French Press vs Espresso

Last Update: May 7, 2021
The French Press is a popular device to make coffee. Espresso is one of the most versatile coffee. Read about how these stack up against each other.

French Press and espresso have an essential part in the brewing process. Both methods will produce a sharp, dark brew that will become the basis of different coffee-based blends that everyone loves.

But their similarities end there. As a real coffee lover and enthusiast, you should know the difference between drip coffee and these methods. Right here, we will give you a run-through of French Press vs Espresso and everything you need to know about the two.

Brewing Coffee with a French Press

Now that you are interested in the pressing machine and how you can make your coffee out of it, you will find many procedures that you can use to create your favorite blend. But right here are some of the best methods in brewing coffee with the best French Press.

If you are looking for the cheapest coffee brewing machine, a French press is the best alternative for you. Most coffee press products cost less than $30. But the price changes along with the size of the product, which means the more significant the machine, the more it becomes expensive.

The look of the French Press is fundamental that you will never find trouble in using it. The main feature is a piston that goes through the lid and the center of the pot. A French press is a life-saver because of its efficient and straightforward technology. You can brew your delicious cup of coffee without stressing yourself. All you need to prepare is the heated water and your favorite brand of coffee grounds. These are the steps that will help you in producing an espresso coffee to complete your day.

Secura French Press Coffee Maker, Stainless Steel

Step # 1: Grind your coffee.

If you want to make two cups of coffee, you will need to prepare four tablespoons of coffee. When grinding your coffee, stick with coarse grounds to avoid a muddy look with your coffee. Fine grounds of coffee can pass through the piston that is supposed to hold them at the bottom, and that will create a different look and taste of your blend.

Step # 2: Boil the water.

This step is the most critical stage of making your espresso coffee. You have to prepare heated water to achieve the best taste of your coffee grounds. Avoid using water that was boiled an hour prior because it cannot do the coffee extraction in the right way.

Step # 3: Add the grounds of coffee.

In this step, let your coffee ‘bloom’ before you add your desired amount of heated water. To do this, pour a small amount of hot water after putting the ground inside the French Press. After a few seconds, you will get to smell the beautiful aroma of your coffee grounds. You can choose to skip the blooming stage, but your coffee might not achieve its best taste. So, it is better to let your coffee grounds bloom first.

Step # 4: Pour the remaining water inside the Press.

Now that you have enjoyed the smell of your coffee, it’s time to pour the remaining heated water into the French Press. Opt to stir the ground gently and mix the coffee with the water.

Step # 5: Allow the coffee to steep for a few minutes.

You have to be careful in doing this step because it is a vital part of your coffee. If you fail to follow the right instructions, you end up wasting your time and money. To make a perfect espresso coffee, you have to allow your coffee grounds to steep for 4 minutes. Don’t make it 3 minutes or 5 minutes – it should be 4 minutes to avoid extracting a different taste of the grounds.

Step # 6: Pressing the piston.

Do the pressing as gently as possible, just like what you did when you were stirring. Never do it in a single motion, and if there is resistance while going down, take the plunger backward, and then you can continue plunging downwards. You need to retract the plunger as soon as you reach the bottom.

Different factors will influence the kind of flavor that you will get in using the French press brewing process:

  • the type of coffee
  • the ratio of water to the coffee as you put it into the carafe
  • the coarseness of the coffee grounds that you will use

Important tip: After all the steps, you must pour the espresso into a different cup right away to avoid a bitter taste. Now, you are ready to taste the first espresso you made with a French press.

Taking Espresso at a Cafe

A cafe is an excellent alternative if you are tired of making your espresso at home, but you need a kick for your body and mind. Most baristas in a cafe know how to make an espresso perfectly. With their espresso machines under 500$, they can prepare a shot in very minimal time. You don’t have to stress yourself with all the preparation and sit and wait for your favorite coffee to be served.

  • French Press is simple, while espresso is complex.

Talking about the process of coffee brewing, the French Press is more simple than the espresso. While the French Press coffee has only six steps, including grinding your coffee and combining it with heated water, espresso will require you a few more steps while using it, making the process more complicated. But if you can establish a routine while using any of these machines, you will save some time and taste your coffee sooner.

  • Maintenance also matters.

The maintenance of the machine also contributes to its complexity. With espresso, you will need to clean every part of the machine and keep these parts at a calibrated temperature and pressure. If you failed to do the maintenance properly, your device might fail to produce quality coffee. On the other hand, a French press coffee maker is effortless to clean, and you don’t have to worry about calibration.

  • The time of preparation is faster with French Press than espresso.

In a typical setup, making a French press coffee cup will take around 6 to 8 minutes, including the 4 minutes steeping time of the grounds. With an espresso, 20 to 30 seconds is enough to take a shot. Yet, you have to consider the machine's pre-heating time, which will take around 15 to 20 minutes. If you choose to use the device, Freshly ground beans will also be part of your preparation time. You will need to spend more time preparing your brew when using an espresso maker than when you are using the French Press, coffee maker.

Timing is the main reason why the French machine is commonly used in parties and social gatherings. This machine can produce a volume of coffee blends, and many people can enjoy it without waiting too long.

  • You will need a different kind of grounded coffee.

Using the French Press coffee maker will require you to use a medium-coarse ground coffee to not pass through the piston, and it will make a dirty look for your coffee. But it is the opposite when it comes to espresso. With this machine, you will need a finely ground coffee to create the best shot of coffee for you or your guests. The brewed blend of espresso will give you a more bitter taste than the French Press coffee one, so prepare yourself.

  • The French Press coffee is way cheaper than the espresso machine.

If you consider your budget in deciding which machine to buy, you have to know both products' costs. As we have mentioned above, the French Press coffee maker is less expensive. With the price range of $15 to $30, you can get yourself a decent French press coffee machine that you can use at home or anywhere you wanted. But you have to remember that the price of the French machine changes with the size. So, if you plan to buy a bigger one, you should expect to pay a higher price.

Compared to the French Press coffee maker's price, espresso is more expensive, and it has a high end and low end. You can get a low-end one at the cost of $50 or even less. And if you go for a high-end one, you might need to spend around $500. The kind of brewing method varies with the quality of the machine. With the smaller espresso, you will have a big chance to end up with a poorer coffee cup because you cannot adjust the temperature and water pressure while brewing. On the other hand, a high-end espresso machine can give you many options, and it will grind the coffee beans right away. You don’t have to do anything because it will automatically do its purpose.

  • The French Press is more convenient when traveling.

If you are someone who loves and enjoys traveling or doing outdoor activities like hiking, you will love the portability of the French Press. It can easily fit inside a backpack, and you can use it whenever you want. But you have to be careful with packing your French Press since its cylinder is made of glass. 

On the contrary, you can bring your espresso machine while traveling, but it will never be feasible for those who want to hike. If you have a bigger machine, you will need a bigger space for it as well.

Can you use a French Press to make Espresso?

Yes! You can make your espresso with a French press. If you want to achieve a similar taste and consistency when you are using an espresso machine, then you have to read, understand, and follow these steps:

Step # 1 - Prepare your ingredients.

Gather all the necessary ingredients and tools that you will need with brewing, including:

  • the French press machine
  • the freshly and finely ground coffee beans
  • the measuring spoon
  • the stirring stick
  • the heated water

Step # 2 - It's time to heat the water.

You can use an automatic heater when making hot water for your espresso. But it is more recommended that you use a safe stovetop kettle to do it. As soon as your water starts to get warm, swirl some hot water inside the glass container of your French Press to make sure the glass does not crack from the sudden change of temperature when you add the boiling water.

Step # 3 - The challenge of grinding your beans.

Your ground coffee's quality and size will play a huge factor in achieving a blend that is similar to an espresso. When you choose to buy ground beans, you have to find an espresso grind in the market. But if you decide to grind your coffee, here are the tips that you need to know:

  • Though you chose to grind your coffee, you still need to find an espresso-type coffee. 
  • Find a grinder that will give you an espresso grind. 
  • The ground coffee for an espresso is very fine. But this might be a problem since you will be using a French press. Choose a coarse to medium ground coffee to avoid the grounds from passing through the filter and mixing with the heated water. Be careful when grinding because it can affect the final taste of your espresso.

Step # 4 - Start adding the coffee grounds into the Press.

You may find this part tricky because of the size difference between the French Press and espresso machine. When you are using an espresso machine, you often use 16 t0 21 grams of ground in every water cup. Because the French Press is more extensive, you can double the coffee grounds and hot water proportions. You will end up having espresso leftovers, but that is not a big issue anyway.

Step # 5 - Add the hot water over the grounds.

Now that you put the coffee grounds in the Press, you can add the heated water as well. Start with a small portion of the water, and after a few seconds, pour the remainder of the two cups of water. One thing to remember is your water’s temperature must not exceed the 20-degree Fahrenheit. To get the ideal espresso, stay with the 195 degrees Fahrenheit heat level.

Step # 6 - Give your brew a quick stir.

After adding the grounds and hot water into your French Press, you must stir your brew quickly using a spoon with a long handle to avoid clumping. Doing this will also add a pleasant frothy consistency. Push the filter assembly downward until it rests on the water. But it’s not yet time to plunge down your filter. Wait for your coffee to steep first.

Step # 7 - Let your coffee steep.

The ideal time for steeping your brew is around 3-4 minutes. If you wait a little longer, it can create a darker and more robust coffee. But doing this does not mean that you are guaranteed to produce an espresso-like taste. You are doing an experiment when you are steeping. The steep time will control the extraction of the coffee. If you steep too soon, your coffee will taste sour. If you soak too long, the coffee will taste bitter. So trust your judgment in making the best espresso at home.

Step # 8 - Press down your brew.

The next thing you need to do is hold the lid and steady it, and then slowly press the plunger down in a steady manner. Some people experiment in this part as well. If you want to create a thin layer of foam, bring it up and then plunge it down.

Step # 9 - Before pouring into your cup, let the coffee sit for a while.

Don’t get too excited about your espresso blend. You have to let it sit for a while before you pour it into your favorite cup. You can use a coffee filter or a clean cloth to filter some very fine sediment of your brewed coffee when doing this. Avoid using paper filters because they can change the taste of the espresso.

French Press vs Espresso: Practicality, Taste, and More

French press vs espresso, which one tastes better, and what are the differences? You may have asked this question and are still searching for the correct answer. Compared to regular coffee, these two coffee variants continue to gain popularity. Most coffee drinkers have their taste preferences.

For instance, if you prefer a strong coffee concentrated taste, an espresso shot is your best option. However, if you want a more aromatic, steeped, and full-bodied, delicious coffee, a French press will work best for you. If you have enough time preparing one, best to leave the coffee for a while to achieve optimum brewing time to enhance coffee flavor.

When it comes to the brew method, the French press versus espresso is known for dark and strong brew taste, which is the foundation of many specialty-rich caffeine coffee-based drinks like cappuccinos and lattes. Compared to instant coffee, which most coffee lovers thought of as not a "real" drink, you may be torn between french press vs espresso coffees.

French press vs espresso

So what sets these two iconic coffee drinks apart? Which one wins between espresso vs french press for crema, taste, and practicality? Which coffee bean should you use for what—espresso beans or arabica beans? Will you go for any coffee bean or check for dark or light roast beans?

The significant difference between french press and espresso drinks is their brewing process. French press is steeped with full-bodied aromatic unfiltered coffee drinks. At the same time, espresso is a concentrated strong filtered coffee shot.

Espresso requires the finest espresso ground beans, while French presses work with a coarse coffee grind. The result is two varieties of flavor profiles. The percolator is the closest thing to an espresso brew. When it comes to intuitive ways, French press components require a hands-on method. You can control almost everything in the process, water, temperature, coffee grounds, oils, and taste.

Unlike espresso that offers versatility to create specialty drinks, French press coffee is limited to a single coffee type. Though you can customize your drinks by adding steam milk, flavor syrups, and sugar, you only brew traditional coffee.

You may resort to a larger serving of Turkish coffee or choose a cold brew, varying your preference and caffeine needs. Overall, knowing the similarities between these two brewing methods can help meet your distinctive coffee needs.

Pros and Cons of Making Espresso in French Press

Ever wonder if you can make those strong shots of espresso in french press brew method? The quick answer—yes, the French press versus espresso machine produces the lightest or weakest espresso among non-machine components. If you don't mind drinking a regular coffee taste, this brewing process is perfect for you.

There are a few differences when you brew an espresso shot using the French press method. While the percolator allows you to brew larger coffee quantities, it cannot easily replicate the strong coffee with delicious coffee flavor you'll get from a filtered coffee machine.

Between espresso vs French press machine, an unfiltered coffee grind does not have the crema you get from your espresso beans. However, one of the advantages of a French press is it'll save you time and effort serving large crowds.

It's ideal for social gatherings, especially if it requires you to brew multiple servings of too many coffee drinkers. The setback with French press brewing ways is limited types of drinks.

That means, if you plan to skip the instant coffee and impress your guests with your flavorful espresso ground with specialty espresso-based coffees like lattes and cappuccinos, then you may not meet the crema result you're looking for with the French press method.

A French press allows you to use almost all types of coffee bean available, from light roast, medium, and dark roast robusta or arabica beans. However, expert baristas will recommend dark roast as they retain most oils, leading to a flavorful and great-tasting coffee. However, we don’t recommend using espresso ground on your French press.

Unlike your espresso machine that offers multiple ways to create various caffeine drinks, the French press has limitations. Like a cold brew or Turkish coffee, you can have large quantities to work around with steam milk, flavor syrups, and extra flavor additives.

Is There More Caffeine in French Press Coffee?

Health-conscious coffee drinkers may be wondering how much caffeine in French press coffee is. Due to concentration, you may think an espresso shot has higher caffeine content than regular coffee drinks. Instant coffee or the traditional coffee brew method may offer a delicious coffee result varying on which process is applied.

How can you determine which coffee is healthier and meets your caffeine needs? There are several factors that you need to consider between the French press versus espresso brewing method. However, both provide a strong coffee drink regardless of the coffee beans you use.

The unfiltered coffee process offers more caffeine components compared to filtered coffee drinks. Comparing espresso vs French press drinks, the latter has more caffeinated content.

Though you can brew espresso using your French press, the result is weaker tasting coffee. Any coffee grind can work perfectly with a French press but best to avoid using an espresso ground due to its delicate texture.

Typically, baristas and newcomers used coarse coffee grounds with a French press. You can also use a percolator to make an espresso drink. Otherwise, a cold brew can also be your option for caffeine drinks. If you need large coffee quantities, Turkish coffee may fit your criteria perfectly.

Understanding the differences in caffeine content, brewing method, and coffee bean requirements is essential to finding the right coffee drinks to start your day. French press is a versatile process as it allows you to use any coffee beans—arabica beans, light roast, medium roast, and dark roast. We recommend using darker ones as these retails coffee oils for aromatic, flavorful, and delicious coffee.

If you opt to experiment with specialty drinks, espresso drinks offer the perfect crema for lattes and cappuccinos. If you aim for these coffees with French press, alternative ways are to steam some milk on the side to add on your java drinks.

Other Ways To Make Espresso with French Press

make espresso with french press

Have you ever wondered if you can make espresso with French press machine? Before you jump over and buy the latest and quite expensive espresso machine with the state of the art technology, read these quick ways first.

French press is a widely known coffee brew method for many. As a coffee connoisseur, there's a high percentage that you have this machine sitting in your kitchen, serving you a delicious coffee every morning.

You may not be surprised but have never tried yet, but you can make an espresso shot using your French press as an alternative option. Between espresso vs French press, the latter is far more affordable and can offer versatility result in caffeine drinks.

You can use a Moka pot or a percolator, an Aeropress, and a French press as an alternative if an espresso machine is not available. The convenience of using a French press is that you can use your choice of coffee bean along the process.

Whether you have fresh arabica beans, espresso beans, light roast coffee grind, or medium to dark ones, these are excellent components to a strong coffee drink. The espresso ground is not recommended to use on your French press due to its fine grounds. Dark roast is ideal for the French press and retains the oils, improving your coffee experience.

Comparing french press versus espresso drinks, you’ll expect differences in brewing regular coffee beans. However, the brewing method for the French press has limited variants for coffee drinkers. Though you can steam some milk on the side for specialty drinks like cappuccinos and lattes, espresso has that crema for most coffees.

As for instant coffee, many are wondering whether this is considered filtered coffee or falls under the unfiltered coffee category. This solution goes through a different hydration process, and the work is far from cold brew and large quantity Turkish coffee.

How To Double Brew Espresso in a French Press

Have you tried a double brew espresso in a French press? This may sound a bit out of the regular coffee experience, but a must-try for coffee drinkers out there. So what are the differences between this double brew method using your French press? Let's dig deeper.

For some, using the right coffee bean can make or break your coffee encounter. Some use only espresso ground for that morning espresso shot. Others go for dark or light roast arabica beans on their coffee drinks. But a double brew coffee using your French press versus espresso machine convenience seems distinctive experimentation.

Will the caffeine content double too? There are a couple of ways to help you achieve a double-brewed coffee. The first is to double up the number of filtered coffee beans on your percolator, Moka pot, or French press. The other method, brew your components twice. That means you'll use the exact water for the second time on your coffee grind.

The result is a more robust and bolder caffeine kick. Between espresso vs French press, the latter offers versatility, too, whether you opt for a delicious coffee or strong coffee encounter every single time.

Specialty drinks can be done using the double-brew process; just steam some milk on the sides for an instant crema experience from lattes and cappuccinos. Instant coffee may fall into another category rather than being unfiltered coffee.

Most baristas will work with darker roast coffees when brewing with the French press as these coffee roasts retain their oils, creating a flavorful and aromatic coffee experience. If you also work with cold brew during the summer heat where you need to sustain caffeine on your body. On the other hand, Turkish coffee is ideal if you need a larger amount of coffee, regardless of whether you are using the best espresso beans for your next brew.

Conclusion

There you go. Now, you are ready to enjoy a shot of espresso at home by using your French press machine.

Both the French Press and espresso are great machines to use in making your favorite coffee. When you are tight on budget but still wish to have one of these products at home, you have your market options. Just be precise with what you want with your coffee, and from there, you can decide which is better between French press VS espresso.

linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram