Going over our AeroPress coverage, we forgot to do a followup on the AeroPress XL (I promised a second blog post covering the day to day use of the brewer). One thing that's interesting to note is, the XL version has dropped $10 in price since I wrote this article last year.
Updated, with some new information and a bit of coverage of the new colour choices, here is CoffeeGeek's Snapshot Review of the AeroPress Clear (which, IMO, is the only AeroPress you should buy today).
Getting obsessed with brewing coffee once again reminds me of a podcast series I’ve been wanting to do for a couple of years. I want to invite developers from the Swift community on the podcast to talk about one of their hobbies. Talking about code isn’t allowed.
Earlier today I watched #AeroPress#coffee brewing videos, including a mention that the inverted method is dangerous, since the plunger can fall out, and the hot water would burn you. I use AeroPress with the inverted method regularly, for more than 8 years, and was not sure if that ever happened to me, so I thought it is not really an issue. And guess who burned his hand while inverting an AeroPress just now. Maybe I should give the non-inverted method another try, though it has its own awkward aspects.
It only splashed out though, most of the coffee was saved. But trying a new coffee now, which is roasted darker than I have normally (this is a sample that was included with a larger order from the coffee place), making it too bitter to my taste. Maybe will finally play with it, adding syrups, milk, cream, and so on: usually feeling like it is too wasteful to use a nice coffee for that, but must be easier to do so when the coffee is too bitter. I enjoy such sweet and flavored coffee served in cafes sometimes: it feels like a different beverage, pleasant in a different way. The distinction reminds me of that between dark chocolate and milk chocolate.
Been using it for a couple years and I rarely get anything in a café that I enjoy as much. Then just today I got the Fellow Prismo and I was surprised at how much it improves the taste (not to mention the fussiness of the procedure).
I get that they're more environmentally friendly than bleached, but have you tried them? I need to really rinse them before use, or your coffee tastes real weird.
So, even though they require less processing by the manufacturer, it requires more water use for the consumer.
Further, again, even though they require less processing by the manufacturer, they cost more. Weird.
If I were buying a new AeroPress today, this is the bundle I'd go for, and it's 25% off today: The Clear with the Flow Control adapter. $56 today. Also available to Canadians. (nb, AeroPress is not a CoffeeGeek sponsor, nor is this an affiliate link).
@richbruchal@coffeegeek@coffee
I was wondering the same thing.
I’ve had a travel (Go) Aeropress for years and am on the fence of getting the Clear combo with flow control. #Aeropress
Heads up @coffee folks, #AeroPress has a big #BlackFriday sale going on for both Canadians and Americans on their main website (they are NOT an advertiser on CoffeeGeek, nor is this an affiliate link).
20% off everything, including the new Clear and XL models, making it the cheapest prices on AeroPress for the year. The original AeroPress is nearly back to the 2005 price ($32; it was $30 back then).
The U.S. patent for the #AeroPress expires June 1, 2027. A little more than 3½ years.
That may partially explain why they are flooding the market with designs and accessories. The more they can get ahead of the curve with the brand, the better off they'll be against competitors.
I'll be curious to see what other #coffee manufacturers do with the design, such as Hario or Fellow however.
Rick and I have been informally tracking new Aeropress #coffee making failure modes, and it's occurred to me these could be in hundreds groups like HTTP response codes.
Designed by a retired Stanford engineering instructor, #Aeropress is really simple: filter holder, filter, chamber, plunger, funnel, stirrer. But it's amazing how frequently caffeine underflow errors lead to process failures.
One of our recent ones was Rick's: putting the funnel in the cup instead of on the chamber.
And in a few moments, almost faster than a Keurig and a hell of a lot more ecologically sound, a single cup of strong coffee. Add water, sugar, cream, whatever… #AeroPress#morning#today#coffee
It is a bit annoying when, after buying official replacement parts at considerable markup, those parts end up not fitting the product and instead cause damage to it. #aeropress
Thinking just now about that time I mentioned on an #Aeropress Facebook Group that the rubber on my plunger had worn & the plunger now routinely got liquid blow-by, & was told in no uncertain terms that what I was describing was impossible, the rubber could not wear, the diameter of the rubber plunger could never be less than the barrel of the Aeropress.
Some people just not gonna stop getting offended on behalf of their favorite non-sentient tool.
I'm topping out at 2 (some days 3) brews with an #AeroPress, and my notes tell me that what I'd love to do is keep brewing and experimenting as long as I can stay awake. (though it would also keep me awake a lot longer ☕ )
I guess I have some self-control issues? And maybe have to redirect this energy to something more useful like ... work? #coffee