The world of coffee accessories is vast and seems to keep growing. From complex siphons to ultra-light drippers, there's a novelty accessory for everyone. But within that universe of niche tools, the AeroPress coffee and espresso machine is one of the few that will appeal to a wide range of coffee drinkers. The AeroPress is fast, like a Nespresso machine, and easy to use, like a French press. Plus, it comes in a durable, portable package.
What is the AeroPress?
In the early 1990s, inventor Alan Adler set out to make something that could brew a single cup of coffee that was not only watery but also didn't involve a complicated and time-consuming process like pour-over coffee. He decided to make a device that could brew coffee faster using pressure, like an espresso machine. After testing more than 40 iterations, Adler landed on the design he released to the public in 1994.
The actual AeroPress brewing system, which is the same for both the original and the AeroPress Go, is made up of three essential parts: the plunger, the chamber, and the filter lid. Both models also come with a stack of paper filters and a variety of accessories, such as a coffee scoop (accessories vary by model). To use the brewer, you add a paper filter to the lid and place the chamber in your cup or mug. You then add ground coffee to the chamber, add a little hot water, insert the plunger, and lift it up slightly to create a vacuum seal (once you put everything together, you'll see it's basically a giant syringe). You wait a bit, then press the plunger down until you hear a hissing sound.
This device, which has since been adopted by countless coffee professionals and enthusiasts, provides one of the fastest ways to prepare a single cup of coffee ever invented. Once you've ground the beans and heated the water, brewing coffee with an AeroPress, using the recipe on the box, takes less than two minutes. That recipe produces about 4 ounces of a full-bodied concentrate; it's not quite espresso, and you're advised to dilute it with hot water before drinking it, like an Americano. You can also find many other AeroPress recipes online, creating everything from an 8-ounce cup of coffee to something close to espresso.
One of the defining features of the AeroPress coffee maker is its reliance on pressure as an extraction modifier. Water extracts flavorful ingredients from the coffee when they come into contact. By adding pressure to the mix, you can change the speed of that fundamental extraction process.
Thanks to this adaptation, the AeroPress is capable of brewing a full cup of coffee in less than two minutes, faster than almost any other existing method. It also allows us to break some coffee-making rules that should be followed in almost all other cases.
Aeropress coffee
As with a French press, there's no specialty coffee to prepare with the AeroPress. Most coffees are suitable based on personal preference. Lighter roasts have rather floral and light flavors and aromas; the darker the roast, the more intense the flavor experience.
Flavor and Aroma
Coffee brewed with an AeroPress has more body than coffee brewed with a French Press or Drip Brew. Furthermore, the coffee contains little to no bitterness or unpleasant acidity. The flavor and aroma depend largely on the coffee used, the grind level, and the brewing time.
Grinding level for AeroPress
The grind should be slightly finer than that of table salt, similar to a filter. If the grind is too fine, this often results in an overly bitter taste (the brewing and extraction time is too long, allowing the bitter substances to dissolve from the coffee).
Temperature for water
Like grind size, water temperature also affects extraction. The hotter the brew, the more easily it breaks down the coffee cells and reaches those flavor and aroma compounds. This will affect how you create different flavor profiles.
Water temperature interacts with other factors, such as grind profile and roast level. However, as a general rule, compounds will extract faster at a higher temperature.
There is a general consensus that coffee should be brewed between 195 and 205Β°F (91-96Β°C). However, AeroPress coffees are often brewed at lower temperatures, 175 to 185Β°F (80 to 85Β°C).
The AeroPress is an excellent coffee maker for those tired mornings or adventurous afternoons. It's a method used by coffee professionals and everyday people alike. It can make some of the best coffee in the world, but it's forgiving enough to satisfy even the most humble.