I enjoy a hot cup of coffee every now and then. But, I never had any interest in learning how to brew the coffee (cooking is really not my thing). I have always bought my coffee from restaurants and coffee shops. When I came across the Aerobie Aeropress Coffee & Espresso Maker while searching the web for interesting devices, it really caught my attention. The Aeropress is said to be easy to use and that it makes the best tasting coffee. This I had to find out for myself and we got an Aeropress to review.
The Aeropress System consists of three main pieces, the chamber, the plunger, and the chamber cap. Accessories include a year’s supply of micro filters, a holder for the filters, a stirrer, a scoop, and a funnel for grounds. Detailed instructions are also included.
Below is a picture of all the parts of the system. Starting from your left is the micro filters and holder, funnel, chamber, and plunger. From the center, cap, scoop, and the stirrer.
All the pieces included with the system are made of very strong clear and black plastic. These pieces appear to be able to stand up to daily use.
Use of the Aeropress is amazingly simple. You place a micro filter into the cap and screw the cap onto the bottom of the chamber.
The chamber is placed on a mug. Using the scoop, add the desired amount of coffee grounds, up to four scoops (one scoop = one serving).
You can use the funnel to aid in pouring the coffee grounds into the chamber. Aerobie provides the funnel to use with a coffee bean grinder. But, it also works well to keep the grounds from getting on your kitchen counter.
On the side of the plunger is marked 1,2,3, and 4. These are used to measure the water for brewing. The amount of water corresponds to the number of scoops.
To make a single serving of American coffee, pour one scoop of coffee grounds into the chamber. Fill hot water into the plunger, measuring to one. Pour the hot water slowly into the chamber. Using the stirrer, stir the water and coffee for ten seconds. Place the plunger into the chamber and slowly press down all the way.
While pressing the plunger down, things will look like the picture below:
According to the instructions, “pressing slowly is the key to a rich brew.” The brewing is now done! Remove the chamber and invert it. At this point you’ve got an espresso in the mug. Finally add some hot water to dilute the espresso into an American cup of coffee. A nice fresh cup of coffee to enjoy!
The Aeropress can easily make up to four cups of espresso or four American cups of coffee at a time. Put four scoops of coffee grounds into the chamber. Measure water up to the number 4 on the plunger. Add the hot water to the chamber and press. Next using the scoop divide up the espresso between the coffee mugs and serve as espresso or add hot water to each for the American cup of coffee. Again it’s that easy, whether it’s one serving or four.
The Aeropress is easy to clean up too. Remove the cap. Hold the Aeropress over a waste can. Push the plunger all the way, to eject the used filter and grounds. Rinse the cap and rubber part of the plunger with water and that is it! The Aeropress is clean. It’s important to note that the Aeropress system is not dishwasher safe.
The Aeropress is also fun to use. When I first started using it, I felt like a scientist measuring the coffee and water and putting it all together.
After a few weeks of making my own fresh coffee nearly every day, I have concluded that the Aeropress Coffee & Espresso Maker system to my surprise does exactly everything that Aerobie says it does. It makes an extremely good tasting cup of coffee or espresso. The espresso tastes better than the one I tried at a local restaurant. And the regular American coffee is the best. I find it amazing that a device with simple plastic parts can make such a good cup of coffee. I would recommend the Aeropress Coffee & Espresso Maker system to anyone who loves coffee.
The Aerobie Aeropress Coffee & Espresso Maker is available from various retailers.
MSRP: $29.99
What I Like: Makes extremely good coffee; easy to use and fun; inexpensive!
What Needs Improvement: None
7 Responses to “Aerobie Aeropress Coffee & Espresso Maker Review”
- 1 Chris Magnusson Sep 9th, 2007 at 8:49 pm…from the same people that make dog frisbees.
- 2 Judie Lipsett Sep 9th, 2007 at 9:03 pm I want to try this…I need more caffeine. yessiree bob.
- 3 Chris Magnusson Sep 9th, 2007 at 9:15 pm Have you tried this?
- 4 Judie Lipsett Sep 9th, 2007 at 9:29 pmOh good lord…this would kill me! ha!
- 5 melvynadam Sep 10th, 2007 at 7:33 amCan’t see the advantage over a ‘regular’ cafetiere.
- 6 BarneyC Oct 8th, 2007 at 4:09 pm This thing rocks and sucks at the same time!@#@!It rocks because it does make pretty good coffee (given a decent grind) – not as good as a good espresso machine but certainly very drinkable.It sucks because it only costs NZ$50 and I spent a whole heap more than that last year on that decent espresso machine.If you haven’t already got a quality machine GET THIS gadget. Portable, cheap and full of the caffeine goodness us geeks need to get through the day.
- 1 test av Aerobie AeroPress, test Aerobie AeroPress – Konsumentguiden.se Pingback on Jan 9th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
I have been digging to get one of these. One of these days I am going to have to get one! 😀
Joel: I still enjoy making coffee with it. Also, still fun to use too. 😉
The Aeropress stands up to the hype. What’s the advantage over a French press? The two look similar but the end product of the Aeropress is vastly superior flavor-wise.
It is made by a company that is famous for flying disks. I am not sure how this matters.
I think the resulting beverage is superior to any lower end espresso machines.
The coffee I make with the Aeropress at home is more complex in flavor than the shots that come from a Berezza Galatea here in my town (same beans).