Our appreciation for coffee has led to the birth of a variety of home brewing methods, which include French presses and pour-over techniques. Once our options were only limited to drip machines and percolators, but there is now a bevy of coffee brewing systems available. You can even get a high-end espresso machine for home use.
Even with the advent of automated systems, which have made various aspects of coffee brewing easier, some of us still find these methods unable to meet our specific needs and taste preferences.
Enter time-honored manual techniques, such as pour-over and French press, that maintain their popularity among coffee aficionados for their ability to provide a unique quality taste as well as maintain a sense of tradition in our coffee experiences.
French Press vs Pour Over
Some really amazing coffee brewing methods have been made available to us, with two of the most accessible being French press and pour-over. While both these methods are great for making coffee, they may not necessarily fit everyone’s lifestyle. Let’s go over the benefits of each to help you decide which method is for you.
French Press
Coffee drinkers from all over the globe have already been using French press machines way before it became trendy. There are now many good french press stainless steel makers available in the market.
The process of using a French press starts by placing coffee grounds into a carafe, pouring hot water in it, and letting the concoction steep before pushing down the plunger part of the device to separate the brewed coffee you’re meant to drink.
You then get a result that’s rich and satisfying. French-pressed coffee varies in taste and texture from pour-over coffee since it maintains a thickness to it from the water, maintaining contact with the grounds throughout the entire process.
In addition, the French press is also able to draw out more oils from the coffee grounds, resulting in a brew that is stronger compared to pour-over coffee. This is just one of the reasons why the method is so popular.
The following are some of the other things people love most about using the French press.
- Easy to Use: A press pot is incredibly easy to use. Plus, it doesn’t require you to babysit as much.
- Allows You to Customize: With the press pot, you’re able to customize several aspects of brewing, from the strength and richness of the coffee to the grind size. Compared to pour-over coffee techniques, the French press method offers more room for you to personalize.
- Consistent: The French press method is hardly temperamental. When you finally nail that correct ratio of water to coffee, then the process will virtually be foolproof.
Pour Over Coffee
As far as simplicity goes, the pour-over method has got the French press beat by some distance. The process involves the use of a cone-shaped filter holder that goes directly onto the pot, with some varieties able to fit onto cups.
The first thing you do is fit the filter into the conical holder before pouring in the ground coffee. You then follow that up by pouring hot water onto the grounds and letting them expand and recede. Continue doing this until all the grounds filter through and into the pot.
There is a variety of pour-over cones to take advantage of, from simple plastic cones that fit perfectly into your mugs to glass and ceramic cones that are a combination of both the filter holder and the pot.
That’s pretty much all there is to it. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that both the French press and pour-over techniques involve a similar middle step where the coffee grounds have to be blasted or broken apart before completing the brewing process. This step is sometimes discouraging to those who just want a quick and easy way to make coffee.
In any case, these are some of the most desirable aspects of using pour-over methods.
- Limited Brewing: Pour-over methods are ideal for when you just want to brew one or two cups of coffee per day.
- Smoother, Less-Biting Flavor: Pour-over coffee has a smoother texture and less-biting taste to it since the brew doesn’t sit on the coffee grounds.
- No Grittiness: Since the brew and coffee grounds are separated, you don’t have to deal with the grittiness factor. Grittiness can be an issue with a too-small grind size or an ineffective screen filter.
- Easy to Clean: Pour-over coffee makers are easier to clean since, unlike the French press machine, they hardly need to be disassembled.
Final Thoughts
If you’re deciding between the pour-over coffee maker and French press, find out which of these methods suit your lifestyle needs and taste preferences.
Those who like their coffee rich and strong, with a thicker texture, should go for the French press, while those who are into smoother and more subtle-flavored coffee should opt for the pour-over coffee maker.If you’ve decided on the French press, which is a commendable choice, get the Best French Press Coffee Maker in the market and take your coffee experience to the next level.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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