Finest AeroPress Espresso Makers Examined and Reviewed (2024)

Make sure you take a look at our different espresso guides, together with the Finest Espresso Grinders, Finest Moveable Espresso Makers, Finest Espresso Bean Subscriptions, and Finest Espresso Machines.

Up to date July 2024: We’ve added the AeroPress Go Plus and the newest model of the Clear, and we’ve up to date hyperlinks and costs all through.

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Finest for Dwelling or Workplace

If you happen to’re a longtime AeroPress proprietor, likelihood is that is the one you have received. Not a lot of a looker in its cloudy grey colour, however it’s an exceedingly excessive performer and has been a favourite of baristas and residential brewers because it got here out. A part of the reason being that it means that you can management so lots of the brewing variables: water temperature, quantity of espresso, grind dimension, and bloom and brew instances. Even when you do not make an ideal cup, it is normally nonetheless fairly good. The compact dimension means it barely takes up extra space than a mug in your kitchen, and it is pretty simple to tackle a visit. Plasticky? Sure, but additionally sturdy sufficient that I not keep in mind how lengthy I’ve owned mine. I’ve an Unique and a Go, and I have a tendency to make use of the previous at dwelling and take the Go on the street. If I labored in an workplace, I might hold an Unique there. In comparison with the opposite fashions, it is in all probability probably the most versatile, able to accommodate your inside nerd whenever you wish to take a deep dive. Even when this have been nonetheless the one one in existence, we would be simply as fanatical about it.

Finest for Frequent Fliers

It by no means actually dawned on me that the Unique could possibly be improved, and in a means the Go is only a barely smaller model, but the adjustments are ingenious, permitting for it to nestle inside a mug, together with a scoop, stirrer, and little compactlike clamshell that holds filters. Pack all of it up and toss it within the backside of your suitcase to your subsequent flight, or put it in your backpack and head for the hills. (Campers love these.) You’ll be able to, in fact, carry complete beans and a hand grinder, however that looks like overkill to me. Grind what you want earlier than heading for the good outdoor or, in case your journey is extra city, discover a espresso store at your vacation spot, meet some locals, purchase a bag, ask them to “grind it for AeroPress,” and ask if they’ve any brewing recommendations—I wager they’ll. Earlier than you skip city, purchase a bag of beans to grind at dwelling and name it each a memento and self-care reward. The 8-ounce Go (9/10 WIRED Recommends) is clearly for the vacationers on the market, however if you happen to’re not too finicky, it is shut sufficient to the 10-ounce Unique that proudly owning each feels redundant. I journey so much, so if I needed to pare it down, this may be The One.

Aeropress additionally lately launched an replace referred to as the Go Plus ($80), however this one’s a little bit of a dud. Whereas the unique Go is a tiny marvel, able to make your morning cup in your kitchen or be packed into its mug and tossed in your backpack or carry-on bag, the Go Plus appears to be extra angled towards commuters, with all of its brewing components and equipment packed inside an insulated steel journey mug. Two large issues drag it down. First, the magnetic slider on its cup lid makes consuming from it surprisingly disagreeable, because it’ll probably be touching your nostril as you drink, leaving you caught in a bizarre nether area between making a seal and never making one; it’s neither sip nor suck. Worse, in contrast to the Unique, Clear, and Go, you may’t brew it right into a mug with an inside diameter smaller than three inches … which is to say, most mugs. It is also onerous to puzzle out precisely whom it is for. In contrast with the Go, it feels just a little too heavy to carry alongside in your baggage, and if you happen to’re alleged to drink it in a automotive, do you simply go away the brewing components at dwelling? At that time, you would use a standard AeroPress and simply pour it right into a journey mug that you just like.

Finest for Gifting

Whereas there is not an enormous distinction between the brand new Clears and the Unique, these are our new favorites. The fully clear model is great for seeing what is going on on contained in the brewing chamber and is … clearly … higher trying than the cloudy, opaque Unique, which could possibly be thought-about our price range choose now. The numerous colour choices make it just a little tougher to see what is going on on in there, and whereas we are usually extra functionally centered with our evaluations, having one thing cheery-looking that does not remind you of lab tools or plumbing will definitely open doorways to new customers. If you happen to already personal an AeroPress, there is not any cause to improve, however if you happen to’re simply beginning out, that is the place.

Finest for (Actually) Huge Boys

AeroPress followers have been clamoring for a much bigger model of the traditional brewer for years, largely as a result of the Unique’s 10-ounce capability means making espresso for a couple of individual is usually a ache within the butt. These followers received their want with a mannequin that is twice the scale of the unique. However greater doesn’t appear to be higher. In truth, greater appears just a little extra harmful. Whereas the Unique, Clear, and Go all use the identical dimension cap and filter, each bit of the XL is bigger. It has its personal filters, and also you brew into the carafe it comes with, as a result of the XL’s bigger diameter makes it too large to brew immediately into most mugs. It additionally positive aspects a whole lot of peak. With the plunger prolonged and linked to the barrel, and all of that sitting on the carafe, it is 19 inches excessive. In our testing, 5’3″ Seattle barista Reyna Callejo from Olympia Espresso Roasting Firm stood on a stool to get it to work, a balancing act involving scorching liquids you probably won’t wish to be doing earlier than your morning espresso, or ever, actually. Utilizing the inverted technique additionally feels extra perilous—that is half a liter of scorching water you are perching excessive above your countertop, legs, and personal components. If you happen to actually love AeroPress, need an additional cup’s price each time you brew, and are not postpone by the potential perils, go for it, however most of us who crave extra espresso would probably be higher off with a unique sort of brewer.

Put a Lid on It?

This accent—which attaches to all AeroPress fashions besides the XL—is designed to maintain your brewing dripless, which it does if issues are working proper. A ketchup-bottle-style pressure-actuated valve permits the inverted-averse to experiment with grind sizes and brewing instances with no drip. Your espresso will not go wherever till you press the plunger. It additionally is meant to create an “espresso-style crema” with darkish roast, which seems to be vaguely sudsy bubbles, not the scrumptious, dense, caffeinated foamy goodness you would possibly hope for. It is type of just like the peach fuzz on a teenage boy’s higher lip in comparison with a legit bushy mustache. In truth, I didn’t discover a lot in the way in which of constructive change that the cap had on the espresso it made. That circulation management works nice, although. Good luck cleanly ejecting the puck into the compost bin; with out some peculiar futzing that I—and lots of people on-line—by no means found out, the filter and a layer of grounds are inclined to detach from the remainder of the puck and get caught within the cap. I had enjoyable trying by way of the Amazon evaluations, lots of which complained about leaking, however laughed out loud on the one which hit dwelling probably the most: “I do not suppose it does something.”

Filtered Outcomes

This reusable stainless filter permits AeroPress customers to keep away from utilizing and pitching the paper filters. Slicing down on paper waste is a noble intention, however I used to be pretty unimpressed with the outcomes. Most notably, the top product is way sludgier than what AeroPress customers are used to. Even for me, a French-press fan who does not thoughts some sediment within the backside of my cup, this appeared like so much. Until you utilize a Stream Management cap, the stainless filter additionally lets espresso drip by way of a lot sooner than a paper filter does. Amazingly, water poured from a faucet by way of an empty (no grounds) AeroPress with the stainless filter and inventory cap will fill then overfill the vessel beneath it, not the brewing chamber. With a paper filter and the identical cap, the brewing chamber fills, then takes properly over a minute to empty out. Equally, whenever you’re brewing espresso and depress the plunger, it sinks so quick and simply that retaining regular strain on it’s difficult. Lastly, amongst all of our each day environmental sins, pitching a compostable 2.5-inch-wide paper disc (which can be utilized for a number of brewings) barely makes a blip in contrast with, say, that plastic- or plastic-lined bag your espresso is available in. As with the Stream Management cap, there’s in all probability a tiny area of interest of people that will make common use of this, however I believe most of us will drop 15 bucks on it, battle with it a couple of instances, then overlook about it within the utensil drawer.

My Personal AeroPress Setup

Most of us might be fully pleased with only one AeroPress. By means of work, I occur to personal two, which is usually redundant. If I needed to whittle it all the way down to only one, I might take the Go. If I traveled much less, I might be high-quality with the Unique and simply take that on journeys—it does simply high-quality.

The remainder of my dwelling setup contains an Oxo scale for weighing espresso beans by the gram. The present model of the dimensions is this Stainless Metal Meals Scale ($56), an ideal all-rounder within the kitchen. WIRED reviewer Michael Calore likes Oxo’s Precision Scale ($56) that includes a built-in timer, which is beneficial with extra difficult AeroPress or pour-over brews.

My grinder is a Baratza Encore ($150), which I really like for the standard of the grind, total worth, and sturdiness. It is also repairable, a spot the place many different producers fall brief.

Whereas I really like the look of gooseneck kettles, I discover them finicky and slow-pouring after I’m not utilizing them for espresso. As a substitute, I have been utilizing the Cuisinart CPK-17 ($100) for 4 years, and it is nonetheless chugging away high-quality. It is a reviewers’ darling, with six preset temperatures and a “hold heat” button to carry it at that temperature for half-hour.

One little factor I’ve come to understand is engaged on a silicone mat whereas I brew. AeroPress fails are rites of passage, largely as a result of they will make a spectacular mess. I take advantage of a Silpat mat from my baking drawer, which supplies a strong, nonslip base and helps hold catastrophe at bay.