Drip Coffee vs French Press Compared

Author: Melissa Collins

Updated: April 2, 2023

Drip Coffee vs. French Press Coffee

Millions of people everyday drink coffee as part of their morning routine to start their day off right. You probably haven’t put much thought into the way you make your coffee if you learned a specific way to make it from family or friends.

Learning how to brew it differently can unlock a world of new flavors from coffee you never dreamed of. The two most common methods used around the globe for brewing coffee are drip coffee or french press coffee.

What is Drip Coffee?

Drip coffee is what most people think of when you need a cup of coffee at the office. This method is usually done in a machine, although there is a slightly tedious way to do it by hand, known as the pour-over method.

These machines are common in homes and offices all around the world because it’s a very simple way to make coffee. In fact, it’s highly likely that at some point you’ve had a drip machine in your house. Before K-cups came around they were the standard way to make your morning cup.

Drip coffee is made by running hot water through coffee grounds contained in a filter. The machines usually let you load the filter and coffee ground into the top and then pour room temperature water into a reservoir.

The machine will then combine the coffee grains with water to slowly make your beverage. Drip coffee machines are automated with a pot on a heated surface. This allows you to make a large volume of coffee in a matter of minutes and keep it fresh for a while.

Some drip coffee machines are more convenient than others and come with things like automated timers. This ensures that the drip coffee will begin making itself before you wake up.

Making drip coffee is also considered to be incredibly cheap. Both the coffee ground used in the machine and the appliance itself are usually cheap to buy. Some K-cup coffee machines even come with a drip coffee option to make your favorite drip coffee.

Since most of the process is automated, it’s very difficult to mess up making coffee this way. It generally takes about two to three minutes to make a pot of coffee. This method has a reputation for making consistent but average tasting coffee, but there are better ways to make a great cup of coffee using the drip method.

That being said, for those that like to just have a cup of black coffee in the mornings, drip coffee may be the perfect choice.

Drip Coffee Pros and Cons

Pros

Straightforward and easy to use machines
Cleaning only requires new filters and hot water
You don’t have to be present and attentive for every step.
No need to grind your coffee beans.

Cons

You have to trust the machine to be at optimal temperature.
The amount of time it takes the coffee to brew is set.
The filters can block oils from the coffee beans and reduce flavor.

What is French Press Coffee?

Contrary to popular belief making good french press coffee is not that difficult. French press is a method for brewing coffee that is just as simple as the drip method but requires a bit more attention. The coffee is made by steeping coffee grounds in hot water and then pressing the coffee grounds out.

French press pots are usually a glass cylinder with a metal mesh filter on the inside that you can press down using a plunger. The coffee goes in the bottom below the filter, and then you pour the hot water over top. Since a French press doesn’t use a paper filter, it allows the oil from the coffee beans to pass through and keeps your coffee tasting rich and bold instead of flat.

With a French press, a very important part is grinding your coffee beans. You have control over the grind, and that changes the coffee in the end. If it’s very fine, it will take a long time to steep fully, and if it’s too coarse, the coffee won’t be extracted as much.

There are even some luxury brands available for purchase if you want to speed up the process. A French Press machine is a great way to experience premium cups of coffee from all over the world.

This method of making coffee has been around for centuries, and the modern machine we use today was actually designed in Italy. It’s the second most simple method for making coffee even though a lot of coffee lovers shy away from it due to the misconception that it’s difficult. It takes about ten to fifteen minutes to make coffee this way.

French press pros and cons

Pros

You have control over the temperature since you boil water separately.
You can decide how long to steep your coffee.
No filters are needed, and this allows coffee oils to pass through.
Mobile since no electricity is needed.

Cons

Harder to clean than a drip machine.
You can only brew so much at one time.
It requires more attention and care for good coffee.

What Makes Them Different?

A drip coffee machine and a french press are very different methods for making a great coffee. The french press is more mobile and doesn’t require electricity for the pot, but it does take more concentration to make than a drip coffee machine does. With a french press, you will have to boil your water separately, and most drip machines heat the water for you inside.

Another big difference is the use of filters. A drip machine will have to have filters in order for you to use it while a french press has a built-in metal mesh filter. The drip machines filters will block the oils from the coffee grounds from getting into the finished cup while the french press does not. This can have a huge impact on flavor.

A drip coffee machine is capable of making a very consistent tasting cup of coffee since the timing and temperature are automated. With a french press, each cup of coffee can taste different with a small variation in how you make it. This makes it more flexible if you want to switch up your taste, but it can be difficult to make that perfect tasting cup.

Why You Should Ditch Your Drip Coffee Pot For a French Press

A French press can open a whole new world of coffee up to anyone who has only used a standard drip coffee machine. It’s a great way to get hands-on and make a part of your daily routine more personal to you. It makes for a much richer cup of coffee as well if done properly and can open your tastebuds to a whole other world of taste.

A french press gives you total control over how you make your coffee too. You control how hot the water is that you put in, how finely ground the coffee beans are, and just how long you leave it top steep. This makes it a great option if you want to experiment around to make the perfect cup of coffee for you.

The showdown: Press Vs. Drip

So which one should you get? The decision can be daunting to someone who loves coffee and can’t decide. It really depends on you. The drip machine can still make a great cup of coffee, and it is automated and simple to use.

This makes it great for someone with a busy life who can’t take the extra time but still wants good coffee.

If you are someone who can take time and put care into their coffee, then you will get more value out of a french press. The amount of control you have allows you to make the perfect cup of coffee according to your tastes. It takes time, but it is a simple skill to master and turns coffee from routine to personal.

How to Make The Best Drip Coffee?

If you want to get the most out of your coffee using the drip method, there are a few things to focus on. The most important thing is your machine. If you are using a cheap machine, you can get average coffee from it, but you will never be able to get great coffee.

You don’t need to drop hundreds on a top of the line machine, but don’t go too cheap either. The cheaper machines aren’t as consistent when it comes to water temperature and brew times. You want your coffee to brew for around 5 minutes at a temperature between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit.

Your water is important. The mineral content in your water can translate to your cup of coffee. Tap water can be mineral heavy, changing the taste of your coffee. It’s best to use a filter at home for your water or use bottled spring water.

Don’t underestimate how important the grind of your coffee beans can be. This can have a big impact on how the coffee steeps and can affect the flavor. If your coffee is too coarse, you won’t get as much extracted of the beans since the water passes through too fast. If it’s too fine, then it will take too long. It’s also best to grind your coffee beans at home if you are looking for a great flavor.

Lastly, you need to consider your filter. If you are using cheap paper filters as the water travels through the filter, it can trap oils from the coffee grounds and leave your coffee with a flatter taste. You can use mesh filters to alleviate this issue, but you will have to have a very consistent grinder and use a coarse grind in order to keep the grounds in the filter.

How to Make The Best French Press Coffee?

Making a great cup of french pressed coffee is a simple and attainable skill. The amount of control you have over every step of the process allows you to make some amazing tasting coffee. All it takes is a bit of practice and the patience needed to learn the process.

There are two very important parts to making the perfect cup of french press coffee; the right temperature water and a very consistent coffee grinder. Like mentioned above, you can also choose to buy some speciality coffee brands to skip grinding the coffee yourself. Both of these will affect the taste of the coffee in the end.

You want to use filtered tap water or bottled spring water, just like with your drip coffee. Boil this in a separate pot until the temperature is between 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit. If the water is too cold, it will take too long to steep.

The grind of your coffee beans is very important to french press coffee. You need to use a medium grind. This is about the same consistency of sea salt for comparison. If you are finishing a batch of french press coffee and it’s difficult to press the plunger all the way down, then you need a coarser grind. This is why it is important to have a very French press coffee.

Picking The Best Coffee

Drip coffee is a simple way to make coffee consistently, and it can be great if you are careful in selecting the right coffee machine. For those that just want a simple cup of coffee the drip method may be best. French press coffee, on the other hand, is a more hands-on approach to coffee and, with a bit of practice, can make amazing rich tasting coffee as well.

Whether you are used to the drip method or using a french press, it’s important to get outside your comfort zone and try new ways of making your daily cup.

There are tons of new flavors rolling out from esteemed companies all over the world. You never know if you will find you like the flavor better done one way or another unless you try it.