What's the difference between a coffee plunger and drip coffee - and which is best ?

[steven100]

I enjoy a good coffee when i get up in the morning ....  

 

I am tired of my Maconna and the other instant coffees in the morning.   I have a coffee machine but the steamer stopped working so it's out of order.  

Has anyone ever tried a drip coffee and is that what this machine does ?     also,  what is a coffee plunger for ...  is it better than coffee machine coffee ?

which should I buy ....         I want easiest but tastes good .....   I like 50%Arabica + 50%Robusta coffee ... 

 

 

 

[KhunLA]

I've been using our French Press of late, for ease of use & clean up.  Actually the wife does the clean up at home (wanting grinds for compost), but when O&A, just rinse plunger and hold 'carafe' upside down over the toilet and use butt sprayer to rinse out.   Too easy.

 

Wife still used the machine at home, as liking the crema.   

 

Personally I wouldn't bother with the expense of a drip machine, as yet to have own that worked right, or easy to clean, or the glass pitcher that never sits right on heating pad, wasn't silly priced to replace when broke.

 

I would just get one of the stainless steel 'V' strainers, and paper filters.  A little wasteful with coffee as takes 2X as much as the French Press for a bit less yield.  I actually use one to pour the French Pressed coffee through anyway.  Takes the cafestol out, and any sludge (rare).

 

French Press ... get a stainless steel one from LAZ.  Ours is 5 or 600ml, I think.  I've broke a few glass ones.   Get the Daiso branded 1-4 cup filters from Daiso.  Work good and no sludge.  Also on  LAZ.  Just make sure they are 'v', and not flat bottom.

 

Very  versatile also:

 

This makes a good cup of coffee.  I use a fine grind and give it a good stir, and plunge all the way down, hence the need for the paper filter.  10 minute seep.

 

 

[steven100]

40 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

I've been using our French Press of late, for ease of use & clean up.  

 

That's the part I like also ....    the coffee machine I have made excellent tasting Latte for a while but it was the messing around to make it and the clean up after ... hence I went to instant.  I'll look at what you mentioned.   Thanks ...

[scubascuba3]

I recommend a moka pot, this one is better than my other two traditional moka pots, just better design. Lot's of youtube videos available. Much better than french press, and i didn't rate drip coffee years ago

 

https://s.lazada.co.th/s.LEbjr

[KhunLA]

10 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

I recommend a moka pot, this one is better than my other two traditional moka pots, just better design. Lot's of youtube videos available. Much better than french press, and i didn't rate drip coffee years ago

 

https://s.lazada.co.th/s.LEbjr

Also a good choice for coffee, and we have the exact same type, again, stick with stainless steel.   We also have the aluminum Moka Pot, but you may notice a metallic taste.  Good pot & all, but we just prefer SS.   Ours came with a electric heating pad, for like 100 baht more.  So I thought, why not 

 

Because it would take a few days to get warm, although I wasn't really surprised.  Do give the 'combo' offer a pass.  I literally put my hand on it, and it wasn't even uncomfortable.  Hopefully just a defective unit, and they're all not that bad.

 

When using a Moka Pot, I tend to put heated water in it, then to the hob to boil.  Saves the coffee grounds getting exposed to excess heat.  Not sure if it does anything beneficial, but is a bit faster.  Just need a towel to tighten the pieces together as it is near boiling when I add it, so the water reservoir does get instantly hot.  Too hot to handle.

 

If taking O&A with you, and little gas hob works very well.

[scubascuba3]

6 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Also a good choice for coffee, and we have the exact same type, again, stick with stainless steel.   We also have the aluminum Moka Pot, but you may notice a metallic taste.  Good pot & all, but we just prefer SS.   Ours came with a electric heating pad, for like 100 baht more.  So I thought, why not 

 

Because it would take a few days to get warm, although I wasn't really surprised.  Do give the 'combo' offer a pass.  I literally put my hand on it, and it wasn't even uncomfortable.  Hopefully just a defective unit, and they're all not that bad.

 

When using a Moka Pot, I tend to put heated water in it, then to the hob to boil.  Saves the coffee grounds getting exposed to excess heat.  Not sure if it does anything beneficial, but is a bit faster.  Just need a towel to tighten the pieces together as it is near boiling when I add it, so the water reservoir does get instantly hot.  Too hot to handle.

YouTubers also recommend boiling the water first then put in the mokapot, that's what i do. The key is the right coffee and the right grind, i have a cheap Lazada grinder, what works for me is 3x8sec grinds with shakes in between. Just put the pot on induction stove at 300watts

[Tropicalevo]

Unlike others here I much prefer the drip method.

Never had a problem with

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

the glass pitcher that never sits right on heating pad, wasn't silly priced to replace when broke.

Always sits perfect. (Electrolux brand)

I make three mugfuls of coffee in the morning. (9 - 6 on the water level.

One mug pre breakfast (emails and staff meeting)

One mug during breakfast and one post breakfast - catching up with the news.

Every time that I pour a mug of coffee, I reset the 'on' button to keep the coffee hot.

Coffee press coffee would be very cold by then. 2- 3 hours.

Also, no coffee dregs in the bottom of the mug with the drip method.

I use Sakoku coffee from Chiang Rai (Lazada).

[KhunLA]

3 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

YouTubers also recommend boiling the water first then put in the mokapot, that's what i do. The key is the right coffee and the right grind, i have a cheap Lazada grinder, what works for me is 3x8sec grinds with shakes in between. Just put the pot on induction stove at 300watts

We use to take our grinder with us   Not just grind and put in little baggies.  1 week old coffee won't kill us.  Had to get de-snobbed, and lower my nose a bit 

 

 

[KhunLA]

2 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

Unlike others here I much prefer the drip method.

Never had a problem with

Always sits perfect. (Electrolux brand)

I make three mugfuls of coffee in the morning. (9 - 6 on the water level.

One mug pre breakfast (emails and staff meeting)

One mug during breakfast and one post breakfast - catching up with the news.

Every time that I pour a mug of coffee, I reset the 'on' button to keep the coffee hot.

Coffee press coffee would be very cold by then. 2- 3 hours.

Also, no coffee dregs in the bottom of the mug with the drip method.

I was too much of a CC at the time, many years past, for Electrolux, and explains a lot.  Now a big fan of Electrolux 👍

[mokwit]

Buy a metal french press. glass ones are too nerve wracking.

[scubascuba3]

39 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

We use to take our grinder with us   Not just grind and put in little baggies.  1 week old coffee won't kill us.  Had to get de-snobbed, and lower my nose a bit 

 

 

 

 

i agree, I'm not going to grind at 5am and wake all the neighbours up (downside of a cheap grinder), i usually do in the afternoon to last a few days

[novacova]

Have used all methods, always revert back to using the pour over cone filter and finely grind, personally it’s the best.

[steven100]

13 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

Coffee press coffee would be very cold by then. 2- 3 hours.

 

 

You make a good point .... if I have 3-4 cups of coffee from 6-9am  ....  the french press wouldn't suit as you say it's cold after the first cup,  whereas this machine will keep it hot and I just pour as needed ....      cleaning is easy, 

 

 

[PeachCH]

Drinking at least 4 - 5, cups of coffee ☕ an interesting topic for me 😁 👍. 

I'm using filter coffee as well also a French press. 

Both produce same good, strong quality coffee. 

[steven100]

8 minutes ago, PeachCH said:

Drinking at least 4 - 5, cups of coffee ☕ an interesting topic for me 😁 👍. 

I'm using filter coffee as well also a French press. 

Both produce same good, strong quality coffee. 

 

when you say filter coffee you mean drip coffee  ?   and which is easiest to make and clean up after   ?   and you prefer ?

 

 

[scubascuba3]

18 minutes ago, steven100 said:

 

when you say filter coffee you mean drip coffee  ?   and which is easiest to make and clean up after   ?   and you prefer ?

 

 

No pressure in a drip coffee, the moka pot at least has some pressure of steam through the coffee. Years ago people on here used to bang on about cone filter coffee, tried it, it was awful, threw the filters away

[steven100]

9 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

No pressure in a drip coffee, the moka pot at least has some pressure of steam through the coffee. Years ago people on here used to bang on about cone filter coffee, tried it, it was awful, threw the filters away

 

so you don't like the drip coffee ... ?    you prefer french press ...

[RT555]

I've tried a lot of coffee makers except Kuerig which I will NEVER purchase.

I like the $35.00 Hamilton Beach coffee maker. 12/15g ground coffee to your liking, 16oz water and it's fantastic. Can even drip it into a tall thermos.

[Yagoda]

Get a coffee sock at Big C

[CecilM]

Condo or house?

Your coffee depends where you live. 

I like plunger, I don't like the cleaning. 

In my condo I didn't care what I flushed down the drain. So, plunger.

 

In my house I do care a lot what I flush down the drains because pumping the tanks or clearing blocked pipes will be my responsibility. So, drip. And if you get a good drip machine (Braun) then you get good coffee. 

[alanrchase]

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

 

You make a good point .... if I have 3-4 cups of coffee from 6-9am  ....  the french press wouldn't suit as you say it's cold after the first cup,  whereas this machine will keep it hot and I just pour as needed ....      cleaning is easy, 

 

 

I use a press to make three cups, pour into first cup and pour the remaining two cups into a thermos.

[steven100]

21 minutes ago, CecilM said:

Condo or house?

Your coffee depends where you live. 

I like plunger, I don't like the cleaning. 

In my condo I didn't care what I flushed down the drain. So, plunger.

 

In my house I do care a lot what I flush down the drains because pumping the tanks or clearing blocked pipes will be my responsibility. So, drip. And if you get a good drip machine (Braun) then you get good coffee. 

 

I'm in the Condo ,   so you prefer the french press for easy cleaning and tastes ok   ?

[save the frogs]

moka pot is better than french press because it does have some pressure.

pressure extracts more flavor from the coffee.

 

and I love the sound of brewing the moka pot makes. 

 

but I found moka pots to accumulate some kind of residue at the bottom ... calcification? Or whatever it is ... isn't that getting into your coffee? Needs to be cleaned. And I couldnt even figure out how to get rid of it, so went back to French press.

 

Don't buy the crappiest coffee. Buy good coffee and French press is good enough and no cleaning or maintenance needed. 

 

[newbee2022]

15 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

Unlike others here I much prefer the drip method.

Never had a problem with

Always sits perfect. (Electrolux brand)

I make three mugfuls of coffee in the morning. (9 - 6 on the water level.

One mug pre breakfast (emails and staff meeting)

One mug during breakfast and one post breakfast - catching up with the news.

Every time that I pour a mug of coffee, I reset the 'on' button to keep the coffee hot.

Coffee press coffee would be very cold by then. 2- 3 hours.

Also, no coffee dregs in the bottom of the mug with the drip method.

I use Sakoku coffee from Chiang Rai (Lazada).

I tried them all.

But at the end I find a drip coffee tastes best. 

And the Electrolux machine is reliable.

I have to admit that it is a kind of philosophy which way is the best to have a good coffee in your mug. 

Depends also on the coffee beans itself. I prefer Vietnamese coffee.

[OneMoreFarang]

Listen to the expert. This is a great channel with lots of interesting videos. And the guy is a former barista champion, so he knows what he is talking about. 

 

 

[steven100]

24 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Listen to the expert. This is a great channel with lots of interesting videos. And the guy is a former barista champion, so he knows what he is talking about. 

 

 

 

just watched the video and very interesting ....    he leans toward the french press for taste especially with the medium ground coffee which I would probably use.   I think I am going to buy the french press over the drip machine for 2 points. 

1.  preparation and cleaning is simple and easy.    2.  taste is not compromised with the french press with medium ground coffee.  

 

 

[bunnydrops]

The best coffee I have ever had was made in a vacuum pot similar to this one on Amazon. Mine was an old one made of Pyrex and I left it on the heat too long and it exploded. I think the new glass is safer.

https://www.amazon.com/Yama-Glass-Stovetop-Coffee-Siphon/dp/B002CVTKW4/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1PO3QS988BB9T&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.cvC7JHOgW8KUGJiCp3JeOtBFOgqPOloottQml48-9pa4vRLp92SH_W9MhuGuvzB1pCsrK9IblYrsbpmUT1D_UnLjTCIoMxIMQTv2AzZ-_wYOhlgp-gLeO1q6hSVXAC4b8PXN8oAL3jx3ttoXbHQsxvRQLZGuDqrqOUSPFax2uPo3O4EOKl3SG7niBaLbO-wbj3iN7US2ci_HeBOQpz-D_FsUtuGCPqAonHfdiorS0T1-YTeaDqZ6vRJFQ-RYDrOc70SuDhr1dwEGVo2KMA6UmRiGNqMYfiAg6DVp83ADvIE.T2mTYn70jolCBZshXuxvIgWB4KTnyVGaYBkoPKdgBP8&dib_tag=se&keywords=vacuum%2Bcoffee%2Bmaker&qid=1722391383&sr=8-2&th=1

If you want to impress your guest, try one of these Belgium coffee makers.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Diguo-Belgian-Belgium-Retro-Style-Capacity/dp/B01MTOS32P?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&smid=A2HZ7WKEN4IWYQ&th=1

[Ctkong]

I use the a 3 cups glass press follow up with a v shaped steel filter to get rid of fine dregs. The glass is now improved . Less breakable. Pour the first cup into a double walled mug to keep warm, pour the rest into a tyeso steel container. Problem solved. 

[bendejo]

Haven't looked lately, Daiso has a plastic Melitta -type cone holder plus the paper cones.

It would look something like this

 

This method, even with the mediocre quality paper, gives a fairly clean drink.  If you run out of cones you may be able to rig one with a paper towel.

If you like sediment, French press or moka pot is the way to go.

 

[bunnydrops]

Also, something to think about if you drink more than 4 cups a day is that unfiltered coffee raises your bad cholesterol levels.