Updated on December 8, 2022
Coffee drinkers have the option to regulate the timing and flavor strength with both the French press and pour over methods. Timing is crucial to ensure exceptional flavor because both of these brew techniques call very coarsely ground coffee. For your chosen brew, you’ll need a burr grinder and the appropriate coffee maker.
What Is French Press Coffee?
French press coffee is made by manually separating the grounds from the hot water with a plunger after steeping coarse grounds in hot water for a predetermined amount of time (typically four minutes). French presses typically have a handle and plunger made of metal and are made of glass or stainless steel. Polypropylene is sometimes used in the bases, lids, and handles of pots.
However, if limiting your exposure to plastics is important to you, be aware that you can buy a French press pot without plastic. To keep your coffee hot, some French press pots also include a dual wall structure.
What Is Pour Over Coffee?
Pour over coffee is a manual brewing technique that gives you direct control over a lot of factors. As you add hot water to the pour over brewer, you can control how thoroughly the grounds are wetted, how long they are exposed to hot water, and how long the brewing process lasts. Your requirements are straightforward while brewing pour over coffee.
A small spout makes it simpler to view and regulate the grounds as they absorb the initial dosage of water because you must manually wet the grounds. One of the main advantages of pour over coffee is flavor. Pour over coffee has another advantage over drip coffee in that many of the pots used for it are constructed entirely of non-reactive materials.
French Press vs Pour Over Coffee – What are the differences?
Pour-over and French press have a few key distinctions that are worth mentioning. But in the end, which you prefer will largely depend on how easy it is to operate, how much control you have, and what kind of coffee flavor you want.
Brewing
Both the French press and the pour-over procedures have a small learning curve. Determine the ideal brew time, temperature, and grind size for your preferences. It’s possible that you’ll succeed on your first attempt, but it’s more probable that you’ll need to drink a few cups first.
Your pouring technique will determine how delicious a cup of pour-over coffee will be. The gooseneck kettle, which gives you fine control over your pour, is your best option. Using the pour-over method requires a precise pour, therefore investing in a decent kettle is essential. To enhance your coffee, you can experiment with the flow rate and brew temperature.
A pour-over dripper requires more skill to operate than a French press pot. However, less control comes along with that ease of usage. Even though you won’t have as much control over the water as you would with a pour-over coffee maker, you will still be able to control the steeping time, temperature, and other factors.
Equipment
The materials, options, and sizes of the equipment you’ll need to brew pour-over and French press coffee vary considerably. To be able to regulate each step of the brewing process, however, think about using a scale, thermometer, and timer for both options.
With a pour-over coffee maker, the essential thing to keep in mind is that various drippers use various filters. For instance, the Kalita Wave employs a flat-bottom filter, whereas the Hario V60 uses a #2 cone-shaped filter. There are also choices made of stainless steel and one-piece drippers like the Chemex, which uses a unique filter. The majority of French press coffee makers operate similarly. Each one has a filter, plunger, and chamber. They differ in terms of filter design, capacity, and materials. French presses can be found in stainless steel or glass, though glass is more typical.
Quality
While both pour-over and French press brews result in a delicious cup of coffee, there are some differences in the two types of brews’ quality. Coffee made with most pour-over drippers and paper filters is much cleaner. There aren’t any tiny particles in your carafe’s bottom. It’s the best method for bringing out the original flavor notes and qualities of the coffee. Because of this, coffee drinkers prefer to use a pour-over brewer to make their premium single-origin beans. Additionally, it works well for brewing lighter-roasted beans for a flavor that is brighter and more vibrant.
French Press vs Pour Over Coffee – Which one is better?
Pour overs and french presses are two of the most popular methods for brewing coffee. But which is superior? That depends on the ingredients you want in your morning brew. There is no definitive answer as to which method makes a better cup of coffee because both the pour over and French press provide a rich flavor profile with their own distinctive taste profiles. The pour-over may be your best option if you like the rich taste notes that come from beans that have been roasted for a longer period of time. But if you prefer an espresso-like beverage, try switching to a French Press!