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AeroPress, the best cup of coffee ever
The AeroPress coffee maker is manufactured by the Aerobie Company, which also produces sporting goods like the flying ring. It is of more recent vintage being invented by Stanford engineering lecturer Alan Adler in 2005.
The basic principle behind the Aerobie brand coffee maker is similar to the mechanics behind a syringe although it is considerably bigger. There are two polycarbonate cylinders that fit one over the other to create an airtight cylinder. You might think of the resultant product as espresso but it is more akin to a strong coffee.
To use it, you place fine-ground coffee on top of the paper microfilter, which is located at the larger cylinder’s bottom. You will then pour hot but not boiling water (around 75-80 degrees Celsius is ideal) into the coffee, which will then be stirred and allowed to steep for about 10 seconds.
You will then exert pressure on the water-coffee grounds mixture by pushing the second cylinder downwards. And don’t forget to position it on top of a coffee cup or mug, of course.
At present, there only seems to be one model – the AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker.
First the Aeropress Pros
- You will get coffee with approximately the same strength as espresso although not quiet espresso.
- You do not even need an expensive bean mill since even a regular grinder will suffice for the job.
- You will enjoy coffee with lesser acidity and bitterness to it, hence, strong and smooth black coffee. This is because the acids and oils in the coffee grounds are left behind in the Aerobie coffee maker’s paper filter instead of going into your cup.
- You can control the strength of your coffee by trying various combinations of water temperature, time to press and grind.
- This is good news in a house with different preferences as well as when you have guests.
- You may prepare your coffee in 20-30 seconds, depending on your preference and excluding the preparation of the hot water.
- The clean-up time is also relatively easier. And if you are avid camper but still like your coffee,
- the AeroPress is a very compact coffee maker that requires no electricity, just your hand power.
- And did we mention that it is very cheap at approx $27
With its durable construction, that $27 will indeed go a long way.
Cons
- On the negative side, you might have to practice a little to get the operation down pat.
- You might just end up with coffee grounds and water splattered all over your shirt and counterpart when you press down on the coffee maker.
- Plus, some customers complain of the amount of coffee grounds needed to make just one cup.
You might have to use 3-4 times more coffee grounds than you normally would with an automatic coffee maker.
That leads us to the following Conclusion
All in all, the AeroPress coffee maker is a good addition to your arsenal of gadgets necessary to enjoy a cup of strong, smooth and flavorful coffee.
Even if you already have its electronic counterparts, it is always a good idea to have a manual backup for emergency situations.
And sometimes, too, those electronic coffeemakers can be a hassle to operate with all their buttons and parts to clean, not to mention that you often end up with bland coffee.
And nobody wants bland coffee, definitely not you, we hope.
