Aerobie AeroPress Review

After a thorough and sometimes intense examination on the test track called my kitchen, the results of the Aerobie AeroPress review are in and they are positive.

What Is The AeroPress?

It’s an alternative to drip coffee makers, french presses and espresso machines. It’s a simple, but slightly odd looking gadget. It looks like a french press combined with a laboratory beaker. It came from inventor Alan Adler, who is best known for his Aerobie flying ring and similar toys. He took a scientific approach to making coffee and came up with the Aeropress.

Very Simple to Use

I started by inserting the paper filter into the cap and attached it to the bottom of the beaker looking object called the chamber. Then, I placed that on top of a coffee cup. It does have to be a traditionally shaped coffee mug, it wouldn’t work on my industrial sized coffee mug that I use in the mornings because of the extra wide opening at the top.

For each espresso shot or cup of coffee I wanted, I’d add one scoop of finely ground coffee into the chamber.

Next, I added the hot water. They recommend heating the water to 175 degrees, which is less than boiling water that’s usually suggested for a french press. Ader’s research showed that temperature created better tasting coffee.

I don’t own a thermometer, so I guesstimated it until I could buy a thermometer. The results were good, but even better when I finally did purchase a thermometer and fine tuned the water temperature.

Using the paddle that came with it, I stirred it for ten seconds. Then, I rinsed the rubber seal on the plunger and put it into the chamber. Gently, I pushed down on the plunger to it was just above the coffee grounds. Slow and steady produced the best tasting results.

That makes one shot of espresso, which I usually turned into a cup of coffee by filling the rest of the mug with hot water. It can also be turned into a latte but adding hot milk. The latte was better than some that I’ve had from coffee shops.

When it was all done, I pushed the used grounds into a trash can. They recommend holding it above the trash, I did that and the coffee grounds flew all over my kitchen floor. I quickly learned to hold it practically in the garbage can to make it sure it ejected where it was supposed to go.

Cleanup was very easy. The plastic material rinses clean and I didn’t have to do a full wash after every use. It’s much easier to clean than a french press and takes a lot less time than a drip coffee maker.

Not including the heating time for the water, it took less than a minute from the time I poured the water into the chamber, to the time that I was done cleaning it.

Head To Head Comparison

Versus the drip coffee maker, the AeroPress has a much fuller taste. The flavors are brighter and more evident. It also has more of a natural taste. It even made some generic coffee that I had sitting around in my kitchen drinkable.

The drawback is that the AeroPress is limited to making about four cups of coffee at a time. My coffee maker can brew a lot more, so the drip machine wins there.

The flavor of the AeroPress coffee was similar to the french press, but the press does make a stronger cup of coffee, if that’s what you like, but the AeroPress was perfect for me.

The AeroPress didn’t have the grit from the coffee grinds that comes along with a french press. I don’t mind the grit and have even talked to people that like it, but the AeroPress does produce a much cleaner cup of coffee.

The filter’s a lot easier to replace on the AeroPress. It comes with 350 thin paper filters and replacements are sold for less than $5. When the filter on a french press breaks, it’s not as easy to replace.

Compared to both methods, the AeroPress makes coffee that’s a lot easier on my stomach. Coffee sometimes can give me heartburn, but even after many cups of coffee from the AeroPress, I’ve had zero problems.

I’ve had more than my fair share of espresso and espresso based drinks, but I don’t fell I can properly compare it to the espresso machine. I’m not saying that in a negative way, I just don’t have enough information to make a fair judgment. The espresso I made tasted fine to me, but I’ve read that it doesn’t create enough pressure to make a true espresso.

Final Thoughts

For an average coffee drinker like me, the AeroPress gets a four out of five rating. Since, I started using it, I went from using my drip coffee maker every day, to just once in a while. I still use my french press when I have friends over or am tasting coffees, but the AeroPress is equal competition for it. If I could only buy just one, it would be a tough choice.