Aerobie 80R08 AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker
by Aerobie
|
List Price: Our Price: $25.95 You Save: $6.04 (19%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $16.99 (click here) Category: Kitchen See more product details |
|---|
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Aerobie 80R08 AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker
Customer Review: great product! amazing for camping & backpacking, too
Summary: 5 Stars
Back in the very late '70s - early 80's, I worked in a restaurant in Berkeley that a Peet's special blend named for it, and hosted coffee tastings. As a result, most folks who worked there (including myself) became insufferable jerks who won't suffer a lousy cup of coffee and will barely tolerate a mediocre one.
I've been known to brew my own in hotel rooms (and on the hood of my car), using a gas camp stove & Melitta cone or an ancient Vesuviana espresso maker, just to avoid ingesting bad coffee while traveling (the Vesuviana caused a great deal of excitement at airport security checkpoints).
I can't drink french press-made coffee; it's far too bitter/ acidic. Love me a Chemex, but they always end up exploding.
While at Catahoula Coffee Company in Richmond, I bought my first Aeropress, just to try it out. It made such a great cup-- rich, strong with "head", low to no acid, easy to make--
so, I bought 2 more: one for my daughter, who travels by backpack, has been all over N. America, and is heading for Europe.. another for my son, presently a college student & intermittent world traveler.
Backpacker daughter says: It makes the best coffee, is easy to clean & pack, and is very durable.
College student son (who also works in restaurants) says: ditto, but that it makes a "kick @$$ cup".
I alternate between Melitta cone-made coffee & Aeropress. And honestly, the Aeropress filter packs are really inexpensive if you buy via Amazon when you purchase the coffee maker.
Don't waste your $$$ on a designer espresso machine, unless you feel duty bound to support the guy who repairs them. Perhaps, the shiny expensive espresso machine fits your decor scheme & impresses your guests (too bad a good barista doesn't come with it).
Besides, when the zombies attack & sabotage your gas/electricity, you can build a fire, boil some H2O, and use this wonderful contraption to make your final cup a truly good one!
Customer Review: Best Coffee(consistently) I've ever had
Summary: 5 Stars
First, the coffee produced by this product, when used as directed, is going to blow your socks off(and consistently no less). You will immediately notice that your coffee will not have the burned, acrid, acidic taste that you can get from frequently over-extracted drip coffee makers. It is smooth, even in it's espresso form, which I have only ever experienced in Europe(after it had sugar and a little cream added). My wife was only the occasional coffee drinker due to reflux issue, but now it really does not bother her to have a cup at all any more. Don't know if this would be the case with everyone who has a sensitive stomach, but that was her experience.
Next, this product is very reliable and extremely easy to use. However, you can't just set it and forget it like a drip coffee maker. this has only really added about 4 minutes or so(with cleanup) to my morning ritual of getting ready for work. Whereas before I would set up everything the night prior and come down to hit the ON button when I woke up, only to clean it up after I got home from dinner. The Aeropress won't break, shatter, and the rubber plunger is suprisingly sturdy. I am a little apprehensive to put the plunger in the dishwasher however. Mind you, there is no real reason to put this thing in there at all. You really only need to rinse it off, I'm just kind of a neat freak. One catch, that luckily did not effect me. You should really invest in a thermometer if you don't already have one, to ensure you get your water to the proper temp. They don't cost a whole lot($7-$8 on the low end).
Other than that, I have become an Aeropress evangalist with all my friends that really drink coffee. I can't find anything negative to say as long as you don't mind having to do a small bit of labor to make your coffee. It's worth it!!! This thing was really cheap, easy to use, cleans well, and I can't see how you'd break it from daily use. Enjoy!
Customer Review: My last coffee maker
Summary: 5 Stars
The other reviews have pretty much said it all but I'll add that, I have most of the major coffee maker types. From automatic drip, french press, vacuum pots and a Senseo, I've tried lots of different methods for getting a good cup of coffee at home. Auto drip makes adequate coffee but since I'm the only coffee drinker in the house, I always end up either dumping out coffee or drinking more than I should to avoid wasting it. The french press and the vacuum pot are capable of creating lovely coffee but the cleanup and brew time involved are not insignificant. The Senseo is easy and quick to clean up but the thin, somewhat weak brew became unacceptable the instant I made the first cup in the Aeropress. Back in January of this year I ordered the Aeropress and have become a complete coffee snob as a result. Nowhere can I get a cup of coffee that matches what I make everyday with my Aeropress. A rich, flavorful brew is only moments away at any time. When you consider the ease of cleanup and the low cost, this little guy is a no brainer.
I don't drink espresso so I can't comment on how it does with that. I will say that, while it does produce some foam, it is very short lived and should in no sense of the word be called crema. I don't think anything without crema should be referred to as espresso but I'm no expert in that particular area. Come on, you didn't really think you were going to replace a two thousand dollar espresso machine with a thirty dollar piece of plastic and rubber did you?
If your looking for something that will let you make great lattes, cappucinos and americanos at home, get yourself a decent grinder (you do grind your own beans don't you?), some quality whole beans and an Aeropress and ruin yourself with some great coffee made quickly and easily at home. As long as you aren't expecting barista class espresso out of it, you will not be disappointed.
Customer Review: Pleasantly surprised
Summary: 5 Stars
I have to say I was hopeful but skeptical about the AeroPress before purchasing one. I needed a quick and easy and economical solution for the office, since the local cafe -- as great as it is -- was breaking the bank, and the thermal carafe holding 4 cups from my french press from home just wasn't tasting too great by the time my mid-day coffee break came around.
Reading the (mostly) rave reviews about the AeroPress making "the best cup of coffee ever" and watching videos of it in action, it sure *seemed* easy to use, and it sure *seemed* like people genuinely enjoyed the flavor of the coffee it produced, but how could such a simple design and process yield such a great shot?
Well, it does, and I'm entirely sold. I've gone from auto-drip, to the Toddy cold-brew system, to french press, to an (admittedly low-end) espresso machine and now to the AeroPress. The AeroPress is hands-down the best one of the bunch, second to the Toddy and then the french press in terms of overall flavor. But the ease of use makes the gap between first and second HUGE. The AeroPress really does produce a great shot, balanced with no hint of bitterness. Crema would've be nice, but it's a small price to pay.
I should mention this rave review is somewhat contingent on the application. I needed something quick, easy and tasty and the AeroPress delivered, with the help of an electric water kettle. I wouldn't necessarily want this as my main coffee maker for larger quantities, since it doesn't seem practical to make 4 shots again and again to keep guests at a dinner party happy. It's best used for a solo or duo coffee experience.
PROS:
- Excellent taste
- High quality and thoughtful product design
- Ease of use
- Quick!
- Cost
CONS:
- Relatively low qty yielded per press
- Requires kettle or other hot water source
Customer Review: Best cup of coffee ever
Summary: 5 Stars
As I sit here writing this review, I am enjoying one of the best cups of coffee I have ever brewed. I almost wish you could be here so I might share the rich, smooth non-bitter taste that is possible using the Aeropress Coffee and Espresso Maker by Aerobie.
From start to cleanup takes less than 3-4 minutes. Heat 10 oz of water to approximately 175 degrees. This is the recommended temperature for brewing the best tasting coffee or espresso; hotter than this can cause your coffee or espresso to taste bitter or acidic. The best way to get to this temperature is by heating your water in a microwave and then using a thermometer, experimenting until you have the timing right.
After placing a filter into the cap, twist the cap onto the chamber and place the chamber onto a sturdy mug. Put 1-2 scoops of your favorite fine to coarse ground coffee into the chamber and then pour enough hot water into the chamber to fill to the 2 cup level marker. Stir the water and coffee with the included paddle for 10 seconds. Wet the seal on the plunger and insert the plunger into the chamber, using a gentle downward pressure. Maintain this gentle pressure for about 20-30 seconds or until the plunger bottoms out on the coffee grounds. Congratulations, you just made your first double espresso, or your can fill your mug to the top with the rest of the hot water for a typical American-style coffee.
Cleanup is simple. Twist off the cap and push the plunger the rest of the way to eject the used coffee grounds. Rinse the seal to remove any remaining grounds and you're done. You can even rinse the filter and re-use it if you like.
Coffee, espresso, lattes, cappucinos...all are brewed easily, quickly, inexpensively and with great results. Try the Aeropress Coffee and Espresso Maker by Aerobie. This might just be the last coffee or espresso maker you buy.