What is an AeroPress?

Coffee
Written By Oliver Ring

tl;dr: nice one, Alan

This one took me a bit of getting used to, but tbh, it was me being dim. Grind settings were wrong and I was being impatient. Got the hang of it now. Banging brewer.

A highly versatile way to brew, and an essential bit of kit for filter coffee fanboy.

The AeroPress is one of the most beloved coffee brewers out there, but what exactly is an AeroPress, and why is it so great?

The AeroPress is a manually operated coffee brewer invented an American called Alan Adler in 2005 (around the same time Hario came out with the V60). It consists of a cylindrical chamber and a plunger, using air pressure to push water through coffee grounds. The result? A clean, rich, and endlessly tweakable cup of coffee that can be brewed in about a minute.

A Brief History of the AeroPress

The inventing of the AeroPress was quite similar to the V60 - someone specialising in something else decided to pivot into coffee and made history.

Alan Adler was all about aerodynamics, best known for inventing the Aerobie flying ring. Then, in the early 2000s, he turned his inventing to coffee, frustrated by the slow brew times and bitterness of traditional methods.

Enter the AeroPress – a lightweight, unbreakable, pressure-based coffee maker that quickly became a classic. Since then, we’ve seen international AeroPress competitions and a cult following.

Why Plungers?

The AeroPress uses air pressure to force water through the coffee grounds, extracting flavour efficiently and reducing bitterness. It’s like an espresso machine’s low-budget cousin – lower pressure but way more forgiving, meaning you can experiment endlessly to dial in your perfect brew.

You can even brew espresso from your AeroPress (kind of) with this nifty little gadget from Coffee-Gods Fellow - The Fellow Prismo, which funnels all of the pressure into one small nossle.

AeroPress vs AeroPress Go: Which One is Right for You?

Since it’s invention, the AeroPress has come a long way, now with a variety of options, with my two favourites being the classic and the Go - but which one is best for you?

Classic AeroPress

Cons

  • Bulkier than the Go

  • Requires a separate mug to brew into

Pros

  • Slightly larger capacity (good for brewing for two)

  • More ergonomic to use

  • Iconic, unchanged design (if it ain’t broke...)

AeroPress Go

Cons

  • Slightly lower capacity

  • The included cup isn’t the best

Pros

  • Smaller and more compact

  • Comes with its own travel mug

  • Even more portable – perfect for camping/travel

tl;dr: If it’s for general use, go classic. If you want it for travel, the Go makes more sense (obviously).

Where to buy an AeroPress?

Your best bet is your favourite local coffee shop – prices are pretty standard, and it’s nice to support the people making great coffee. If you must, you can grab one online from decent coffee retailers, such as B Corp coffee roasters, Origin (and visit their new Charlotte Road cafe while you’re at it).

Oliver Ring
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What is a V60?