Would you have guessed that the best coffee maker under 50 dollars is actually made by a Frisbee company? If you are looking for an awesome single-cup coffee maker and don’t want to break the bank, consider the AeroPress. This clever device combines the concept of french press and pourover coffee into a unique brewing experience with tons of flavor.
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The Aeropress Coffee Maker
The AeroPress is a unique coffee maker that works quite differently from other brewing methods. The device rests on your cup and uses a paper filter just like a pourover. However, it works by steeping coffee and then pressing down a plunger, similar to a french press. The result is a clean tasting coffee with a surprising amount of nuance to the flavor.
This review focuses on the AeroPress as a coffee maker and its unique method to brewing coffee. The AeroPress Coffee Maker is available on Amazon for around 30-40 dollars and comes with a scoop, funnel, filters, a filter holder, and a stir. This link also includes a travel bag, which I have found helpful in keeping the AeroPress components together for trips.
Pros
- Easy to use with practice
- Forgiving of mistakes
- Fast brewing time
- Easy to travel with
- Durable
- Makes many different kinds of drinks
- Can make concentrated coffee similar to espresso
- Cheap!
Cons
- Only makes a single cup at a time and must be repeated for more servings
- Not as aesthetically impressive as many other coffee makers
AeroPress Coffee Traits
AeroPress coffee can pretty much be whatever you want it to be. When brewed using the traditional method (via provided instructions), the resulting coffee is bright with almost no bitterness, assuming your coffee is fresh. However, you can change the grind and brewing time for a much different result. Because of this, the AeroPress is quite versatile and can make a variety of different kinds of drinks.
The AeroPress uses a short extraction time and a finer grind than many other coffee makers. The paper filter removes much of the body resulting in a very clean cup.
How it Works
The AeroPress itself consists of a brewing chamber, a plunger, and a filter cap. The filter cap holds the filter at the bottom of the unit and the plunger attaches at the top. To brew coffee, you will set the brewing chamber and filter on top of your cup, add the coffee and water, and steep for a short amount of time. Afterwards, insert the plunger and press down to create air pressure which forces the coffee and water through the filter.
Aeropress Accessories
The AeroPress is very simple to use yet still makes smooth and flavorful coffee. The full immersion extraction (coffee completely submerged in water) and dense filter combination make this coffee maker very forgiving for folks who are new to manual methods. The AeroPress is not as sensitive to common brewing mistakes such as grind inconsistency, improper brewing temperature, and imprecise extraction time compared to other methods.
If you choose to refine these aspects of your brewing technique, you will be rewarded with even better coffee. At the same time, this device is a great entry for those who are completely new to manual brewing.
AeroPress Espresso
Because of the dense filter, the AeroPress can be used with very fine coffee and a short extraction time. This results in a concentrated brew, very similar to espresso. Although this isn’t actually real espresso because it lacks the high pressure component, I like to think of this as the “poor man’s espresso.”
Concentrated coffee made in this way can be used in latte and cappuccino recipes convincingly. The AeroPress is probably your best option for these types of drinks if you don’t want to spend several hundred dollars on a dedicated machine. I would take the “poor man’s espresso” over cheap espresso machine coffee any day.
Read More: How to Make a Latte with an Aeropress
Inverted Method
Many of the recipes call for the AeroPress to be “inverted” which means that you will brew coffee using your coffee maker upside down. This way, the coffee and water are completely contained until you are ready to dispense the coffee.
I rarely ever use the inverted method, but I did feel it was important to mention since you will encounter it in many recipes. To achieve a similar end to the inverted method, insert the plunger at a slight angle, straighten it, and pull back just a little bit. This creates a vacuum seal and suspends the coffee and water mixture during the extraction.
Whichever method you choose, you can’t really go wrong, and this ultimately comes down to your personal preference and the specific recipe that you are using.
Cleaning the AeroPress
The AeroPress coffee maker is it is incredibly easy to clean. After pressing down on the plunger and dispensing your coffee, simply unscrew the cap on the bottom and push the plunger all the way down over a trash can. This compresses the spent coffee and filter into a little puck that you can easily dispose of.
Afterwards, rinse the brewing chamber and plunger under running water to remove any remaining coffee particles and set out to dry. The plunger scrubs the inside of the press during use which cuts down on how much rinsing you need to do.
Traveling with the AeroPress
The AeroPress is one of the best coffee makers to travel with because it is lightweight, durable, and contains all the necessary measuring and brewing components. Because of this, the AeroPress is great to take on vacations as well as camping trips. All you need is ground coffee and hot water.
Aeropress with Travel Bag
The brewing chamber, plunger, filter holder, funnel, paddle stir, and scoop all stack neatly in a vertical column and fit inside a small totebag. This allows the coffee maker to take up as little space as possible. The BPA-free plastic construction is extremely durable, and you won’t have to worry about it breaking.
Even if your coffee bar is stocked with all sorts of gadgets and machines, the AeroPress still proves very useful because of how well it travels. Be sure to look out for the one that includes the travel bag.
What I don’t like about the AeroPress
The only downside to the AeroPress is that it can only brew for one person at a time using most of the recipes. You can technically brew for people by mixing concentrated coffee with hot water (americano style) but it’s best to think of this coffee maker as a single serving method. It would be great if the brewing chamber and plunger were 50% or so longer to accommodate larger servings, although this would cut down on the portability.
Since the AeroPress is very quick to use and clean, making multiple servings back to back isn’t a big deal. This coffee maker also combines well with other brewing methods and encourages variety from day to day. I use my AeroPress for just myself and the wife most of the time to cut down on wasted coffee. When I have company over, I’ll break out a large french press or coffee pot.
The Best Coffee Maker Under $50: The AeroPress
The AeroPress is easy to use and travel with and comes with everything you need aside from coffee and water. Although inexpensive, this coffee maker brews some of the best tasting coffee most people will ever experience. The only downside is not being able to brew for multiple people as easily as some of the other methods.
I recommend this coffee maker to every coffee lover out there. The AeroPress makes a great gift and deserves a spot in anyone’s coffee collection. This coffee maker is also perfect for those who looking for a single serving coffee pot alternative. The AeroPress is a great entry into the world of manual coffee brewing.
If you end up purchasing an AeroPress, I would encourage you to check out my beginner’s guide. This guide covers basic recipes for full strength and concentrated coffee to get you started.
Read More: A Beginner’s Guide to using an AeroPress
Questions? Comments?
I would love to hear about your experiences with this unique coffee maker. Feel free to start a conversation below.
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Happy Brewing!
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