Aeropress Review: Is It Worth It?

Buying a new coffeemaker can be a tough job. In this Aeropress review, we explain if this coffee brewer is worth it.

Aeropress review
Aeropress is a comparatively newer brewing device invented in 2005 by Alan Adler

There are so many brands, models, and features to look at and compare that anyone can easily get confused. I found myself in a similar situation when a dear friend who is also a coffee expert recommended Aeropress coffee.

At first, I was a bit cynical because Aeropress is a comparatively newer brewing device invented in 2005 by Alan Adler (who also invented Aerobie). After a few days of using an Aeropress, I was convinced that I had made the right choice. It’s a great choice if paired with quality coffee for new coffee drinkers.

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03/08/2024 10:00 am GMT

What Is An AeroPress?

An Aeropress is a coffee brewing machine made up of a filter, a cap, a plunger, and a chamber. You force the plunger down, which applies pressure and heat to the coffee grounds, brewing espresso. This unique coffee maker uses the technique of total grounds immersion and pressure to brew coffee that has a rich flavor and aroma.

The brewing device is lightweight and extremely portable, so you can enjoy a sweet and delicious brew whether you are at home or outdoors. If you are a fan of Americano, Italian lattes, or cappuccinos, you can make them all with this brewing device.

Due to the short brew time and lower temperature, the acid level of AeroPress coffee is significantly less than conventional brewers, so it’s ideal for those with sensitive stomachs.

What Is The Coffee To Water Ratio For AeroPress

Take an Aeropress spoonful of coffee beans and add hot water to the correct mark on the device. If you have a scale available, you may make it 17-19 grams of coffee and add 220 grams of water to brew a great cup in less than two minutes.

Who Is The AeroPress For?

The AeroPress is for coffee lovers who value the daily ritual of making coffee. It’s a mindful process but doesn’t take up too much of your day. If you prefer manual coffee grinders, then the Aeropress is right up your street. It’s great for brewing espresso as well as other fun coffee drinks for those who like to experiment. Learn more about why you should buy an AeroPress.

How To Store An AeroPress

After you have ejected the coffee puck, you should clean your AeroPress and dry it. You can store your AeroPress with the plunger in the chamber or store them separately with the cap screwed onto the chamber for safekeeping.

Either way, you can leave it on the countertop if it’s not in direct sunlight or store it in a cupboard. Make sure to keep the other components like the stirrer, filters, filter holder, and Aeropress scoop nearby. Most coffee enthusiasts use paper filters, but a reusable metal filter is not unheard of.

Learn more in our guide on how to store an AeroPress.

How Long Does The AeroPress Last?

If you take good care of your AeroPress coffee brewer, you can expect it to last between two to three years. While this seems like a short amount of time, remember that it can outlive a French Press or any other kind of glass coffee maker as it is more durable.

AeroPress Pricing

AeroPress Pricing
AeroPress makes better coffee and costs less

The AeroPress makes better coffee and costs less than many other devices. This is mostly because it is a manual coffee machine. So it has great value for money with a low price tag.

How Does An AeroPress Work?

To brew Aeropress coffee, use an AeroPress scoop or two tablespoons of coffee. The coffee should be medium fine.

Then you put the paper filter inside the basket. Preheat the device and run some hot water on the filter. This helps in reducing the papery flavor and warms up the machine for optimum use.

You may also heat up your coffee mug with hot water to retain the warmth for longer.

Tightly screw the basket cap to the bottom end of the brewing chamber and place the coffee grounds on the top of the mug. You may also use the funnel or coffee loader that comes with the device.

Then add hot water (ideally 205°F) to the brewer and start the timer. You may wet the grounds and let it saturate for about 10 seconds. Spin the brewing chamber to ensure all coffee grounds are well-saturated.

As you hit the right water level mark on the AeroPress, stop and start stirring the mixture. Now place the plunger inside the brew chamber and pull it upwards slowly to create air pressure. Remember not to plunge at this point.

After 75 seconds, release the pressure and stir the mixture once again with a spoon. Now place the plunger back and press down gently by applying steady pressure.

When you hear a hissing sound, stop and release the pressure. The process takes about two minutes or less, and it can yield about seven to eight ounces of great coffee.

What Size Is The AeroPress Scoop?

A heaped AeroPress scoop can hold approximately three tablespoons of coffee, while a level scoop will contain around two and a half tablespoons.

Construction Quality

Calling this the best coffee maker would be an exaggeration. But I certainly believe that this is one of the smartly designed coffee makers of recent times.

It gets the job done in a really impressive style. The entire device and complementary accessories are made of plastic (BPA-free plastic), so this is certainly not the best quality, but it is durable.

AeroPress Design

The device boasts an innovative design, which gives an unconventional style to coffee making. The device includes a tough and heat-resistant chamber made from good-quality plastic.

On the base of the device, there is a filter cap hat that securely holds the filter and the coffee grounds. A plunger sits on the top and forms an airtight seal to prevent the flavors from escaping. You might also be interested in our guide on the differences between an inverted and Normal Aeropress.

Ease Of Use

This coffee maker is synonymous with simplicity. Unlike other complicated brewing methods that involve several steps and take much time to brew a cup of Joe, this device is easy to use. It works best for those who need a great-tasting coffee without getting into the intricacies or spending too much time.

Cleaning Up

For any coffee maker, the time needed for cleaning is an important aspect. Who wants to do the cleaning after a great cup of coffee?

And, who also wants to spoil the taste of future brews due to neglect in cleaning? So, it’s essential that the cleaning process does not look like a hassle.

With Aeropress, cleaning feels like an easy job. You just need to press out the spent coffee and discard the puck. Run some warm water through it, and you are done.

Durability

If the coffee maker was made of glass like Hario V60 or Chemex, it would have scored low in terms of durability. However, the fact that the AeroPress is made of 100% BPA-free plastic ensures that it will really last for a long time.

You can carry your AeroPress with you on road trips and not worry about dropping it accidentally when brewing outdoors in a camp. The device is sturdy and durable.

Brewing Speed

This is where the coffee maker scores high points compared to others. Most of the time spent in making an AeroPress coffee goes into boiling water and measuring beans. The actual brew process only takes about one minute, which is less than any other traditional or contemporary method out there.

According to the inventor of AeroPress, Alan Adler, the coffee maker derives benefits from its short brew time that prevents over-extraction of the grounds. So, this eliminates the risk of bothering your taste buds with bitter-tasting mud.

Versatility

If you are the type of person who enjoys experimenting with different types of drinks, AeroPress can be a great option. Other than espresso, you may brew latte, tea, and other types of drinks.

Areas For Improvement

The Aeropress is not the most attractive coffee brewing device, but looks aren’t the most important detail. Since there are a lot of parts, it’s easy to lose some pieces.

How To Make AeroPress Coffee Even Better

Aeropress review
Let the grounds pre-infuse for 30 seconds
  • Grind your coffee fresh
  • Try different beans
  • Experiment with grind size
  • Try the inverted method
  • Use good-quality water
  • Keep an eye on the water temperature
  • A gooseneck kettle can give you better pour control
  • Pre-soak the filter
  • Let the grounds pre-infuse for 30 seconds
  • Use two filters
  • Listen for the “hissing” sound to prevent over-extraction

AeroPress Alternatives

Drip Coffee

Drip brewing is a traditional method of brewing where hot water passes through coffee grounds. As the water first encounters grounds, it results in a bitter extract. As water continues to flow, the end result becomes weaker in taste.

With this method, the water does not uniformly wet the grounds. The grounds around the edges of the bed can remain under-extracted, and those at the center get over-extracted, causing bitterness in taste. So, many drinkers prefer the AeroPress as it is a more even process, resulting in consistent, delicious coffee for espresso-style drinks.

Espresso Machines

Espresso machines
Espresso machines allow you to brew barista-quality coffee

Since an AeroPress coffee maker brews espresso-like coffee, it makes sense that an espresso machine is an alternative. Espresso machines allow you to brew barista-quality coffee from the comfort of your home without heading to your local coffee shop.

Some people may find these kinds of espresso makers too advanced and prefer the simple AeroPress design. They are also much more pricey.

Pod Brewers

A plethora of single-cup brewers has come to the market to cater to busy bee consumers who do not have much time for the morning rituals but want a good coffee to start their day. These brewing devices are capable of making espresso, Americanos, lattes, and so on.

French Presses

Many people consider AeroPress as the modern and smarter version of a French Press as both techniques use total immersion and manual pressure. In the French Press, the filter is placed at the top of the mixture. As the coffee grounds float, they tend to clog the filter making it harder to press.

Cleaning the equipment also takes a lot of time.

As brewers are instructed to only use coarse coffee grounds, this slows down the release of flavor. If you leave it for longer, this may result in bitterness.

Another common issue with using coarse-ground coffee is that it may contain fine particles that can easily pass through the filter to give you a bitter brew. The finer particles in the drink continue to extract and turn a good coffee bitter. To avoid this, French Press coffee must be consumed immediately.

Learn more in our French Press vs. Aeropress guide.

AeroPress Vs. AeroPress Go

The Aeropress Go is a smaller, more compact version of the device. It was designed for those who like to brew coffee on the go, so you can simply pack a hand grinder and make your coffee on top of a travel mug.

If you like to travel, then AeroPress Go is for you. It brews much the same as the original model, and many customers find the process even smoother. If you prefer to make coffee at home or have particularly wide mugs, the standard model will do the trick.

Review Criteria

Not everyone will love the same machine, so we factor in unique tastes, perspectives, budgets, and abilities. The price, lifespan, quality, ease of use, and durability were considered when reviewing AeroPress coffee.

Why You Can Trust Me

Here at Full Coffee Roast, we consider ourselves coffee snobs. So you can be sure we investigate all the finer details when searching for the best coffee and brewers.

FAQs About AeroPress Coffee

What Prompted Alan Alder To Invent The AeroPress?

The coffee maker was the brainchild of Allan Adler, a famous Stanford professor known for Aerobie. In an interview, Adler revealed that the idea struck during a casual dinner with his company friends. The wife of one of the staff said she always had trouble brewing just a single cup of coffee.
As the market lacked a coffee maker that had the mechanism that he wanted, Adler decided to find a solution. Adler started by experimenting with different pre-existing coffee makers and various brewing methods. The automatic drip makers were popular with those who had no time for morning rituals, and the rest preferred pour-over coffee.
He discovered a gap between these devices and hoped to invent something that offered the best of both.

Does An AeroPress Contain BPA Or Phthalates?

No. Although AeroPress is made of plastic material, it is free of harmful phthalates. It has been BPA-free since 2009.

Can I Use AeroPress To Make Tea?

You may use the inverted method to make a cup of great-tasting tea. Just insert the plunger about an inch inside the main chamber and place the device on the counter, keeping the plunger down.
Pour hot water inside the chamber and let the tea leaves steep properly. Place a filter on the filter cap, screw the cap tightly, flip over the device, and start pressing.

What Grind Is Suitable For AeroPress Coffee?

When using an AeroPress, the coffee grounds must not be too fine or too coarse but a balance of both. Grinding very fine will block the water flow, making it difficult to press the plunger. If the grind size is inconsistent, you will have a similar problem because the finer particles will block spaces within the larger particles.

Why Can’t I Press The Plunger Easily?

This could be due to inconsistent grind size. You may need to upgrade your grinder and get a new one with sharper burr blades.
Another reason may be that you are pressing too hard. I would suggest that you go slow and press gently so that the coffee particles don’t get compact to form a barrier.
Press down half an inch and wait. The air pressure locked in the chamber will do the pressing for you; after waiting for ten seconds, press again and keep repeating.

What To Do If My AeroPress Becomes Rigid And Hard To Plunge?

You can fix this problem by thoroughly cleaning the rubber seal at the end of the AeroPress plunger. Here are the steps to follow:
Take out the rubber seal at the end of the plunger
Mix a little liquid dishwasher soap with hot water to make a solution
Let the rubber seal soak in the warm soapy solution for five minutes
Remove the seal from hot water using a fork or tongs
Wipe the hot rubber seal using a paper towel
Repeat the steps from above if necessary to make the seal look and work like new

Author

  • Aisling O'Connor

    Aisling is an Irish food and drinks writer and journalist fueled by coffee and herbal tea. She followed up her journalism degree with nutrition studies. Find Aisling on LinkedIn.

Aeropress Review: Is It Worth It?
  • Price
  • Easy to use
  • Functionality/Taste
4.3

Aeropress Review: The Final Word

If you are a fan of espresso coffee and wish you could brew just one great cup in less than two minutes without any rituals, AeroPress is your thing. The device is so easy to use and portable that I carry it with me while traveling, camping and working. Whether you are a regular coffee drinker, college student, business traveler, or backpacker, AeroPress can make your life easier.

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Easy to use
  • Compact
  • Brews quality coffee
  •  

Cons

  • Some customers find it hard to manage brewers with multiple parts
  • Has a fairly short lifespan
  • Serves little coffee