Deciding whether to get an Aeropress vs French press? Read on for an overview of each – ease of use, volume, taste and more, to help you decide.
Some links found in this post are affiliate links, meaning we may receive a commission if you decide to make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Every coffee lover has their favorite method for brewing a cup of coffee.
Whether you’re brewing at home, at work, or even on vacation, there’s a coffee maker that will best fit your needs and lifestyle.
No matter which coffee maker you pick, the basic theory is the same – we use hot water to saturate ground coffee, which extracts the flavor and yields a cup of coffee.
Aeropress vs French Press
There are so many “press” style coffee makers available in the market, but the Aeropress and French Press are two of the most popular manual coffee brewers for a reason:
They both make a fine cup of coffee, and never fail to disappoint when used in the right way.
Here’s a quick rundown:
Aeropress
- Lightweight, built to last
- Easy to use and clean
- Only makes single servings at a time (8 ounces)
- Yields low acidity, clean and aromatic coffee
- Compact – great for on the go
French press
- Low heat retention
- Easy to use
- Comes in various sizes
- Yields flavorful, strong, rich coffee
- Made of glass (not very travel friendly)
Although similar in certain aspects, the Aeropress and French press are different brewing devices that bring different brewing nuances in the coffee.
Both brewers are valuable in any coffee making session as they have their own advantages, but it does not mean that you need to own both of them.
Wondering which one works best for you?
We’ll take a closer look at both coffee brewers and help you to decide which one will be best for you.
What is an Aeropress?
The Aeropress is a compact, lightweight, and portable manual coffee brewer that consists of two cylinders.
It is a syringe-like setup where the larger cylinder is the brewing chamber, and the smaller cylinder acts as a plunger.
The Aeropress relies on heat and pressure utilizing two nesting cylinders that work together with a rubber seal, pressing the hot water through the ground coffee.
Despite the method being so simple, the Aeropress is able to make an incredibly complex and vibrant cup of espresso-like coffee in a very short amount of time with little practice.
Build Quality of the Aeropress
The Aeropress is made of food-safe, BPA-free plastic that looks sturdy and reliable. It may not be the best looking coffee brewer but it is sturdy, well-engineered, lightweight and built to last.
The construction is simple, yet brilliant. The polymer used in the Aeropress is great for retaining heat, so you’ll have minimal heat loss during the brewing process.
Ease of Use
The Aeropress is an easy-to-use coffee brewer without confusing and complicated parts. It is quick and efficient. You can brew both drip and espresso-like coffee with this little brewer.
The Aeropress is very easy to deal with and has more room for error, so it is almost difficult to make a bad cup of coffee.
Did I mention it is super easy to clean? You can clean the parts in the dishwasher, but a simple hot water rinse is usually sufficient.
Volume
The Aeropress is small and it is only meant to brew 8 ounces of coffee or 3 espresso-like shots at a time.
It serves as a single serving coffee brewer where you don’t have to make a whole pot, or if you don’t want to wait for your espresso machine to heat up.
Taste
Clean and aromatic. You can expect the acidity of the Aeropress brew to be much lower than a conventional brew due to the lower water temperature and shorter brew time.
The Aeropress brewer is generally simple to use, but there is a small learning curve if you want to brew the best with it.
Travel Friendly
Optimized for portability, the compact yet super durable construction has made it the perfect companion to bring along while traveling.
Basically, you can take your Aeropress kit with you anywhere and make delicious coffee no matter where you are.
Get your own Aeropress!
What is a French Press?
The French press is another simple coffee brewer. It consists of a glass carafe and a lid that has a plunger with a mesh stainless steel filter attached at the bottom.
You simply press hot water through the ground coffee, and it is excellent for making multiple servings of coffee at once.
The French press is the perfect low-maintenance coffee brewer for busy people who are looking for a quick coffee fix. If you do it right, it is capable of producing a dense and heavy cup of coffee.
Build Quality of the French Press
Being a brewer made out of glass, it is fragile and requires extra precaution when dealing with it. Heat retention is also another common weakness found in French presses.
It is recommended to serve as soon as possible after brewing, especially if you like your coffee hot.
The glass however doesn’t absorb odors like stainless steel or plastic does and brings a unique aesthetic that looks sharp on your kitchen counter.
Ease of Use
The French press has long been one of the most popular coffee brewers, thanks to its ease of use and ability to customize the coffee to suit your taste.
Using a French press may require little practice to achieve a good cup, but once mastered the process is easy and straightforward.
Cleaning a French press is just as easy as brewing a cup of coffee, and some of these glass carafes are even dishwasher-safe.
Volume
Size does matter! The French press can brew more than one cup, and this is another reason why the French press wins the hearts of coffee lovers.
It is effective at brewing single servings to large batches of strong, delicious coffee for big groups.
Taste
The French press gives you a flavorful cup of coffee thanks to its mesh metal filter.
The filter lets through all the vibrantly aromatic natural oils into your cup and enhances the richness in your brew.
Coffee made with a French press is usually stronger than coffee made by a regular drip coffee maker and tends to give your coffee a more dense feeling that leaves you satisfied.
Travel Friendly
Because of the glass, the French press can be vulnerable to breakage if not handled properly, and it doesn’t travel well.
The French press is best to be kept on the countertop or stored away in the cabinet.
Get your own French Press! We like Bodum’s French presses:
The Final Verdict
Both the Aeropress and French press are capable of making a great cup of quality coffee.
Overall, neither the Aeropress nor the French Press is intricate or hard to use, but they are not the same in many ways.
The Aeropress is a great introduction to the coffee world.
It is a good choice for people who like challenges, and enjoy experimenting with different brewing recipes until they’ve found their perfect cup.
The French press, on the other hand, is best for people who like full control over strength and flavor in their coffee, and for people who enjoy bright and rich coffee.
Both coffee brewers work like a charm, but if I had to choose between the two, I would go with the Aeropress.
In my opinion, it is a fascinating invention (watch this documentary about the Aeropress if you’re interested!) and I have great fun making coffee with it.
There are hundreds of brewing recipes for experimenting and thousands of different ways to enjoy this incredible durable and small gadget.
I am sure the Aeropress would be a great addition to any kitchen, as well as a perfect tool when you’re out and about.
