What is the Difference Between Aeropress and French Press

Aeropress and French Press are two types of manual coffee brewing devices. Both are simple devices that are relatively easy to use. However, there is a distinct difference between Aeropress and French Press.

The difference between Aeropress and French Press is their grind size and brewing time. AeroPress typically uses medium-fine grind coffee and brews faster, whereas French Press uses coarse ground coffee, but has a longer steeping time.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Aeropress  
3. What is French Press
4. Similarities – Aeropress and French Press
5. Aeropress vs French Press in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Aeropress vs French Press
7. FAQ – Aeropress and French Press

What is Aeropress?

The AeroPress is a manual coffeemaker invented by Alan Adler, the founder of AeroPress, Inc. It features a cylindrical chamber and a plunger with an airtight silicone seal that looks like a syringe. To brew coffee, ground beans and water are steeped inside the chamber, then forced through a filter at the bottom by pressing the plunger down. This method produces a highly concentrated coffee, described by the manufacturer as “espresso style,” but it can also brew filter-strength or cold brew coffee.

AeroPress Coffee Brewers are compact and lightweight, which makes them gteat for traveling and camping, as well as for use at home or in the office.

There are three main brew methods for the AeroPress: Standard, Inverted, and Cold Brew.

Standard Method

1. Place a filter in the filter cap and screw it onto the chamber.
2. Measure a rounded scoop of fine ground coffee and place it into the chamber using the funnel to avoid spills.
3. Add hot water and let the coffee bloom.
4. Stir the coffee and let it steep for about 30 seconds.
5. Press the plunger down to release the coffee into your cup.

Inverted Method

1. Place the plunger on the counter with the gasket facing up.
2. Set the brewing chamber on the plunger and press down to secure it.
3. Add coffee and hot water to the inverted chamber.
4. Stir the coffee grounds and let them steep for about 30 seconds.
5. Attach the filter to the filter plate.
6. Carefully flip the AeroPress over and press it into your cup.

Cold Brew Method

1. 1. Set up the AeroPress as for the inverted method.
   2. Add coffee and ice-cold water instead of hot water.
   3. Stir the coffee for 1-2 minutes.

1. Attach the filter and press the cold brew into a cup.
2. Add water for a straight cold brew or cold milk for an iced latte.

What is French Press?

A French Press, also known as a coffee plunger in New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa, is a simple coffee brewing device consisting of a cylindrical container and a plunger. The plunger pushes the ground coffee beans to the bottom of the carafe after brewing, producing a strong coffee flavor.

How to Use a French Press

Using a French Press is straightforward and involves just a few steps:

1. Add some hot water to the French Press and swirl it around. Then, dump out the water and dry the device. While preheating isn’t necessary, it helps keep the coffee hotter for longer.
2. Measure out 2 tablespoons of ground coffee per cup of water and add it to the canister.
3. Add enough boiling water to cover and soak the coffee grounds. Stir the coffee, attach the lid, and let the mixture sit for about 30 seconds.
4. Remove the lid and add the remaining water to the canister. Give the mixture a gentle stir.
5. Attach the lid with the plunger pulled all the way up to prevent steam from escaping. Allow the coffee to steep for 3-5 minutes, depending on the grind size.
6. Slowly push down the plunger to separate the coffee grounds from the brewed coffee.

Similarities Between Aeropress and French Press

1. Both are manual coffee brewing devices.
2. They are simple devices and relatively easy to use.
3. In both methods, coffee grounds are steeped in water before being separated to produce the final brew.

Difference Between Aeropress and French Press

Design

1. AeroPress has a cylindrical chamber with a plunger and airtight silicone seal and paper or metal filters.
2. French Press has a cylindrical container (carafe) with a plunger and metal or nylon mesh filter.

Size

1. AeroPress is compact and lightweight.
2. French Press is bulkier and less portable than the AeroPress.

Grind Size

1. AeroPress typically uses medium-fine grind coffee.
2. French Press uses coarse ground coffee due to the size of holes in the metal filter.

Brewing Time

1. AeroPress is typically faster, with a total brew time of about 1-2 minutes.
2. French Press takes longer, with a steeping time of 3-5 minutes.

Coffee Strength and Flavor

1. AeroPress produces a highly concentrated coffee, described as “espresso style.” It can also make filter strength coffee or cold brew.
2. French Press produces a strong, full-bodied coffee with more oils and fine particles. But it can be bitter and acidic due to over-extraction.

Use

1. AeroPress is easy to use and clean with fewer components.
2. French Press is simple to use, but cleaning can be more involved due to the mesh filter.

The following table summarizes the difference between Aeropress and French Press.

Summary – Aeropress vs French Press

AeroPress typically uses medium-fine grind coffee while French Press uses coarse ground coffee. Moreover, AeroPress is typically faster, whereas French Press takes longer, with a steeping time of 3-5 minutes. This is the basic difference between Aeropress and French Press.

FAQ: Aeropress and French Press

1. What is the criticism of AeroPress?

• One criticism of AeroPress is that paper filters used for them are not typically reusable; they are designed for single use. In addition, it can produce a relatively small volume of coffee per brew, which may not be enough for multiple servings.

2. How long will an AeroPress last?

• The normal life expectancy of an AeroPress is 2 – 3 years. But if you use it carefully, with proper cleaning and maintenance, you may be able to use it for a longer time. Overuse and lack of proper cleaning can shorten its life span.

3. Is AeroPress stronger than espresso?

• AeroPress is not as strong as espresso. But you can create AeroPress espresso (though it’s not true espresso) using finely ground coffee, a small amount of hot water, and a quick plunge. Although it’s not identical, it comes close. However, it lacks the concentration, intensity, and crema of authentic espresso.

4. Is AeroPress coffee healthier?

• AeroPress brewed coffee is gentler on the stomach because of its rapid brewing process, which reduces acidity. In fact, it contains only one-ninth the acidity of French press coffee (and one-fifth that of drip brew).

5. Why does my AeroPress coffee taste weak?

• Your AeroPress coffee may taste weak due to using too coarse a grind of coffee beans or not steeping the grounds long enough. Adjusting these can help achieve a stronger flavor.

Reference:

1. “What is an Aereopress Coffee Brewer?” Cuppers.

2. “How to Make French Press Coffee?” Webstaurant Store.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Aereopress Coffee Brewer” (CC0) via Pexels

2. “A French Press with Coffee on a Wooden Railing” (CC0) via Pexels

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