Aeropress
Encyclopedia
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
. It was invented in 2005 by Alan Adler
Alan Adler
Alan Adler is an American inventor. His inventions include aerodynamic toys, such as footballs with fins and flying rings and discs. His Aerobie Pro flying ring set several world records for the farthest thrown object. In 2005 he invented a coffee brewing device and method called the AeroPress.He...
. Coffee is steeped for about 10 seconds and then forced through a paper microfilter. The maker describes the result as an espresso
Espresso
Espresso is a concentrated beverage brewed by forcing a small amount of nearly boiling water under pressure through finely ground coffee. Espresso is widely known throughout the world....
strength concentration of coffee.
The device consists of two copolyester
Copolyester
Copolyester forms when modifications are made to polyesters, which are combinations of diacids and diols. For example, by introducing other diacids, such as isophthalic acid , or other diols, such as cyclohexane dimethanol to the polyester polyethylene terephthalate , the material becomes a...
cylinders. One cylinder has a rubber plunger and fits inside the larger cylinder to create an airtight seal, similar to a syringe
Syringe
A syringe is a simple pump consisting of a plunger that fits tightly in a tube. The plunger can be pulled and pushed along inside a cylindrical tube , allowing the syringe to take in and expel a liquid or gas through an orifice at the open end of the tube...
.
Traditional
According to the instructions, fine-ground coffee is placed in the bottom of the larger cylinder on top of a paper microfilter. Hot water (approximately 170-190 degrees Fahrenheit or 75-80 degrees Celsius) is then poured over the coffee; this mixture is stirred and allowed to steep for approximately 10 seconds before being forced through the microfilter using pressure generated by pushing the second cylinder downwards.
Inverted
Baristas and coffee drinkers have also developed a method of brewing using an inverted AeroPress. This allows more of the coffee oils, which contain much of the coffee flavor to be expelled from the AeroPress, while the primary method of brewing with the AeroPress leaves much of the oil in the leftover "puck" of grounds.AeroPress coffee properties
- Claimed to have roughly the same strength as espressoEspressoEspresso is a concentrated beverage brewed by forcing a small amount of nearly boiling water under pressure through finely ground coffee. Espresso is widely known throughout the world....
. - Higher pHPHIn chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
(less acidic) than drip coffee. - Low bitterness.
- 30-second total brewing time.
Differences from French press
The AeroPress, though sharing some characteristics with a French pressFrench press
A French press, also known as a press pot, coffee press, coffee plunger, cafetiere or сafetière à piston, is a simple coffee brewing device that was first patented by Italian designer Attilio Calimani in 1929....
, is quite different:
- Uses a disposable paper filter which removes most of the coffee solids, resulting in a sediment-free brew.
- Air pressure is used to extract more coffee flavor.
- Shorter brewing time.
- Uses slightly more finely ground coffee than drip, but coarser than espresso machines use.
- Shorter cleanup time.