. Steep the coffee grounds in water for an extended duration. It extracts coffee for the desirable taste and is ready to consume.
Because of this, the primary step of brewing coffee in a French Press is time. The time left for the extraction determines the flavor of the cup. It requires 3-5 mins to brew coffee in a French Press coffee maker.
Bitterness is usually a result of over-extraction. By leaving the coffee in contact with the grounds after brewing.
What Is The French Press Coffee To Water Ratio?
A 1:17 is the perfect coffee to water ratio for a French Press coffee maker, Which produces strength, concentration and taste in a cup.
This golden ratio is my preferential brew ratio for the French Press. But, depending on your personal preference, you can change it to 1:16 or 1:18.
A 1:16 coffee to water ratio will use less water, which results in a more concentrated cup of coffee. But also keep in mind that less water extracts less coffee from the grounds. Using less water results in a rich & crisp cup of coffee and pronounced acidity.
A 1:18 coffee to water ratio will use more water, resulting in a highly extracted coffee and producing a dilute cup. Using more water for extraction results in a mellow cup of coffee. But most likely to have gentle acidity levels.
How Much Caffeine Is In A French Press Coffee?
A French Press coffee has about 80 to 100 mg of caffeine in an 8oz cup. Because the grind size used in a French Press coffee maker is larger. The time for which coffee grounds are steeped in the water decides the caffeine in the cup. The longer the time, the higher caffeine in your cup.
The French Press uses an infusion method of coffee.
After espresso shots, the French Press has the highest amount of caffeine. Followed by drip or filter coffee, cold brew, and percolated coffee.
How To Clean A French Press Coffee Maker?
- Scrub the carafe with soap using a sponge or brush
- Rinse the metal mesh under running water. Use soapy water to plunge and wash out with clean water
- Wipe the carafe and mesh using a dry towel and keep them aside.
The Ultimate French Press Technique
What Is An Aeropress Coffee?
Aeropress is a manual coffee maker invented by Alan Adler. An incredible, cost-effective invention. The main motto was to make a single-serve coffee that is not bitter with a purpose to brew first and serve later. Aero press makes a concentrated coffee like espresso.
Aeropress needs enough time to make a brew with a vibrant flavor. but without the bitterness or long-brewing process. – Alan Adler
Aeropress operates like a syringe. Pour ground coffee beans and hot water into a cylindrical tube. Stir it well for 10 sec. Use pressure and plunge down the coffee through The filter. The plunger has an airtight silicone seal. Which helps clean the cylindrical tube pushing both coffee and the coffee grounds. Aeropress makes concentrated coffee like espresso-style coffee. But the concentrate makes all kinds of coffee.
Use fine ground coffee beans to make coffee in 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. Let the grounds steep in the water for extraction before plunging.
Aeropress coffee tastes strong yet clean. Because the paper filter filters all the sediments and oil before reaching the cup.
AeroPress brewed coffee contains about one-fifth the acidity of drip-brewed coffee. 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
How To Use An Aeropress?
Aeropress is a vibrant and versatile coffee maker. Put together for the comfort of coffee makers. Use the Aeropress coffee maker in two ways. The conventional percolation method and the inverted brewing method.
How To Make Coffee In An Aeropress?
- Fix a paper microfilter to the filter cap.
- Attach this to the chamber and place it on the cup.
- Add fine grind coffee to the chamber and pour hot water.
- The temperature of the water should be approximately 185F.
- Stir this concoction with a stirrer for 10 sec.
- Plunge it long and slow.
Use about 20 gms of fine ground filtered coffee. And approximately 8oz water at 175-185F temperature. And 30-60 sec to make this traditional Aeropress coffee.
A silicone seal affixed to the plunger moves coffee to the cup when forcefully pushed down. And coffee grounds to the bottom. The air pressure extracts the flavor & collects coffee grounds in the filter cap.
Coffee in 30sec? Is this fast and furious coffee or what?? Well, maybe!
How To Make Aeropress Inverted Coffee?
- To make Inverted coffee turn the Aeropress upside down.
- Place the plunger in the chamber, turn it upside down and place it on the table.
- Add coffee grounds and water.
- Put a paper microfilter in the filter cap. Moisten it to ensure the filter doesn’t fall upside down and attach it to the chamber.
- After 3-5 minutes of brewing.
- Turn the Aeropress to the cup and plunge or hold it horizontally and plunge the coffee into your cup.
Inverted Aeropress coffee is comparable to the French Press coffee makers. Prepare an inverted Aeropress coffee using coarse grind and fine-grind coffee beans. And 3-5 minutes until it reaches your cup.
Due to the brewing time and process. The inverted Aeropress coffee method is like a French Press coffee. Minus the heavy mouthfeel. Use a paper filter to filter the inverted Aeropress coffee. And because of the filter. Unlike the French Press, it gives a clean cup of coffee.
Suppose you do not like wasting a paper filter for every brewing. There are metal meshes available for Aeropress in the market.
Aeropress Coffee Maker Design
An Aeropress is a tinted gray color manual coffee brewer. Molded with translucent plastic. Aeropress consists of a cylindrical chamber to hold the coffee grounds and water. A plunger with a silicone seal to create air pressure. Filter cap to hold the paper microfilter and collect the coffee cake after brewing. Scoop to measure coffee. Funnel, stirring paddle, a tote bag, and plastic holder for storing paper filters.
The new version of the Aeropress coffee maker comes with a cup to drink coffee and is handy for travelers. This new version of Aeropress Go is compact enough to fit in your camera bag. It’s the size of one of your lenses.
Is Aeropress Coffee Travel-Friendly?
Aeropress is your travel coffee companion. Easy to clean, easy to make & easy to carry. Compared to any other coffee brewing process. Aeropress is hands down the best possible travel-friendly coffee maker. The weight of the AeroPress is13oz. When camping, backpacking, or traveling light. The parts of the AeroPress you would take along weigh 6.5 ounces. (the chamber, the plunger, the filter cap, and paper microfilters)
In 2019, AeroPress Inc. released the AeroPress Go. This travel-sized model with a reduced chamber capacity. Smaller accessories and an included travel cup are any traveler’s friend. All you need is water and ground coffee. To relish a clean, balanced, and sweet Aeropress cup of coffee wherever you go.
Aeropress Go comes with a bunch of 350 microfilters. And the microfilters are of the same size and compatible with any Aeropress coffee maker.
What Is The Aeropress Coffee To Water Ratio?
| BREWING METHOD IN AEROPRESS | COFFEE TO WATER RATIO |
| STANDARD BREWING | 1:11 |
| INVERTED BREWING METHOD | 1:13 |
| ESPRESSO STYLE | 1:5 |
For the best brew to suit your taste. Begin by deciding if you prefer a more robust or lighter coffee and modify the ratio.
Or experiment by changing the proportions as you like to get an espresso style. A high-volume coffee or even iced coffee sometimes.
How Much Caffeine Is In An Aeropress?
The Aeropress coffee has about 120-140 mg caffeine in an 8oz cup as the Aeropress brewing method produces a less bitter coffee. It results in more caffeine in a cup compared to other brewing methods.
The Aeropress coffee is generally compared to the caffeine level of espresso coffee. Technically, Aeropress does not make espresso coffee. The pressure required to make espresso is nowhere compared to Aeropress. But Aeropress does make a rich coffee.
A traditional technique of Aeropress produces a rich, smooth coffee. The grounds soaked for more than 30 sec, resulting in a robust cup.
An inverted Aeropress coffee has caffeine levels nearly equal to that of the 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.
Can Aeropress Handle Boiling Water?
All the AeroPress parts except the silicone seal are polypropylene. Polypropylene bottles can withstand heat up to 248F. And hot water used for making Aeropress coffee is about 175F – 185F. Polypropylene is the safest of all plastics. This is a robust plastic that is heat resistant because of its high heat tolerance. Polypropylene is unlikely to leach even when exposed to warm or hot water.
The Aeropress chamber and plunger may lose transparency over time. With frequent sterilization and exposure to boiling water. Although polypropylene is less transparent, tests indicated that polypropylene is additionally durable.
Coffee fact:
There are Aeropress championships held every year. The World AeroPress Championship is an international fan-led AeroPress brewing competition. The event is a multi-round elimination tournament. In which competitors have five minutes to brew coffee.
Understanding The AeroPress (Episode #2)
SUMMARY:
There is no right and wrong or better versions of coffee makers. Both French Press coffee maker and Aeropress make easy and reasonable brewing. But depending on the purpose of your usage, the rule may vary. Yet, for me, both Aeropress and French Press coffee makers are a must-have have at home.
Can You Make Espresso In An Aeropress?
Aeropress makes a highly concentrated coffee, like the espresso-style of making coffee. Although both use similar methods, making espresso in Aeropress is not possible. But, with an Aeropress coffee maker. You get to taste coffee that resembles espresso without crema in a cup.
Aeropress Coffee and espresso use pressure factors. But the pressure used to make espresso is about 640 pounds. And that of Aeropress is 25-40 pounds, Which is unimaginable in an Aeropress. Also, Aeropress is a manual coffee maker not designed to hold that amount of pressure.
Tips To Make Aeropress Coffee?
- The optimal temperature of water to make Aeropress coffee is 175 degrees Fahrenheit.
- You can use the same paper filter multiple times. Just in case you run out of paper filters, this hack is unbelievable.
- Press gently. What makes Aeropress coffee sweet is the short brewing time and gentle press. Pressing hard makes coffee grounds in the chamber compact. And lengthens the time to press.
- Requires no Rinsing. The plunger does all the cleaning work of the chamber.
Alan Adler reused a paper filter 80 times. Shocking, isn’t it?
Is Aeropress Similar To The French Press?
Aeropress and French Press both use immersion brewing methods to make coffee. Both the coffee makers have different operating procedures. They both let coffee grounds steep in the water for optimal extraction. However, both use the same extraction process. The pressure applied to the plunger and extraction time changes the coffee taste.
Aeropress gives a full clean cup of coffee. Because of the paper microfilter attached. At the same time, the French Press gives a raw, rich mouthfeel coffee instead.
Can You Make Espresso In French Press?
French Press coffee maker gives the user enough flexibility. To make different types of coffee. But, making espresso in a French Press is impossible. Espresso is a machine-made beverage, unlike the French Press. Yet, we can try making a full cup of coffee in the French Press. Which may taste like a weak cup of an espresso shot.
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