AeroPress Coffee Maker Review

We purchased the AeroPress Coffee Maker so our reviewer could put it to the test in her kitchen. Keep reading for our full product review.

There’s something to be said about brewing coffee manually. Not only does it allow you to be more connected to your morning coffee, but it’s often much less expensive than an electric coffee machine. Another plus is that non-electric coffee makers tend to be smaller and more aesthetically pleasing. One top-rated manual coffee brewer is the AeroPress Coffee Maker. I tested its coffee quality, setup, cleanup, portability, and design.

Design: Compactly breaks down and travel-friendly

One of the best features of the AeroPress Coffee Maker is its compact size and weight. The entire unit is made of several parts that can conveniently be broken down to make it more travel-friendly. I really liked this aspect of the AeroPress because it was easy to store in my cabinet and keep all of the parts together. When it’s fully assembled, it is still quite small, measuring 9.5 x 4 x 4 inches. 

Made of BPA-free plastic with varying colors, it’s not the most aesthetically pleasing. The chamber and plunger are transparent/gray and the scoop, stirrer, and funnel are black. I wasn’t super impressed with the overall look of the AeroPress. Function definitely takes priority in this design. 

Setup Process: Takes a while to get familiar with its parts

Before the first use, a simple washing of all of the components with soapy water is required. It doesn't take very long, and the parts can also be placed in the dishwasher. The most time-consuming part of the setup is perhaps just getting familiar with what each piece does and where it goes. 

At first glance, I found all of the many parts of this coffee maker to be quite daunting. But the instructions clearly explained the process with diagrams each step of the way, which helped greatly. In total, it probably took about 10 to 15 minutes of reading to figure out how it all worked. 

Performance: Excellent coffee, fast

The AeroPress Coffee Maker brews high-quality, smooth-tasting coffee. It offers a similar drinking experience to pour-over coffee. I loved that I was able to make a number of drinks with it. 

The most common way to use the AeroPress is for an espresso-style coffee. This is essentially a highly concentrated cup of coffee. For a less intense cup of coffee, another option is to dilute the espresso by adding hot water to make it into an Americano. To make a latte, frothed milk can be added to the espresso. The AeroPress can also make cold brew. 

To make an espresso-style coffee, I began by separating the plunger from the chamber. Then, I put the filter inside of the filter cap and twisted the filter cap onto the chamber. Next, I stood the chamber onto my mug and poured one rounded scoop of finely ground (using a burr grinder) coffee into the chamber using the funnel to prevent spills. Next, I added hot water up to the number 1 line on the chamber. The instructions recommend using water at 175 degrees. 

I then stirred the water and coffee mixture with the included stirrer for about 10 seconds, inserted the plunger, and pressed it down gently. I stopped pushing down when the plunger reached the grounds. It’s important to do this step slowly; otherwise, hot water can spill out and cause burning. From there, the coffee dripped into the mug.

Also pictured: Fellow Stagg EKG Kettle

One downside of this coffee maker is that it can only brew up to three cups of coffee at a time. The above instructions will yield only one cup of coffee. To brew more coffee in one batch, the water and grounds would need to be increased. 

The brewing process took the longest (15 to 20 minutes) in the beginning because I needed to continually look at the instructions for setup purposes. Once I figured out how it worked and was more used to the instrument, I could brew a cup of coffee in about 7 minutes. 

Ease of Cleaning: Dishwasher-safe, but a simple rinse will do

Cleaning the AeroPress Coffee Maker was a piece of cake. It doesn’t need much upkeep because the chamber is wiped clean after each use. All that needs to be done is to rinse the seal and dispose of the coffee puck. To do this, remove the filter cap and push the plunger all the way through the chamber until the puck falls out. This should be done over a trash bin in case any of the grounds spills. 

Then, simply wash or rinse the seal under running water. All of the parts are also dishwasher-safe (top rack only), but I didn’t see the need to use the dishwasher since the cleaning was already so minimal. On occasion, the chamber and seal should be removed and thoroughly washed. 

Price: A bargain for making good coffee at home

The AeroPress Coffee Maker retails for around $30, which is a bargain. Electric drip coffee machines are often priced much higher and don’t produce as high-quality tasting coffee. 

AeroPress Coffee Maker vs. Chemex 8-Cup Classic Series Coffee Maker

Chemex 8-Cup Classic Series Coffee Maker: The Chemex 8-Cup Classic Series Coffee Maker is a non-electric pour-over instrument that also produces high-quality coffee. Unlike the AeroPress Coffee Maker, it requires the pour-over method and produces a larger batch of coffee in one brewing session. The Chemex also has a certain aesthetic that many are drawn to, which can’t really be said about the AeroPress. However, the AeroPress functions better for traveling as it breaks down and can be easily stored. 

In the end, it comes down to what you’re looking for in a coffee brewing instrument. If you’re someone who only needs to make one cup at a time and you tend to travel often, the AeroPress Coffee Maker is an excellent option. However, if you’re someone who regularly makes large batches of coffee, the Chemex may be in your best interest.