What is the best way to make quality coffee?
- French press or pour-over?
It’s quite a simple and valid question, but the answer is not as simple as the question.
First of all, personal preferences greatly influence the answer to this question.
Additionally, both coffee makers, French press and pour-over, have different brewing processes, leading to different final coffee cups.
On the other hand, if you decide on a French press for your coffee maker, you can simply buy a French press and continue. However, if pour-over is more suitable for you, then another crossroad awaits you. Because ‘pour over’ is a brewing method, it encompasses multiple coffee makers.
In this article from Best Coffee at Home, we will lay out French press and pour-over coffee makers, explaining everything you need to know to choose between them.
French Press 101
The French press is a coffee maker that every coffee lover definitely crosses paths with and is very popular all over the world. The popularity of the French press is due to its age of over a century and its simplicity and ease of use.
Fundamentally, a French press consists of a glass jar and a plunger with a metal mesh at the end. However, nowadays, the French press has dozens of models and size options.
On the other hand, using a French press is one of the easiest coffee-making methods. In a French press, coffee is brewed by immersing coarsely ground coffee beans in water just below boiling point. Then, the coffee grounds are filtered by pressing down the plunger. And the French press coffee is now ready to serve.
At the end of this process, a rich, strong, and full-bodied coffee is obtained. The sensation it leaves in the mouth is unique.
Related:
Pour-Over Coffee Makers 101
Pour-over is the general name for coffee obtained by pouring water over coffee grounds placed on a filter. Ground coffee is first placed in a filter in the pour-over coffee brewing method. Then, hot water is slowly poured over it to brew the coffee.
If you’ve ever been to a third-wave coffee shop, you’ve probably seen one of the pour-over coffee makers. Hario V60, Chemex, and Kalita Wave are among the most popular pour-over coffee makers.
On the other hand, a pour-over coffee maker, in its simplest form, resembles a funnel. This funnel can be made of ceramic, glass, plastic, or metal. In addition to this funnel, paper filters are often used to strain the coffee, though metal and cloth options are also available.
The working principle of pour-over coffee makers is as simple as their appearance. The poured water passes through the coffee grounds, collecting the coffee’s flavors and aromas, and is then filtered into a container below.
The taste of coffee made with a pour-over coffee maker varies depending on the type of filter used. Paper filters produce a clean, bright, and smooth coffee, while metal filters yield a stronger coffee, similar to a French press.
Note: The pour-over method helps optimize the coffee’s aroma and flavor by controlling the contact time and drip speed of the water with the coffee.
Related:
French Press vs Pour-Over: Which Method is Better for You?
Up to this point in our article, we have generally summarized both the French press and pour-over brewing methods. Now, we can start comparing the two.
| French Press | Pour-Over Coffee Makers |
Brewing Method | Immersion | Drip |
Brew Time | 4-5 min. | 3-5 min. |
Grind Size | Coarse | Medium-fine to medium coarse |
Control Over Brew | 7/10 | 10/10 |
Taste | Full-bodied, strong, rich and gritty | Clean, bright and smooth |
Filter | Metal mesh | Metal or paper filter |
Ease of Use | Easy to use and requires minimal equipment | Requires some skill and equipment |
Cleaning | A bit difficult | Easy |
Ease of Use: French Press vs. Pour-Over Coffee Makers
Before evaluating the ease of use of French press and pour-over coffee makers, I want to declare the winner of this duel. Regarding ease of use, the French press is ahead of pour-over coffee makers.
You only need to pour the coffee grounds into the French press, add hot water, and wait for it to brew. After waiting long enough for brewing, you can press down the plunger and serve your coffee.
You don’t need to stand by your French press during this time. You can prepare your breakfast or take care of small tasks while it brews.
On the other hand, brewing with a pour-over coffee maker is simple but requires some practice and improvement.
With a pour-over coffee maker, you shouldn’t just pour water over it like a French press. You should allow time for the coffee to bloom and pour the water in circular motions, slowly and calmly, to ensure all the grounds are wet.
Otherwise, you might over-extract some coffee grounds and under-extract others, leading to bitter and sour tastes in your cup.
When brewing with pour-over, you must pay attention to your coffee maker and monitor the brewing. I must admit that it might be a bit challenging at first, but with a bit of practice, you can brew with your eyes closed (though it’s better not to close your eyes 🙂
| French Press | Pour-Over Coffee Maker | |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | Easier to use. Just add coffee grounds, pour hot water, wait, and press. No need to stand by during brewing. | Requires more attention. Practice needed to pour water correctly for even extraction. Must monitor the brewing process. |
| Brewing Process | Simple and straightforward. | Involves a specific technique for pouring water. |
| Attention Needed | Minimal. Can multitask while brewing. | High. Requires constant attention during brewing. |
| Skill Level | Suitable for beginners. | Better for those with some brewing experience or willing to learn. |
Taste Difference Between French Press and Pour-Over Coffee Makers
I would like to explain the taste difference between French press and pour-over coffee makers with a twist on a Shakespearean quote:
Metal filter or paper filter, that is the question!
Metal filters allow the passage of fine particles of coffee grounds and oils, resulting in a stronger, full-bodied, and richer cup of coffee.
On the other hand, paper filters filter out these fine particles and oils more effectively. This results in a cleaner, brighter, and smoother cup of coffee. Additionally, the thicker the paper filter, the more it filters the coffee, leading to a lighter and sweeter cup.
This difference is most evident between the Hario V60 and Chemex. Hario V60 uses a thinner paper filter, while the Chemex uses a thicker one, making Chemex the coffee maker that brews the lightest coffee among pour-over coffee makers.
Here’s more detail about Hario V60 vs Chemex:
On the other hand, in a French press, the coffee grounds are immersed in water and left to brew throughout the process. In pour-over coffee makers, water flows through the coffee grounds.
This means that in a French press, the coffee grounds mix with the water more, making the coffee stronger than in pour-over makers, even if they use a metal filter.
In summary, if you choose based on taste, choose a French press for a stronger coffee and a pour-over coffee maker for a cleaner and smoother coffee.
| French Press | Pour-Over | |
|---|---|---|
| Filter Type | Typically uses metal filters. | Uses paper filters, varying in thickness. |
| Coffee Strength | Stronger, full-bodied coffee. | Brighter, cleaner, and smoother coffee. |
| Flavor Profile | Rich in fine particles and oils. | Lighter and sweeter, especially with thicker filters. |
| Contact with Water | Coffee grounds immersed in water longer. | Water flows through the grounds. |
| Brewing Method Impact | Results in more strong flavor profiles. | Thicker filters produce lighter flavors. |
| Ideal for | Those who prefer strong and full-flavored coffee. | Those who enjoy a cleaner, milder taste. |
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Cleaning
Cleaning pour-over coffee makers is easier than cleaning a French press. When you finish brewing in a pour-over coffee maker, all the coffee grounds are collected in the paper filter. All you need to do is remove the paper filter and throw it in the trash or compost.
However, the process is a bit more complicated with a French press. You have to collect the coffee grounds from the jar of the French press and clean the grounds stuck in the metal filter. It’s not a very difficult process, but it requires more effort than pour-over coffee makers.
Note: We have prepared a comprehensive guide to help you clean your French press with the least effort.
Price: French Press vs. Pour-Over
Both French press and pour-over coffee makers have affordable prices. You can buy a good pour-over coffee maker or French press for about $30. However, this price can vary up or down due to many different manufacturers in the industry.
On the other hand, once you buy a French press, you can use it for a lifetime as long as you don’t lose or break it. However, if you use paper filters with your pour-over coffee maker, you must buy paper filters at regular intervals.
Lastly, when you buy a pour-over coffee maker, you should also purchase a gooseneck kettle. This is necessary for a steady and calm flow of water when pouring. The same is not true for a French press; you can pour water with anything in a French press.
Conclusion
As you can see, there is no clear answer to the question, “Is a French press or pour-over better?”
Therefore, if you ask me since both are available at affordable prices, you can choose to own both. Indeed, I own both and actively use them depending on the coffee profile I want to drink.
If you choose only one, a French press might be a better option if you like a strong cup of coffee and don’t mind a bit of sediment in your coffee. If you opt for a French press, check out our article “8 Best French Press – We’ve Tried!“
On the other hand, if you prefer a well-filtered, smooth cup of coffee, pour-over coffee makers will be a better choice for you. In this case, you can buy a Hario V60 or Chemex.
