French Press vs Chemex (AKA Pour Over vs French Press)

What does your perfect cup of coffee taste like?

To kick off my mornings with energy and vigour, I like my brew rich and full-bodied. And for relaxing on those lazy afternoons, I make sure my coffee is clean and bright. The choice then, usually comes down to: The Chemex vs French Press.

So which method should you trust to make that ‘perfect’ brew? Let’s compare the French Press vs drip coffee brewing and see which one tickles your fancy.

The Chemex Coffee Maker

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This coffee wonder is the brainchild of Peter J. Schlumbohm, Ph.D., a doctor of chemistry. Inspired by his laboratory equipment, he created this coffee-making device back in 1941 (1). A device that occupies a pride of place in the modern coffee scene.

In a nutshell, this is how the Chemex method works:

Set up your Chemex brewer with its paper filter. Put your desired amount of coffee (medium coarse grounds), soak the coffee grounds, and let your coffee ‘bloom’ for half a minute. Remember that using a circular/swirling motion when you pour is important to soak the grounds evenly.

Here’s an quick review of the Chemex:

PRO TIP: You can even use the Chemex to make cold brew!

The French Press

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It was in the late 1920s that the French Press method found its footing in the coffee scene (2). It was only decades later, from the 1950s onward, that it began to spread around Europe, Britain, and eventually, the United States.

You start by soaking your coarse ground coffee with the hot water and let the coffee ‘bloom’ or bubble up for thirty seconds. Then pour your remaining water and let your coffee brew for about three to four minutes. When the time’s up, push the plunger down to the bottom of the carafe.

You can see in this video how to use the french press in 2 different ways:

If you’re a newbie in the coffee-making world, here’s an article that explains what a French press coffee maker is and how it works.

The Showdown: Chemex/Pour Over vs Frenchpress

Alright, down to business. French Press vs Drip.

I love how both these brewing methods make use of super affordable coffee makers, so I’d say they’re both winners when it comes to the cost of equipment.

Now, let’s see how they size up against the other in terms of important coffee-making aspects like preparation time, convenience, portability, and quality of end product/brew:

Time: From Bean > Brew

There are days when you have the luxury of time to prepare your favourite brew and savour it sip by sip. More often than not, though, you don’t .But you still need a good cup of joe as soon as possible.

Chemex: With this coffee maker, the entire process will take about five to six minutes. You can expect to spend a couple of minutes on the filter set-up, rinsing, and coffee ‘blooming’ process. The brewing time itself will be four minutes.

French Press: On the other hand, you don’t need to set up a filter with the French Press. You also don’t have to pre-heat your brewer and cup if you’re in a rush. Overall, the brewing process itself is about three to four minutes.

WINNER: The French Press method takes the prize in this category, even if it’s just by a minute. Since you don’t set up a filter and rinse with the French press, you can dedicate a bit more time for brewing, which is especially helpful if you want a stronger brew.

Ease of Brewing

Chemex: You’ll start your Chemex brew by first grinding your beans to a medium coarse grind.

It’s also darn important that you use Chemex filters, and not just your ordinary ones. Chemex filters are custom made to fit the mouth of the brewer. They are also thicker than other brands to ensure a more precise filtration process (1). The second pour, which comes after the ‘bloom,’ is also a rather tricky task as you cannot just do a straight pour on the grounds. You start with a wiggling motion, and move to a gentle spiral to ensure that you get an even soaking.

An even soak is necessary to ensure that the grounds are subjected to a consistent temperature and brew time. Both these aspects can affect how much of the good elements in the grounds get into your brew (3).

Here’s a link to our in-depth Chemex brewing guide so you can check out the process in more detail.

French Press: With this coffee maker, you need to give the same dedicated attention to the grinding process to achieve a coarse grind. But you don’t need to set up a paper filter as the plunger already has a built-in mesh filter.

Pouring after the bloom does not require you to do a patterned or deliberate movement either. The contact time for the French press method should only be up to four minutes to achieve the ideal brew, making a straight pour more advisable.

You’ll need to slowly and steadily press the plunger down once you’re done with the brewing process. This ensures that the coffee grounds stay at the bottom part of the carafe, separate from your brew.

Our friends at Blue Bottle Coffee have this little nugget of wisdom to offer about this method (4):

And I agree with them. Decantering is a small tip that yields a huge improvement. Read our French Press brewing guide here for more brewing hacks.

Tie-breaker: Now, both methods have important aspects that need a bit of extra effort. Let’s break the tie by checking how each one fares with the cleanup stage.

Since you achieve a mostly sediment-free brew with a Chemex, cleanup should take no more than thirty to forty-five seconds.

On the other hand, the French Press brewing method leaves plenty of coffee grounds at the bottom of your carafe. Expect cleanup, especially of its small parts, to take no less than three minutes.

WINNER: The Chemex definitely seals the deal for the convenience aspect with its quick and easy cleanup.

Portability

Unlike their fancier and more modern counterparts, the Chemex and French press brewers do not involve plugging in or complicated buttons, making them good contenders in the portability category.

Chemex: A classic six-cup Chemex brewer stands around 8.5 inches tall and weighs less than two pounds. It is made of non-porous borosilicate glass and has no metal or plastic casing, so it definitely lies in the fragile end of the spectrum. It is not a giant by any means, but Death Wish Coffee does point out a drawback (5):

French Press: Your typical French press is slightly smaller in height at just under eight inches, but it is similar in weight to the Chemex. What makes the biggest difference, though, is the sturdy construction. The French Press is usually a combination of a borosilicate glass carafe and a stainless steel casing (or, as with more recent designs, an insulated plastic shell). Another amazing French Press we love is the Frieling USA, which is made of double wall stainless steel.​

WINNER: The French Press brewer is the runaway victor for portability – thanks to its less fragile components and convenient design.

Quality of End Product/Brew

You could use the same coffee bean and yet, you’d get different results from the Chemex and French Press method. So it all comes down to what matters most – the coffee you’re about to drink. So what’s the difference between French Press coffee and Chemex coffee?

Chemex: The Chemex method’s filtering process is what sets it apart. It makes use of a custom made paper filter that is 20 to 30 percent thicker than others, so it screens out more unwanted particles (1). You end up with a cup that is bright, clean, and clear – perfect for sipping.

Unfortunately, the Chemex paper filter is a double-edged sword – it can filter out the coffee oils that give the resulting drink its distinct flavour. So while the result is a bright, clean cup of coffee, you might lose the richness that’s also elemental in a good cup of joe.

French Press: This method, on the other hand, skips this paper filter stage. It relies on the mesh at the bottom of the plunger, and focuses on the brewing.

As a result, you get more natural oils from your coffee grounds, as well as the flavours those oils help deliver. French Press coffee is a rich, aromatic, and full-bodied drink that is robust and satisfying.

However, the French Press method also leaves more sediments at the bottom of your brewer. And it’s almost inevitable that some of the ground coffee ‘dust’ may escape, and get into the brew. Thus, you can potentially end up with a bit more gunk than you’d like.

WINNER: Each method offers a different style of brew. The Chemex gives you bright and clean coffee, while the French Press delivers a flavorful and full-bodied cup. I personally find the latter more satisfying, but again, taste preferences are subjective. The winner boils down to how you want your coffee.

THE VERDICT

The fact that you’re considering one of these coffee makers says a lot about you. You want something to brew coffee at home. Something easy on the eye,and can brew one cup or many. And you don’t plan on taking it around the world with you. But above all – you appreciate damn smooth coffee. Sound like you?

The French Press and the Chemex seem similar, but they are not.

The Chemex is better suited for pour over or drip coffee fanatics. It’s a little harder to master, but the payout is fine tasting, clean, smooth filter coffee. Read our review of the Chemex here. The Chemex brewer is definitely a piece of art that coffee lovers will want to spruce up their breakfast tables. If you are willing to dedicate a little more time to prepare your cuppa, and you prefer a lighter, cleaner brew, Chemex is your boy.

The French Press makes a unique cup of brew, but it’s a little sediment-y (avoid that last sip!) That’s OK though, because it’s simple to use, and requires no disposable, gimmicky filters (it comes with its own mesh filter) or pouring techniques. It’s still a staple in every coffee lover’s brewing arsenal. Take a look at the best French press coffee makers here.

So, should you go for the Chemex or the French press to get that ‘perfect’ cup? Go for whichever one fits your available time or your preferred cuppa joe. Just make sure to pick fresh, quality beans, and follow the brewing instructions to get the coffee of your dreams.

Or why not go for both?! And discover the wonders that these two classic methods have to offer.