Aeropress: the other way to espresso

Last summer a friend of mine gave me a gift. When I opened it, I saw a package which contained what looked like to be a giant syringe. After thanking him, he took one look at me and he realized that I had no idea what the apparatus was. He told me it was an Aeropress - as if that meant anything to me. He went on to explain that this little device was the latest trend in the world of coffee connaisseurs. Groups of coffee loving experts walk around tasting different coffee beans at coffee conventions toting their little Aeropresses under their arms. These folk no longer take the standard coffee brew. Instead, all they need is about half a cup of boiling hot water, fresh medium ground coffee and two minutes.

You can youtube Aeropress and watch a demonstration, but let me try to explain it to you. Within what one would imagine to be the chamber of the syringe, you would place your coffee grounds. The grounds are held in by a plastic mesh lined with a paper filter. You then add your hot water to the labeled amount. Taking what looks like a small mixing paddle, the grounds and water are stirred together for 10 seconds. You then remove the mixing paddle and insert the plunger which creates an air tight chamber. As the plunger is pushed further in, the increased air pressure within the chamber forces the coffee goodness through the paper filter and into your cup. To clean, simply remove the plastic mesh cap, and pop out the coffee puck in a single push. The inside of the chamber is clean, the paper filter can be reused, and your espresso is ready. You only need to determine how much hot water you want to add to make an Americano. The Aeropress can make up to 4 shots in one press.

The Aeropress essentially makes an espresso shot using drip grind which means those relegated to drink standard preground coffee can enjoy the luxury of espresso anywhere. The taste is surprisingly flavourful. It is far superior to drip coffee and even French press, but it is still not the perfect device. You still have to have boiled water on hand which means that along with the Aeropress, you need a kettle and heat source. Because you pour, mix and press your hot water through, a lot of heat is released which means that if you like your espresso hot, you may have to drink it immediately. Someone also needs to work on the design of the equipment because the mixing paddle, the coffee scoop, and the funnel do not fit neatly into a single self contained unit. And lastly, not unlike a stove top espresso maker, the Aeropress does not make that lovely crema.

The Aeropress makes an impressive shot of espresso. If you were to perform this little ritual in public or amongst friends, you really would look like a caffeine addict which may raise a couple of eyebrows, but if that doesn't bother you I would say get it. I would take this over a stove top espresso machine any day of the week and twice on Sundays because you can control the amount of water used, the coffee grounds can't be burnt and the ritual is far cooler.