AeroPress Original Coffee and Espresso-style Maker, Barista Level Portable Coffee Maker with Chamber, Plunger, & Filters, Quick Coffee and Espresso Maker

I am starting to get older and the energy is starting to dwindle. I always hated going to those trendy coffee places to spend $4.73 for a latte. I am not a huge fan of coffee, but I have found myself loving cafe mochas. I don't love the price of them. I was shopping for something else when I saw this and clicked on it. I was kind of skeptical and don't usually buy fad stuff. I don't usually buy many things period. I must say though that I am extremely pleased with this purchase. The parts are very simple. 1. Coffee filter holder 2. Coffee stirer 3. Plunger 4. Filter piece 5. Coffee and liquid holding tube 6. Funnel 7. Measuing spoon I went to Costco and bought some decent whole bean dark roast Cameroon coffee for $10 for 2 pounds. I already own a coffee grinder. My recommendations for required items to make a good espresso and lattes: 1. Buy the filters on Amazon. They are cheap and work quite well. 2. Thermometer. I prefer a digital thermometer. Ideal water temperature should be 175 degrees. 3. Something that boils water. A simple pot will do. 4. Optional: something to whip the milk. A stick blender works good and a regular blender will work nice. You can also get one of those batter powered milk frothers. If you want a hot latte you will need to steam and froth the milk. 5. Optional: Chocolate syrup or cocoa powder and sugar to make your own if you want a cafe mocha. 6. A mug I grinded the coffee pretty finely. I used a basic electric grinder for 45 seconds. At the same time, I started to boil filtered water and placed the programmed themometer to beep when it hit 170 so i had enough time to get to it. I prepped the mug measured out one of the provided cups of coffee. It was about 1 tablespoon. I prepped the tube and plunger. I poured the hot 175 degree water in the tube and stirred for 10 seconds. I then inserted the plunger and slowly pushed down. As soon as you insert the plunger, air is forced down on the coffee and the filter and espresso comes out. You should aim to have the entire plunger pushed down so that it is on top of the coffee in 45 seconds (like I said...slowly). Bingo! I had my shot of espresso. I simply topped it off with about a cup of cold milk and I added some chocolate syrup and stirred. Wow, the latte (cafe mocha) was fantastic. It was so good that I made myself another and had a fantastic buzz that kept me up past midnight. Consistency wise, it was not the same as a coffee shop. I would suggest whipping the milk and pouring the mix over ice. The taste was superior to a coffee shop. It was not one of those close enough deals. It was clearly superior. The overall cost was about 60 cents including the chocolate syrup, milk, and coffee by volume. The total prep time was about 10 minutes from out of the box, washing, water boiling, etc. My second run took me about 3 minutes of prep and cleanup not counting the water heating time. I simply watch tv, read, or go online while the water warms. Overall, this is a fantastic product that is easy to use and clean and it is cheap to operate. I would not spend $300 plus on a espresso maker unless you are an elite coffee snob. I also would not waste money on comparable cheap espresso makers that cost $25 as those work horribly. I do not work for this company. Look elsewhere if you cannot follow directions. If you cannot follow directions, no coffee maker will offer coffee shop like experiences to you. Just go to your local coffee shop. After 7 cafe mochas, my device has paid for itself. Another bonus is that you can control everything. Soy milk anyone? Super low cal chocolate syrup made from scratch anyone? Cafe Mocha with calories I made? 5 for coffee, 120 for milk, 5 for chocolate syrup = 130. Simply awesome. Half the calories and one-eighth the price.

I had no idea how bad my coffee taste until I tried this. The Aeropress is totally amazing, the best coffee I think I have ever had, extremely easy and portable. I have been telling everyone how great this is

I've owned two "prosumer" home espresso machines, but sold or gave them both away. They take up to much counter space, are expensive, and are fussy in the way of complex technology made cheaply. I've replaced them with a combination of this Aeropress and a "Bellmann Cappuccino" Moka-style pot. We've come to like the coffee from the Aeropress so much, that I only use the Bellmann pot for it's steam wand, using it to perfectly froth milk for latte's that are better than ones made by any coffee house barista. Make no mistake - the Aeropress doesn't make real espresso. But it does make perfect strong coffee for Americano's and latte's, which are the two my family drinks anyway. The coffee that the Aeropress produces is a delicious and as wonderful as the most favorable reviews imply. It can be as strong as you like it, without those coffee extractives from higher temperature extraction methods that cause the stomach distress and aftertaste. This coffee is strong and incredibly SMOOOOOTH. The Aeropress is calibrated in "shots". Grind one scoup of beans for each shot. Dump in the ground coffee. Add 175 degree water to the 1 or 2 or 3 mark, depending upon the number of shots you are making. Stir for ten seconds. Then press slowly with the plunger. I find no difficulty in pressing. No instability. No unreaonable effort. Now, pair this with the Bellmann Cappuccino, and you can make great latte. The Bellmann is not sold by Amazon, but you can buy it from Fantes.com. The Bellmann is a quality stainless steel Moka-pot that incorporates a steam want to let you perfectly froth milk. You can also use the Bellmann for making traditional Italian style Moka-pot espresso -- but with the Aeropress, I don't bother. My wife says my latte's are better than any she can buy in town. (She likes vanilla latte, and I make my own vanilla syrup with 1-1/2 C sugar, 1/2 C brown sugar, 1 C water, 1 Tablespoon real vanilla extract. This is a superior syrup because all commercial syrups are made from inferior corn syrup sweetener, which is used because it is cheaper than cane sugar.) The latte recipe is 1 to 2 shots of Aeropress "espresso", 8 ounces of 2% milk perfectly frothed using the Bellman steam wand, and 1/2 oz. to 1-1/2 oz. vanilla syrup depending upon desired sweetness. Vary the proportions to suit your own taste preference. 1 shot of coffee, and 1 oz of syrup is a good start. I have the Bellmann pot with the added pressure gauge. I recommend the pressure gauged model. The guage is a handy guide, and a nice reassurance of safety, but not mandatory if your budget is really tight, and especially if you are only going to use it to froth milk. Without the guage, simply heat until the steam just starts to bleed from the pressure relief valve, which on my unit happens at about 2.5 atmospheres, and which is well below the 3.5 atmosphere bottom of the red zone on the guage. The Aeropress and Bellman combo is not fast latte production, but we are a family of two, so we don't need high rates of production. Yes, this is a bit of a "fussy" approach in its own right, but at least it is low-tech fussy, and I now enjoy the journey as much as the destination. Even if you have a tight budget, the Aeropress is unbeatable as a economical way to make the best coffee you ever tasted. Plus, I think it is the best at any price. The Aeropress in combination with the Bellmann Cappuccino will let you make unsurpassable lattes, as well as passable espresso. I disagree with the folks that complain about the price. Being the owner of a manufacturing company, I can tell you that everything costs 3 to 5 times as much to produce as you would estimate. If you think it is so over-priced, just try to make one yourself in the garage. This is a well designed product and the manufacturer deserves to make a decent profit. I do agree with the suggestion to re-use the filters. When making breakfast for a big crew, I've used one filter a dozen times with perfect result. For less than $30, you should have no hesitation about buying the Aeropress. I also strongly recommend the Bellmann Cappuccino.

Well certainly the best coffee I've ever made myself! I'm amazed by the bad reviews - people obviously aren't taking the time to learn the easy steps involved. Yes, its more work than an auto drip and make less coffee than a French press but its worth it. Especially once you get the system down. Pure, smooth coffee love! The coffee produced by this device is the smoothest, most flavorful coffee I have ever produced in my house, and I've tried just about everything. Sure, it takes more time and effort than a auto drip but its well worth the effort. It is also slightly more work than the french press - but again I think the results speak for themselves. And an espresso maker? I can't see me ever pulling out that device again! Don't get me wrong, I still use my auto drip coffee maker but now I turn it on in the morning simply to make a pot of hot water that stays ready for my next cup. Things I've learned: 1) The best cup comes from good beans freshly ground in a burr grinder BUT you can make a really, really good cup even with pre-ground coffee. Yes, even Folgers tastes pretty good in the Aerobie. 2) My Melita FastBrew auto drip maker produces water just a little too hot for this process. So step #1 for me is to pour my water into my coffee cup, then measure out the grounds and set up the Aerobie. The 20 or so seconds I spend doing that is enough to get the water temp down to perfection (and it pre-heats the mug). 3) The directions say to use 2 scoops of coffee for each shot. That seamed like a lot so I tried less - once. You will use a LOT of coffee with this process but, again, it is completely worth it. I'm sure I'll at least double, maybe triple, my coffee expense but I will never have to settle for marginal coffee again. (and to think I used to think my coffee was terrific) 4) You can rinse off and re-use the filters a couple of times but after doing it I realized what a waste of time it was. The filters are dirt cheap - use a new one every time. Yes, if you drink a lot of coffee you'll go through a ton of them. But they come 350 to a pack - buy a few packs and you'll be set for a year. 5) If you want your coffee to taste like a cup from a french press then get the stainless steel filter. Personally, I think the taste with the paper filters is better. I bought the stainless steel filter because I read that the paper ones catch some of the flavor producing oils. Nonsense. I have noticed no difference in the taste. The only difference is that the steel filters let through some of the very fine grounds - producing a little (but very slightly) grittier coffee. Besides, the steel filters have to be rinsed after each use while the paper filters just POP right out - less work, quicker coffee drinking. 6) Cuban coffee fan? EXCELLENT CUBANO!!! One sugar packet in the cup and then push in one shot of espresso...perfection. 7) When measuring your water decide first how you are going to drink it. If you are making espresso, put 2 scoops of grounds in the chamber and add water directly into the chamber up to the "2" line. If you are making coffee then put your grounds in the the chamber but measure out 2 units of water in the plunger and then pour it into the chamber. NEVER use more than a 2 to 2 ratio - too much water in the chamber does start to pull some bitterness out of the grounds. For traditional american coffee just put hot water in your cup before or after you push the espresso in. 8) Recipe for the perfect start to the morning: 1 Cubano, 1 espresso, 1 (or 4) american coffee At $30 this has now become one of my new "go to" birthday/Christmas/graduation present for the coffee drinkers in my life. Get it, try it, love it! Just don't try to take mine!

So far, this coffee maker has lived up to expectations and then some. I already own two drip machines (had one and got another as a gift), and I'm not a big coffee drinker, so I had mixed feelings about buying another. But I liked the thought of it being so easy to use and clean, not to mention making a better cup of coffee, one without the grinds in the bottom of the cup. I can't really speak to the quality of the coffee since, again, I'm not a big coffee drinker, and I have been using a bag of "expired," pre-ground, basic coffee. But it certainly does keep the crud out of the cup. Another thing I've noticed is that it is much easier on my stomach. Typically whenever I drink coffee, my stomach is upset the next day. I have yet to experience this when using the AeroPress. It's likely due to it removing so much of the acids from the coffee, but whatever the reason, it's great. I suspect caffeine itself is also to blame, as I've also had the issue with energy drinks, but not as often and, again, not with this. Another reason I decided to get this was for using it for traveling and camping. It's great for that, since it packs up fairly compact and all you need is your coffee and when you're ready to have some coffee you just heat up some water. I also like the idea I read in another review about making it really strong (which you can't do with a drip maker) and using it as concentrate, diluting it with hot water later to heat it back up and turn a thermos-full into several cups of coffee. I don't use the measuring cup or the stirrer (I just use a spoon, and you could even gently shake it), and I can't figure out what the top center piece in the picture is even for, so all I take with me when I go somewhere is the main unit and the funnel. They just fit, along with my coffee, into a gallon-sized ziploc bag. You can even stick the coffee into the center of the plunger piece to save room. I just wish they would make the funnel shorter (1/2 to 2/3 the depth) so it would stow away better. If they made the main part snap into the funnel, it would make the whole setup more secure when using and would allow the funnel to be shortened, I think, without negatively impacting it's performance. An oval version would also be great, allowing it to be packed flatter/better. That might require a removable round adapter to better fit a mug, or better yet make the top of the funnel oval, so in the flatter dimension it would be the same width, but it would pack flat and still work just as well. One thing I've learned is that you don't want to press all the way to the grounds. This seems to make them stick to the plunger so they don't fall out when opening the bottom over the trash. If you leave about 1-2mm of space between the plunger and the top of the grounds, they dump right into the trash as a solid chunk. Which is another great thing about this thing: no more trying to shake out the grounds from a drip maker filter then having to rinse the rest out in the sink, which isn't good for the disposal or septic and can cause clogs, not to mention is a pain. One final note. For those concerned about BPA, there are some things to keep in mind: - BPA has often been replaced with BPS, which is thought to be many times worse - The water is only in contact with the plastic for less than half a minute, so not much leeching will occur (though to be fair, it is hot water, and heat is what causes leeching) - Most, if not all, coffee makers have plastic parts which contact the water, and many even have reservoirs where the water sits for (relatively) long periods (again, to be fair, at least this is cold/lukewarm water) - Many homes have plastic water supply hoses that the water sits in while waiting to be used (again, cold water) That all said, a stainless (or better still, titanium) version of this would be great.

I don't consider myself a coffee connoisseur, but I do enjoy a nice rich dark cup of coffee - basically all the espresso varieties. I am very pleased with this purchase and agree that it blows away a french press hands down. The next most affordable "upgrade" would be a Nespresso Essenza machine (most affordable of the Nespresso line), but at $200 vs. $25 it's a no brainer. I like a super dark roast very finely ground, and use Cafe La Llave which is perhaps the best "Cuban" style coffee you can buy in the States. ADVANTAGES: >> Produces a full-bodied brew with a clean aftertaste >> Boil the water then wait a couple of minutes for it to cool to about 180 degrees before pressing = virtually no bitterness to the coffee >> Lower water temperature, lower period of contact with the water, and the paper filter eliminate almost all the acidity from the coffee (awesome if you suffer from heartburn) >> Better result than with a French Press - including vs. presses with two filter screens >> Super easy clean-up. Literally a matter of untwisting a cap, pressing the remainder of the syringe all the way through the tube, and holding the gadget under running water. >> A much healthier alternative to other coffee brewing methods. Here is a quote from the Johns Hopkins (#1 ranked hospital in the US) that clarifies the relationship between coffee and elevated cholesterol. The Aeropress solves both issues: (1) lack of paper filter; (2) excessive contact with hot water. "When boiled or percolated, consumed coffee can raise serum cholesterol levels. We think it is a result of hot water and coffee grounds combining to create oils called 'terpenes.' Research shows that like some other oils, terpenes can raise blood cholesterol when ingested. And the longer the hot water and coffee grounds are in contact with each other -- as with boiled and percolated coffee -- the more terpenes are produced. The increase in overall cholesterol levels from drinking boiled or percolated coffee varies from person to person, but it averages about 12 mg/dl. An overall reading of below 200 mg/dl is considered healthy. With filtered drip coffee, however, we see no such increase in cholesterol because the water speeds through coffee grounds more quickly, producing fewer terpenes. Using a paper filter seems to be even more protective, as the filter absorbs some of the terpenes." >> Price >> Fun factor / impress friends and family >> Very well built - likely to last years >> Super cheap filters (for $5 or $6 you get 350 of them) >> Doesn't take up too much space on the counter top DRAWBACKS: >> Not a true espresso. According to the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA), "Espresso is a 45ml (1.5 ounces) beverage that is prepared from 7-9 grams of coffee through which clean water of 192° - 198° F (88° - 92° C) has been forced at 9-10 atmospheres of pressure, where the grind of the coffee has made the brewing "flow" time approximately 22-28 seconds. While brewing, the flow of Espresso will appear to have the viscosity of warm honey and the resulting beverage will exhibit a thick dark gold cream foam ("crema") topping." The Aeropress falls short here in that: (1) the water measurements is not exact; (2) the water temperature cannot be perfectly controlled; (3) the pressure applied is anybody's guess and varies greatly from press to press; (4) the press time is much shorter and varies inversely with the pressure applied; (5) You can force a little bit of bubble/foam through the press, but you will never get the crema no matter what anybody else says in their reviews - a true "crema" will hold a teaspoon of sugar for several seconds before it sinks. Also, according to the makers of illy coffee (perhaps the best Italian coffee you can buy in the States from a grocery store shelf), an espresso should have an acidic note. The Aeropress significantly lowers/eliminates acidity in the coffee, so that's arguably another reason it's not an espresso. >> You can get a maximum of about 12 ounces of coffee from each pressing. If you're serving several people, you'll make a mess positioning the Aeropress over one cup, then the next, then the next, etc. Otherwise you gotta press several times (onece per cup) and give each person their cup as soon as the press is complete. If not, then somebody will end up with a cooler cup of coffee than the others. >> Hard to get a good hot cup of espresso - especially after you mix in your sugar and stir! >> Would have been nice to include a storage unit that neatly holds all the parts when not in use. I would have paid the extra $5 had it existed. For now, each time I use it I put it back into the original packaging, which is the only neat way I am able to store it aside until the next use. BOTTOM LINE: If you're an espresso guru or enthusiast, this is not your brewing device. If, on the other hand, you want a fantastic cup of coffee ranging from "intense" to "American" in flavor, don't want to spend too much time cleaning up each time you enjoy that coffee, and don't have too much money to spend then consider the Aeropress. If you do buy the Aeropress, do yourself a couple of favors: (1) Use high-quality, finely ground coffee; (2) Use filtered or bottled water; (3) Make life easier on yourself by also purchasing an electric kettle - one with temperature control would be best since boiling hot water = bitter coffee

I've been using Aeropress for years now. I tossed out the drip coffee maker and Keurig pod machine and use it exclusively. The brew quality and taste is so much better, not bitter, and easily adjustable to individual style. On my journey I found it best to buy whole beans from a local roaster, choosing the type I like best. This meant I needed to invest in a grinder, I like the OXO it works great for grinds just short of espresso. I also bought a temperature controlled electric kettle so I can get that perfect 80° C temp, which is key for smooth and not bitter coffee. Brewing takes 2 minutes plus a few seconds to grind. The result is coffee better than you get from your coffee shop for a fraction of the cost. If you like coffee you need an Aeropress.

Wow! This is fabulous! Great espresso= great cappuccino. It is fast and easy,that's what I NEED. BACKGROUND: So I bought a small espresso maker with a milk steamer attachment 2 years ago and it is worthless. It takes too long, you have to stand there and manage your maker the whole time and you get one cup. We drink a 10 pot in a blink of Columbian coffee so it is just not worth the effort for one cappuccino,no matter if it's yummy,it's a rarity. Lucky it was a cheap machine relatively speaking. I am not lazy, I have major health problems and I have to put my "good time" to its best use, I have few treats and cappuccino is one of them, it makes me happy. But I cannot drive at the moment and it is costly to buy cappuccino or two, it's a budget killer. This press is 4-8 cappuccino's, cost wise. Add a hot frother and if you skip your fancy coffees for a couple weeks (for normal people who buy a lot of them), you can have them everyday. This is Fast, easy,accurate, consistent and makes great espresso. 1. Follow directions once and it is simple to remember,even for people who never made press coffee before,like me. Place filter,add espresso, shake or tap a bit, place on cup,pour boiling water into it,stir,place plunger in and push down slowly until completely empty. 2 minutes after you do it once, probably less than that. I use a cheap, large, electric kettle to have enough boiling water on hand to make several cups. 2. Taste- I am very particular about coffee. I buy the same brand pot repeatedly for $40, the same Columbian coffee for years and years, the same 1 1/4 cups for a 10 pot of strong coffee. I tried other pots and Coffee and always end up back with my favorites, and drink it black so I want my espresso to always taste the same, I want my cappuccino to taste the same every time. I am not flexible with coffee. This taste is consistently the same every single cup,depending on the brand, which is the main thing the changes the taste. The amount of water will certainly changes the taste but fill to #1,2,or 3, the same every time and is is consistently delicious. A coffee press? Who knew? I always thought it would be similar to instant coffee Yuk!!! But it tastes like coffee house espresso. I am shocked, still...25 cups later, I am still happy, not a single bad cup. 3. Easy to clean,simple parts. No tiny, intricate parts that make life difficult, just a plunger, an outer chamber, a filter chamber. There are other pieces but they are not necessary, they are preference based- scoop (perfect amount of grounds in my opinion), leveler (not needed), piece to place over the chamber when pouring coffee/water to avoid spills (not needed), filter storage tower (filters are small and stick together so the tower isn't needed because you still end up taking out a stack of filters and pulling them apparent). My only request would be that they make an additional chamber for the plunger with a wider edge so you can place it on a big wide short cappuccino cup (soup bowl looking kind) and one that has a narrower chamber edge for little espresso cups. However, it's really not needed, I make the max amount and press it into a regular coffee cup and then pour it into a cappuccino or espresso cup depending on what I am making. But these attachments would be a great replacement for the the filter storage, leveled, and even the shield/ funnel thing which I don't use either. Best money spent since my last regular coffee maker!