Aeropress vs French press: which makes the best coffee?

While there are different ways to make coffee, two popular, and cost effective, methods are the Aeropress and French press. I help you decide in the battle of the coffee makers: Aeropress vs French press.

Pros and cons

AeroPress

Pros
  • Easy to learn how to use
  • Makes great coffee with little effort
  • Takes up very little space
  • Can be used to make a form of espresso
Cons
  • Not easy to dispose of used grounds without a mess
  • Takes more time than Aeropress to brew coffee
  • Coffee grounds can end up in the cup
  • can be difficult to clean the mesh filter

French press

Pros
  • Easy to learn how to use
  • Makes great coffee with little effort
  • Takes up very little space
  • Can be used to make a form of espresso
Cons
  • Not easy to dispose of used grounds without a mess
  • Takes more time than Aeropress to brew coffee
  • Coffee grounds can end up in the cup
  • can be difficult to clean the mesh filter

Verdict on the Pros and Cons of Aeropress vs French press.

Here the advantage goes to the Aeropress. Both of these coffee makers are small, easy to store and simple to use. But the Aeropress, once mastered is very reliable and quick to brew delicious coffee, and let’s face it, it is all about the coffee you want to drink.

You can even use either of these reliable and versatile coffee makers to brew espresso shots. Check here: How to make espresso without a machine

What is an AeroPress

A plunged AeroPress standing on a black and white polka dot mug
AeroPress standing on a mug

The Aeropress is a relatively new coffee maker on the market, and it has quickly become a popular choice for many coffee drinkers. It’s easy to use and only takes about 3 minutes to make a great cup of coffee. Its also versatile – the Aeropress can be used to make both espresso-style coffee and regular coffee. Plus, it’s lightweight, portable, and tough making it a great choice for travel. I often take mine hiking, so I don’t miss a chance to top up my caffeine levels!

What is a French Press

An empty French press standing on a blue surface.
An empty French press

The French press is a more traditional coffee maker that has been around for many years. There are so many brands available, you can find them really cheap in your local store. But for a metter made higher quality press, there a host of more expensive models. Another big plus is that French presses are available in a range of sizes, so you can make everything from cup for one up to service eight people at once. makes a full pot of coffee, which is ideal if you have guests over.

It’s major drawback is that, simple as it looks, you need to practice with a press to get the best results. That way you can avoid drinking coffee that’s too strong or too weak.

Best Coffee Beans for Aeropress and French press

Aeropress: best coffee

When it comes to coffee beans, there are many different types and brands to choose from. So, which type of coffee beans should you use with an Aeropress?

The Aeropress is a versatile coffee maker that can be used to make both espresso-style coffee and regular coffee. For espresso-style coffee, you will need to use a dark roast coffee bean that is finely ground. For regular coffee, you can use a variety of different types of coffee beans, including light or medium roasts.

If you are looking for a good brand of coffee beans to use with the Aeropress, we recommend trying Black Oak Coffee Roasters. Black Oak Coffee Roasters is a Canadian company that specializes in producing high-quality, small-batch roasted coffee beans. Their beans are ethically sourced and roasted to perfection, making them the perfect choice for Aeropress coffee drinkers.

French Press: best coffee

When it comes to choosing the best coffee beans for a French press, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, look for beans that have been roasted relatively dark. This will help to bring out the natural oils in the beans, which are essential for creating a rich and flavorful cup of coffee. Second, choose a medium or coarse grind. A finer grind will result in a muddy cup of coffee, while a coarse grind will make it difficult to press the plunger down. Finally, pay attention to the origin of the beans. Some of the best coffee beans for a French press come from Ethiopia, Brazil, or Colombia.

Grinding coffee for Aeropress and French press

As always, the key to making great coffee is using freshly ground coffee beans, which must be ground to a suitable size for the type of coffee maker you are using.

Beware: do not over-grind the coffee beans

Aeropress: best grind

Measure out your choice of coffee beans into your grinder. Then, select the medium grind setting on your coffee grinder. For most coffee grinders, this will be the setting mid-way between the coursest and finest grinds.

French press: best grind

To grind coffee beans for the French press, start by measuring out the amount of beans you need. Next, select a grind setting on your coffee grinder that is somewhere between coarse and medium coarse. If you’re not sure, err on the side of a coarser grind, as overly fine grounds will make the coffee taste bitter. Finally, place the beans in the grinder and pulse until they’re evenly ground.

Verdict on grinding coffee for Aeropress and French press

Level pegging: both presses need fresh ground coffee beans. Neither is overly sensitive to the grind size, though for both it is best to err on the side of courser grinding. As both use pressure to force the brewing process, too finely ground coffee can bypass the filter. this results in a gritty unpleasant coffee.

Verdict on the Pros and Cons of Aeropress vs French press.

Here the advantage goes to the Aeropress. Both of these coffee makers are small, easy to store and simple to use. But the Aeropress, once mastered is very reliable and quick to brew delicious coffee, and let’s face it, it is all about the coffee you want to drink.

Overall verdict: Aeropress or French press?

Truthfully, both are excellent, compact and efficient coffee makers.

The French press has been around, in its current form, for centuries. That must be its greatest merit – the design has stood the test of time and remains extremely popular.

By contrast, the Aeropress is the new kid on the block. development of the Aeropress began in 2004, with the product on the market in 2005.

You will get great coffee from both, and both are easy to learn.

Less happily, both can be messy. It is not unheard of for the French press to allow high-pressure water and coffee grounds past the filter if the process is forced. Similarly, grounds can, occasionally, squeeze past the filter, resulting in a very messy counter-top and undrinkable coffee full of grounds.

Aeropress vs French press – Our choice

This is very close – I have both at home and use both regularly. If I absolutely have to choose between these two excellent coffee makers, I pick Aeropress. Simply because it’s much cooler, and there are people who still have not discovered it.