We're coffee addicts. We wish we weren't, but we are. Which is why the AeroPress Coffee & Espresso Maker caught our eye.
Designed by Palo Alto inventor/engineer Alan Adler (who, incidentally, also designed the Aerobie flying ring and the Dogobie, a flying disc for dogs -- how's that for a tie-in to Pet Month?), the AeroPress is billed as "an entirely new way to make coffee."
Water and grounds are mixed together for 10 seconds, then gentle air pressure pushes the mixture through a micro-filter. Total immersion of the grounds in the water means you can extract the flavor at a moderate temperature, which results in a smoother brew. The filtering time is just 20 seconds, so there's no bitterness.
All of this means lower acid, happier stomachs, happier people.
This gives you coffee but by no means espresso. It won't have the temperature or the pressure necessary to make it an espresso per say. It takes at least 9 bars of pressure ... hardly "gentle" air pressure :P
Stylish yet if I want an espresso I use a machine built for that and if not I would use a french press.
Acidity and bitterness depend on so much more than brew time (grind, type of beans, degree of torrefaction, etc). Their pitch might sound good but it shows their marketing people do not understand coffee.
I use a Bodum french press, & I can't for the life of me understand how this could possibly be any better or different for that matter. It's newfangled & cool looking, but where's the improvement?
There has actually been quite a bit of discussion over at CoffeeGeek, and the general consensus seems to be that you have to play around with it to get something good. It won't be espresso, by any stretch. But for ease of use, cleanup and price it's at least sparked my curiosity.
Could be something to use at work or traveling...
I have one. It produces much better coffee than my drip machine. Very simple and I reuse the filters for a while (it comes with a year's supply but I'm betting I'll get them to last longer, they're tough and rinse without tearing). I was dubious for a while that the plunger part would continue to maintain adequate seal within the barrel, as it's rubber, but it's holding up - six months and it still has airtight seal when pushing the water through. I like the simplicity, the rinse-and-go ease of cleaning - no more hard water stains in the coffee maker to worry about. No more need to buy cheap filters at Costco. Scoff all you like at the funny looking plunger thingie and how it can't possibly be as good as all that, but I kicked my Starbucks habit and make it at home now - one cup at a time, no waste at either end of the process. I just get some good beans, grind a scoop or two in my Bodum, press out the coffee and add a dab of half and half. And I use a lot less sweetener (or none at all) with the bitter gone.
Hmm... Good review. I think I'd buy such device.