Why I Love the Aeropress

I bought an Aeropress months ago. It seems like it's been part of my daily routine forever. I brew one cup of coffee in the morning and one in mid-afternoon. I've written about my Aeropress extensively on my website. I've published the recipe I try to follow for anyone who is interested in learning about how I brew coffee.

I originally purchased an Aeropress because it did not look intimidating. Pour-over coffee brewing methods looked complex. I would need a pour-over kettle to brew a cup of coffee in a Kalita Wave and a Hario V60. I didn't want to invest a lot of money in a hobby that may not have come to anything. I didn't feel comfortable buying lots of equipment.

The Aeropress was the solution. An Aeropress comes with everything that I need to brew a cup of coffee, aside from the beans themselves. The Aeropress came with a few attachments that made brewing easier. The scoop let me brew with a consistent amount of coffee each time. The paddle was nice to have so that I could stir my coffee after the bloom without relying on a regular spoon.

Months on, the Aeropress is still my go-to brewer. I've not tried any other methods.

The Community

The Aeropress is more than a coffee brewer. It seems to be somewhat of a movement. The Aeropress comes from humble beginnings. It was invented by Alan Adler, the founder of an aerodisc company, as a way to brew a delicious, single cup of coffee. It was not developed by a major corporation. Alan was focused on the Aerobie toy until the Aeropress took off and reached a level of global popularity.

I watched a documentary earlier this year about the Aeropress. I learned that there are dozens of national Aeropress championships where people compete to make the best cup of coffee. I knew about these before watching the documentary but I didn't know how big of a deal they were. The competitors all wanted to brew a delicious cup of coffee. Everyone wanted to have fun.

There are so many recipes online that helped me get started with the Aeropress. I was somewhat intimidated by how many different variables there were in my control. This did not present a problem because I decided to stick to one recipe. My first cup of coffee with the Aeropress used the Stumptown Coffee Roasters brew guide. I used a Starbucks video to inform some of my brewing decisions.

I've continued to rely on online recipes as I tinker with the Aeropress. I found a directory of the World Aeropress Championship recipes on the Aeropress website and I'd like to try to brew a few of them. I know how much of a difference changing one variable can make. It would be nice to taste what coffees have been evaluated by judges as the best out of all the participants in the Aeropress Championships.

Tinkering

The Aeropress is an excellent device for tinkering with coffee. I've come to appreciate that the Aeropress can make a very clean cup of coffee. Unless I put in too much coffee or use the wrong grind size, I'm able to make a really good cup of coffee with the Aeropress.

I try to be as consistent as I can when I brew coffee but there are some occasions where I mess up. I've only had one big spill so far which is a relief. I knew it had to come some day. [1] Messing up is part of the process. In most cases, my coffee tastes consistent even if I accidentally brew for a few seconds longer or if I forget to pre-heat my mug. I like how forgiving the Aeropress is.

I have not tinkered with every variable just yet. I like to keep to a consistent recipe because I've been more interested in tasting the coffee that I have bought. It's hard to taste coffee properly if I change my process. I'm not sure whether my tastes have changed or my brewing process has changed the profile of the cup. I am changing my ways on this. I want to explore new recipes.

Using the Inverted Method

I got my start with the Aeropress by using the traditional brewing method. This is where I brew my coffee in the bottom chamber and keep the Aeropress the right way up. I found this process was enough to let me make a good cup of coffee. But I had a few issues. Quite a bit of coffee was dripping into the mug before I got the chance to push. I felt like it was harder to keep my brews consistent.

A recommendation from an IndieWeb community member encouraged me to try out the inverted method. I was somewhat scared because I know that spillages are more likely with the inverted method. You have to flip the Aeropress with a mug atop the brewing device. I have had a few small spills but aside from that I have been happy using the inverted method. I get a more consistent cup. It's easier for me to manage now that I have added complexity to my brewing process.

A Great Device for Beginners

I'd recommend the Aeropress for anyone who wants to brew their own coffee at home. The Aeropress got me interested in the world of speciality coffee. With an Aeropress, I can brew any speciality bean I like. I have three coffee beans at home that I'm trying. I need to get better at ordering on a consistent cadence.

I spend about ten to fifteen minutes making a cup of Aeropress coffee. I do not mind. I like the ritual. The brewing time itself only takes a few minutes. How long you take to brew a cup depends on your process. I now measure my coffee with scales. I use a grinder to grind my own beans. Each part of the process involves my attention. I need to focus on brewing. I am brought into the present moment.

[1]: Hint: do not put too much water into your Aeropress brewing chamber.