French Press vs AeroPress vs Pour-over and More: Coffee Methods Compared

French press, AeroPress, Moka Pot, pour-over...there are so many coffee brewing methods out there. How do you know which is best for you? Some are great for speed and convenience, while others favor quality and involve methodic rituals. There's no one best way to do it! Knowing the pros and cons of each brewing method will put you on your way to the cup of coffee that fits your life perfectly. So let's compare them.

Chapters:

0:00 - Intro
0:26 - Pour-over
2:15 - French press
3:40 - Espresso
5:02 - Drip machine
6:03 - AeroPress
7:26 - Moka pot
8:37 - Clever Dripper
9:30 - Pod machines
10:06 - Siphon brewer or vacuum pot

[wirecutter]

Do you have a question on a brewing method we covered? Do you have a favorite method we didn't cover? Let us know below!

[jonathanmalpica]

Who knew, Steve Job's younger brother is a coffee expert‽

[sharathnd]

I have every brewing equipment that is reviewed here. Honestly the biggest bang for buck is moving to fresh roasted whole beans and pairing it with a good coffee grinder. The brewing method will not get you good coffee if you are not using good coffee and the right grind size.

[rileyh]

1. Chew beans up in mouth.
2. Pour boiling water directly in mouth.
3. Steep for 4-5 minutes.
4. Drink up!

No clean up and no grinder required!

[akash_goel]

I've a few thoughts after spending a lot of time (2 years) in this pandemic experimenting with coffee styles, which boils down to this:
1. Best for single-cup: Aeropress ($40 one time cost + $15 annual for filters)
2. Best for single-cup if you're a nerd: Pourover (greater control than aeropress; $50 one-time cost +$15-20 annual for filters)
3. Best for multiple-cups: Drip brewer ($200 one time cost + $20-30 annual for filters)
4. Best for ultra-nerds that want to spend 1/3rd of their life and 2/3rd of their retirement savings on coffee: Espresso + grinder combo (expect to spend $1000 easily up-front, and $50 annual on cleaning and maintenance supplies along w/ upgrades).

My suggested upgrades:
1. Water filter: Good coffee needs best water ($30 annual for Brita filters, filter-machine/system costs may vary)
2. (Optional) Electric kettle: Beats heating water on stove 10/10. Needed for manual coffee systems like aeropress or pourover ($50 for gooseneck, $20 for regular kettles)
2. Coffee grinder: In case you want whole beans (this is more of a personal preference; $100-$150 one-time cost)

[mijazukant]

i use a french press and when i am done i add water to the coffee grains then pour it over my plants or my vegetables, worms also love it, very good when you have a garden
forgot to mention, you need to use good quality coffee and bio if possible

[travis]

It's probably worth mentioning that a french press can make a really nice cold brew.

[akash_goel]

For anyone still confused, I would say that you can actually make coffee really easily with aeropress. You basically 1. screw on the filter cap (with the paper filter), 2. place the hollow thing on top of your cup, 3. put a scoop of coffee with some hot water (easy to measure, the cylinder is translucent and has markings), 5. place the piston in and 6. wait for 1.5 minutes.
The cleanup is also extremely simple (just push the puck into the bin and quick-rinse the piston).

The whole thing literally takes 2 minutes, start to finish (assuming you have pre-ground espresso-style coffee). Unfortunately, the nerds (or snubs) have elevated this simple system (this system was designed by a Stanford prof who loved coffee but was quite lazy to make it) into somewhat of of a "coffee brewing art". Unfortunately, its not an art, but an algorithm.

Pros of aeropress:
1. Fastest (imo)
2. 8/10 coffee taste
3. consistently good results (since its a simple, reliable mechanism).

For 99% of coffee drinkers looking to make a single cup, this is ideal.

[ShengsDiary]

Moka pot is indeed the best if you like the rich and creaminess taste of a coffee. I’m obsessed brewing with my moka pot 💕

[spacy]

The fact that I don't drink coffee and I'm watching this.... I have no idea why this entertains me

[tabithapowledge]

About the AeroPress: You forgot to mention that it's really easy to clean, by contrast with a French press, for example, and any other paper filter method. I much appreciate the lack of mess.

[dougsensei]

As a beginner, this was a life saver.

[darrenmurray]

You know what else a French press is good for? Making a good brew with loose leaf tea 😊

[eugenedanker]

I have used a Keurig machine for years. I ordered some coffee online, but instead of sending the k cups I ordered, they sent me a bag of whole beans. I love coffee, and have wanted to try a French press, so I invested in a French press, a kettle, and a manual grinder. I enjoy the whole process of making coffee and don't think I will ever use the Keurig again.

[MurdockEx]

I use my AeroPress to make 2 tall cups in one shot most mornings. Wonderful device.

[wesofficial__]

Great overview of a lot of brew styles, nice to have a video I can pass along to people who ask me for brew method comparisons!

[samueltjennings]

This is a great run through, probably the best “quick guide” I’ve seen for so many different brews at once. One thing I’ll add though - it is possible to make coffee for two, even three people, if you brew a concentrate with your dose of coffee in the new chamber like normal, but then dilute the concentrate up to the final amount of beverage you’re making.

[Ronarch]

First time coffee maker. I was going to do a French press, but then was struck by this pour-over contraption. I'd never heard of it. The pour-over method's convenience really won me over at first, then once I got it, I really enjoyed the whole process of making my coffee this way. The ritual aspect is spot-on. I like watching the process happen, and I manually grind up the coffee beans every morning for guaranteed freshness and best flavor. Also, this pour-over set that I bought comes with a reusable metal mesh filter, so you don't have to go through the process of pouring hot water over the paper cup to get rid of the papery taste, so it's a quicker process and better for the environment.

I also use a Pyrex measuring cup to get the water measurements to my specific liking. I'm really enjoying the use of this so far.

[lizcademy]

After working with a Chemex (broke several of them), and an Aeropress (after 7 years, the insides crazed), I'm back the the grandma of pour overs, the Melitta. The cone is low cost, the filters are cheap and available everywhere, and if you use modern pour over technique (and a scale), it makes excellent light roast.

In the summer heat, I'm using ti to make Japanese style ice coffee.

[kerwinco]

Thanks for some of the good info, but I beg to differ on your aeropress comments.
1.) I have used all of what you've showcased, and the aeropress is by far the easiest to use (in my experience)... from storage, preparations to brewing and cleaning. Pour overs are easy too, but takes more time...
2.) You can DEFINITELY MAKE coffee for multiple people, just add more grinds to increase intensity. Press on a large container, then just add water to match your taste preference. Watch Mr. Adler's videos for tips on that.
3.) You can actually adjust intensity by playing around with the amount of coffee you put... For a fuller bodied brew, use a metal filter instead of the paper one. What it cannot make is an authentic espresso.

Appreciate your video. Kudos to your channel. ✌️