French Press FAQ

A French Press is a great way to get a more full and bold taste from the coffee that you drink.  Many coffee drinkers step up to purchasing a French Press after years of using an automatic drip machine.  They upgrade because they realize that a press can create a unique taste that cannot be achieved through a drip machine.  If you are new to the idea, and are wondering “What is a French Press anyway?”  here are some answers to frequently asked questions…

What is the difference between a French Press and a drip coffee maker?

There are several differences including the taste of the resulting coffee, the process by which the coffee is made and the amount of work that the user has to do.  An automatic drip coffee maker boils water and then drops it into a pile of coffee grounds which all filters through paper with the help of gravity.  A French Press works differently — a French Press is normally a pot or a tube.  The user deposits coffee grounds and boiling water together and may stir or shake the mixture to make it even.  After that, a filter is pushed through the pot, from the top to the bottom.  The filter pushes all of the coffee grounds to the bottom of the pot while letting the water pass through.  The resulting liquid is a stronger and more concentrated coffee.

However, it is the difference in taste that matters most.  Since taste is a rather subjective, we can only describe how the two processes of preparation create different results.  An automatic drip maker is usually criticized for having a weaker taste because the grounds are not pressed.  With a French Press, the flavor is literally squeezed out of the coffee grounds.  The paper filter used with an automatic drip coffee maker is usually criticized for adding a displeasing taste to the coffee.  A French Press does not use a paper filter so there is nothing that will change the taste of the drink.  Overall, most coffee drinkers who have tried a French press tend to prefer the taste that they produce.

Can you describe the difference in taste from a drip machine to a French Press?

Once again, since taste is such a subjective topic it is difficult to describe the difference between a drip and a press.  However, most avid coffee drinkers say that a drink prepared on a French Press has a more full and bold taste.  Some people would translate this to having in a stronger taste.  The taste is not necessarily stronger, but has hints of flavors that are not noticeable when using an automatic drip coffee maker.

Many people say that since the coffee is prepared in a different way, a French Press will produce less bitter and less acidic coffee.  So, if you enjoy a bitter taste to your coffee you may want to stick with your automatic drip machine.  However, people who enjoy a more rich taste may rather use a press.

Is a French Press more expensive than a drip machine?

On average you might say that a French Press is just a bit more expensive than an automatic drip machine.  However, there are many models of both kinds of devices that are relatively close in price.  You can get a mid-priced drip machine for around $25 to $30 and you can get a high quality French Press for around $30.  But you should always remember that there are French Press models that may cost as much as $100 or more, depending on the quality, brand name and the size.

Is a French Press difficult to use?

If you think of a press as a more refined way to prepare your coffee, then it only makes sense that the method of preparation takes a little bit more effort.  The process is not difficult but it does take some time.  Most coffee press devices are efficient enough to let you go from pulling it out of the cupboard to enjoying your coffee in about 4 minutes or less.  But you will have to do some work.  You’ll have to boil water, put the coffee grounds into the press and press the plunger down to create your drink.

This is a bit more effort than it takes to create coffee with an automatic drip maker, but the result is much more satisfying.  It only makes sense that a higher quality and result takes more effort to produce.

I am new to coffee drinking, will I like the taste that a French Press produces?

If you are a new coffee drinker, you have the perfect opportunity to start preparing your drink with a French Press.  Since your taste buds have not become accustomed to anything else, now is the perfect time to start preparing your coffee the right way.  A lot of new drinkers are afraid that the strong taste of pressed coffee will drive them away, but this is just not true.  Think of it as a starting off on the right foot.

Have more questions?

If you still have questions that were not answered here, please feel free to contact us at French Press reviews.  We always welcome suggestions for questions that we can add to this page and we would love to help you out if you need some answers.