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How AeroPress Fans Are Hacking Their Way to a Better Cup of Coffee

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Re: How AeroPress Fans Are Hacking Their Way to a Better Cup of Coffee

#101

Post by equalarrow »

lightyrs wrote: post #85

I was using the AeroPress Inverted Method for about two years with varying degrees of success, however, I finally soured on the clunkiness, mess-making potential, lack of easy containment/storage, and lack of body to the coffee it produced so I sold out and got a Nespresso VertuoLine. It's such a refreshing experience to just push a button and have espresso (actual espresso) or coffee. The only downside was the lack…

Agreed on the clunkiness & mess making. I did AeroPress for about a month and I am a 100% must have 1 cup of coffee as soon as I wake up type person. Something about the AP just seemed too much for not enough return.

I ended up going back to my manual drip cone; I feel like you can't get any more stripped down than that.

My go to for all this stuff is Sweet Maria's: https://www.sweetmarias.com/brewinstr/brewing.inst.drip.php

Re: How AeroPress Fans Are Hacking Their Way to a Better Cup of Coffee

#102

Post by guelo »

Aeropress is made out of polypropylene plastic which has been found to leech quats and oleamide. I have become more and more alarmed at how often coffee is prepared or delivered via plastics that are prone to leach, specially at the higher temperatures of coffee. From plastic drip coffee machines to the lids on coffee cups sold at cafes. Even glass french presses normally have a plastic in the lid. This is one reason why I currently prefer the pour over method.

Re: How AeroPress Fans Are Hacking Their Way to a Better Cup of Coffee

#103

Post by e12e »

lightyrs wrote: post #85

I was using the AeroPress Inverted Method for about two years with varying degrees of success, however, I finally soured on the clunkiness, mess-making potential, lack of easy containment/storage, and lack of body to the coffee it produced so I sold out and got a Nespresso VertuoLine. It's such a refreshing experience to just push a button and have espresso (actual espresso) or coffee. The only downside was the lack…

Hm. I'll have to acquire and open one of those capsules. I was under the impression that the toxic mess was some kind of freezedried, nasty paste (I certainly haven't tasted a nespresso that tastes like "real" espresso (nor anywhere near what I can get from my aeropress). But if one considers to re-fill the capsules (which would imply you'd need to vacuum seal them in order to keep the fresh-grind taste, or make them just before/soon before having a coffee...) -- sounds like more work than just getting a proper espresso machine.

On the off-chance that you're not trolling... which Nespresso flavours have you found to be "rich and tasty" (by which I take it you mean comparable to freshly-ground beans from a specialist, along the line that a barrista would use)?

Re: How AeroPress Fans Are Hacking Their Way to a Better Cup of Coffee

#104

Post by rkeniger »

derefr wrote: post #92
glibgil wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The world is run by people over 30 and us over 30s know it. That we don't challenge the conventional wisdom that wonder kids are disrupting everything is just a demonstration of our secure confidence.

I tend to read that wisdom as referring to things like mathematical theory being mostly advanced by people under 30. People's brains seem to hold onto some extra bit of IQ between 20 and 30, that can be used to do some "wondrous" things. Of course, most big things that need doing don't need a supergenius; they need 10-20 years of steady hard work, so by the time you accomplish those you are indeed 30+ (or, god forbid…

"god forbid"… it happens sooner than you think, kid.

Re: How AeroPress Fans Are Hacking Their Way to a Better Cup of Coffee

#105

Post by e12e »

subpixel wrote: post #14
joshrotenberg wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same. I've had my eye on the AeroPress for a long time and I'm very intrigued, but I can't get past the "hot water in plastic" thing. I'm sure there are at least ten other worse things I do every day, but ...

This might be the ticket: the reverse french press http://kk.org/cooltools/archives/10162 (I also like that it sounds like some sort of judo move.)

Heh, that's the traditional way of making coffee. Eg Turkish, or how it's used to be made here in Norway:

* Put kettle on, bring water to boil (now, the rough frontiers-type pours in coffee right away, enjoying the bitter, ruined taste that comes from too high temperature)

* take off heat (the hipster adds a thermometer, the scientist adds a thermometer, and takes the time, notes down the time, and uses a stop watch for next brew session)

* add coffee (if not already added), let the mix sit for an appropriate amount of time

* Either a) pour coffee into a cup, pour back in kettle - let settle -- pour into cup (traditional bonefire way[1]) or b) pour over a strain (hipster way)

[1] http://gfx.nrk.no//AGRFaC3nrw7fFDP219oVYQ-one6GgfK_yq075cFJq...

Re: How AeroPress Fans Are Hacking Their Way to a Better Cup of Coffee

#106

Post by icebraining »

glibgil wrote: post #64
conchy wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perhaps that's the right track, but now someone needs to invent one where you can just dump a kilo of regular coffee beans into the back, rather than supporting some huge multinational's billion$/year printer/cartridge revenue model.

Where will the spent grounds go...? Now you have something that is not a simple problem and will not have a simple solution. In fact, it is a $15K solution https://www.seattlecoffeegear.com/rancilio-egro-one-pure-cof... Say what you will about Nestle, but they seem to be the only people trying to make a decent cup of coffee easy to serve. Update: thanks for the downvote. I will stop attempting to show you how the exp…

Of course it's an unsolved problem, that's why parent said "someone needs to invent one".

And there's no such thing as the "real cost" of things when we're talking about inventing new stuff. You're talking about the current cost, which is completely different.

Re: How AeroPress Fans Are Hacking Their Way to a Better Cup of Coffee

#107

Post by e12e »

garfij wrote: post #88
cag_ii wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wasn't a big fan until I read about the inverted method [0]. You might give that a try if you haven't already. [0] http://stumptowncoffee.com/brew-guides/aeropress/

Everyone talks a lot about the inverted method, but I feel like you get the same controlled steep time by easing the plunger in a little and then pulling back out a little to create negative pressure inside tube.

I tried both, and for the coffee I use regularly (which isn't as good as it could be, it's not high grade, and it's not fresh ground - it's also less than half the price of "proper" beans) -- I can't really tell the difference.

For really good coffee I haven't tested back-to-back, but I generally find that letting it steep "right way up" is fine. Also letting the coffee steep in a pre-heated cup/kettle/teapot is fine. Maybe this makes a difference if one makes "pretend-espresso" rather than a full cup of "Americano" (actually more like Lungo -- but still not, as the pressure is lower than the initial pressure for a lungo).

I like my aeropress, but it's no espresso machine. It's different from a French press and a pour-over -- but I'm not prepared to claim that it's the best coffee.

Re: How AeroPress Fans Are Hacking Their Way to a Better Cup of Coffee

#108

Post by mplewis »

e12e wrote: post #103
lightyrs wrote: post #85

I was using the AeroPress Inverted Method for about two years with varying degrees of success, however, I finally soured on the clunkiness, mess-making potential, lack of easy containment/storage, and lack of body to the coffee it produced so I sold out and got a Nespresso VertuoLine. It's such a refreshing experience to just push a button and have espresso (actual espresso) or coffee. The only downside was the lack…

Hm. I'll have to acquire and open one of those capsules. I was under the impression that the toxic mess was some kind of freezedried, nasty paste (I certainly haven't tasted a nespresso that tastes like "real" espresso (nor anywhere near what I can get from my aeropress). But if one considers to re-fill the capsules (which would imply you'd need to vacuum seal them in order to keep the fresh-grind taste, or make them…

They're all really good.

Re: How AeroPress Fans Are Hacking Their Way to a Better Cup of Coffee

#109

Post by nl »

e12e wrote: post #103
lightyrs wrote: post #85

I was using the AeroPress Inverted Method for about two years with varying degrees of success, however, I finally soured on the clunkiness, mess-making potential, lack of easy containment/storage, and lack of body to the coffee it produced so I sold out and got a Nespresso VertuoLine. It's such a refreshing experience to just push a button and have espresso (actual espresso) or coffee. The only downside was the lack…

Hm. I'll have to acquire and open one of those capsules. I was under the impression that the toxic mess was some kind of freezedried, nasty paste (I certainly haven't tasted a nespresso that tastes like "real" espresso (nor anywhere near what I can get from my aeropress). But if one considers to re-fill the capsules (which would imply you'd need to vacuum seal them in order to keep the fresh-grind taste, or make them…

I have a real automatic coffee machine and a professional level manual one at work, and I find Nespresso pretty good. I can't remember the name but my favourite flavour is in a pale gold capsule.

It's not as good as my machines do, but way better than your comment implies.

Re: How AeroPress Fans Are Hacking Their Way to a Better Cup of Coffee

#110

Post by sanityinc »

mkj wrote: post #89
marquis wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been using the Hario hand grinder and I find it extremely difficult to maintain a grip. Is the Portlex easier to hold? I'm female thus possible not as strong as others who may be using this.

Is that the Skerton? I find that annoying at times even with relatively large hands. Wondered if the Hario MINI MILL SLIM would be better.

I had the Skerton. The Porlex Mini is better in every way.
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