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AeroPress Coffee Maker

rated 5.0 of 5 stars
photo: AeroPress Coffee Maker coffee press/filter

Right up front, this lightweight, compact coffee press is absolutely the best way to make coffee! It's fast and extremely easy to use. Setup, brewing, and cleanup takes less than 2.5 minutes.



Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Brews GREAT coffee!
  • Lightweight and compact
  • Fast brewing time

Cons

  • Heavily counterfeited

I love my coffee, and the Aerobie AeroPress is hands down the best coffee maker that I have ever come across. It's so good, that there are almost 35,000 positive reviews and how-to videos on YouTube. I highly recommend watching some of those videos. I highly recommend any one of the inverted methods.

Setup, brewing, and cleanup are simple, and it's very fast. Once your water is hot, you are 50 seconds from a great cup of coffee. Cleanup requires almost no water. Just wipe it off and it's ready to brew another cup.

The AeroPress paper filters cost less than $.02 each and come packed in bags of 350.

There is only one part that requires occasional replacement. The rubber plunger cap will eventually wear out. I have been getting 10-12 months of usage at 2-3 cups of coffee per day. Replacement caps are inexpensive, and easy to install. I recommend keeping one on hand, so that you have it when you need it.

One word of WARNING! The AeroPress is one of the most highly counterfeited products for sale on the Internet. Many of the AeroPresses sold on Amazon are counterfeits, however, the AeroPresses sold directly from Amazon are the real deal.

I highly recommend going to the Aerobie, Inc website for a list of authorized dealers.

One more caution, AeroPress.com IS NOT the official AeroPress website, nor are they an authorized dealer. AeroPress, Inc. is the official AeroPress website.

Source: bought it new

If you like coffee, get an Aeropress! If you like coffee and like camping, you have no choice but to get an Aeropress!

Pros

  • Simple to use
  • Brews extremely smooth coffee
  • Impresses your friends
  • Compact
  • Lightweight
  • Great for traveling
  • Great for camping
  • Easy cleaning

Cons

  • None

OK, this is one of my favorite coffee brewing methods! It's so simple to use and great to take anywhere with you! My last camping trip was the first time I got to take it camping and it was amazing having it. 

I've used percolators and coffee presses at the campsite and the Aeropress just blows them out of the water. As you plunge the water through the coffee and filter on the Aeropress, it practically cleans itself. I know every time I use a perc. and a press, it normally ends up getting pretty messy. 

You will be amazed at the smoothness of the brew so happy about how little space it takes up in your pack! 

I'm not joking, if you like to have coffee while camping, you need to get one of these. 


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The best cup of espresso you'll ever make on the trail, but there's a trick to using it.

Pros

  • Inexpensive
  • Simple to use
  • Easy to clean up
  • Makes REALLY good espresso

Cons

  • On the bulky side for camping use
  • Filters require replacement

There's a trick to making the best use of this. Don't follow their instructions. At least, don't follow one step.

Their instructions say to position the chamber (with filter) over your cup, then add coffee grounds and hot water.  If you do this, the water runs through too quickly and your coffee won't steep properly.

Instead, put the plunger in the chamber, withdraw the plunger to allow for the amount of coffee you intend making, then stand it upside-down, with the plunger on the bottom.  Add your coffee and hot water (175-180 degrees), stir and steep.  Then screw the filter holder and filter onto the chamber, flip over and press into your cup.

I guarantee it will be be best cup of espresso you've ever had in the middle of nowhere.

Source: received it as a personal gift

Expensive (UK) and possibly too heavy. Made in the USA.

This coffee press gives you a pseudo-espresso in a couple of minutes, to which you can then add hot water, in order to get a drink similar to an Americano or Long Black.

The device can be stripped down to the essential chamber and plunger for backpacking but even then it weighs just under 250g, which is similar to the Bodin double wall press with the drinking top. However, the Bodin can only be used for one person if you make it normally, whereas the Aeropress can make a lot (4+) of 'shots' at once.

The company would do well to manufacture a lighter weight version and utilise the inside of the plunger airspace for storage, especially of the filters which could easily get wet or dirty. You could zip-lock some coffee and put it in there perhaps. Actually, you can carry the measuring spoon if you cut the handle a bit and force it in the plunger airspace.

Coffee needs to be fine ground so if you're planning a long trek, you might have to have it sent out or find a supermarket with a self-service grinder.

Your cup needs to be the right diameter at the top; about 'large mug' size.

One cannot help but ponder the idea of using such a pump action filter to clean water and I wonder whether we will ever see something in Lexan that also has a filter disc for cleaning your water; then you could boil the assembly for a bit and use it to make coffee once again.

Ultimately, making coffee on this is a bit like using a burger press. It's just too plastic and mundane an experience. It doesn't have the rough and ready quality of a normal french press, nor does it have the refined quality of a real espresso machine/kettle. Now if they made it out of carbon fibre...

The endless quest for a good, lightweight brew kit continues. ;-)

Price Paid: GBP 20.00

Aeropress makes the best coffe on the planet. I take mine everywhere with me.

Pros

  • Very easy and fast to use

Cons

  • None

It takes just a minute to make an amazing cup of coffee. I bought this for camping, but now I use it every morning. Once you try the AeroPress you will never go back to coffe any other way.

Check out the video review:



Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $25.99

There is no better way to make coffee. I use it exclusively at home and on the trail. I would love to see a lighter weight version...say carbon fiber or titanium. AND I'd like to see GSI work with Aerobie to get the Java Mill to nest with the AeroPress.

Pros

  • Awesome coffee/pseudo espresso/americano
  • Easy and fast
  • No cleanup

Cons

  • Heavy for UL backpacking
  • Does not nest with the GSI Java Press

I said it all above.

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: ~$20

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Specs

Price Current Retail: $29.95
Historic Range: $4.79-$44.95
Reviewers Paid: $20.00-$25.99
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