I'm perhaps the last coffee snob to get on the bandwagon about this, but I finally plunked down $25 and got myself an Aeropress coffee maker. I have had four perfect cups from it so far, and am looking forward to many more.
I am still a big fan of the Chemex coffee maker, which is beautiful and dead simple to use. When it works, the coffee from a Chemex is delicious, full bodied and smooth. But the process is very prone to user error along the way, from the bean grind to the filter placement to the water temperature and pouring technique. If you don't get it just right, your coffee comes out too weak or bitter.
The Aeropress takes some of the guesswork out, but still is a very simple and elegant process. Essentially you are creating a vacuum seal during the delicate seconds when the hot water hits the grounds, and then slowly forcing water through the grounds to get full extraction of flavor with almost zero bitterness. It took me many, many tries with the Chemex to get the process right, but I think I hit it the first time with the Aeropress.
Clean up is also very easy:just a quick rinse of the principal parts. You can even reuse the filters, which I like. Oh and it's plastic, so travels well and doesn't break as easily as my last Chemex.
So far, two jittery thumbs up to the Aeropress!
Emily Gallegos
I cannot thank you enough for the post.Much thanks again. Much obliged.