The new Clear Colors collection
As I’ve stated many times before in this very technology-oriented column, the best tech is sometimes the lowest form of it. And that’s one of the reasons I wanted to check out the latest AeroPress coffee press. It’s essentially a pour-over tube that uses a plunger to push air and water gently through coffee grounds to make a smooth cup of coffee.
While I’ve used a French press many times, I’d not actually ever used one of these before. Have watched a lot of videos on it and read many articles – it has an incredible following and its own culture. The company touts its device as making great-tasting coffee via a 3-in-1 brewing system in which you choose the grind size, temperature and brewing time. It allows for a finer grind, if you choose, which lets you make coffee quickly without burning it or making it bitter.
For those of you not familiar with AeroPress, here’s generally how it works. You put a paper filter over the filter basket, screw the basket onto the bottom of the filter chamber tube, rest the lip of the tube over a coffee mug, add coffee and level it out, add boiled water, insert the plunger slightly into the filter chamber, let it sit for a few seconds, and then slowly push the plunger all the way down. The whole process takes about a minute. There are variations on some of the steps, depending on if you’re making a latte or coffee, hot or cold, etc. And overall, it works reliably and consistently well. I personally make espresso shots every day, but AeroPress only makes a regular old cup of coffee. But it was still pretty fantastic.
What’s especially cool about this device is there isn’t really any waste. It makes one cup at a time. The only waiting-around period is for the water to boil to 185 degrees (unless you’re making a cold brew, in which case it should be at room temperature). With a regular coffee pot of course, you need to wait about five minutes for the entire pot to brew. And the very best part of AeroPress is the clean-up, or lack of it. You just remove the basket, and then press the plunger all the way through over a garbage can. The entire puck of used coffee grounds pops right out and into the trash. Then you just rinse the plunger and filter chamber with water.
The latest AeroPress – called the Clear Colors Collection – comes in your choice of five see-through colors, including purple, blue, red, green and black. I’m a huge fan of it not needing to plug into anything nor work with companion apps. Again, the simplest “technology” is often the best. It sells for $50. And it makes for an amazing road companion, if you’re traveling and want a really solid and smooth cup of your own coffee during your trip. After using it to make my first dozen cups, I definitely can see what the fuss is all about.
