When it comes to choosing the method for brewing your cup of morning joe, technology has left us with no shortage of brewing methods.
Should you go for that super automatic espresso machine that you have had your eye on...or maybe you're into k-cup brewing...or better yet...a coffeemaker with built in grinder.
It can be very overwhelming, as each brewing method is different but effective. You can derive a unique taste and brewing experience from each method and really only comes down to personal preference.
Pour Over Coffee Vs French Press?
However we do digress, for the sake of this article we would like to narrow it down to two popular methods...Pour Over or French Press.
You may be wondering what makes these two the most popular and what the difference is between the two. The simple answer is that the techniques used in both methods differ, so the end result will vary.
When deciding which method is the best, you have to consider your own preferences and tastes. Those who have tried both methods have arguments in favor of one over the other. You may also have your own opinion on the matter, so without wasting time, let’s distinguish between these two methods
What is Pour Over Coffee?
The Pour over method is more recent than the French press and includes the use of a cone in place of the plunger used in the French press method.
The cone is used for extraction and that lends the name drip coffee for this method. Unlike French press, the grounds are soaked in the top of the cone after water has been added. The grounds then slowly saturate and coffee makes its way through a filter into a cup or mug, usually placed at the bottom of the cone. This method might take a bit longer, usually lasting a couple of minutes before the coffee is ready.
While you have only one French press method, there are many different types of pour over methods that you can choose from. Some people make and drink their coffee using Chemex while others favor the use of Drippers.
Although the same idea is used, they are slightly different from each other. The coffee made from the pour over method is lighter and contains smaller amounts of oil than the French press.
How to Use a Coffee Dripper in Pour Over Coffee Method
I'm very sure that if you are a coffee fanatic like we are, you are most likely very eager to know how to use the coffee dripper in making yourself a cup of hot coffee. Here is a look at what you need and how you can achieve this mission almost effortlessly.
Ingredients
- Fresh Coffee Beans
- Kettle (Gooseneck Recommended)
- Digital Scale
- Filtered Water
- V60 Filtered Water
- Pour Over Dripper
- Burr Coffee Grinder
Instructions
Pour Water into Kettle to Boil - In order to make at least one mug of coffee, we would advise that you measure about 340 grams of cold fresh water. This is because cold fresh water has flavor enhancing minerals as well as sodium components which adds taste to coffee drinks. It is good to make sure that you boil extra water that you will use in soaking the filter.
Prepare the Pour Over Setup - You need to place the dripper on top of the mug or glass. Do not forget to place the filter paper inside the dripper. It is good to read the instructions since some filter papers need to be folded before use. We would also advise that you either use a ceramic or glass dripper for efficient extraction of coffee flavor.
Pre Soak the Filter and the Mug - Take off the kettle from the heat and pour boiling water over the filter so as to rinse off any paper taste.
Grinding - You need to grind the coffee beans in a medium fine setting and pour the ground coffee into the damp filter. Nine ounces of water is enough for three tablespoonfuls of freshly ground coffee.
Add the Grounds to the Filter - If there is any water in the mug, pour it out and replace it with milk and sugar so that you can now start preparing your mug of coffee. After that, take the freshly ground coffee to the filter.
Tip: Courtesy of the Local Milk Blog.com, when using a dripper, you have the freedom to choose either freshly ground coffee or pre-ground coffee.
Pour the Boiling Water over the Grounds - This step is done in a slow manner. The hot water should be warm enough to soak the grounds hence proper measurement is needed. The grounds should froth and create a 'flume'. Give time for the flume to go down.
After a minute, pour the remaining water in a slow concentric circles. Wait for the coffee to completely drain through the dripper into the mug and finally enjoy a cup of delicious coffee. All these steps can be referred from http://m.wikihow.com/Make-Pour-Over-Coffee.
VIDEO: How To Make the Perfect Cup of Pour Over Coffee with Dave Asprey
What is French Press Coffee?
The French press...also know as a press pot, cafetiere, or coffee press is one of the most popular and widely used methods of brewing methods in the US and some European countries. It is said to be first patented in 1929 by an Italian designer.
The french press is a cylindrical round beaker...mostly glass...and is used with a device called the plunge. The plunger device is responsible for pushing grounds of coffee to the bottom of the press and allowing the liquid to flow through it in the process. After the process is done, grinds of coffee still remain in the cylinder beaker, causing the extraction to be thick and oily.
According to some, making coffee this way may lead to the coffee being too bold or suffer from over-extraction. For others, they translate coffee made through this method to have a richer taste and texture, which is exactly what they are looking for.
In actual fact, French press coffee is beneficial in its own way and that may be the reason why many people swear by it. When making coffee with this method, be aware that there is no filtration process involved like drip coffee and the cup may have tiny sediments and oils remaining. Although some claim these materials are bad for you, the claims are found to be unsubstantiated.
The truth is that the oil found in coffee can be good for you as it can make you more energized. Moreover, it is believed that some ingredients that remain in your cup using this method may have been lost if there were to be a paper filter.
How to Perfectly Make French Press Coffee
If you are a french press coffee addict like us, then knowing how to prepare a cup IS a MUST! In this article we are not going to list the ingredients or steps involved...because that would be redundant...as we have a great 12 Step Guide on how to make French Press Coffee <<Click Here>> to learn more.
Don’t Forget The Coffee Grinder!
We would like to state that the quality of grinding your coffee beans determines the taste of your coffee. Under-grinding leads to less flavorful coffee while over-grinding could bring bitterness. What are the qualities of a good grinder you ask? Don’t worry we have you covered, check out our article on What’s the Best Coffee Grinder for French Press.
Features of a Good Grinder
Consistency and Texture: A good coffee grinder should be consistent in producing evenly sized grounds every time.
Convenience and Flexibility: You need a grinder that allows you to alter the way you want your ground to be. Choose a grinder with settings from which you may be able to adjust so as to achieve the best even texture for the coffee beans.
Grinding Speed: Yes, who doesn't want a grinder that grinds roasted coffee beans into a fine ground texture whenever they are in a hurry? Definitely no one! When it comes to this, electrical burr grinders are the best.
Pour over Coffee or French Press?
That’s a tough question to answer because there is no right answer. Some people will choose the pour over method over the French press naturally, it may take some effort to convert those people to the other side. The same thing goes for the supporters of the french press coffee maker.
Our suggestion to you is to experiment with the two methods and go with the one that your taste buds or gut lusts after. However, if you get the process right, you will almost always get a delicious cup of coffee regardless of which method you use. In fact, if you are a serious coffee lover, you will love one of the two methods dearly, if not both.
If you were to look at both methods in term of convenience, the pour over coffee may take the upper hand. When you use the pour over method, you only need to dispose of the paper filter and replace it when you want to brew coffee next. This leaves you with almost no cleanup and maintenance.
The downside is that you will be buying replacement paper filters at an alarming rate. Also, you need to use a lot of coffee to get a strong brew.
The advantage of the French press over the pour over method is that you can have a strong coffee faster without using too much coffee. However, this too has its downfalls. If you are ready to choose it, then be ready to spend more time cleaning and worrying about the stuff that stays at the bottom of the beaker after brewing your coffee.
Conclusion
People are different and they look forward to different tastes from their coffee. If you are into richer and thicker coffee, you may gravitate more towards the French press. On the other hand, if it is light and a little bit of oil that you are looking for, the obvious choice for you would be the pour over method. It all comes down to personal preference...the mood you are in...and maybe even the weather plays into your brewing choice du jour!
We sure would love to hear what your favorite brewing method is. If you have any questions or would like to share, please contact us today!
