- When you use a French press, you place the ground coffee beans in the bottom of the pot and then pour the right amount of water on top. The coffee steeps in the water for a few minutes, much the same way tea steeps in water. To stop the brewing, you push down on the plunger built into the lid of the French press. The plunger also keeps the grinds out of your drink. Other coffeemakers make coffee by dripping hot water over a basket or cone filled with grinds, or by pouring boiling water over the grinds repeatedly.
- A French press requires a coarser grind than a drip coffeemaker or a percolator. The grind for an automatic drip is usually considered a medium grind; it's not nearly as fine as an espresso grind. If you use a grind that's medium or fine in a French press, you'll sacrifice taste and will end up with a bitter cup of coffee. Invest in a coffee grinder if you get a French press for the freshest coffee.
- When you decide to use a French press instead of an automatic coffee maker, you trade taste for convenience. Many automatic coffee makers can be programmed so that they will start making coffee at a certain time. When you make coffee with a French press, you have to boil a pot of water and then measure out the grinds and wait while they steep. While the entire process shouldn't take more than 15 minutes, it may be too much for some people to deal with first thing in the morning, especially if the morning is a rushed time.
- Coffee brewed in a French press may have slightly more caffeine than coffee made in a drip machine or percolator, especially if you let it steep for extra long. While the filter on the plunger will keep most of the grinds in the pot, you may end up with a bit of sediment at the bottom of a cup of French press coffee.
Method of Extraction
Grind
Convenience
Other Differences
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