French Press Vs Coffee Maker: Which Is Better For Your Caffeine Fix?
For most of us, caffeine can fix almost anything. From hangovers to lack of sleep, a cup of coffee, more often than not, will be more than enough. The good news is that you can make a high-quality drink even at the comfort of your own home, similar to what you can buy in overrated establishments.
What is the best way to prepare your coffee? In this French Press vs coffee maker post, we will let you know more about two of the products that are popular in the market. In the end, we hope that you can easily decide which one will be a better buy.
Regardless of the product that you will choose, there is one thing that is sure – you can easily make good-tasting coffee at home. The quality, speed, and features may differ, but after all, it is still coffee that you will have at the end of the day.
French Press vs Coffee Maker: A Quick Comparison
Below is a table that will give you a glimpse at some of the features of the two coffee makers that we are comparing in this post.
MODE OF OPERATION | Manual | Electric |
CAPACITY | 34 ounces | 48 ounces |
MATERIAL | Stainless steel | Plastic |
COFFEE USED | Ground coffee | K-Cups |
FILTER | Double Screen System Filter | My K-Cup Reusable Coffee Filter |
DIMENSIONS | 9.1 X 6 X 4.4 inches | 9.8 x 13.3 x 13 inches |
WEIGHT | 2.4 pounds | 12 pounds |
PROS
CONS
Below is a short video that will give you a look at how this coffee maker works:
PROS
CONS
Watch the video below to see Keurig K55 unboxed:
French Press vs Coffee Maker: The Similarities
In this section, we will take a look at how the two products are the same. However, since they are two distinct categories, there is only one similarity that I can name.
Versatility
The two products are the same when it comes to versatility. They can make coffee and tea in an instant. With the SterlingPro, you can even make lattes and other drinks, although it is only the coffee that you can prepare in the carafe. With the Keurig K55, on the other hand, there is an endless selection of K-cups, which will allow you to prepare different drinks.
French Press vs Coffee Maker: The Differences
Would you rather operate your coffee maker manually or electronically? Do you want to brew more or less? Do you want to have choices when it comes to cup sizes? In this section, we will look at the differences between the two to help you easily decide which to choose.
Operation
This is perhaps the biggest difference between the two products. If you are looking for simplicity, you should opt for SterlingPro French Press. To use the latter, you simply need to fill the carafe with ground coffee and hot water. Allow it to steep and insert the plunger. Push it down and the grounds will be separated from the liquid, resulting in maximum extraction for full flavor.
The Keurig K55, on the other hand, is an electronic coffee maker. You simply need to insert your choice of K-cup, close the lid, choose the desired cup size, and wait for the drink to be poured into your cup.
While using the SterlingPro French Press tends to be more straightforward, the problem is that it will require more effort on your end. This is basically because you need to push the plunger to extract coffee.
Portability
SterlingPro French Press is the more portable option. Given its size, you can bring it almost anywhere. You can make your coffee even at the campsite or beach. Aside from the minimal size, its portability can also be attributed to the fact that it does not require electricity to operate.
Descaling
Over time, coffee makers can develop mineral and calcium deposits because of using tap water. The impurities in the water can linger on the unit and will inevitably have a negative impact on the taste of your coffee.
In the case of SterlingPro French Press, you need to manually clean the unit to make sure that these deposits can be removed. With Keurig K55, on the other hand, lesser effort will be required on your end. There is an automatic descaling button, which will immediately remove the mineral deposits.
Source of Coffee
With SterlingPro French Press, you need to use ground coffee. It is recommended that you use coarser grind compared to one that is fine. This is to lessen the tendency that the grinds will end up mixing with the final output.
With Keurig K55, on the other hand, you need to use the patented K-cups. The good thing about the latter is that you will have an endless selection of flavor. The bad news, however, is that these cups can be expensive.
Capacity
The two are also different in terms of the amount of water that it can hold, and consequently, the coffee that it can produce. With SterlingPro, you can make up to 34 ounces. On the other hand, Keurig K55 comes with a water reservoir that can hold 48 ounces of water.
Programmability
This is another big difference between the two products that we are comparing in this post. SterlingPro is a simple, manually-operated product, and hence, there are no programmed settings.
With Keurig K55, there is a control panel with several buttons depending on the programs that you want. There is a dedicated button for descaling, allowing the unit to clean on its own and get rid of mineral deposits. Also, you can choose the desired cup size – 6, 8 or 10 ounces.
Filter
SterlingPro French Press comes with a metal filter that has double mesh screen. However, it should be noted that the primary use of this filter is to separate coffee grinds from the water to lessen the possibility that your drink will end up being gritty. This filter does not work to take out the impurities in water.
Keurig K55, meanwhile, is designed with a water filter. The latter is a good thing as it makes sure that it will make the water clean-tasting. You can use even tap water straight from the faucet. Through its innovative filtration technology, you can easily make coffee that tastes good.
French Press vs Coffee Maker: The Results
The taste of the coffee that you can make from the two products will slightly vary. When it comes to temperature, the coffee from French Press will be hotter. This is because the water has been initially boiled and you have complete control of its temperature, unlike in the case of coffee maker.
When it comes to the body, the one from French Press also tends to be more bodied. This is basically because of the process of extraction and due to the fact that you have used fresh, ground beans.
The flavor will also significantly vary. With Keurig K55 coffee maker, there will be more variations of flavor. From sweet to aromatic, you can choose depending on the K-cups that are used. This is unlike in Sterling Pro French Press wherein you will use ground coffee.
French Press vs Coffee Maker: Parts and Accessories
Upon purchase of the SterlingPro Double Wall Stainless Steel French Coffee Press, the following will be included in the package:
- Stainless steel carafe with lid
- Double screen filter system
- Two bonus stainless steel screens
On the other hand, when you buy Keurig K55 Single Serve Programmable K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker, the following will be included:
- Brewing unit made from plastic
- 48-ounce water reservoir
- Removable drip tray
- 4 K-cup pods
- Water filter handle
- Two water filters
From the things that have been mentioned above, it is apparent that the two are indeed different. They belong to two different groups, which is why their parts are different. Since the Keurig K55 comes with more parts, you can also expect that it will be more complicated to assemble and operate.
Conclusion
In this French Press vs coffee maker post, we discussed two of the products that are perfect for providing you with a caffeine fix. With the differences that have been mentioned above, which one makes the better choice?
If you will ask for my personal opinion, I would go for the SterlingPro Double Wall Stainless Steel French Coffee Press. To begin with, it comes with a more affordable price and it is also portable. This means that you can easily bring it with you anywhere you go and expect that you can make your own coffee in an instant, as long as you have hot water and coffee grinds.
More than anything else, what I liked the most about SterlingPro French Press is the quality of the coffee that is made. It is richer and bolder. You can enjoy full flavor and aroma, unlike in the case of Keurig K55, which has a tendency to look watered.