Two brewers. Both under £40. Both sitting on kitchen counters across the UK. Both with fanatically loyal fans who will argue their case at volume.
The AeroPress and the French press (or cafetière, as we tend to call it over here) are the two most popular manual coffee makers in Britain — and they couldn’t be more different in the cup they produce.
So which one should you actually buy? And which one makes a better cuppa?
We’ve brewed hundreds of cups on both. Here’s the honest verdict.
At a Glance
| AeroPress | French Press | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~£30–£40 | ~£15–£50 |
| Brew time | 1–2 minutes | 4–5 minutes |
| Cups per brew | 1 (or 2 with dilution) | 2–8 depending on size |
| Grind size | Medium-fine | Coarse |
| Filter type | Paper (or metal) | Metal mesh |
| Cup style | Clean, bright, smooth | Bold, rich, full-bodied |
| Cleanup | Very easy | Moderate |
| Portability | Excellent | Poor |
| Best for | Single cups, flavour exploration | Batch brewing, morning ritual |
What Actually Happens Inside Each Brewer
Before picking a winner, it helps to understand what each method is actually doing to your coffee — because it explains everything about the taste difference.
The French Press
The French press is one of the oldest and simplest brew methods in existence. You add coarsely ground coffee, pour in near-boiling water, wait four minutes, and press down the metal mesh plunger to separate the grounds.
That metal mesh filter is the key detail. It lets through the coffee’s natural oils and a small amount of fine sediment — which is what gives French press coffee its characteristic richness, heavy body, and full mouthfeel. Think whole milk versus skimmed. The French press gives you the whole milk.
The downside of that same mesh filter: it’s less forgiving. If your grind is too fine, those particles slip through and you get a silty, gritty cup. If you leave it too long after pressing, the coffee continues to extract and turns bitter.
The AeroPress
The AeroPress, invented in 2005 by a Stanford engineer, combines two brewing principles: immersion (like a French press) and pressure (like an espresso machine, but much gentler — around 0.5 bar versus espresso’s 9 bar).
You add medium-fine grounds, pour in water, stir briefly, and press the plunger. The coffee is forced through a paper microfilter in 1–2 minutes. That paper filter catches the oils and sediment — leaving a cleaner, brighter, more clearly defined cup with noticeably less bitterness.
The AeroPress is also famously forgiving. The paper filter masks inconsistencies in grind quality far more effectively than a metal mesh. If you’re still learning or using a budget grinder, the AeroPress hides a multitude of sins.
Taste: The Real Difference
This is where opinions get heated.
French press coffee is bold, heavy, and rich. The oils that come through the metal filter coat your mouth and create that full, round mouthfeel. Chocolatey and earthy notes tend to come forward. It feels satisfying in a way that lighter brews don’t. If you want a coffee that feels like coffee — commanding, unfussy, getting-on-with-it — the French press delivers.
The downside: it can tip into bitterness if timing or grind is off, and the sediment at the bottom of the cup is an acquired taste for some.
AeroPress coffee is cleaner and brighter. Fruity and floral notes that the French press might muddy come through clearly. The finish is smoother and less heavy. If you’re drinking single-origin beans with interesting flavour profiles, the AeroPress lets you taste them properly.
The downside: some people find it too light, too clean, too polished. If you want something hearty with your morning toast, the AeroPress might feel a bit delicate.
The honest verdict on taste: neither is objectively better — they produce fundamentally different styles of coffee. The question is which style suits you.
Ease of Use
French Press
Pour, wait, press, pour. It’s genuinely simple — there’s almost nothing to learn. The main pitfall is timing (don’t forget about it) and grind consistency (too fine = gritty). Once you’ve got a routine down, it becomes an effortless morning ritual.
The one frustration: if you’re brewing for one, a large French press sits there with leftover coffee continuing to over-extract. Either buy a small one-cup model or pour everything out immediately after pressing.
AeroPress
Slightly more involved, but still simple. There are also two methods — standard and inverted — and a rabbit hole of recipes and variations that the community has developed over 20 years. That’s either exciting or overwhelming depending on your personality.
For beginners: stick to the standard method. Boil water, let it cool 30 seconds, add coffee, stir, press over 30 seconds. Done in under two minutes.
Winner on ease: French Press — marginally. Fewer variables, less to think about, works well for multiple cups.
Cleanup
French Press: You press, you pour, then you’re left with a wet mound of coffee grounds stuck to a metal mesh filter inside a glass carafe. Getting those grounds out cleanly requires either spooning them into the bin, filling with water and swirling, or disassembling the plunger to rinse. It’s not difficult, but it’s messier than it looks.
AeroPress: Press the plunger all the way and the used coffee puck pops out in one compact disc straight into the bin. Rinse the rubber seal. Done in 20 seconds. It’s genuinely one of the cleanest brew methods available.
Winner on cleanup: AeroPress — easily. Not even close.
Portability
French Press: Glass carafes and travel don’t mix well. There are stainless steel versions, but they’re bulkier and heavier than they look. Taking a French press camping or on a work trip is possible but awkward.
AeroPress: It was practically designed for travel. It’s made of near-indestructible BPA-free plastic, weighs almost nothing, and fits in a backpack pocket. There’s a reason it has a devoted following among hikers, cyclists, and business travellers. The AeroPress Go model even comes with a travel mug it sits inside.
Winner on portability: AeroPress — by a mile.
Price
Both are affordable. A decent French press starts at around £15 (Bodum Brazil, widely available) and a good one costs £25–£35. A Bodum Chambord, the classic stainless and glass version, sits at around £30–£40.
The AeroPress Original costs around £30–£35. The AeroPress Go (with travel mug) is around £35–£40. The AeroPress XL (for larger batches) is around £45.
Winner on price: Draw. Both represent excellent value for the coffee quality they produce.
Which Beans Work Best?
French Press: Works best with medium to dark roasts. The full-immersion method and metal filter suit bold, chocolatey, earthy coffees well. Light roasts can taste a bit watery from a French press — the lack of filtering means the delicate floral notes get lost in the body of the brew.
AeroPress: Works brilliantly with light to medium roasts where you want to taste distinct flavour notes. Single-origin Ethiopians and Colombians shine through an AeroPress in a way they often don’t from a cafetière. That said, it handles darker roasts perfectly well too.
For both: always use freshly roasted beans with a roast date on the bag. The difference between fresh beans and supermarket beans roasted months ago is more significant than the difference between any two brew methods.
The Verdict: Which One Should You Buy?
Buy a French Press if:
- You brew for two or more people regularly
- You like bold, rich, full-bodied coffee
- You want the simplest possible morning routine
- You’re not planning to travel with it
- You drink darker roasts
Buy an AeroPress if:
- You mostly brew single cups
- You want cleaner, brighter coffee with more defined flavour
- Easy cleanup matters to you
- You travel or work away regularly
- You enjoy experimenting with recipes and variables
- You’re using quality single-origin beans
Buy both if you’re a coffee enthusiast — they’re cheap enough that owning both gives you two completely different coffee experiences for under £70 total. French press for weekend mornings when you have time, AeroPress for weekday speed runs.
Our Recommendation
If we had to pick one: AeroPress, by a narrow margin.
The cleanup alone wins it for most people with busy mornings. The portability is unmatched. And the paper filter’s forgiving nature means you get consistently good coffee even when your grind isn’t perfect — which is most of the time when you’re just starting out.
But if you regularly brew for two or more, love a rich, commanding cup, and want zero learning curve? The French press is the right tool and there’s no shame in it. It’s been making great coffee for over 170 years for a reason.
What to Buy
AeroPress:
- AeroPress Original (~£32) — the classic, everything you need
- AeroPress Go (~£38) — comes with a travel mug, ideal if you commute
French Press:
- Bodum Brazil (~£15) — budget pick, does the job
- Bodum Chambord (~£35) — the classic stainless and glass design, buy-it-for-life quality
- Fellow Clara (~£65) — premium option with a double-wall insulated carafe that keeps coffee hot longer
Grinder for either:
- Hario Mini Slim (~£25) — entry-level hand grinder, works for both methods
- Timemore C3 (~£50) — step up in consistency, especially for AeroPress
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AeroPress better than French press for beginners? Yes, marginally. The paper filter is more forgiving of grind inconsistency, and cleanup is much easier. For someone just getting into manual brewing, the AeroPress has a lower frustration ceiling.
Can I use the same beans in both? Yes, though you’ll need a different grind size — coarse for French press, medium-fine for AeroPress. If you’re hand grinding, just adjust your dial setting between the two.
Does French press have more caffeine than AeroPress? Not significantly. French press coffee can feel stronger because of the oils and body, but the actual caffeine content is broadly similar. Both use similar coffee-to-water ratios.
Which is better for specialty coffee? AeroPress. The paper filter lets you taste the distinct flavour notes in high-quality single-origin beans more clearly than the metal mesh of a French press.
Can I make milk drinks with either? Neither brews espresso, so neither will make a proper flat white or cappuccino. You can brew a strong concentrate with the AeroPress and add steamed milk — it’s not espresso but it’s closer than anything a French press produces. For milk drinks, you really need an espresso machine.
Which side are you on? Rate your morning brew on RateMyCuppa and let the Auntie Council weigh in.