French Press vs Pour Over: Which Should You Choose?

By Coffee Ratio Calculator Guru · Updated January 2025 · 5 min read

French press and pour over are the two most popular manual coffee brewing methods — but they produce very different cups from the same beans. Use our coffee to water ratio calculator to compare ratios side by side. The right choice depends on what you value in your cup.

Ratio and Extraction

Both methods use similar ratios — 1:15 for French press, 1:16 for pour over — but they arrive at the cup differently. Pour over is a percolation method: water flows through the grounds and exits via gravity, so extraction is continuous but brief for each water molecule. French press is full immersion: grounds steep in water for 4 minutes, giving water more contact time to extract. The result is that pour over extracts more of the light, volatile aromatic compounds while French press extracts more body-contributing oils and heavier compounds.

Grind Size and Filter Type

Pour over uses medium-fine grind with a paper filter that removes most coffee oils and fine particles. The result is a clean, bright, transparent cup with pronounced acidity and delicate aromas. French press uses coarse grind with a metal mesh filter that allows oils, fine particles, and colloids into the cup. The result is a heavy-bodied, rich, somewhat opaque cup with lower perceived acidity and a full mouthfeel. Neither is better — they're different tools for different experiences.

Which to Choose

Choose pour over if you value clarity, brightness, and delicate origin flavours — especially for light or single-origin coffees. Choose French press if you value body, richness, and a classic, hearty cup — especially for medium or dark roasts where oils contribute positively. Pour over requires more attention and technique (controlled pouring, timing). French press is more forgiving and hands-off after the initial pour. Both methods produce excellent coffee when ratio and grind size are dialled in correctly.