French Press vs. AeroPress

Both live on kitchen counters. Both cost under $40. Both make excellent coffee without electricity. Beyond that, they have almost nothing in common.

French Press

Coarse-ground coffee steeps in hot water for 4 minutes. The mesh filter allows oils and fine particles to pass through, giving French press coffee a heavy, full-bodied mouthfeel that drip and pour over cannot replicate. The tradeoff: sediment in the cup. Brew it, pour it, drink it immediately. Coffee left in the carafe continues extracting and becomes bitter.

AeroPress

The AeroPress has a near-cult following. Ground coffee and hot water steep for 1 to 2 minutes, then pressed through a paper filter by hand. The result is a clean, concentrated cup with low bitterness and high clarity. The paper filter removes oils and sediment. The short steep time limits bitterness. It is also nearly indestructible and weighs almost nothing, making it the preferred travel brewer for people who care about coffee in hotel rooms and campgrounds.

Which One

If you want a rich, heavy cup for two or more people: French press. If you want a clean, precise cup for yourself: AeroPress. If you travel: AeroPress. Both are excellent. Both cost less than a week of cafe visits. Own both.

Keep reading: What Is a Pour Over, Chemex vs. V60, Drip Coffee vs. Pour Over.