My outdated AeroPress has been on extra adventures with me than I can rely or bear in mind. My mother and father gave it to me as a present in faculty, and I’ve used it a lot that the gold lettering on the surface has began sporting off. It’s made a whole bunch of cups of espresso for me and my pals at campsites everywhere in the nation.
It’s some of the necessary items of my camp kitchen, and I’ve by no means thought-about the way it could be upgraded.
AeroPress had one thing up its sleeve, although. The practically 20-year-old model has been brewing up a brand new iteration of the basic design that simply launched on its web site forward of Nationwide Espresso Day: The AeroPress Premium. It has precisely the identical design as my outdated plastic AeroPress Unique — but it surely’s made with aluminum, metal, and glass elements.
Sure, it’s heavier and barely bigger. And I wouldn’t bang it round like I’ve completed with my plastic model. However I’ve all the time been of the mindset that drinks style higher out of glass containers than they do from plastic ones.
So, after I noticed that AeroPress was launching this new mannequin, I needed to attempt one out. In my thoughts, it could observe that espresso brewed in a glass container would possibly style higher than espresso brewed in a plastic one.
In brief: The AeroPress Premium has the identical basic design, made with a double-wall borosilicate glass chamber with anodized aluminum and stainless parts as an alternative of plastic. It makes one to 2 scrumptious cups of espresso per fill. Nevertheless, not like the unique, the AeroPress Premium will not be ideally fitted to backpacking, backcountry ski huts, or different endeavors the place pack weight issues. It is ultimate for automotive tenting, RVs, boats, and even your property.
AeroPress Premium Espresso Maker Assessment
The AeroPress Unique (the one my mother and father gifted me) debuted on the Espresso Fest Seattle in 2005 and has turn out to be a cult espresso favourite over the following 20 years. It might probably make American-style espresso, chilly brew-style espresso, or espresso-style espresso.
The design has simply three essential parts: the plunger, the chamber, and the filter cap. It additionally comes with a measuring scoop and stirrer. Merely load an AeroPress filter within the cap, connect it to the chamber, and drop one scoop of espresso into it. Boil water, pour it over the espresso, insert the plunger, and press down. Stress forces the espresso by the filter into your mug.
The entire course of takes perhaps 30 seconds you probably have scorching water prepared (until you utilize the inverted methodology, which is discouraged by the model — however we’ll get to that in a minute). I usually make myself two to 4 cups and my associate one other two each morning whereas I’m tenting. It retains me busy within the mornings.
My pals who use instantaneous espresso suppose I’m loopy. However I additionally typically get no less than one stray request for an AeroPress cup. It undeniably makes a bolder, smoother, extra full-bodied cup of espresso than something from a packet. It’s a lot sooner than a French press, a percolator, or perhaps a pour-over. I by no means get espresso grounds in my espresso.
And, based on the model, it removes the bitter-tasting oils “for an espresso-like richness.”
Espresso Subject Testing: Aeropress Premium
That is an applicable time to say that I’ve no formal espresso coaching. I’ve in depth private expertise, having been raised by two coffee-philes. At dwelling, I largely use unbiased native roasters’ beans. I keep away from chain espresso outlets after I’m touring if I can. However I’ve by no means been a barista or roaster, so I can’t converse like a professionally educated espresso guru.
As an alternative, I converse from the attitude of an off-the-cuff espresso fanatic, like most folk who get pleasure from cuppa joe.
That stated, I bought a number of opinions throughout my preliminary testing. Once I first busted out my AeroPress Premium, I used to be on a tenting journey in northern Colorado with three different folks (my mother and father and my associate) who acted as my guinea pigs.
Between us, we introduced three espresso makers: the AeroPress Premium, my AeroPress Unique, and a house espresso machine (we had entry to a generator, so why not?). All current have been espresso lovers. We used drip grind espresso. AeroPress recommends utilizing something between drip and a finer espresso grind.
Everybody quickly agreed that the 2 AeroPresses made one of the best espresso. Nevertheless, we couldn’t agree on whether or not the AeroPress Premium made a higher cup than the Unique.
For the file, I suppose it did. I sip-slurped espresso from each and thought I may style a distinction. For my part, the AeroPress premium espresso was barely smoother. However nobody else appeared to essentially choose up on that. And the distinction, if there was one, was fairly negligible.
Regardless, the Premium was a slick addition to the tenting setup. I most popular the tactile expertise of utilizing glass and steel to that of the plastic Unique. The glass additionally allowed me to see the espresso whereas it was brewing so I may higher decide when it was prepared.
Premium Supplies, Decrease Sturdiness
The chamber of the AeroPress Premium is double-wall borosilicate glass, which doesn’t get scorching to the contact, even when it’s filled with scalding water. The plunger and chamber’s flange are constructed from anodized aluminum, and the filter cap is chrome steel.
The one materials that’s the identical between my outdated AeroPress Unique and the brand new Premium is the silica plunger seal.
Whereas the supplies are nicer, they’re additionally much less travel-friendly than the Unique. I’ve by no means as soon as apprehensive about breaking my plastic AeroPress. It has survived loads of abuse in tenting totes, backpacks, and at campsites.
In contrast, the AeroPress webpage for the Premium says it’s not advisable for journey. It’s a stable unit in your hand. Nevertheless it’s clearly not as sturdy as its totally plastic counterpart. For $150, somewhat additional warning is advisable.
However as a lifelong camper, I’ve realized all of us cheat the foundations or carry some surprising home equipment from time to time. It’s okay to carry some little bit of luxurious to camp. Take a mortar and pestle, a pan of premade brownies, or perhaps a glass espresso grinder. Espresso lovers can take into account the Premium a cheat deal with for the campsite.
Totally different Strategies
GearJunkie’s editor-in-chief, Adam Ruggiero, was as soon as upon a time a espresso roaster. Sooner or later, when our workplace espresso machine was down for the rely, we resorted to utilizing my AeroPress, which was in my automotive, together with the remainder of my perpetually packed tenting gear.
That day, he confirmed me tips on how to use my AeroPress like a professional — or, no less than, like some execs. It’s referred to as the “inverted methodology” and is usually utilized in competitions just like the World AeroPress Championship.
Ruggiero confirmed me how, for those who flip the plunger the wrong way up and use it as the bottom, after which connect the chamber, you may pour water into the espresso and let it brew longer for a stronger, bolder cup. It additionally means that you can stir the espresso whereas brewing.
Sadly, the model discourages customers from doing this because it will increase the possibility of spilling scorching water and getting burned. However the approach caught with me after Ruggiero’s demonstration. I’ve by no means gone again.
However I’d be mendacity if I informed you I wasn’t additional cautious performing the inverted methodology with the glass and steel AeroPress Premium.
Cleansing the Premium
Whereas the AeroPress Unique is dishwasher secure, the Premium will not be. Fortunately, it’s straightforward to scrub. The glass and steel parts make it straightforward to see the place smudges or leftover espresso grounds are.
For day-to-day use, a easy rinse is all you want. The plunger cleans the chamber as you utilize it. I wipe the plunger off and push it by a few instances, letting water trickle over the AeroPress. For extra thorough cleansing, use a brush and dish cleaning soap.
The place It’s Helpful
I feel the AeroPress is nice to be used in RVs and vans, on boats, or at dwelling. It’s good for a person cup while you don’t desire a full pot.
I’ll additionally add automotive tenting to that listing, though the model cautions towards journey. Use your personal discretion. However I’m positively maintaining mine with my camp kitchen. Utilizing this espresso maker on the campsite was a deal with.
The AeroPress Premium: The Ultimate Phrase
After a few weeks of utilizing my AeroPress Premium, I’ve determined that I’m not eliminating my AeroPress Unique — and never simply because it’s sentimental. Each of them have particular use circumstances. There’s a time and place for the Premium and one other for the Unique.
However I can confidently say this is among the nicest espresso makers I’ve ever owned. The espresso I brew with this whereas tenting tastes higher than what comes out of my espresso machine, my French press, or my emergency percolator at dwelling.
For those who’re an AeroPress fan already, you’ll love this newest creation from the model. For those who don’t have any expertise with AeroPress, I’d recommend perhaps beginning with the far more reasonably priced AeroPress Unique ($40).
The Premium could be my go-to espresso maker for an RV, van, or boat. Nevertheless, I don’t personal any of these. So this one shall be used primarily for automotive tenting and at dwelling after I need a person cup. It’s a particularly good espresso maker, and I get excited to make use of it after I get up at my campsite within the morning.
