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Aeropress: superlative self-cleaning coffee plunger

January 30th, 2006

One for the Coffee-heads:

The main ways of making coffee up to this point have been the percolator, drip, pressurised espresso method, cold-brew, or french press. GizMag has run a review of a variation on the french press which gives a supposedly superior brew and makes a coffee concentrate that can be used as espresso, or stored in the fridge for use as a full-bodied “instant coffee”, as well.

As someone who has worked as a barrista in a previous life, I must say I’m a bit skeptical that this concentrate is a good substitute for straight espresso, (because there would be no Crema, the delicate pale brown foam that is the mark of a well drawn shot of Cafe Espresso). I’m willing to concede that it may make a perfectly acceptible “espresso-based drink”, such as a latte, cappuccino, cafe mocha or Americano.

As an aside, an Americano made in this way would be the same as a regular coffee made this way. That is actually appropriate, though, as the term Americano is used somewhat derisively by europeans who think US-style coffee tastes like watered-down espresso, anyway.

The main differences between this type of coffee maker and a french press are that the Aeropress has a open bottom and sits over a cup or container. After the coffee is properly brewed, it is pressed out from above using a plunger. Unlike a french press, the Aeropress is self cleaning. The reason the flavor is supposedly better than that of a standard press is that the special filtration system allows for a finer grind.

A normal french press requires a coarse grind and therefore a longer brew. Since the Aeropress can use a standard grind (as for a drip coffee maker) it is able to brew faster, picking up less bitterness and more pure-coffee flavor.

The Aeropress also has a more reasonable price than many of the other coffee making technologies available today - about US$30.00.

Read More:

The AeroPress Coffee Machine: a new concept in an ancient art [GizMag]

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Entry Filed under: Caffeine, General Health