What Is The Aeropress?

If you search for an easy-to-use versatile coffeemaker, look no further than the Aeropress. This device speeds up your brewing process while extracting as much flavor as possible from your beans, giving you a fresh-tasting coffee without any grit or bitterness.

The Aeropress is a manual, piston-style coffeemaker invented by Alan Adler. It consists of a cylindrical chamber that pushes coffee through a thin paper filter straight into a cup. The Aeropress is perfect for those who want a great coffee without all the fuss – it brews a single serving every time and works like a syringe.

Every coffee lover should own an Aeropress; it’s fast, convenient, fuss-free, and you can bring it with you everywhere you go. But, first, let’s discuss the grind size to use, whether to stir or not and if it’s entirely food safe or is there some BPA to be aware of, so let’s get to the bottom of those and other queries you may have about the Aeropress.

Topics Covered

• How Does The Aeropress Work?

• Why Is Aeropress Coffee Better?

• What Should Aeropress Coffee Taste Like?

• Should You Dilute Aeropress?

• What Grind Is Best For Aeropress?

• Do You Need To Stir Aeropress?

• Is Aeropress BPA Free?

• How Long Does An Aeropress Last?

• What Are The Differences Between French Press And Aeropress?

• Final Thoughts

How Does The Aeropress Work?

As mentioned above, the Aeropress is a manual-operated, piston-style coffeemaker consisting of a cylindrical chamber that pushes coffee through a paper filter directly into your cup or mug.

The coffee usually has a clean taste with defined flavor notes due to the paper filter that prevents oils and sediments from ending up in your cup.

It brews one serving of coffee at a time; its size and durability make it a must-have for campers and travelers.

There are two distinct ways to brew coffee with an Aeropress. The “original” method involves placing the device on top of a mug, filling it with water and coffee before inserting and pressing the syringe-like plunger.

The other method, known as the “inverted” method, begins by standing the Aeropress upside down on top of the plunger, filling it with coffee and water before flipping it onto the cup to be pressed.

The Aeropress is exceptionally versatile, and you can create numerous recipes by adjusting brew time and grind size. For example, you can make a coffee concentrate very similar to espresso, which forms the basis 0f many drinks made by the Aeropress.

Why Is Aeropress Coffee Better?

Aeropress coffee tastes fantastic; it has a clean, pure taste with defined flavor notes because of the paper filter. The thin paper filter prevents oils and coffee sediments from ending up in your cup.

This device can make a pretty strong cup of Joe, if that’s what you need, without much hassle involved, and there are various ways to adjust the taste of your coffee with it.

You can use the inverted or standard brewing method, change the coffee to water to ratio, and change the grind size.

You can apply a short brew time to the chamber, and when you apply pressure to the plunger through the chamber, it extracts lots of exciting flavors. In addition, the brew will be free of grit and mud when passing through the thin paper filter, which is a bonus.

What Should Aeropress Coffee Taste Like?

There is no one way for Aeropress coffee to taste; what your morning coffee tastes like depends on your mood. One way could achieve a richer body, like a French press. At the same time, another way could gain more clarity in your brew, similar to a pour-over.

There are many ways to brew a unique coffee with different flavor profiles. Different roasts, recipes, and brewing methods can accentuate specific flavors due to the science behind extraction.

Usually, the first flavors you will extract are acidic, fruity ones. Next, it should be sweet, with a balanced and increasing body. Lastly, you will get drier bitter notes.

You can use the Aeropress to procure a soft flavor profile, but that will depend on the grind size and water temperature. Otherwise, you can get a fuller, more acidic body if you prefer.

Should You Dilute Aeropress?

Aeropress can cerate a very concentrated brew similar to espresso and is considered too strong by many people. You can add hot water to get your coffee to the consistency and taste you like. It is best to add water incrementally to avoid a watery coffee.

That concentrated liquid is ideal for all kinds of drinks recipes that you can have fun making at home. For example, increasing the coffee to water ratio can produce a coffee similar to espresso that’s perfect for homemade iced lattes.

What Grind Is Best For Aeropress?

Generally, you would use a thin paper filter to stop oil and grit from ending up in your cup, but there are some excellent eco-friendly alternatives to the standard Aeropress paper filter. To determine which coffee filter is the best for you, you should know what sets the different filter options apart.

The original Aeropress paper filters are lighter than most drip coffee makers. They are so light that you don’t even have to rinse them before you start brewing. One paper disc weighs about 0.17 grams, compared to Hario V60, weighing 1.4 grams per filter.

Paper Filters Vs. Metal

There are three main filters for the Aeropress coffee maker: the standard paper discs, the reusable metal filters, and ones made from cotton fabric. Let’s discuss the critical differences between the three:

Unlike the original Aeropress filters, the metal ones allow more coffee particles into your cup. So, naturally, there is likely to be more sediment and texture like a French press brew.

Cloth Filters Vs. Metal

Cloth filters are a better alternative to metal ones; they are better at filtering coffee particles. However, unlike the paper filters, they allow more oil to pass. Opt for a cloth filter if you wish to have the clarity that paper filters provide but prefer a fuller-bodied cup,

One of the main drawbacks of cloth filters is that they are harder to maintain between uses, while metal ones are easier to maintain.

Do You Need To Stir Aeropress?

There is no need to stir Aeropress, any form of agitation, like stirring, is a matter of personal choice. You can generate some agitation by pouring alone, using concentric circles to create water movement. However, you can also stir the brew to intensify agitation after pouring.

Is Aeropress BPA Free?

You might have seen the BPA-free logo on the Aeropress and other Aerobie products. However, on Aug 1st, 2009, the makers of the Aeropress issued an alert that they had used BPA in their product’s production. After that date, all Aeropress devices were manufactured without BPA materials.

Three different plastics go into the manufacturing of the Aeropress; they are FDA approved and suitable for use with food and drink. They include:

• Copolyester – a clear plastic used to make the chamber and plunger

• Thermoplastic Elastomer- a black rubber used to create the plunger

• Polypropylene – a hard black plastic used to make the filter cap, funnel, stirrer, and measuring scoop

How Long Does An Aeropress Last?

The longevity of your Aeropress largely depends on the plastic used in the device’s formulation. The original Aeropress can last more than ten years, while others can last two or three years.

The blue cast units can hold up well due to the phthalates. However, there have been many complaints about the darker-colored Aeropress over the years. Those crack very easily from microfractures.

Aside from whatever plastic was used to make your particular coffeemaker, you must clean and maintain your Aeropress regularly to keep it working for as long as possible.

The rubber seal, also called the plunger, is one part that requires replacing. New plungers are made of silicone, and when taken care of properly, they should last a few years.

What Are The Differences Between French Press And Aeropress?

The names sound similar, but several key differences set the Aeropress apart from the French press. The French press is not without its highlights.

However, let’s consider some of those differences mentioned and the reasons that people prefer the Aeropress:

• The resulting coffee is like espresso made with a machine as the Aeropress uses more pressure than a French press.

• The coffeemaker is very portable, and you can take it anywhere.

• Brewing time is shorter with an Aeropress than a French press and can last as little as 90 seconds.

• There’s no sediment in your cup, as is familiar with the French press coffee.

• Aeropress coffee is strong but has a cleaner, more mellow taste.

• It’s easier to clean than a French press.

Final Thoughts

The Aeropress is easy to use and incredibly versatile. People love this device because it’s versatile, durable, portable, it’s easy to clean, and it’s a single-serve brewer. You can achieve numerous flavor profiles by making small grind sizes, brew time, and different recipes.

If you are sticking to a budget, yet want delicious-flavored coffee, then the Aeropress is worth strongly considering. You will never be bored using this device, it’s a lot of fun, and you will make many recipes out of the concentrated shot of coffee.