Aeropress Vs French Press: Which Is The Best Brewing Method?

French Press Vs Aeropress: Differences Compared

There are similarities in these different brewing recipes. They both add coffee grounds to hot water in a press pot. They both let the coffee steep, and then filter them out to create the final brew. However, there are also some big differences between AeroPress vs French press coffee. 

Let's take a closer look:

1. How They Work

Comparing design features of AeroPress and French press is like comparing apples to oranges. They're both "fruit" (or rather, coffee makers), but they're totally different. 

AeroPress coffer makers use an airtight seal to create pressure in the brewing chamber. This air pressure forces the coffee and hot water mixture through a thick paper filter to give you your fresh coffee drink.

A French press requires pressure too, and you press the plunger to create air pressure in the brewing chamber. This forces the coffee and hot water mixture through a mesh metal filter to create the coffee drink. 

Brewing coffee with either method requires pressure, but an AeroPress paper filter allows for more pressure, giving you a smoother coffee.  

2. Brewing Speed

If you're brewing coffee at home then you don't want to spend all day waiting around for it. AeroPress and French press are both quick brewing techniques, but AeroPress is faster. 

An AeroPress brews take 1-3 minutes. The high pressure allows the water to absorb the flavor from the finely ground coffee much more quickly than a drip coffee maker or espresso machine, and it's one of the quickest coffee making techniques around. 

French presses take 3-5 minutes to make your coffee. The coffee grounds sit in the water for longer before you use the metal mesh filter to remove them - leaving you with a stronger coffee.

To put that in perspective, making cold brew coffee can take over 24 hours - so these coffee drinks both have a pretty short brew time. However, if you want a quicker cup of coffee with a shorter brewing time, then the AeroPress is best for you. 

3. Grind Size

The secret to getting the most flavorful cup of coffee is selecting the right beans - or more specifically the right grind size to match the brewing technique being used. Within the coffee industry there are a lot of different options, and both AeroPresses and French press coffee makers use different grinds. 

A French press needs coarse ground coffee. A coarse grind works well in the full immersion brewing process, and is easier for the metal filter to remove at the end. 

The AeroPress brew method should use fine grounds. Even though there's shorter brew time, the brewing process involves a lot of pressure, and the hot water can pick up the flavor better if the coffee bean grinds are smaller.

The grind size does sometimes come down to taste preferences, but if you're using the French press brew method you really need to use a coarse grind.

4. Coffee Flavor And Quality

Casual coffee drinkers might not notice the difference that different brewing techniques and coffee beans can have on the flavor, but there can be a stark difference. 

Typical French press coffee is bold and robust. It tastes thicker and has a very strong coffee flavor. French press often has sediment too because the course grind residue doesn't fully dissolve. This can make the strong, thick coffee taste a bit gritty. 

AeroPress is still fairly bold, but has a lighter flavor. It tastes reasonably similar to an espresso but with fewer coffee oils, and has no sediment from the coffee grounds at all. 

These are both flavorful coffee options, but if you prefer smooth, clean cup of coffee you should go with AeroPress. If you like coffee hot and strong, you should go with a French press. 

5. Ease Of Use And Convenience

Many coffee drinkers want to brew coffee quickly and easily - and thankfully both of these techniques are fairly easy. 

An AeroPress is simple to use, you just load the paper filters in with the ground coffee and hot water, then push down. 

A French press is also simple in that you submerge the coarsely ground coffee in water, and after the coffee steeps for a few minutes you push the plunger to force the stainless steel mesh filter down. 

The real advantage of an AeroPress is that it's very portable. All you need is some paper filters and a coffee cup and you'll be able to make a fresh brew anywhere. This is why they're really popular on camping trips or at festivals.

French press is less portable, though some durable stainless steel French presses and suitable for taking with you on your travels.

Overall, a French Press is slightly easier to use, but an AeroPress is much more portable. 

6. Brewing Capacity

When making coffee and selecting the best brew methods you need to consider who you're making coffee for - and this is the main difference between AeroPress and French press coffee.

An AeroPress brewing only makes 1 cup of coffee at a time. You can get some larger models which can accommodate enough coffee and water for one, but most AeroPresses can't. 

Most French presses can make anywhere from 1-8 cups of coffee. You can individual French presses or large ones which makes multiple cups at once. Just bear in mind that a large glass French press will cost quite a lot. 

If you're making coffee for two or more then you'll need to use a French press - just remember that the brew time may be longer if you use more coffee grounds (depending on the grind size you use).  

7. Price

True coffee lovers will pay a lot to be able to make good coffee, but it's still worth understanding the cost differences with each option. 

An Aeropress costs $30-$40. This is really good value when you consider how versatile and portable it is. 

A French press generally costs $25-50, but some models are over $100. The larger the French press, the more you'll pay, but it can be worth it to take good, strong coffee for lots of people at once. 

8. Cleanliness And Durability

Cleaning coffee stains is never fun, so it's important to know how easy it is to maintain each device. 

An AeroPress is really easy to clean. It's made entirely from plastic and you just have to remove the used paper filters and wash it. You can even put it in your dishwasher. The only downside is that the inverted method used can cause a bit of mess before you get used to it. 

A typical French press coffee maker is a little bit more difficult to clean. You have to take out the French press filter, glass carafe, metal lid, and other smaller bits and clean them separately. The used coffee grounds often remain in the chamber for longer too, potentially leaving more stubborn stains. 

French press brewers also tend to be less durable than the plastic AeroPress brewing device which are specifically designed to be portable. 

All in all, if you want an easier to maintain brewing device you should use an AeroPress over a French press.