Is French Press Better Than Instant Coffee? (Solved & Explained!)

Using a French press creates some of the best-tasting coffee with a rich and hearty flavor. You have complete control over how you make your brew. Yet this method is time consuming, at around 4 minutes of brew time, compared to around 30 seconds for an instant coffee. Instant has less flavor but also less clean-up and trial and error.

The following will explore which coffee is better – French press or instant, by looking at the difference between these coffee types, how to make them, and the pros and cons of each.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGOAeOIvNrE

Does Coffee Taste Better When Made Using A French Press?

French presses are a popular method to use because it gives you complete control over how you make your brew, to suit your tastes, rather than how instant coffee comes. French presses make a distinct, rich flavor coffee and the beans are saturated, making a stronger cup of coffee. This means you can make your perfect brew every time!

What Is the Difference Between French Press and Instant Coffee?

1. Beans – for French press coffee, beans are coarsely ground. For instant coffee, beans come pre-ground in a fine powder.
2. Method – for French press coffee the grounds are steeped in hot water for a few minutes.
3. Time – instant coffee takes around 30 seconds, whereas the ideal time for brewing French press coffee for is about 4 minutes.

What Is French Press Coffee?

A French press is a coffee press, also called a cafetière. Coffee is made manually using the press, which is a glass or plastic beaker with a plunger and a filter made from mesh. A cafetière can also be used to make tea, by pressing the leaves in the same way as coffee grounds. French presses are cheap to buy.

How Do I Use A French Press?

Make coffee manually in the press by first grinding the beans – they need to be coarse in size and uniform in shape for better results. Place the grinds in the beaker, and steep them in hot water for around four minutes. Then press the grounds to the bottom with the plunger, as the filter separates the beans and liquid.

How Do I Brew Coffee In A French Press?

1. Grind coffee beans coarsely in grinder then place in French press.
2. Boil water and leave for around 30 seconds.
3. Pour ½ hot water in.
4. Stir after 30 seconds. 
5. Pour remaining hot water in.
6. Put on lid and leave coffee to steep for around 4 minutes.
7. Press plunger down to separate grounds and water.

How Long Should I Brew French Press Coffee For?

Anywhere between 3 and 6 minutes is an ideal brewing time, with 4 minutes being the standard amount of time to brew French press coffee. Although it depends on your individual taste buds. If you like your coffee flavorful, then brewing longer will make it taste stronger. This also depends on which coffee beans and roast you use.

Can I Make Different Types of Coffee Using a French Press?

You can use a French Press to make most kinds of coffee. All beans can be put into a press, though it works best when they are ground coarsely.

• Americano
• Flat white
• Latte
• Cappuccino
• Espresso (this is made using a different method to other coffee, but can be done in a press)
• Instant (there is more detail on this below)

What Is Instant Coffee?

Instant coffee can be bought from any store and consists of pre-ground and brewed coffee beans which are then dehydrated and are sold in a fine powder. As suggested by the name, instant coffee is incredibly quick to make by simply mixing this coffee powder with boiling water. This is an ideal drink for busy coffee lovers on the go.

How Do I Brew Instant Coffee?

• Add one or two teaspoons of instant coffee powder into your mug.
• Boil water.
• Pour the boiling water into the mug, straight onto the instant coffee.
• Add sugar, sweetener, honey, whatever, depending on your preference.
• Add milk, cream or coffee whitener depending on your preference – or leave it black!
• Stir.
• And it’s ready to drink – it really is that simple!

What Are the Pros and Cons of Making Coffee in A French Press?

Pros:

• It creates the best tasting coffee with a rich, delicious flavor.
• You have complete control over your brew and can make it as strong as you like.
• You can make several cups at a time.

Cons:

• It’s more involved and time-consuming than other methods.
• It needs to be cleaned after each use.
• If made wrong, it can taste bitter.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Instant Coffee?

Pros:

• It’s the cheapest option.
• It’s easily accessible to purchase from most stores and comes in different flavors and brands to suit your tastes.
• It’s easily portable – you can take a tin or jar anywhere.
• It’s incredibly easy and quick to make.

Cons:

• It has a lot less flavor than French press coffee.
• It is weaker and contains less caffeine.

Is French Press Coffee Better for You Than Instant Coffee?

Both coffee types contain antioxidants and provide the same benefits of drinking coffee. Instant coffee contains less caffeine than coffee made in a French press, which could be a health benefit or seen as a general con of instant depending on how many cups you drink a day. The chemical acrylamide also has a slightly higher presence in instant coffee.

Can I Make Instant Coffee in A French Press?

Yes, you technically can fuse both coffee types together and make instant coffee in a French press. This is not recommended, however, due to the different method in which these coffees are made. As coffee in a French press is coarsely ground and immersed in water for longer, the finely ground instant coffee powder will taste bitter made this way.

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Discover the answer to the ultimate question of which coffee is better – French press or instant.