It’s portable, easy to clean, and makes an espresso-like brew. Here’s why so many coffee drinkers love their Aeropress—and how to use it.

If you’ve ever wondered about the Aeropress coffee maker, you’re not alone. It’s an intriguing little coffee device with a relatively short history. According to the company’s website, the first Aeropress made the scene in 2005, when it’s inventor, Alan Adler, brought his new invention to its first trade show.

An inventor and Stanford University engineering instructor, Adler believed he had invented a machine that brewed superior coffee. Plenty of coffee lovers agreed. 16 years later and the Aeropress has many devotees. And where there’s a popular brew method with a filter, there’s a CoffeeSock.

How does the Aeropress work?

Aeropress is a small plastic coffee maker that sits on top of your coffee cup and uses a filter and plunger method along with pressure to produce an espresso-like brew. You’ll use a fine-ground coffee, then stir the grounds and hot water for about 30 seconds before using the plunger to produce several ounces of concentrate.

The result is a very strong brew, which is just the way some like to drink it. If you prefer American-style coffee, simply add more hot water directly to your cup. 

How is it different from French Press?

It’s similar to French Press in that you pour the hot water directly onto your grounds and use a plunger to push the water through and extract the brew. A big difference with Aeropress is that you use a small disc-shaped filter, which some prefer since it removes any coffee grounds and filters out cafestol, a chemical which can increase cholesterol if you drink several cups per day.

Aeropress is smaller and more portable. It also makes less coffee, typically one cup at a time. But if that’s all you’re looking to brew, then consider this, from NYT’s Wirecutter: “This device, which has since been embraced by countless coffee professionals and enthusiasts alike, provides one of the quickest ways to brew a single cup of coffee ever invented.” 

It’s plastic. Is that OK?

The company’s website has a pretty cool feature showing you just how the materials have evolved over time from polycarbonate to BPA-free polypropylene.

According to the site, “The AeroPress has always been free of phthalates and has been free of BPA since August of 2009.”

While we tend to prefer the simplicity of plastic-free pour over methods, the Aeropress is sturdy and lasts for years. And it makes a very excellent cup of coffee and travels well.   

How do I use it?

We made a video using the Aeropress and our disc filter. 

What if I don’t have fine-ground coffee?

Several users have reported that you can use store-ground beans in the Aeropress. Part of the method requires you to stir the grounds and hot water together. If you’re not using fine ground coffee, try stirring a bit longer to give the water more time to mingle with and penetrate the coarser grounds. 

But is the coffee good?

This, of course, is in the taste buds of the drinker. Aeropress devotees will give an enthusiastic “yes.” And because you can choose your roast and decide on the exact strength of the coffee you drink, the method offers a lot of flexibility so that you can experiment and customize!

Do you use the Aeropress? Tell us what you think!