Aeropress - User reviews?

Gran Hermano

I was just ordering a resupply of my usual Cuban green beans from
hasbean and as an impulse-buy I also ordered an Aeropress
I intend to use it in the office and whilst outdoors over the summer.
(The problem with roasting your own beans is one becomes quickly
disillusioned with the quality of the majority of the coffee available
in Ireland).

Reviews on the usual sites like toomuchcoffee look good.
Has anyone on Boards used one?

Musashi

I have one with about six months and it makes the best coffee!

I was using a stove top but this is easier, quicker to clean up and making additional cups is far more easily done.

You may want to experiment with the length of the steep and speed of the press, using ten seconds as a baseline. I find a longer steep helps some coffees.

The filters can be left dry out and reused a few times if you like, but they are cheap enough and last ages anyway.

Thumbs up from me anyway!

Gran Hermano

Cheers Musashi, just the feedback I was looking for.

Whilst I'd love to stick a Gaggia on my desk it's just not practical
in here and the office machine is rather temperamental as of late
so the Aeropress will be useful for emergencies. I also like the fact
I can stick it in a back-pack with a thermos of hot water for day trips.

What grind do you find best with the Aeropress, if I can use the same grind as
I use for espresso at home I'll be a happy chappy.

jimmytwo

Yea - I also got an Aeropress from HasBean - fantastic item, love it!! The coffee is just so smooth out of it.

I just the same grind as for my espresso machine - seems to work a treat!

Khannie

Hmmmm. I'm about to head off to Thailand for 3 weeks. Was going to get one of those combined french press / mug things, but this looks like it might be just the ticket.

Musashi

Espresso grind is fine, but I imagine finer or coarser would work as well as the paper filters work well.

The only issue might be in how much effort the press would take, and the potential for firing a hot mug of coffee across the office as a result?

If the filter holder is sticking when you try to remove it, try drawing the plunger back a little to relieve the pressure before twisting it off.

Gran Hermano

Khannie wrote: »

Hmmmm. I'm about to head off to Thailand for 3 weeks. Was going to get one of those combined french press / mug things, but this looks like it might be just the ticket.

Well there's a 150+ page thread on Coffee Geek and the majority
of reviews are positive. A lot of posters use them for holidays.
As long as Customs don't open your bag and think it's one of these
I reckon it'll do the job.

Also some useful tips from the inventor/manufacturer on that thread.
Knowing HB's speedy delivery I hope to have mine before the weekend.

Mr Magnolia

More paraphernalia for the kitchen press so...

Can't believe it takes an espresso grind, superb!

Gran Hermano

Mr Magnolia wrote: »

More paraphernalia for the kitchen press so...

Can't believe it takes an espresso grind, superb!

It was the fact that I don't have to adjust the MC2 setting that sold it to me!

I want to be able to use my own beans in work without adjusting the grinder
setting at home (or buying a second grinder just for a French press in the
office). I'm still concerned that the fine espresso grind I use will clog the
Aeropress but all feedback and reviews indicate it'll work fine.

Mr Magnolia

You going to make a purchase so Gran Hermano?

What price are they on hasbean?

Gran Hermano

Mr Magnolia wrote: »

You going to make a purchase so Gran Hermano?

What price are they on hasbean?

I ordered it this morn when stocking up on some beans, you should know me -
I don't delay when it comes to all things coffee related! I added it to a basket
withalmost 10 kg of Cuba Turquino Lavado. (I also ordered some Brazil Perfetio
Espresso Blend for something different. On a separate note I wasn't overly
impressed by the Hasbean 'premium espresso' green beans I ordered last time).

Price on hasbean is GBP 25 but I think you have to add VAT onto that.
Firebox UK has it in stock as well but it was convenient for me to
just add it to my green beans order. Plus I want it before the weekend if possible.

Good review on Sweet Maria's, Tom there knows his stuff

Mr Magnolia

Thanks for that Gran.

I'm just after getting a stock in from hasbean myself, also the Cuba Turquino Lavado. I'm always a bit wary of any 'espresso' beans/coffee etc. I'd generally prefer to know what I'm getting, what do these beans comprise of or where are they from etc.?

I'll have a read of Sweet Maria's now.

RE*AC*TOR

Gran Hermano wrote: »

I ordered it this morn when stocking up on some beans, you should know me -
I don't delay when it comes to all things coffee related! I added it to a basket
withalmost 10 kg of Cuba Turquino Lavado. (I also ordered some Brazil Perfetio
Espresso Blend for something different. On a separate note I wasn't overly
impressed by the Hasbean 'premium espresso' green beans I ordered last time).

Price on hasbean is GBP 25 but I think you have to add VAT onto that.
Firebox UK has it in stock as well but it was convenient for me to
just add it to my green beans order. Plus I want it before the weekend if possible.

Good review on Sweet Maria's, Tom there knows his stuff

I have the Brazil Perfeito as well - I think its top notch. Of the 6 or so 2kg bags of green coffee I have - that's the one I've gotten through the quickest.

Mr Magnolia

Well impressed with the aeropress. It does produce a fine coffee though it doesn't hold a candle to the Gaggia, this of course maybe something to do with the way I'm using it, I may not have mastered it fully yet. Handy for use at work or on holidays.

Gran Hermano

Well after just over a week of using mine, I'm also happy with the purchase.

It's not the best coffee ever and I also still prefer espresso from the Gaggia,
but at 10% of the cost it's worth it. It's ideal for work - especially as I don't
have to re-adjust the grind on the MC2. I'd put the coffee somewhere
between French press and moka pot and a French press would require me
constantly adjusting the grinder and a moka pot ain't feasible in the office.

The results from the Aeropress are good but I find the coffee a tad 'light'
and without body - it reminds me of the coffee from the USA made with the
drip and filter paper method. A friend of mine described it as soul-less
compared to an espresso made with an espresso machine. Bottom line
is it's ideal for quick and easy coffee and especially as a base for making
latte/cappucinos.

On a side note; that Brazilian Perfeito coffee is going down a treat.
Whilst a tad on the smoky side whilst roasting, I'll be adding it to
future orders - along with my usual Cuban and Guatemalan.

TKK

I too purchased one of these when ordering from Hasbean recently. I needed to get something for the office as my only option here is instant. Only had one cup so far today but it's way ahead of my usual office coffee experience.

Gran Hermano

Anyone find they're using crazy amounts of coffee with the Aeropress?
The scoop they include is on the large size to say the least and two
scoops is far more coffee than the double basket on the Gaggia.

Unless I find a work around I'll be buying a bigger roaster

Mr Magnolia

Yeah, savage amount, nearly twice as much as the Gaggia takes. I'm going to try lesser amounts and see what the results are like.

RE*AC*TOR

Anyone here making an order from hasbean in the near future might consider adding an aeropress and some filters for me. Not worthwhile ordering it on its own....

Mr Magnolia

As the areopress is <1kg, it's only ~£5 P&P on it's own RE*AC*TOR.

I had mine in for €40.74. There is a good supply of filters with the unit too.

TKK

I think the recommended 2 scoops are for filter grind. I find that using espresso grind I can get good results with one scoop. I haven't checked for certain but I reckon that's about the same amount as for a double scoop for the Gaggia.

eclectichoney

Just to let people know Hasbean.co.uk have a special atthe moment with 25% off the aeropress, so that combined with the strength of the euro against sterling, makes the aeropress work out at about €30 incl. shipping which is great value. I just ordered one myself

TM

I got the Aeropress from www.coffeecavern.co.uk recently for £21 or c. €27 including UK P&P of c. £3 because their website didn't handle Irish P&P automatically/properly. I emailed them and they just said they'd accept UK P&P. As usual the device comes with 350 odd filters as standard and they also threw in a small sample of their monthly coffee club beans which was a nice touch.

It does look a bit like a penis pump as mentioned earlier though. Well so a friend told me anyway...

TM

Any tips on the best value on packs of replacement filters for delivery to Ireland? The delivery charges are a bit hefty from many of the places that I checked who deliver to Ireland...

Gran Hermano

TM wrote: »

Any tips on the best value on packs of replacement filters for delivery to Ireland? The delivery charges are a bit hefty from many of the places that I checked who deliver to Ireland...

Based on advice from the inventor, on a seriously long thread on coffeegeek,
I get three or four drinks from the one filter without any side effects.
I'm less than half way through the pack of filters that were included.

Hasbean sell replacement filters and shipping costs are reasonable.
Even moreso if you include them with an order for beans.

cgf

TM wrote: »

As usual the device comes with 350 odd filters as standard

Wow, thru 350 cups in 2 days :eek:

TM

cgf wrote: »

Wow, thru 350 cups in 2 days :eek:

Naw! I'm just wondering. I too am reusing them so I guess it'll be a while before I need more. Can't break the hoarding habit of a lifetime...

Musashi

Sorry for the Necroposting!

Some guys are now using an inverted method with the Aeropress, and changing the paper filters for poly-felt or gold.

The changes make oil extraction easier and get it in the cup as well, not tried it yet but sounds like a cure for the "soulless" cup of coffe!

http://scott.marquardt.googlepages.com/invertedaeropressingforbettercoffee