So you have outgrown your trusted drip coffee machine and are looking for new ways to get a good brew without breaking the bank. While expensive espresso machines are the holy grail to recreating café-quality coffee at home, they may not make economic sense for everyone. Which leads us to this age old question: are there any inexpensive, fast and easy to use devices to brew a great cup of coffee without spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on an espresso machine?
Fortunately various budget friendly coffee makers are available in the market, and here we present two of the most popular alternatives coffee lovers swear by: French press and AeroPress.
To start with, both French press and AeroPress are great low-cost ways of brewing coffee that produce rich, deeply flavoured results. Their main difference lies in how they operate. A French press uses steam pressure to force the grinds down into the cup. Conversely, an Aeropress forces air through the grinds.
So how do they compare and which coffee maker is right for you?
A French press is one of the more popular ways of preparing coffee, as it gives you the flexibility to brew the exact amount you need, and it works particularly well for serving coffee to a large group of people. It extracts pure, robust coffee, obtained by totally immersing the coffee grounds in hot water to brew, followed by the filtering of the coffee with a mesh sieve and plunger. This allows for a complete infusion of coffee grains, resulting in a maximum release of their aromatic oil, giving you a rich, velvety cup of coffee with minimal effort.
Pros
Aeropress is a relatively small device that sits on top of a large glass or mug. It works by filling the plastic cylinder with coffee grounds and hot water, and with a press on the inserted plunger, it produces a perfectly brewed coffee in under 60 seconds. AeroPress is ideal for any coffee lover looking for a rich and smooth, espresso-style cup of coffee without the expense of an espresso machine.
Pros:
Comparing the pros and cons listed above, we can all agree that French press and Aeropress are equally great options. They both make excellent coffee and are affordable alternatives to a drip coffee maker or an expensive espresso machine. They are simple and quick to use, with the two devices capable of producing delicious, aromatic coffee in under five minutes.
In the end, it all comes down to your personal preference and on the number of cups of coffee you usually prepare in one setting. If you regularly only need a quick cup or two of coffee, Aeropress is perfect. For bigger servings, French press is the clear winner.
Here’s an idea, if your budget allows it, why not get both?