Aero Press.

Dry_bean

Got an Aero Press (among other things) for Christmas, for use as my travelling caffeine dispenser.
It's certainly a compact device and being made of plastic is not as fragile as the usual plungers we see.
Have only used it once, and while not up to the standard of an espresso machine it seems to produce a very clean and acceptable cup of brew, I guess I need to experiment with it a little more to determine exactly what it is capable of. 🙂

blanyon

Variables to play with are, grind size, dose, water temp, water volume, length and violence of stir, and of course beans and roast depth. There are some good brew guides on www.brewmethods.com. I am pretty happy with the coffees I get out of mine although I could do much better if I was more accurate with my measurement. Brett

hazchem

Dry bean. wrote:

Got an Aero Press (among other things) for Christmas, for use as my travelling caffeine dispenser. It's certainly a compact device and being made of plastic is not as fragile as the usual plungers we see. Have only used it once, and while not up to the standard of an espresso machine it seems to produce a very clean and acceptable cup of brew, I guess I need to experiment with it a little more to determine exactly what it is capable of. 🙂

its not trying to be an espresso machine, its an Aeropress. A totally different brew method altogether. I think expanding your horizons into brewed coffee methods will help with that predictability you spoke of in another thread!

Dry_bean

Now lets see, on the box the AeroPress is described as a (1-4 cup Coffee and Espresso Maker) the instructions teach us the method of (Brewing a double Espresso, a 10 Ounce Mug Of American Coffee, or a Latte) and point 8 tells us if we have followed the instructions (You've just made a double espresso, for American coffee top-off the mug with hot water. For a Latte top-off the mug with hot milk) So I guess it's claiming to make espresso coffee. :🙂

blanyon

As do a lot of low end coffee machines but they would struggle to be compared to espresso either, the marketing of this product is a little off to those in the industry (or just really into coffee) but to the masses it would be able to produce an espresso type beverage. Makes a really nice cup of coffee if you get the variables right, more comparable to pourover than espresso. Cheers Brett

Dry_bean

moto coffee wrote:

As do a lot of low end coffee machines but they would struggle to be compared to espresso either, the marketing of this product is a little off to those in the industry (or just really into coffee) but to the masses it would be able to produce an espresso type beverage. Makes a really nice cup of coffee if you get the variables right, more comparable to pourover than espresso. Cheers Brett

Yep, I agree, with your thoughts, my feeling is it makes a brew with more flavour than a pour over, more like a plunger only cleaner, regardless, it's my choice as a travelling coffee maker.

blanyon

My choice also, no fuss, very little clean up and easy to replicate a great brew. Must have drunk over 50 aeropress coffees over the last 3 weeks in place of decent coffee. (Why is Southern NSW so devoid of decent coffee). Brett

blanyon

Am enjoying the 010 cova disk at the moment for the Aeropress, very different brew to the paper. I have to get the 008 disc and see what difference that makes. I like the taste more and the fact that I use it as a travelling coffee option just makes things easier than carrying the paper around with me. Cheers Brett

Beanlab

Been having a play with the Aeropress and disk in that last couple of days. 14gm coffee, invert for 2 mins, then slow plunge, pretty impressive results. The longer steep time seems to balance out the lower dose (or something like that) lol 😉

borat123

I use the aeropress (with coava disc) most days at work. I find the biggest variables to a good outcome are: 1) dose 2) volume of water 3) brew time (assuming the water temp is about right). Big coffee (Eg I use a full kyocera hand grinder glass full) + little water (up to about the 1.5 cups mark) seems to give me great results with most coffees I bring from home. Stir only for a few seconds, just long enough to mix thoroughly, then immediately press. Overbrewing destroys the sweetness and smoothness that the aeropress should be giving you. I grind just coarse enough that it's still pressable without too much of a wait. Usually about two stops coarser on the old Anfim than what I would use for espresso on the home machine. It's fine enough so that you can't just press in one continuous movement, it will stop you for a short while until you can then continue & complete the push. Wallaaaaaa.. Dilute like an americano and your'e good to go. ;D

shape_shifter

I've decided to get an aeropress for work, just deciding where to buy it from, such a hard decision 🙂

Tango

shape_shifter wrote:

I've decided to get an aeropress for work, just deciding where to buy it from, such a hard decision 🙂

Do it shape_shifter - you won't regret it. Best value place to get it is www.ministrygrounds.com.au - Neil is excellent to deal with. It's currently on sale for $49 including free shipping and a sample of roasted coffee - can't get better than that. You'd expect to pay around $45-$50 from a physical store. Highly recommend you get a Coava Disk as well! Just ask Muscles how good the Aeropress + Coava Disk is! http://ministrygrounds.com.au/aeropress-coffee-maker.html

UNM

shape_shifter wrote:

I've decided to get an aeropress for work, just deciding where to buy it from, such a hard decision 🙂

I got mine from a UK seller on a UK coffee forum - way cheaper than Aus, especially since I got free shipping to a UK address and happened to be visiting. Shop around, but also bear in mind people you already know MAY want to match prices before commiting. I don't actually use it that much, but it makes a nice change from espresso now and again or when time is tight, it gives a good long black in the travel cup. I'm happy I bought one -quick clean up is a HUGE plus.

shape_shifter

UNM I did think of buying from Amazon, I don't know that we need anything else though so the postage would end make the price the same or more as buying from one of our guys. I saw that Tango, I want the coava disk as well 🙂

Tango

How much cheaper are we talking UNM? Don't they go for about 20-25 pound which is around 30-40AUD? I still think that if you can pick one up for under $50 including postage it's a steal, let alone with a free coffee sample as per Ministry Grounds. Not just that but you'd be supporting a sponsor as well!

shape_shifter

They are $25 from Amazon, less obviously with the exchange rate but postage on just buying that would be a killer, not worth doing, again it's one of those price differences are ridiculous but what can you do ???

UNM

Tango wrote:

How much cheaper are we talking UNM? Don't they go for about 20-25 pound which is around 30-40AUD? I still think that if you can pick one up for under $50 including postage it's a steal, let alone with a free coffee sample as per Ministry Grounds. Not just that but you'd be supporting a sponsor as well!

Mine was 18.38UK Pounds - because I bought a couple porlex grinders, it came with free UK shipping. I just use the paper filters it came with and expect they will last a couple years. I seem to remember the coava disk was no cheaper in the UK. Might buy a coava sometime, perhaps along with some VST filter baskets and new hottop filters just to make the shipping worthwhile. And yes, it is always important to factor in not just all up costs, but whether you actually want to give your business to one supplier over another for personal or ethical reasons. Even with my Scottish love of bargains, I have been known to favour a (slightly) more expensive supplier just because I prefer their business philosophy.

shape_shifter

Well I made my decision, Neil it was, plus some Black Pearl green beans 😃

Tango

shape_shifter wrote:

Well I made my decision, Neil it was, plus some Black Pearl green beans 😃

Good one! I love my aeropress though it's starting to get a bit on the old side now.....

madpierre

shape_shifter wrote:

Well I made my decision, Neil it was, plus some Black Pearl green beans 😃

And one you won't regret. Neil is brilliant to deal with, and you have bought a bean which is one of the best I have had at any time. I bought the roasted product and it was a real little pearler. ;D Bad pun intended.