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AeroPress vs Pour Over – What’s The Difference?

Jason Gass
Last Updated: August 18th, 2023

One of the more popular ways to make coffee today is the pour-over. This simple way of making coffee gives coffee lovers a pleasant but unique coffee flavor. Like the AeroPress, the pour-over is a simple way to make coffee that requires minimal equipment and can be very portable.

If you are considering an AeroPress vs Pour Over for your next coffee adventure, we’ve taken a look at both options.

From our research, we’ve put together this comparison guide to help you easily choose between the AeroPress and one of the many pour-over coffee options on the market today.

aeropress
Image: Niall Kennedy

Things To Consider Before Buying Either AeroPress or Pour Over

To help you decide between the AeroPress vs pour over coffee maker, you need to know the best features to use when comparing the two brewing styles.

To help you work through the decision, we’ve put together a list of features that you should consider when selecting the AeroPress or the pour over option.

pour over
Image: Clint McMahon

Flavor

One of the most important things you need to consider when selecting the AeroPress or pour-over is the flavor of coffee you enjoy the most. If you like robust or espresso-style coffees, your decision will be different than if you enjoy bright and light coffees.

Certainly, the beans that you select will also contribute to the flavor of your coffee, but the way that the two coffee makers work results in significantly different flavor and texture profiles.

You need to know what you enjoy the most so that you can select the right brewing method for your needs.

Price

Price is a consideration when selecting between pour-over and the AeroPress. However, it isn’t a big defining factor since both the AeroPress and the pour-over options are relatively affordable.

You should consider the cost of filters for both the AeroPress and pour-over options when purchasing. This is the one long-term investment that you’ll be making with either option. You will want to look carefully at which filters you are willing to pay for over time.

Also, keep in mind that AeroPress is a unique product, there is only one option out there. The pour-over has many options that range from inexpensive to very fancy, very expensive.

You’ll need to know your budget if you’re considering one of the more deluxe pour-over options.

Size

Where you will be storing your coffee maker is a big factor in deciding which you chose. If you have more space, then a larger coffee maker may be a great option. However, if your kitchen or storage space is small, you will want a compact option.

You may also want to consider where you will use your coffee maker, as this will have a big impact on the size you select. If you’re only using your coffee maker at home, you may be fine with a larger size option.

However, if you are looking for a coffee maker that will travel well, or fit compactly in your camper or camping storage, a smaller coffee maker will be a better option.

Capacity

Knowing how many people you are planning on serving is a good consideration when thinking about a coffee maker. If you are just making coffee for yourself, then a smaller-capacity coffee maker is just fine.

Look for options that make one to four cups. However, if you are entertaining or making coffee for you and your spouse a larger capacity coffee maker is a must.

Presenting the AeroPress Vs Pour Over

The AeroPress and pour-over are two decidedly different ways to make coffee. They both have their pros and cons, and they both make great cups of coffee.

When you are thinking about the AeroPress and the pour-over you should consider where you’ll be making coffee, the type of coffee you enjoy or want to try, and the space you have available for storing your brewing equipment. These will be the best-deciding factors for your decision.

AeroPress

Pros:

  • Versatile brewing options
  • Comes with filters to start
  • Dishwasher safe and easy to clean
  • Compact design is easy to store

Cons:

  • Not great for multiple people
  • Needs a way to make hot water
  • Requires a bit of muscle power to work
  • Needs a separate container for brewed coffee

Pour Over

Bodum 11571-109 Pour Over Coffee Maker with Permanent Filter
  • Note: 1)Too coarse a grind, too little coffee, or insufficiently tamping the grounds before brewing can all lead to inadequate pressure for a proper brew. 2)It is important to note that the amount of...
  • Does not trap essential oils of your Coffee in a paper filter, and makes a beautiful slow-brew
  • Includes a Permanent stainless steel mesh filter; no paper filters or capsules needed
  • Mouth-blown borosilicate glass, dishwasher safe
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Pros:

  • Comes in a range of size options
  • Not just one model or brand
  • Coffee is smooth and flavorful
  • Prices range from affordable to luxury

Cons:

  • Takes time to learn the “art” of pour-over brewing
  • Needs a way to make hot water
  • Some carafes are hard to clean
  • Not very compact

Features & Benefits of AeroPress Vs Pour Over

Portability

When it comes to portability, AeroPress has long been a favorite for coffee lovers. This great little coffee maker is not only compact and lightweight, but it does give you the option of making everything from espresso to drip coffee on the road.

The AeroPress is also a nice travel option because you don’t need anything fancy for making hot water. A mug in the microwave works just fine, so you really can brew anywhere you go.

There are some great portable pour-over options on the market. One that is a favorite for travelers is the V60. This pour-over option sits right on top of your coffee cup. It is also compact and comes in a variety of materials that make it a nice travel choice.

Pour-over lacks in portability because for the best brewing results you need to use a gooseneck kettle to create the proper bloom in the grounds. This makes pour-over options a bit less portable than the AeroPress.

Brew Time

When it comes to brewing time we’ll consider the time it takes to just brew the coffee. Obviously, with both the pour-over and AeroPress options you will need to have a way to heat water, which will add time to the overall process.

With the AeroPress, you can enjoy a good cup of coffee in around 2 minutes, if you just want a normal cup of coffee. If you want an espresso, you’ll want to let your grounds steep a bit longer. In general, AeroPress provides you with coffee in no more than four minutes.

Pour-over takes a bit longer. The first step of making pour over is to bloom the grounds, which depending on the grounds can take three to four minutes. Once you’ve achieved the bloom, you can continue to add water until you reach your desired capacity. From start to finish, pour-over can take four or more minutes to brew.

Flavor

We think that the most important difference between the AeroPress and pour-over brewing is the resulting flavor. Both methods can create deep, robust flavors, but you’ll notice a distinct difference in the “feel” of the coffee combined with the flavor when you compare the two brewing methods.

The AeroPress works much like a French press, so you can expect a more robust and thicker feeling coffee result from the AeroPress. The AeroPress uses a paper filter that removes much of the sediment and coffee oils from the coffee, so the result is cleaner while still being rich and delicious.

If you’re not into robust, French press-style coffee, the pour-over gives almost the opposite result. Pour-over coffee is a lighter and smoother option. Pour over is ideal if you want to experience the subtle notes and highlights of coffees from different regions and origins.

Because pour-over is brewed at a lower temperature and passes through the grounds you get more from the grounds by way of flavor than you do from most other brewing styles.

Keep in mind, you can still get full-bodied coffee from pour-over, it just won’t have the same thickness or mouth feel that comes from espresso, French press, or the AeroPress.

Easy to Use

The AeroPress is quite easy to use, and quite easy to maintain. To brew coffee with AeroPress, think about the process of making French presses. Mix hot water and grounds in the cylinder, add the plunger, and press. That’s it. You have delicious coffee in no time.

When you’re done brewing the puck of grounds can be removed with the filter and tossed into your trash or compost bin. The cylinder, plunger, and filter holder are all dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning.

Pour-over isn’t difficult per se, but it does require a bit of practice to get it right. To make a good pour-over you’ll need to learn the technique of blooming your grounds. This process allows the water to reach as much of the surface area in the grounds as possible.

A proper bloom makes the best pour-over coffee. Once you learn this technique, pour over is simple. Add coffee to the filter and pour hot water over. That’s it.

One of the less convenient parts of the pour-over is cleaning the equipment. Many carafes have cork or other types of grips that cannot be put in the dishwasher. This means you’ll have to wash your carafe by hand.

Also, if you don’t use paper filters in your pour-over you’ll have to manage loose, used coffee grounds, which can be a pain.

Price

When it comes to price, you’ll find that both the AeroPress and pour-over can be affordable for most budgets. Keep in mind that AeroPress is a single-serve coffee maker, so for a similar price, you can get a pour-over option that serves multiple people.

The price of pour-over options is wide-ranging. You can find options that are more affordable than the AeroPress. You can also find luxury-grade pour-over machines that will grind your beans and heat the brewed coffee.

If you love pour-over and it is your daily brew for you and your family, a larger sized more expensive option may be best.

Alternatives to AeroPress Vs Pour Over

If you’re not dead set on the AeroPress or pour-over, you may want to consider a few other options that we think make a great cup of coffee, while utilizing similar brewing styles as the AeroPress and pour-over options.

1. Bodum Chambord French Press Coffee Maker

If you enjoy the robust flavor of espresso or French press coffee the Bodum Chambord is a great alternative to the AeroPress. The Bodum comes in three different sizes and three different finishes so you can pick the perfect option for your brewing needs and your kitchen.

The Bodum Chambord is able to make multiple cups of coffee at one time so it is a nice option for entertaining or for serving your family a delicious cup of joe. The Bodum is dishwasher safe, so after you manage all of the used grounds, it’s easy to clean.

2. Bialetti Express Moka Pot

Bialetti Express Moka Pot, 6 -Cup, Aluminum Silver
  • The original moka coffee pot: Moka Express is the original stovetop espresso maker, it provides the experience of the real Italian way of preparing a tasteful coffee, its unique shape and the...
  • Made in Italy: it is Made in Italy and its quality is enhanced by the patented safety valve which makes it easy to clean and its ergonomic handle, available in many sizes and suitable for gas,...
  • How to prepare the coffee: fill the boiler up to the safety valve, fill it up with ground coffee without pressing, close the moka pot and place it on the stovetop, as soon as Moka Express starts to...
  • One size for each need: Moka Express sizes are measured in Espresso Cups, coffee can be enjoyed in Espresso Cups or in larger containers
  • Cleaning instructions: The Bialetti Moka Express must only be rinsed with clean water after use, with no detergents, the product is not to be washed with a dishwasher as it will be irremediably...
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The Bialetti Express is the original Italian Moka Pot. This pot was developed in the 1950s and has been delivering robust, dark coffee to consumers ever since. Little has changed with the Bialetti since it hit the market 60-plus years ago.

Depending on your coffee tastes, this stove-top percolator can brew a robust but light cup of coffee or even a rich, delicious cup of espresso in just minutes. The Bialetti comes in four different sizes, with the largest making 12 cups of espresso.

3. Technivorm Moccamaster 59616 KBG Coffee Brewer

If you love pour-over, but don’t love the work, or standing and waiting for the bloom, the Technivorm Moccamaster is a great alternative to the traditional pour-over set-up.

The Moccamaster does all the work for you. It perfectly heats the water, it effortlessly blooms the coffee, and the 10-cup carafe holds enough coffee for you and all of your friends.

We like that the Moccamaster comes with a warming plate to keep your coffee at the perfect temperature, for longer enjoyment.

One of the other things we really like about the Moccamaster is that it comes in a variety of colors that coordinate well with all sorts of kitchen decors.

AeroPress vs Pour Over – Final Thoughts

When it comes to the AeroPress and pour-over you get two coffee-making options that are easy to use and give you a delicious cup of coffee. When it comes to portability, we like the AeroPress.

However, if you are looking to make more than just one cup of coffee and enjoy experiencing the unique flavors of different beans, pour-over is a fantastic choice.

Because the two options make such different styles of coffee, the one you select really depends on your tastes and where you plan on making your coffee.

About The Author

Jason Gass

Jason Gass is a Colorado based freelance writer and blogger whose goal is to share a good cup of coffee and great stories around a campfire with close friends. When he’s not working, he spends most of his time traveling, searching for the best breweries, and road-tripping in his teardrop trailer with his wife, daughter, and two dogs.

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