The Fabulous Home Project

Fabulous Brew?

I recently received an AeroPress™ "Coffee and Espresso Maker" to review for the Coffee Crew and after many uses, I can say it makes a decent cup of coffee, but not a fabulous one.

What the AeroPress™ is:

- a vaccuum press system
- easy to use
- easy to clean
- great for camping and travel use
- cheaper than pod brewers

What the AeroPress™ isn't

- an espresso maker
- a replacement for drip coffee
- something that inspires me to write in superlatives

In Canada, the Aerobie® AeroPress™ retails for just under $40, about the same as a French press ($35) or mid-range drip coffee maker ($20-$60); more than stovetop espresso makers ($15-$25); and less than countertop espresso makers ($60-$175) or pod brewing systems like Tassimo™ ($75-$200).

Of that list, I absolutely hate making coffee in a French press -- it never tastes right and cleaning the press is tedious, time-consuming, and messy. If you like a French press brew, though, then I highly reccommend the AeroPress™ -- you will be able to get a similar brew the first time you use it.

I haven't tried any of the pod brewers, but most reviews are not glowing; my daily brew comes from a drip coffee maker, and for espresso I really miss my little stovetop model which consistently produced the best espresso I've made -- my countertop espresso maker never really measured up.

The AeroPress™ will have a place in our Fabulous Kitchen, though: when I feel like a single cup of coffee or decaf, it's the easiest solution. In the morning, I can press a quick cup straight into a travel mug, pop out the used grounds, rinse and go. In the evening, it saves making a full or even half pot of decaf that only I'll drink.

posted by Unknown @ 10:05 PM