Finally compared my french press to a pour over setup side by side

I got a basic $15 pour over cone from the local shop last week just to try it. Did a taste test with the same beans from a roaster near my apartment in Austin. The pour over had way more clarity and sweetness, the french press just tasted muddy to me now. Has anyone else done a direct comparison like that and found a clear winner?

2 comments

2 Comments

matthewking5d ago

Have you tried chilling the water you use for your french press? I've been experimenting with using slightly cooler water just off boil in my press and it cuts way down on that muddy sediment taste while keeping the body. Still not as clean as pour over but it made me keep my press around for lazy mornings.

ruby_bell475d ago

Started doing the cooler water trick after watching some James Hoffmann video and it changed my french press game honestly. But I still got curious and grabbed one of those Hario V60s from a garage sale for like five bucks. Did my own side by side with some Ethiopian beans and the pour over was just brighter and fruitier. My french press now only comes out if I'm making coffee for more than one person or if I'm half asleep and don't want to deal with the pouring technique. The french press is still good for cold brew though, that's where it shines for me.