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Sometimes the Simple Solution Really Is Better
I like coffee, but most mornings I don’t need—or particularly want—to make an entire pot of it.
What I usually want is one really good cup.
That’s why the AeroPress has become one of those simple products that I genuinely appreciate having around the house. It doesn’t take up much room, doesn’t need electricity, doesn’t require pods, and doesn’t leave me with half a pot of coffee sitting around getting cold.
More importantly, it makes excellent coffee.
If you like the fuller flavor of a French press but would prefer a cleaner cup without the sediment that can come along with one, the AeroPress is worth a look.
What Is an AeroPress?
The AeroPress is a manual coffee brewer that combines several brewing ideas in one small device.
You put ground coffee into the chamber, add hot water, allow the coffee to brew briefly, and then use a plunger to push the brewed coffee through a small filter and directly into your cup.
AeroPress describes the process as a combination of immersion brewing, micro-filtration and air pressure. The current AeroPress Original has a 10-ounce brewing capacity and is designed primarily for one or two servings.
That’s part of what makes it so useful for me.
I can make the amount of coffee I actually want instead of firing up a conventional coffee maker for a single cup.
Why I Like It Better Than a French Press
I’ve always liked French press coffee.
Both methods allow the coffee grounds to spend time immersed in the water, which can produce considerably more body and flavor than I associate with an ordinary drip coffee maker.
But there’s an important difference in how the two finish the brewing process.
With a traditional French press, you push a screen down through the coffee, separating most of the grounds from the liquid.
With an AeroPress, you’re doing essentially the opposite: you push the brewed coffee through the filter and into the cup.
For me, that’s a better arrangement.
The standard AeroPress uses a paper micro-filter, which traps very fine coffee particles and much of the grit that can find its way through the metal screen of a French press. AeroPress says its paper filters also absorb some coffee oils.
The result, in my experience, is a cup that still has plenty of flavor and body but is remarkably clean and smooth.
French Press vs. AeroPress
| AeroPress | French Press | |
|---|---|---|
| Brewing method | Immersion plus pressure | Immersion |
| Filtration | Paper micro-filter standard | Metal mesh |
| Sediment | Very little | Some is common |
| Best suited for | One or two cups | Often several cups |
| Cleanup | Very easy | More grounds to clean out |
| Portability | Excellent | Depends on brewer |
| Coffee character | Clean, smooth and full | Rich, heavy and full |
Neither method is inherently “right.” I still appreciate French press coffee. But for making one cup in the morning, I prefer the AeroPress.
That Little Bit of Pressure Makes a Difference
One of the enjoyable parts of using an AeroPress is actually pressing the coffee.
As you push the plunger downward, you can feel resistance building as air pressure forces the brewed coffee through the grounds and filter.
Then, near the end, you get that distinctive little hiss.
It feels a bit like you’re operating a tiny espresso machine.
Technically, you aren’t.
Traditional espresso is brewed at roughly 9 bars of pressure, while AeroPress inventor Alan Adler calculated normal AeroPress pressure at roughly 0.25–0.5 bar. AeroPress therefore describes concentrated drinks from the brewer as espresso-style coffee rather than conventional machine-brewed espresso.
But the distinction doesn’t diminish what comes out of the cup.
You can make a normal cup of coffee, brew something considerably stronger, or make a concentrated coffee that can serve as the foundation for an Americano, latte or other espresso-style drink.
That’s a lot of flexibility from a device that doesn’t even plug into the wall.
One Important Rule: Keep It Stable
There is one thing I pay particular attention to when I use mine.
You are pressing downward on a container holding very hot water, so make sure everything is stable before you start.
I put the AeroPress squarely on a sturdy mug, make sure the cup is sitting on a solid, level countertop, and apply slow, controlled downward pressure.
Don’t get carried away trying to force the plunger.
In fact, AeroPress itself recommends pressing gently. Pressing excessively hard can compact the coffee grounds and actually make the brewer harder to press.
And keep your hand and the AeroPress centered over the mug. You don’t want the brewer and a cup full of hot coffee tipping sideways while you’re leaning on it.
There is also something called the “inverted method” that some coffee enthusiasts use. AeroPress now specifically discourages it because the brewer is less stable in that position and can tip, exposing the user to hot liquid.
For everyday use, I see no reason to complicate things.
Cleanup Might Be My Favorite Part
Cleanup is almost ridiculously easy.
After brewing, remove the filter cap and push the plunger the rest of the way through. The compressed puck of coffee grounds and paper filter pops right out.
Then rinse the AeroPress.
That’s about it.
The manufacturer says the Original is top-rack dishwasher safe, although ordinarily a rinse is sufficient because the plunger effectively wipes the inside of the brewing chamber as you use it.
Compared with digging wet grounds out of a French press—or cleaning a full-size coffee maker—that simplicity matters when you’re just trying to make a cup of coffee before getting on with your morning.
Another Advantage: You Can Experiment
An AeroPress is simple, but it isn’t limiting.
Coffee enthusiasts can adjust:
- the amount of coffee
- grind size
- water temperature
- steeping time
- water-to-coffee ratio
- pressing time
AeroPress currently recommends starting with a medium-fine grind, finer than conventional drip coffee but coarser than true espresso grind.
You don’t have to turn your morning coffee into a science experiment, of course.
That’s another thing I like about it.
You can obsess over all those variables if that’s your thing—or you can simply figure out the combination you like and make it the same way every morning.
Who Is the AeroPress Good For?
I think the AeroPress makes particular sense for someone who:
- Usually drinks only one cup at a time
- Likes French press or stronger coffee
- Doesn’t want coffee pods
- Wants very little cleanup
- Has limited kitchen or office space
- Wants a coffee maker that doesn’t require electricity
- Travels and would like to take a brewer along
- Enjoys experimenting with different beans and brewing methods
If you’re routinely making six cups for a household every morning, this probably isn’t the most convenient tool for the job.
But that’s not what it’s designed to do.
For one good cup, it’s hard not to appreciate how much it accomplishes with such a simple design.
The Bottom Line
The AeroPress is one of those products I can recommend because I actually use it—and it has earned its spot in my kitchen.
I like French press coffee, but I like the AeroPress approach even better: let the coffee brew, then push the coffee through a fine paper filter instead of pushing a filter down through the coffee.
It’s quick. It’s compact. Cleanup is easy. There are no pods to buy. And most importantly, it makes a very good cup of coffee.
Just remember my one practical rule:
Put it on a sturdy cup, keep everything level, and press straight down slowly and steadily.
Then enjoy the hiss.
Interested in the AeroPress?
[Check the current price for the AeroPress Original on Amazon →]
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