4 ms·

Plastic + hot liquids still make me nervous

dylanz 7y ago
I'm in the same boat and I roll with a Chemex at home.
kashyapc 7y ago
I was worried about that initially, but the plastic is sufficiently robust (I have to say, my AeroPress got a bit chipped at the top when it fell from my hand as I was cleaning). I'm still wondering if a glass-based, non-plastic variant of AeroPress will show up any time soon.
- simtel20 7y ago
  I've really hoped that a stainless vacuum-sealed thermos-type tube could be created to replace the main chamber. It should be to handle and clean.
  - wideasleep1 7y ago
    I have long-considered the Espro Travel Press to be the Aeropress's metal cousin: https://www.espro.com/catalog/french-press/coffee-travel-press https://www.espro.com/catalog/french-press/coffee-travel-pre...
    - simtel20 7y ago
      The espro ends up being more bitter, though. I can't say why, maybe it shouldn't be, but it is.
      - wideasleep1 7y ago
        Bitterness is overextraction, which involves tweaking either grind size (extraction speed) and/or brew time (extraction duration), and of course whether you press the Espro, and consume from the vessel (spent grind still impacting flavor) versus pouring brew into a separate mug. edit: It should also be mentioned, since AP is a relatively unconventional approach to coffee prep, it has evolved over time that many prefer to brew in the AP at significantly lower temperatures than other methods. AP instructions even suggest a 176F brew temperature, which when followed makes it more challenging to get bitter overextractions, when grind size and brew time are maintained. Consistency is a major attribute to AP.
- notechback 7y ago
  Using a metal filter i quickly got visible fissures in the plastic. No actual leakage yet.
  - jdashg 7y ago
    I've been using metal filters many times a day for years to no ill effect.
  - wideasleep1 7y ago
    Years ago now, there were reports of visible fracturing like you describe, and Alan said to call in to Aeropress and they will replace these versions. Worth a try, even today.
- marrone12 7y ago
  Glass seems really dangerous considering how much pressure there can be inside the Aeropress at times.
- pacamara619 7y ago
  Glass is way to dangerous for an AeroPress. Metal could be a way to go.
bckygldstn 7y ago
Two of the most common types of plastic are low-density and high-density polyethylene (LDPE and HDPE). LDPE is cheap and flexible so is really common, especially for things like packaging. It also deforms near the boiling point of water. If you've had a bad experience like a plastic container melting in the dishwasher, or a soda bottle shriveling when filled with hot water, it was probably LDPE. But there are other plastics like HDPE and polypropylene which are perfectly fine at 100°C. If you're using a plastic product designed for use with hot liquids (like nalgene or aeropress) it will be made of these materials. I still felt nervous the first few times putting boiling water into a nalgene bottle...
- jacobolus 7y ago
  The aeropress cylinder is made of polypropylene, and the plunger is silicone, https://aeropress.com/use-it-now/evolution-of-aeropress/ https://aeropress.com/use-it-now/evolution-of-aeropress/ I suspect that the stirring stick, filter cap, and funnel are made of HDPE.

I'm in the same boat and I roll with a Chemex at home.

I was worried about that initially, but the plastic is sufficiently robust (I have to say, my AeroPress got a bit chipped at the top when it fell from my hand as I was cleaning). I'm still wondering if a glass-based, non-plastic variant of AeroPress will show up any time soon.

simtel20 7y ago
I've really hoped that a stainless vacuum-sealed thermos-type tube could be created to replace the main chamber. It should be to handle and clean.
- wideasleep1 7y ago
  I have long-considered the Espro Travel Press to be the Aeropress's metal cousin: https://www.espro.com/catalog/french-press/coffee-travel-press https://www.espro.com/catalog/french-press/coffee-travel-pre...
  - simtel20 7y ago
    The espro ends up being more bitter, though. I can't say why, maybe it shouldn't be, but it is.
    - wideasleep1 7y ago
      Bitterness is overextraction, which involves tweaking either grind size (extraction speed) and/or brew time (extraction duration), and of course whether you press the Espro, and consume from the vessel (spent grind still impacting flavor) versus pouring brew into a separate mug. edit: It should also be mentioned, since AP is a relatively unconventional approach to coffee prep, it has evolved over time that many prefer to brew in the AP at significantly lower temperatures than other methods. AP instructions even suggest a 176F brew temperature, which when followed makes it more challenging to get bitter overextractions, when grind size and brew time are maintained. Consistency is a major attribute to AP.
notechback 7y ago
Using a metal filter i quickly got visible fissures in the plastic. No actual leakage yet.
- jdashg 7y ago
  I've been using metal filters many times a day for years to no ill effect.
- wideasleep1 7y ago
  Years ago now, there were reports of visible fracturing like you describe, and Alan said to call in to Aeropress and they will replace these versions. Worth a try, even today.
marrone12 7y ago
Glass seems really dangerous considering how much pressure there can be inside the Aeropress at times.
pacamara619 7y ago
Glass is way to dangerous for an AeroPress. Metal could be a way to go.

bckygldstn 7y ago

Two of the most common types of plastic are low-density and high-density polyethylene (LDPE and HDPE). LDPE is cheap and flexible so is really common, especially for things like packaging. It also deforms near the boiling point of water. If you've had a bad experience like a plastic container melting in the dishwasher, or a soda bottle shriveling when filled with hot water, it was probably LDPE. But there are other plastics like HDPE and polypropylene which are perfectly fine at 100°C. If you're using a plastic product designed for use with hot liquids (like nalgene or aeropress) it will be made of these materials. I still felt nervous the first few times putting boiling water into a nalgene bottle...

jacobolus 7y ago
The aeropress cylinder is made of polypropylene, and the plunger is silicone, https://aeropress.com/use-it-now/evolution-of-aeropress/ https://aeropress.com/use-it-now/evolution-of-aeropress/ I suspect that the stirring stick, filter cap, and funnel are made of HDPE.