The AeroPress - is it a gimmick?

[AppalachianPipe92]

I was at a new buddies house today. He's a touring musician who is a coffee roaster when he's not on the road. He knows my normal routine for coffee, as it's very similar to his - a Fellow Kettle into a ChemEx pour over. On weekends I do a French press with bolder blends.
Well today he was giving me some merch and told me to take an AeroPress with me. I've seen these mentioned here before, and he really believes in them (though it's not his daily choice to brew).

What are your thoughts on the Aeropress? Has anybody tried cold brew from it, espresso? Is it just another gadget?
I'm interested to start experimenting with it tonight and was curious of others experiences with it.

 

[ashdigger]

Not a gimmick. Used one for years.

I forget the name of the gizmo that you can buy that assists in making espresso in one.

I scrapped all that though. I use a Clever Dripper now. It makes 16 ounces of coffee super easy.

CLEVER Dripper (Clear)

RELIABLE AND REPEATABLE A fool-proof and inexpensive full-immersion method of brewing coffee, this little gem is as familiar as a drip machine - it uses #4 filters - and is as simple to use as a French press. The resulting coffee retains much of the delicious body of a French press, but does...

cleverbrewing.coffee

 

[starrynight]

To me the real shining strength of the aeropress is getting a decent cup while camping/traveling/road-tripping. Many a time, we've used the Commadante C40 to grind, then just grabbed some how water from McDonalds to do a reverse press. This works well when you're in the middle of nowhere.

 

[jttnk]

I love my aeropress when I use it. Sadly, I’m 98% KeUris out of laziness.
however when I have fresh beans and time Aeropress and French press are great.

 

[AJL67]

I did the Chemex gig for a bit but it is more of a process than drop in a cup hit the button, haven't tried the press in question but have heard a lot of praise of it.

 

[AppalachianPipe92]

To me the real shining strength of the aeropress is getting a decent cup while camping/traveling/road-tripping. Many a time, we've used the Commadante C40 to grind, then just grabbed some how water from McDonalds to do a reverse press. This works well when you're in the middle of nowhere.

This seems to be one of the common selling points for these.

 

[mawnansmiff]

I've heard of this Aeropress gizmo before but never actually looked into it so therefore have no clue as to how it works.

That was until I read this post....then watched a couple of Youtube clips...and now my finger is hovering over the 'Buy It Now' button on Amazon (£35 inc p+p).

Are they really that good?

Regards,

Jay.

 

[AppalachianPipe92]

After 4 cups so far, each with a different bean, I will say there is a learning curve. Many people use this gadget differently and I've tried 2 different methods.
For those who know of James Hoffmann, I've used his method 2 out of 4 times with the best results.

Does it beat my Chemex or even V60 for a single cup? I'm not convinced yet. Is it good though? Its surprisingly really good. I've managed to get a great cup with this finally. I think more than anything, it's easy and the cleanup is quick and convenient. I see myself using this mostly when I want a late night, single cup of coffee. I don't see myself using it for my morning cups or when I'm making coffee for 2 people.

All around, it's a cool gadget that I think is great to add to any coffee lovers cabinet of methods for brewing. I'm also thinking it will only improve with time as I play around with grind size and water temperature. Glad I received one

 

[mawnansmiff]

I'm all for pressing the buy it now button but am a tad worried reading some Amazon reviews saying that the gadget has gone down in quality since the original company was taken over and apparently some of the components are no longer included in the package.

My interest is purely practical. I have a wonderful De'Longhi espresso machine but don't use it as there is so much to clean after every brew so the ease of just rinsing the Aeropress appeals to me.

Regards,

Jay.

 

[woodsroad]

Not a gimmick. Used one for years.

I forget the name of the gizmo that you can buy that assists in making espresso in one.

I scrapped all that though. I use a Clever Dripper now. It makes 16 ounces of coffee super easy.

CLEVER Dripper (Clear)

RELIABLE AND REPEATABLE A fool-proof and inexpensive full-immersion method of brewing coffee, this little gem is as familiar as a drip machine - it uses #4 filters - and is as simple to use as a French press. The resulting coffee retains much of the delicious body of a French press, but does...

cleverbrewing.coffee

Dear Lord that’s complicated!
I’ve been using a ceramic Melitta funnel for decades. I heat water to 203 f, measure out the coffee, pop the paper filter in and pour.

Heat, plastic and food isn’t a healthy combo.

 

[ashdigger]

Dear Lord that’s complicated!
I’ve been using a ceramic Melitta funnel for decades. I heat water to 203 f, measure out the coffee, pop the paper filter in and pour.

Heat, plastic and food isn’t a healthy combo.

I do a lot of things that aren’t healthy. Plastic is the least of my concerns.

I fell at a fire scene a bit ago. I fractured my wrist, cut my arm, had a nail go through my hand and was partially (miraculously) impaled.

Seriously, plastic doesn’t even chart.

 

[woodsroad]

Oh yeah?
I set my backyard on fire, drove off in a car with a loose wheel, ate at McDonald's and wrote a nastygram to Hilary Clinton.
I'm STILL not going to consume anything that was heated in plastic. Unless I want to grow bigger boobs.

 

[ashdigger]

Oh yeah?
I set my backyard on fire, drove off in a car with a loose wheel, ate at McDonald's and wrote a nastygram to Hilary Clinton.
I'm STILL not going to consume anything that was heated in plastic. Unless I want to grow bigger boobs.

View attachment 230843

You say that like it’s a problem

 

[mso489]

Of course, I'm not going to miss the opportunity to say again that my favorite method of preparing coffee is the stove-top percolator. When I originally announced this on Forums, one of the members said, "Is that you Dad?"

 

[seanv]

The Aeropress is a good way to make coffee. It is easy to use and easy to clean. I have a Ninja drip machine that gets the most use followed by a Bodum pour over.

 

[Rockyrepose]

I just drink shitty coffee, it's the easiest method I've found.

 

[cersono]

Crushed a glass cup when squeezing this thingy, just by the pure luck avoided arterial bleeding and severing hands at wrist joints.
Tossed it and returned to my tried-and-true Cafetière aka French Press.
Go home aeropress, you're drunk.

Be careful with this gizmo
It may be sturdy enough but your old well beaten cup may not.

 

[AppalachianPipe92]

Dear Lord that’s complicated!
I’ve been using a ceramic Melitta funnel for decades. I heat water to 203 f, measure out the coffee, pop the paper filter in and pour.

Heat, plastic and food isn’t a healthy combo.

The heat>plastic does worry me. Another reason I won't reach for it often.

 

[AppalachianPipe92]

I'm all for pressing the buy it now button but am a tad worried reading some Amazon reviews saying that the gadget has gone down in quality since the original company was taken over and apparently some of the components are no longer included in the package.

My interest is purely practical. I have a wonderful De'Longhi espresso machine but don't use it as there is so much to clean after every brew so the ease of just rinsing the Aeropress appeals to me.

Regards,

Jay.

I wonder if he gave me an older box, pre-buyout. It came with a bag and all sorts of stuff that goes with it.

 

[AppalachianPipe92]

I did the Chemex gig for a bit but it is more of a process than drop in a cup hit the button, haven't tried the press in question but have heard a lot of praise of it.

Chemex is my go to on weekends, especially for lighter roasts. I'd do it on weekday mornings if I could preset the kettle to heat on a timer.