Aeropress

Has anybody tried Aeropress? It is a hand pumped espresso maker that gets rave reviews on amazon and coffeegeek.com.

It only costs about $30, so I ordered one and am awaiting shipment.

http://www.aerobie.com/Products/aeropress_story.htm


Dave

I'd seen one and am very curious, and so await your report.

Aeropress -- love it, love it, love it -- great coffee.

Love it - but worth the price? Wondering about hassle-to-price-to-good coffee ratio. Does it at least clean up as easily as advertised? (my major problem with french presses, etc.)

$30 seems a little much for what's basically a giant syringe - that being said, I'm still considering buying one .

I picked one up at Sur La Table for 29.95. Being a budget-conscious student and all, I wanted to make espresso and coffee drinks at home instead of dropping 4 bones at Intelligentsia all the time. Obviously it's not the same as what a high end espresso maker produces, but I definitely prefer it to any drip brew I've ever used. Yes, it is essentially a big syringe, but a well-designed fancy syringe which has paid for itself in less than two weeks and makes some fine shots of Black Cat blend Clean up has been quick and simple -- push the plunger all the way down and out pops the grinds which resembles a little hockey puck. Rinse w/ water.

We have had one for over a year and like it. Inexpensive and good results.

Got my Aeropress this past Saturday after getting a gift certificate from Amazon and I have to say I am impressed.
I have tried it with some Whole Foods Blend, regular and decaf, as well as some Peet's Major Dickinson's and the coffee has turned out uniformly strong and smooth, without any of the bitterness or acidity that can sometimes ruin a brew.
After some experimentation with the amount and grind of the blend (a gradation of "fine"), I have made a cup that ranks as one of my favorites for a homebrew.
There is one downside and that is the amount of coffee that each cup uses, four heaping spoonfuls, and if you are not used to strong...this coffee is.
On the plus side, it is only a thirty dollar gadget and to me it produces a coffee that connotates a much higher price.

Actually, I've got it down to a regular 7.5 gr coffee measure/cup -- I fill the aeropress to the top ("4") -- it makes about an 6-8 oz cup which I do not have to dilute to strength.

Since I posted the original question, I'll add my opinion after having used it about 15 times.

It is easily worth the $30 if you want a quick home version of:
espresso
a quick, decent replica of a "real" latte
a single cup of cafe americano

Clean up can be done in literally 10 seconds by just rinsing the parts.

For latte, I can combine use of the aeropress and aerolatte (a battery powered whisk for frothing warm milk without steam) and create something that I think is virtually indistinguishable from your favorite cafe's latte.

I have very little to add, except that the Aeropress makes superb iced coffee. I used to chill hot coffee or freeze coffee in an ice-cube tray, but I now use the Aeropress, and the coffee is at least as good as that served in many coffee shops.

The only drawback is that I find myself preparing coffee 2-3 times per day instead of having a single cup daily.

I use it when I'm traveling. Keep in mind that it doesn't make espresso (there is no crema extraction). But is does make a passable cup of espresso-like coffee. You certainly don't get the same mouthfeel experience. You should also know that if you are not using an espresso grind, then you will not be happy with the result.

I would have to agree. If anything I would compare the Aeropress to a vacuum pot in terms of the strength and taste of the coffee (and much easier to clean, to boot), though I do not use an espresso grind, I use a "fine" grind, which I realize is splitting hairs .
I must say that I look forward to having this coffee in the morning but I have only one complaint about it-a complaint that has kept my wife using our Senseo (who's coffee I find to be bland and old tasting): It takes a fair amount of upper arm strength to press down the plunger (much more so than something like a french press).
I just consider it part of my morning coffee work out!

Love it. Never use my coffeemaker any more.

I've had one for about a year. I bought it from thinkgeek for $24.95 after seeing a demonstration video. The best coffee maker I've used for the price and everyone I make coffee for using it goes out and buys one. The best use for it so far has been on camping trips where the easy cleanup makes it ideal.

What grind setting are you using for your Aeropress?

Has anyone tried the Inverted brewing method for brewing with an Aeropress?

I just got one (along with a burr grinder to replace my blade model) on Friday. So far I love it. I'm drinking a doppio right now, and while it isn't a true espresso, it is very good.

jblth wrote:I just got one (along with a burr grinder to replace my blade model) on Friday. So far I love it. I'm drinking a doppio right now, and while it isn't a true espresso, it is very good.

Which burr grinder did you get? I am in the process of replacing my broken blade grinder with a burr grinder.

shorty wrote:

jblth wrote:I just got one (along with a burr grinder to replace my blade model) on Friday. So far I love it. I'm drinking a doppio right now, and while it isn't a true espresso, it is very good.

Which burr grinder did you get? I am in the process of replacing my broken blade grinder with a burr grinder.

I went with the Capresso Infinity mentioned in this thread. I'm certainly no expert, but it seems to work fine. I simply can't afford several hundred dollars for a coffee grinder. I don't have any static problems like some people were worried about. It is noisy, but no worse than a blade grinder. The grind looks consistent at least.

shorty wrote:What grind setting are you using for your Aeropress?

Has anyone tried the Inverted brewing method for brewing with an Aeropress?

I use a grind a little under the middle setting on my Baratza Virtuoso; say about 18.

I have used the AP inverted for steeping a couple of times but haven't tried the inverted plunge. So far, I've been happy with the results.

shorty wrote:
Has anyone tried the Inverted brewing method for brewing with an Aeropress?

Hi,

Tell us about this method. I assume that inverting the Aeropress results in pressing the air out before the coffee. Will that increase the sediment?

Tim

Tim wrote:

shorty wrote:
Has anyone tried the Inverted brewing method for brewing with an Aeropress?

Hi,

Tell us about this method. I assume that inverting the Aeropress results in pressing the air out before the coffee. Will that increase the sediment?

Tim

See aeropress methods.
Another Invert Brewing method.

I am thinking of stirring with the Aeropress inverted to improve extraction.

shorty wrote:I am thinking of stirring with the Aeropress inverted to improve extraction.

That's what I've been doing lately but was pretty brief when I replied above.

I use two scoops of beans (28-30g) ground a little finer than medium drip. I also top up the mug/cup with hot water to yield a faux Americano. This works pretty well with a 16oz Thermos travel mug.

Into an inverted AP, I add the coffee and as much water as I can fit into the AP (given the amount of bloom from fresh beans, it can be midway to 2/3-full). The mix is stirred for 5sec and the filter/holder installed. Wait 60sec then turn upright over a mug and press. Add hot water to bring to desired level

I still use the stock AP paper filters. I'm not sure if/when I'll make the switch to the poly or metal filter materials which reports indicate allow more of the coffee oils through. I'm not trying to emulate espresso or a french press so have no problems with the results from the paper filters.

Tim wrote:

shorty wrote:
Has anyone tried the Inverted brewing method for brewing with an Aeropress?

Hi,

Tell us about this method. I assume that inverting the Aeropress results in pressing the air out before the coffee. Will that increase the sediment?

Tim

Here is a video showing the inverted brewing method.

http://aeropressme.com/?p=3

I use this method of pouring water in, stirring, pouring more water, and then pressing down with the plunger.

shorty wrote:
Here is a video showing the inverted brewing method.

http://aeropressme.com/?p=3

I use this method of pouring water in, stirring, pouring more water, and then pressing down with the plunger.

Shorty,

While, this video shows the same method of filling the inverted Aeropress with the coffee and the water before topping with the filter, it does not show the inverted "brewing" as in the above link. In this case, the aeropress is not inverted during the "brewing" process and the air is used as a cushion while the water is pressed through the filter.

The inverted brewing process specifies that the pressing phase is completed while the Aeropress is inverted. This means that their is no air cushion and the press is directly on the water; much more pressure than the normal brewing with the air cushion. That is why he uses a felt filter.

I hope that I have explained this clearly.

Tim

Tim wrote:

shorty wrote:
Here is a video showing the inverted brewing method.

http://aeropressme.com/?p=3

I use this method of pouring water in, stirring, pouring more water, and then pressing down with the plunger.

Shorty,

While, this video shows the same method of filling the inverted Aeropress with the coffee and the water before topping with the filter, it does not show the inverted "brewing" as in the above link. In this case, the aeropress is not inverted during the "brewing" process and the air is used as a cushion while the water is pressed through the filter.

The inverted brewing process specifies that the pressing phase is completed while the Aeropress is inverted. This means that their is no air cushion and the press is directly on the water; much more pressure than the normal brewing with the air cushion. That is why he uses a felt filter.

I hope that I have explained this clearly.

Tim

Thanks for the correction. I forgot about the fact that you are supposed to press while the Aeropress is inverted. I have never tried doing it this way since I was afraid of making a mess.

I have had an Aeropress for nearly two years and love it. The only drawback is, it's not great if you want or need to make a large quantity of coffee, obviously. But for a single guy it's perfect. And the cleanup is so easy.

I have my doubts about the inverted brewing. I'm sure the coffee is just fine, but I don't think removing the air "cushion" increases the pressure. Pressure is pressure, regardless of the presence of air in the chamber.

Creeping up on 5 years of near daily AeroPress usage (well, weekday-ly...the drip machine still tends to see service on the weekends when larger batches of coffee are needed). I've never toyed with the inverted brewing, but I'd be really interested in switching to a metal filter. Anyone have an idea where such a thing could be acquired in Chicago or online?

I think people just buy a Swissgold filter and cut the disc by hand.

Makes sense to me - though you'd probably have to use the inverted method to prevent leaks before pressing.