Yeah, it’s great. I’ve dialed in the super fast brew and i love how easy it is to make great coffee that’s not scolding hot out of the brewer.
Check out the winner from 2009, that’s what I use and it’s pretty amazing. https://worldaeropresschampionship.com/pages/recipes
I use water that’s 175F and only 14gs of coffee, but otherwise it’s the same.
Here is the recipe to save a click:
Coffee: 19.5–20g Grind: Slightly coarser than filter grind Water: 200ml @ 75°C Brewer: Inverted Filter: Paper, soaked
Directions:
- Stir 4 times
- Stop stirring, secure the filter and turn at around 10 seconds (total contact time around 15 sec.)
- Press and serve
My coworkers often tell me they never knew a cup could taste so smooth and yet be that caffeinated, then I get to watch their eyes glaze over when I try to explain the chemistry.
So what’s the benefit of an aero press over a French press? I’ve used the French press for years and I always see people loving aero press. I’m curious what the differences are.
Looks like they’re made of plastic, for starters.
Main difference is the fact that the aeropress uses a paper filter which filters out sediment and oils giving the coffee a “cleaner” taste. From my research before I bought it, I remember it also being slightly healthier because, again, you filter out those oils.
This changes alot though, because of the filter, the aeropress can take finer grounds than the french press. Also when you press, you press all the water through the grounds.
Yep
Interesting. I don’t know if I’d ever describe the coffee I brew as oily or anything like that. I suppose I have to try this sometime.
Oh, no. It’s not oily. Just a bit thicker. Like espresso. That’s partly because of the oils that coffee has.
So if you pour French press through paper filter it’s same thing?
Not quite. I said that was the main difference, but if we go into details, the physics of the thing, it’s a bit more complicated. The guy who invented the aeropress, afaik, tried to make a handmade espresso replacement. He didn’t succeed, but the way the aeropress works is a hybrid of immersion, percolation and pressure brewer, whereas the french press is all about immersion and that it’s. It has the plunger, but that’s for filtering, nothing else.
If anything, I think the aeropress is closer to a moka pot than anything. But it’s its own thing, honestly.
Aeropress brings out a lot more flavor imo. The process of making it is also kinda fun.
Maybe I’ll need to try something with it side by side .
Oh boy, a mug of hot plastic water. Yumm.
For all of us Aeropress junkies, here’s a deep rabbit hole: https://aeroprecipe.com/. I hope y’all have as much fun as I did playing around with the recipes and results options.
Well. Didn’t know that existed. Thanks!
Is that plastic? Gonna be a hard no for me Dawg
They’re working on a glass-and-metal premium version. But it’ll cost a premium price, though.
At this rate I’m not sure they’ll release it this year
$40 is already a premium price for what it is. It makes great coffee, but at the end of the day it’s a sturdy plastic plunger. Probably $4 landed.
It’s made in US, so it should be not as cheap as Chinese stuff.
I know it is, but production is almost completely hands off for something like this and plastic is cheap as dirt. US production runs wouldn’t be very expensive either. It’s a painfully simple product. You get like 5 pieces of plastic in a small box. You can find things that look more complicated at the dollar store.
That would be amazing. The device is cool, and seemed to work well from the reviews, but the plastic prevented me from buying it.
It’s made of polypropylene, partially recycled, extremely durable, and again fully recyclable if it does reach end of life at some point. It’s also certified BPA free - as opposed to the very first version (that was transparent and used a different plastic). BPA doesn’t leech into water unless exposed over a very long time anyway, and the average brew time is about 3-5 minutes; but it’s good they made the change anyway. If I remember correctly, BPA became an issue mostly due to being in baby toys that are chewed on, or bottles for beverages with a very long shelf life (e.g. water, that practically lasts forever) where it can leech out over time.
To me it’s the ideal travel brewer, since I can pre-grind my coffee and keep it in a tin box, where I can also put a stack of filter papers in to keep them from getting wet. Glass just wouldn’t work on the road, the risk of damage is simply too high. And you’ll anyway need to have a plastic plunger, or at the very least a plastic coated one, since you need to have a 100% tight seal.
At home I don’t use it often since I have a decent espresso machine, but I can see the merit as a daily driver in a small kitchen.
Edit: Oh btw, if the body was made of glass, I can totally see how it would shatter someday while applying force. You have to push with quite a bit of power the water through.
Probably no worse than most drip coffee makers. Do you use a french press?
No I use a stainless moka pot. I don’t like to have hot things in plastic even if it’s bpa free. I don’t trust the companies to actually guarantee the entire supply chain
Best lightweight coffee maker. The rubber goes after a time but you can buy replacements
I’ve kept the rubber plunger out of the tube when in storage. When kept inside the tube it compresses the rubber and retains the shape memory which causes it to fail. Haven’t ever replaced mine and it is eight years old. Still works perfectly.
Just push the piston all the way in, and the rubber clicks when it comes out the other end of the cylinder. This way you can store it in a compact package.
Mine does not do this.
Interesting. I’m using the AP Go, so maybe the normal one doesn’t extend all the way through.
Edit: just checked how my normal AP works. It’s basically the same as the AP Go, but I guess this is a fairly new model, so there may have been some changes.
Are you using an older version?
Yes, it is eight years old.
My original one i had to do this but the one i have now, if you fully depress the plunger with no coffee in it it comes out the bottom just enough to not squeeze the sides.
That rocks!
Great tip! Thank you 🙌
Really? I have mine since probably 6 or 7 years and it’s still fine and I use it several times a week.
Mine died after 9 years or so. Did that thing where the rubber breaks down and gets super sticky and oily. Never had an issue with it losing its shape - you just have to make sure you store it fully pressed in so the lip pops out the far side of the tube
I’ve found you can extend the life of the plunger by placing the plunger rubber-side down on a table or counter top, tilting it slightly onto the edge of the rubber and then rotating it. This essentially presses the rubber and extends it outwards and seems to help achieve the seal you expect. I’ve been doing it for a while now and it’s worked well for me.
I’m sure it won’t last forever but it’s something worth trying to get a bit more life out of it.
I didn’t do that and it lasted a decade. Just don’t store it compressed in the tube or wash it every day (just rinse or rinse and wipe. Dish soap dries out rubber.
I have one that’s about eleven years old now. Still works perfectly.
Coffee oils keep rubber moist 👍
Mine lasted literally 10 years before it started to go a bit. I blame half that on my spouse using it for non coffee things and scraping up the inside of the cylinder pretty badly.
Questions: what are the perks to using this vs a pour over system (which is what I currently use when I’m out of cold brew)? Is this easy to use if you have limited hand dexterity and strength?
The effect on extraction by the slight pressurization (and ability to change the pressure by how hard you press) and speed of use would be two advantages over pour over.
It doesn’t require hand dexterity or, really, hand strength. Arguably a proper, well-made pour-over with a goose neck kettle takes more hand dexterity than an Aeropress. Basically you put the hot water in, wait, and then press the plunger. Body weight or mild strength is all it takes. I usually just put my hands on top and then lean with my body; that functionally makes it require no hand strength at all.
They’re very affordable, so perhaps worth trying. Unless you are concerned about microplastics. The entire thing is plastic.
Edit: they have a newer, more expensive version made of Tritan crystal. I know nothing about the composition of Tritan crystal and whether there is anything that can leech or whatever from it, but I would assume it gets rid of the microplastic concern. Though I’m not sure what the “rubber” stopper is made from.
Triton is a trade named plastic. All the microplastic concerns would still be there, but because it’s based frre, food safe, and can be made clear, it allows “funner” colored food safe plastics to be used.
Ah, thanks for the info.
Honestly I’d rather use plastic than have to press my hand down on heated glass. It’s bound to explode one day and send glass down your wrist.
Yes, that’s a fair point. Though, there are other materials that might be explored (types of metal perhaps?) for those that would prefer a non-plastic version.
Aeropress is more forgiving and produces more body. Pour over, being a percolation brew, will have higher extraction at the cost of being a bit more sensitive to technique.
It seems popular. I am set for coffee gear at this time. Very happy with the V60 02 and the Clever Dripper.
I had used one for many years, it’s great for small amounts of coffee. If you need to make coffee for your significant other as well, it’s a pain. Recently moved back to a French press and I love it
That is indeed a drawback this has. On the other hand I don’t think a larger aeropress would make much sense either. This size is just perfect, but definitely for one cup.
There is indeed the xl variant for when the significant otter wants a cup as well, i think it changes ratios a bit but i cannot taste it
I’ve had the aeropress since the month they came out, and I absolutely love it.
I love the Aeropress. I don’t know if I’ve ever been able to make a bad cup with it. It seems so forgiving, yet you can really dial in a recipe at the same time.
My baseline recipe is 20g of coffee ground on the Encore (18 for light, 16 for med, 10 for espresso) and 200 ml water just off boil. Mix inverted for 2 min, stirring 3 or 4 times. Add 150 ml hot water in cold weather or right from the tap in hot water.
The only other brewer I bother with now is the OXO pour over, which is a good hands off brewer that makes me a very satisfying and consistent cup without the involvement of the Aeropress. It makes what it makes though. I use the same 20g coffee ground at 16-18, unbleached filters, and all 350 ml of water at once. I typically get evenly brewed grounds, but if I’m feeling so inclined I’ll check it’s getting all the coffee evenly, but whether I touch it or not, I feel I get the same result, so it’s more piece of mind than taste that is affected.
Nice I need to try adding the extra water next time. I have a bad habit of brewing and walking away too long before I push the plunger.
I typically steep it 1.5-2 minutes, the gf likes it from 2-5 min, James’s testing I think was good up to 10 minutes without too much difference, and even in the Aeropress instructions I think it calls for like 30 seconds. I still feel all produce something drinkable.
I like to brew on a mocha pot, pour into my aeropress, and plunge into a cup. It filters the sediment out for a super clean taste.
You can just put an aeropress filter above the grounds before you screw the top on your mokapot (assuming you don’t have one of the super size ones)
I use an aeropress filter in my moka pot. Best cup of coffee without the sediment
I wonder how this would affect my Turkish coffee. I think a lot of it’s texture and flavor is because a lot of the powder is kind of dissolved filtering it out might be a bad idea.
I tried it with Turkish coffee. IMHO, it ruined it.
It’s a great backup to have, that’s for sure. I drink mostly cold brew, but sometimes I run out and there are a few days before I brew more. Aeropress is a fantastic way to brew a quick cup.
Scientists found a way to make cold brew in a few hours just recently. It even passed every blind taste test, too. I forget the machine name, but it’s also commonly used to clean jewelry, as well as use in a lab, for like $60.
Edit: I went and found the old article, they used ultrasonic waves and it only took them 1-3 minutes depending on preference. Unfortunately after reading another article, it’s a modification they made to existing espresso machines. Their initial machine was around £15,000, and was overkill. Not sure how someone would be able to replicate at home. 🥲
Ultrasonic cleaner? It basically vibrates like a speaker at high frequency, and when in water it can be used to clean jewelry.
If you find it, post it!
It’s not really an inconvenience for me; I set it up, let it brew overnight; easy-peasy.
Ultrasound? I have one of those I use to clean all sorts of things. Never thought of using one for coffee, but I could see it really rendering the oils, even cold.
Ultrasound?
People need to stop doing inversions. At some point you are going to spill it and now we have good valve based options its not even necessary to stop the tiny amount of dripping that occurs. Even before we had the several valve solutions the amount that actually dripped through was tiny and had no impact on the flavour of the cup of coffee since you could put the plunger in and create a slight negative pressure that kept the liquid in.
James Hoffman taste tested this and couldn’t tell the difference, he has a fantastic video on what is actually worth doing and what isn’t with the Aeropress and inversion isn’t.
