An aeropress and a cafetiere are two options for a luxuriously delicious cup of fresh coffee, but they do work in different ways. Each brewer lets you manipulate the coffee in different ways for different flavors, are used differently, and come with different costs.
If you are particular about how you like your coffee, you might want to know the differences between these two machines before making a purchase. Not all cups of coffee are created equal, and the same is true about coffee makers.
What Is An Aeropress?
An aeropress is a coffee maker that can come in two different forms. There is a traditional aeropress and an inverted aeropress, and each machine makes coffee a little differently.
With a traditional aeropress, there are two cylinders that are different sizes. The larger one is where you pour in your coffee grounds, and the smaller one pushes the coffee through the filter.
An inverted aeropress is a little bit more difficult to use, being that there are two cylinders that get positioned differently when brewing. An aeropress is also a more modern type of coffee maker.
What Is A Cafetiere?
A cafetiere is more commonly referred to as a French press or coffee plunger. A cafetiere is typically made with a glass beaker with a lid attached to a plunger that presses the coffee grounds into the hot water. Some cafetieres are made from stainless steel or plastic.
Cafetieres have been used for a very long time to make coffee. Some cafetiere lovers have even started experimenting with using a cafetiere for cold brew coffee, which can turn into a delicious cup on a hot day.
Does An Aeropress Or Cafetiere Make Different Types Of Coffee?
With a cafetiere, you can really only brew a cup of regular coffee. If you use coffee with flavor infusions, then you can get a unique cup of coffee.
With an aeropress, you are able to change the filter you use to help determine the strength of coffee you prefer. With an aeropress, you can also make a cappuccino or a latte.
Which Coffee Maker Is Easier To Use?
Both an aeropress and a cafetiere can take time to get used to. It can also take time to see how different methods with each maker can change the taste of your coffee, but that’s part of the fun.
Generally speaking, an aeropress can be easier to clean after use. A cafetiere is pretty easy to clean apart from the plunger, which has many grooves to work your sponge through.
You might end up making a bit of a mess with each machine when learning how to use it, especially with an aeropress, but over time, you get used to how the machines work and it’ll be much easier to avoid a mess.
How Much Coffee Can Each Brewer Make?
An aeropress will be able to brew only one cup of coffee per use. This isn’t an issue if you are only using the machine for yourself or one other person.
A cafetiere can come in different sizes, with the largest model being able to brew around ten to twelve cups of coffee.
How Long Does An Aeropress And A Cafetiere Take To Make Coffee?
A cafetiere only takes a few minutes to make coffee. You will have to boil water to pour into the cafetiere, and then plunge the coffee. Some people will also let the coffee sit for thirty seconds to ensure the grounds dissolve well.
An aeropress can take longer to make coffee, depending on what kind of coffee grounds you use. If you want to use coffee that has a more coarse texture, it’s going to take a little bit longer to plunge the coffee to the right consistency.
Which Coffee Maker Is More Expensive?
Both an aeropress and a cafetiere are very affordable machines. An aeropress will typically cost around $40, while a cafetiere is usually between $30 and $40.
With an aeropress, you will have to buy filters, whereas with a cafetiere, you don’t need any. You are also able to purchase accessories for an aeropress if you choose to. Some models will come with accessories, so you might be satisfied with what you purchase initially.
That being said, if your cafetiere breaks, which glass can sometimes do when it gets too hot, you will have to purchase a new cafetiere.
What Does Aeropress Coffee Taste Like?
Your coffee’s taste will be influenced by what kind of coffee you purchase. When an aeropress brews coffee, the mechanisms will absorb all the oils that naturally occur in coffee, which can alter the taste. This will ensure that you get all the notes of flavor within your coffee to be able to thoroughly enjoy your cup.
What Does Cafetiere Coffee Taste Like?
Cafetiere coffee’s taste will also depend on what kind of coffee you use. However, you will notice that with a cafetiere, you get a full-bodied cup of coffee. You will get a smooth cup of coffee full of flavor.
What Kinds Of Coffee Can Be Used In Each Coffee Maker?
You can really use any strength or roast of coffee you prefer with an aeropress. One of the fun things about an aeropress is seeing how it can enhance your favorite roast.
A cafetiere can also take any coffee roast, but it is usually recommended to use a darker roast or a stronger coffee. This is because a light roast won’t really be enhanced much through a cafetiere, so you are doing extra work for not much reward.
Which Coffee Maker Is More Popular?
Chances are, more people will own a cafetiere as opposed to an aeropress simply because they have been on the market for longer. However, choosing which machine is better is quite difficult. Both of them offer a different type of coffee experience for the user.
Both of them need a little bit of practice to use, and both offer a delicious cup of coffee full of flavor.
Hi, I’m Jen Williams, chief editor and writer for ThirstPerk.com.
I’ve been drinking coffee and tea for most of my life, but it wasn’t until I started working at Thirstperk.com that I became an expert on the subject. I’m a total caffeine addict who has spent hours upon hours reading about and experimenting with the different types of coffees out there in my search to find the perfect cup of joe.
I’ve been a tea lover for as long as I can remember as well. I grew up in a house with a mom who loved to drink herbal tea, and I think that’s where my love for tea first began. These days, I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting teas to try, and I love experimenting with different brewing methods and flavoring combinations.