Brewing the coffee using different method results the differently tasting coffees respectively. Every brewing method will deliver a varied blend of coffee grounds after its extraction despite their brewing methods have a few differences. In fact, the topic stuck in our minds while we were exploring whereabouts of the coffee world and so is the case with you! The Aeropress vs French Press have many similarities yet one is the most concurrent brewing invention whereas the latter has been prevalent since decades. Without further ado, let us start with understanding the comparison of both the brewing methods i.e. French Press vs Aeropress.
Contents
French Press vs Aeropress
Aeropress is the fast brewing method which crosses its paths with the French Press in many aspects. Moreover, people get confused explaining Aeropress being different from French Press coffee maker. In fact, people think Aeropress to be the reverse French Press method, which is not true.
Generally, people relate both the brewing methods to be similar because of their similar cylindrical design, an arrangement of a plunger, manual pressure generation, etc. However, there are certain differences between the Aeropress vs French Press and we have described later in this article.
Aeropress Brewing Method
Starting with the description of the Aeropress brewing method, this is the compact coffee maker tool compared to other coffee makers. Aeropress channels the hot pressurized water through the bed of coffee grounds for extraction. It has a plunger which allows you to generate pressure over the water and coffee mixture with paper filter sitting in the filter cap on the opposite side of the Aeropress plunger.
Aeropress Brewing Process Definition
The brewing method where the plunger generates the pressure and channels the mixtures of hot water and coffee grounds through the paper filter percolating the coffee out in the coffee cup.
Moreover, brewing the coffee using the Aeropress coffee maker involves many detailed or small steps which the definition cannot explain completely. As the process itself has two different approaches namely the ‘Standard’ brewing process and the ‘Inverted’ process.
In addition to that, the nature and design of this coffee maker make it an economical and equally useful for brewing the strong shots. Further, the mobility due to its compact size and lightweight body, the convenience of its operation is like no other. In fact, it encourages many coffee lovers to carry along while traveling or on camping expedition.
Apart from the convenience of using the Aeropress, this coffee maker delivers a typical coffee taste. The taste of its coffee ranges from the hard shot with the fruity notes to the hard shot with a thick texture and the fruity notes. Only, for this reason, many people with either front palate prefer a coffee from the Aeropress. Moreover, the Aeropress the paper filter of the Aeropress coffee will allow the oily feel of the coffee to pass through.
However, using a paper filter is neither compulsion nor the sole option for filtering the coffee. As the metal filter of the same shape and size are readily available as the paper filters. The metal filter can reduce the clogging of coffee oils and adding the essential aroma and feel of the coffee like always.
Adding to the fact, an Aeropress can brew the full-bodied coffee within two minutes even if we consider the grinding time. Also, the timing of brewing totally depends upon the effort of the brewer pushing the plunger. Generally, letting the coffee steep for about 30 seconds is recommended before starting to push the plunger.
Brewing Aeropress
You can follow this method to brew the hard coffee shots using an Aeropress coffee maker.
1. Clean the Apparatus
Starting with the most important step, cleaning the Aeropress coffee maker to eliminate the contaminants.
2. Grind the Coffee Beans
Thereafter, you can either use the pre-ground coffee of the fine profile or grind your own grounds from the beans. Go for the fine grind size, it can be slightly finer than the common salt.
3. Add the Grounds in the Aeropress
Needless to say, add the coffee grounds in the brewing chamber of the Aeropress scattering it evenly to make a perfect coffee bed. Use about 15 grams of coffee to make single shot.
4. Fill Hot Water
Heat the water to the extent it is about to boil, then pour the water in the brewing chamber. Let the weight of the water be twice as much as the weight of the grounds.
5. Stirr the Mixture and Let It Sit
You shall gently stirr the coffee-water mixture and let it steep for half a minute.
6. Push the Plunger Steadily
Finally, you can push the plunger to pressurize the water to pass through the filter cap on the opposite end of the plunger.
French Press Brewing Method
Coming to another brewing method that gets our attention every time we talk about the Aeropress brewing method, the French Press or the Aeropress French Press method. It is the brewing method which requires manual plunger operation, a paper filter, a cylindrical vessel, and coffee grounds similar to the common salt. But it is very different from the Aeropress brew method!
French Press has most of the features of its brewing process similar to the Aeropress yet there is a difference between both the brewing method persists. Not only we will point out the differences between their brewing processes but also how different they can taste later in this article.
Having said that, French Press is the conventional brewing process surprisingly invented in Italy that too, decades ago.
Nevertheless, the French Press method involves a carafe in which you have to fill the coffee grounds. Remember, you can use the coffee grounds according to your choice choosing the ground level between the salt-like fine to a little coarse. In this case, the movement of the plunger should neither have much resistance nor too little.
French Press Definition
French Press is the brewing method which extracts the coffee allowing it to steep in the water, finally, pushing the plunger having a paper filter to force the grounds to the bottom and coffee(priorly water) above the plunger.
Moreover, the taste of a French Press will have the sharp bursts and few notes which you can call as the fruity hints. However, French Press is the bold version of the Aeropress as this coffee will have hardly have the thicker texture as that of the Aeropress. On the other hand, this coffee tastes stronger than the Aeropress. Even if we can compare it with the American Press then yes, French Press will taste stronger than the American Press too. It means French Press wins the battle brewing the strong coffee when we consider either Aeropress vs French Press or the French Press vs American Press.
In addition to that, French Press tastes close to the full-bodied coffee with a bit of harshness in the blend. Brewing a French Press requires the medium to fine roast intensity to result in the- strongest cup-o-Joe.
On the contrary, you can even prefer brewing the lighter roasts in the French Press to have the balance of both smooth and hard taste notes. Also, if you consider trying French Press alternative i.e. apart from the Aeropress vs French Press options then Aeropress vs Pour Over(Chemex) can be your game. Chemex tastes a lot like the Aeropress despite its brewing process and texture has a different appeal.
Brewing Coffee with French Press
Here are the steps to brew a coffee using the French Press coffee maker.
1. Clean the Apparatus
Again, you know the drill if you have read the brewing process of Aeropress.
2. Grind the Beans
Same goes with grinding the beans. But here the ground level has to be a little coarse, more than the common salt.
3. Add the Grounds in the French Press Carafe
You can use up to 15 grams of coffee grounds to make a single shot. Else you can keep progressively increasing the dose to make more coffee.
4. Pour Hot Water
Heat the water and pour in the French Press carafe keeping the water volume at least twice the weight of coffee.
5. Stirr it for Half a Minute and Let it Steep
Thereafter, you need to stirr the mixture properly and let it sit for three to four minutes. It will perfectly steep the coffee in the water.
6. Attach a Paper Filter to the Plunger
Lastly, attach a paper filter or a metal filter in the plunger to complete the arrangement of the apparatus.
7. Place the Lid of the Carafe and Push the Plunger
Finally, place the lid on the carafe and push the plunger downwards to extract the coffee upwards.
THE ENDNOTE
Now, you know the differences and similarities of Aeropress vs French Press the coffee brewing methods. Most importantly, the differing tastes of both the coffees along with the differing brewing time. Finally, when it gets down to which method delivers the best coffee? Then, the answer favors either Aeropress or French Press differently for different parameters, because of their unique tastes. Generally, the choice of coffee can vary from a person to another. Hence, if you have back palate then French Press would deliver the coffee up to your expectations. Whereas, if you have a front palate then Aeropress might be a good option for you.
Leave a Reply