6 ms·

I've been using my $30 aeropress for years, and heartily agree.

by getToTheChopin 4y ago

Empact 4y ago
Likewise, the french press and moka pot are extremely simple, easy to use and require no electricity to operate.
- dkdbejwi383 4y ago
  Except to boil the kettle!
  - yamtaddle 4y ago
    ... unless you have a normal stovetop kettle, and a gas cooktop. Technically no electricity required then, though it does consume fuel.
    - cf100clunk 4y ago
      That's a good justification for buyers of outdoor grilles to purchase one with a side burner that has enough output to bring a kettle or pot of water to a boil. No electricity needed.
      - Scoundreller 4y ago
        I have a $20 “camp stove” and cheap butane cylinders that are in aerosol cans. If things get real bad, the Wood stick camp stove that’s just folding metal plates. Propane burners are just an annoying in between, but our outages are rarely long.
    - dkdbejwi383 4y ago
      A stovetop kettle would not be considered normal in the UK in the 21st century
    - KptMarchewa 4y ago
      Stovetop kettle would be considered normal maybe in a nursing home.
  - timeon 4y ago
    Not in case of moka pot.
- jmkr 4y ago
  I haven't owned a drip machine in over a decade. Moka pots are probably my favorite quick coffee, and french press is easy. Both are easier to clean. However last year I got a Gaggia espresso machine, and espresso is a whole other world of complexity. My Gaggia only has the pressure mod, but I did plan to add a PID to it. It's still simple, turn on and let it get hot, then I usually do long pulls for like 40-50 seconds on a double shot portafilter. But there are other espresso machines with more electronics that feel desirable. Of course I chose getting a Gaggia by going to Github and seeing which espresso machines are developer friendly. :) https://github.com/Zer0-bit/gaggiuino https://github.com/Zer0-bit/gaggiuino However I just make coffee for myself. Maybe a Keurig is easier if you have guests. It seems most of the people I know who have it, have it for that reason.
  - roflyear 4y ago
    Fun project! And espresso is fun too. I have a la pavoni, but was interested in the Gagguinio after my bad experience with the Decent (can't really hack on it at all).
  - cjrp 4y ago
    The beauty of machines like the Gaggia (I have a Classic) is their simplicity. I can get spare parts to replace everything in the machine, and work on it myself (I'm not mechanically-minded, but it's very straight forward). The biggest repair I've had to make is to replace a thermostat and themal-fuse, and it cost me about £10 in parts and 30 mins of work.
- cf100clunk 4y ago
  I use a Stanley full-metal-jacket french press on camping trips and for just-in-case situations like power failures. Unlike most moka pots that can eventually have seal failures, only the wire mesh of a french press plunger ever needs tweaking back into shape.
roflyear 4y ago
The aeropress is a great way to make coffee, my only issue with it is it doesn't make quite enough! My hario switch (large) gives me just about 2 cups of coffee so I can share a brew with someone.
- ar_lan 4y ago
  It functions similarly (and was inspired by) as espresso, in my experience - so typically you'd add water to fill it as a full cup (e.g. an Americano). Still, with two people, you'd brew it twice. Edit: designed as an espresso alternative -> functions similarly to espresso
  - nicolaslem 4y ago
    The aeropress was really not designed as an espresso alternative. In interviews, the inventor said he was designing a better way to do drip coffee for a single cup. He recommends pressing as slowly as possible to not create pressure.
    - ar_lan 4y ago
      Perhaps semantically I am wrong, and can admit that, but your comment acts a bit as if it's so ridiculous to think of (and make) Aeropress coffee that way. I gladly make Americano's and lattes with it regularly. > he was designing a better way to do drip coffee for a single cup Can you point to this interview? In https://archive.nytimes.com/tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/28/ristretto-aeropress/ https://archive.nytimes.com/tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2010..., it mentions he actually started with an espresso machine before trying drip and French press. So, it'd be more accurate to say he was designing a better way to all 3 of those - not just drip, as you claim. Some other references to espresso -- https://www.aeropress.co.uk/blogs/news/evolution-aeropress-history https://www.aeropress.co.uk/blogs/news/evolution-aeropress-h... > AeroPress is inspired by technology found in espresso machines https://aeropress.com/pages/how-it-works https://aeropress.com/pages/how-it-works In this page, each recommended option is an offshoot from espresso-based drinks. https://aeropress.com/pages/faq https://aeropress.com/pages/faq > Many people say that espresso must be made with 9 bars of pressure. If you use this definition then no, AeroPress coffee makers do not make espresso. But if you define espresso by the taste of the drink in the cup, certainly many people think AeroPress coffee makers can brew espresso. Since coffee brewed by AeroPress coffee makers can be made into lattes, cappuccinos, and other espresso based drinks, we feel it is important to use the term "espresso" when describing what AeroPress coffee makers brew so potential customers will understand how coffee brewed by AeroPress coffee makers can be enjoyed. -- tldr; I've amended my previous comment but to act as if espresso is not a clear design/inspiration choice is wrong.
indymike 4y ago
Aeropress coffee is fantastic and the machine lasts a very long time. Highly recommended!
incanus77 4y ago
Same here. Plus, it travels effortlessly if I’m going to be someplace with terrible coffee. You can almost always get an electric tea kettle or hot water at any hotel.

I've been using my $30 aeropress for years, and heartily agree.

Empact 4y ago

Likewise, the french press and moka pot are extremely simple, easy to use and require no electricity to operate.

dkdbejwi383 4y ago
Except to boil the kettle!
- yamtaddle 4y ago
  ... unless you have a normal stovetop kettle, and a gas cooktop. Technically no electricity required then, though it does consume fuel.
  - cf100clunk 4y ago
    That's a good justification for buyers of outdoor grilles to purchase one with a side burner that has enough output to bring a kettle or pot of water to a boil. No electricity needed.
    - Scoundreller 4y ago
      I have a $20 “camp stove” and cheap butane cylinders that are in aerosol cans. If things get real bad, the Wood stick camp stove that’s just folding metal plates. Propane burners are just an annoying in between, but our outages are rarely long.
  - dkdbejwi383 4y ago
    A stovetop kettle would not be considered normal in the UK in the 21st century
  - KptMarchewa 4y ago
    Stovetop kettle would be considered normal maybe in a nursing home.
- timeon 4y ago
  Not in case of moka pot.
jmkr 4y ago
I haven't owned a drip machine in over a decade. Moka pots are probably my favorite quick coffee, and french press is easy. Both are easier to clean. However last year I got a Gaggia espresso machine, and espresso is a whole other world of complexity. My Gaggia only has the pressure mod, but I did plan to add a PID to it. It's still simple, turn on and let it get hot, then I usually do long pulls for like 40-50 seconds on a double shot portafilter. But there are other espresso machines with more electronics that feel desirable. Of course I chose getting a Gaggia by going to Github and seeing which espresso machines are developer friendly. :) https://github.com/Zer0-bit/gaggiuino https://github.com/Zer0-bit/gaggiuino However I just make coffee for myself. Maybe a Keurig is easier if you have guests. It seems most of the people I know who have it, have it for that reason.
- roflyear 4y ago
  Fun project! And espresso is fun too. I have a la pavoni, but was interested in the Gagguinio after my bad experience with the Decent (can't really hack on it at all).
- cjrp 4y ago
  The beauty of machines like the Gaggia (I have a Classic) is their simplicity. I can get spare parts to replace everything in the machine, and work on it myself (I'm not mechanically-minded, but it's very straight forward). The biggest repair I've had to make is to replace a thermostat and themal-fuse, and it cost me about £10 in parts and 30 mins of work.
cf100clunk 4y ago
I use a Stanley full-metal-jacket french press on camping trips and for just-in-case situations like power failures. Unlike most moka pots that can eventually have seal failures, only the wire mesh of a french press plunger ever needs tweaking back into shape.

roflyear 4y ago

The aeropress is a great way to make coffee, my only issue with it is it doesn't make quite enough! My hario switch (large) gives me just about 2 cups of coffee so I can share a brew with someone.

ar_lan 4y ago
It functions similarly (and was inspired by) as espresso, in my experience - so typically you'd add water to fill it as a full cup (e.g. an Americano). Still, with two people, you'd brew it twice. Edit: designed as an espresso alternative -> functions similarly to espresso
- nicolaslem 4y ago
  The aeropress was really not designed as an espresso alternative. In interviews, the inventor said he was designing a better way to do drip coffee for a single cup. He recommends pressing as slowly as possible to not create pressure.
  - ar_lan 4y ago
    Perhaps semantically I am wrong, and can admit that, but your comment acts a bit as if it's so ridiculous to think of (and make) Aeropress coffee that way. I gladly make Americano's and lattes with it regularly. > he was designing a better way to do drip coffee for a single cup Can you point to this interview? In https://archive.nytimes.com/tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/28/ristretto-aeropress/ https://archive.nytimes.com/tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2010..., it mentions he actually started with an espresso machine before trying drip and French press. So, it'd be more accurate to say he was designing a better way to all 3 of those - not just drip, as you claim. Some other references to espresso -- https://www.aeropress.co.uk/blogs/news/evolution-aeropress-history https://www.aeropress.co.uk/blogs/news/evolution-aeropress-h... > AeroPress is inspired by technology found in espresso machines https://aeropress.com/pages/how-it-works https://aeropress.com/pages/how-it-works In this page, each recommended option is an offshoot from espresso-based drinks. https://aeropress.com/pages/faq https://aeropress.com/pages/faq > Many people say that espresso must be made with 9 bars of pressure. If you use this definition then no, AeroPress coffee makers do not make espresso. But if you define espresso by the taste of the drink in the cup, certainly many people think AeroPress coffee makers can brew espresso. Since coffee brewed by AeroPress coffee makers can be made into lattes, cappuccinos, and other espresso based drinks, we feel it is important to use the term "espresso" when describing what AeroPress coffee makers brew so potential customers will understand how coffee brewed by AeroPress coffee makers can be enjoyed. -- tldr; I've amended my previous comment but to act as if espresso is not a clear design/inspiration choice is wrong.

indymike 4y ago

Aeropress coffee is fantastic and the machine lasts a very long time. Highly recommended!

incanus77 4y ago

Same here. Plus, it travels effortlessly if I’m going to be someplace with terrible coffee. You can almost always get an electric tea kettle or hot water at any hotel.