As brewing at home becomes more popular, I have to talk about two of my favorite methods. French Press vs Pour Over. If you are having a hard time trying to decide between French Press or Pour Over, I feel your pain. I have a hard time deciding which one I like better, too. Honestly, I love them both.
I have always had a French Press maker but it was only until recently that I purchased the equipment to make Pour Over and I love it just as much. They both make an excellent cup of coffee. Maybe because the methods are similar or the size of the grinds allows for the flavor of the coffee to really come out. Either way, I could drink it everyday one of the two ways.
Let me give you a quick rundown of each method in case you missed my in depth posts talking about each of them.
What is French Press Coffee
French Press coffee is basically a fancy coffee plunger. But it sure does make a great flavor packed cup of joe.
To make French Press coffee you need your filtered water heated to 180 degrees. You will need medium to coarsely ground beans. Add them to the french press and let it steep for 5-6 minutes.
When it is finished steeping, you just simply press the plunger down with the attached mesh filter and then pour out your coffee.
The Best French Press
My favorite French Press maker is the Mueller French Press Double Insulated 310 Stainless Steel Coffee Maker. It is double insulated and has 4 levels of filtration. It will keep your coffee hot for an hour after it’s brewed. This French Press also holds 34 ounces of brewed coffee.
I love the filtration and the fact that it keeps the coffee hot long after it’s brewed. At the time of writing this article, it has 5-star reviews on Amazon as well. That’s awesome!
What is Pour Over Coffee
Pour Over coffee is one of the most basic ways you can make coffee. To make coffee in the Pour Over, first, you need to heat your filtered water in your gooseneck kettle. While your water is heating to 195 degrees fahrenheit, you will rinse your filter, place it in the v60, and add your medium to coarse grinds. When the water is at temperature, you will pour it over to create a bloom. Repeat the Pour Over until you have enough brewed coffee. I go over this in-depth in my Pour Over article.
The Best Pour Over
My favorite Pour Over maker is the Hario v60. I have the white ceramic #2 one and I love it. The cone shape helps accentuate the coffee flavor and the spiral ribs allow for air to escape. The ceramic body keeps the temperature during brewing. You can get the bundle package from Amazon that comes with the v60, glass carafe, measuring spoon, and pack of filters.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Each Method
Advantages of French Press
- You can customize your coffee based on how strong you like it by how long you let it steep.
- You can also have a more flavor-packed cup.
Dis-advantages of French Press
There are two dis-advantages that I have found with the french press.
- It can be gritty if the grinds happen to make their way through (larger grinds will be fine but smaller ones could get through.
- It can be messy to clean up.
Advantages of Pour Over
- The filter catches all the grit and none can get through.
- It produces a smooth tasting cup of coffee.
- The equipment is inexpensive.
- You can brew smaller amounts of coffee.
Dis-advantages of Pour Over
- The flavor isn’t as intense as it can be with the french press.
If you prefer a milder cup, this is your method without a doubt.
I have come to appreciate a great cup of coffee, I hope that after reading my posts, you can discover what your favorite method is and produce that perfect cup for yourself. But with all the many choices there are, I think my absolute favorite is Pour Over. It’s not beat by the French Press much but I think the lack of grit and smoothness of the coffee are what ultimately win me over.
French Press vs Pour Over. Please share in the comments below, what your favorite of the brew methods are and why. As always, I love a good discussion and I’m glad we are not all created equal because the world would be dull.
