6 ms·

I would like to "hack" together a stainless steel AeroPress, at least the outer tube, I think the press is fine. I don't know whether I've been pressing too ha

by csours 12y ago

I would like to "hack" together a stainless steel AeroPress, at least the outer tube, I think the press is fine. I don't know whether I've been pressing too hard or what, but I've noticed that my cylinder is expanding.

philip1209 12y ago
Even a Pyrex one would be interesting.
- subpixel 12y ago
  I'd prefer that to any sort of plastic, based on my own non-scientific but resilient worries about leeching chemicals.
  - joshrotenberg 12y ago
    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 ...
    - subpixel 12y ago
      This might be the ticket: the reverse french press http://kk.org/cooltools/archives/10162 http://kk.org/cooltools/archives/10162 (I also like that it sounds like some sort of judo move.)
      - csours 12y ago
        I've tried something like this before, and the coffee tasted weird, but I may have done something wrong. It may have just been a matter of waiting longer.
      - e12e 12y ago
        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_yq075cFJqKcQ http://gfx.nrk.no//AGRFaC3nrw7fFDP219oVYQ-one6GgfK_yq075cFJq...
      - ctdonath 12y ago
        That's so gloriously obvious I'm amazed I'd never come across the suggestion.
jkyle 12y ago
I would guess your grind is too fine. It shouldn't take an enormous amount of pressure.
- csours 12y ago
  It doesn't, I'm just impatient.
- elwell 12y ago
  If you push too hard anyways it will shoot out the sides. I often use mine as a pour over container anyways because I find it tastes better.
Afton 12y ago
If you leave it full of grounds for any length of time, it starts to corrode the interior of the tube (it starts to look 'scratched'). This can lead to seepage.
- joezydeco 12y ago
  You also shouldn't store the plunger in the cylinder. I've had mine 4 years, use it daily, hand-wash it, and never seen any stresses on the plastic.
  - wampus 12y ago
    That's a good point. If you wash it immediately after use, you can push the plunger all of the way into the cylinder (with the filter cap off) until it pops out the other end. It will spin freely and not put any pressure on the cylinder during storage. Then you can just rest it on top of the filter cap in a small dish and drop the accessories in the top. Of course, you can argue this adds unnecessary stress by doubling the number of plunges, but I haven't had any issues with it.
x3n0ph3n3 12y ago
Mine has been stress-cracking from heat expansion and contraction. Definitely thinking of giving it up in favor of my glass french press.
- helyka 12y ago
  You don't seem to be the only one: http://www.reddit.com/r/AeroPress/comments/2r06e1/stress_fractures_is_this_normal_anyone_else_get/ http://www.reddit.com/r/AeroPress/comments/2r06e1/stress_fra... I do think that contacting the company though might help.
- duncans 12y ago
  Had mine for 3 years now. It's looking cracked/scratched, but still works just fine. Not bad for £25; I'll buy a new one in a heartbeat if/when it breaks.
- elwell 12y ago
  If it's cracking your probably using water that's too hot. I've used mine almost daily for years with no issues at all.
  - wampus 12y ago
    Same here. I never use water over 180 degrees Farenheit and never put it in the dishwasher.
    - kylecesmat 12y ago
      For most coffees you're going to want to be a little higher, around 198-203 degrees for proper extraction. Very good choice to never place it in the dishwasher, it takes just a few seconds to clean and it lasts a lot longer
      - dfan 12y ago
        The standard recommendation for the Aeropress, including from Adler himself, is to use 175F water, much less hot than you'd use in other preparation methods.

by csours 12y ago

philip1209 12y ago

Even a Pyrex one would be interesting.

subpixel 12y ago
I'd prefer that to any sort of plastic, based on my own non-scientific but resilient worries about leeching chemicals.
- joshrotenberg 12y ago
  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 ...
  - subpixel 12y ago
    This might be the ticket: the reverse french press http://kk.org/cooltools/archives/10162 http://kk.org/cooltools/archives/10162 (I also like that it sounds like some sort of judo move.)
    - csours 12y ago
      I've tried something like this before, and the coffee tasted weird, but I may have done something wrong. It may have just been a matter of waiting longer.
    - e12e 12y ago
      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_yq075cFJqKcQ http://gfx.nrk.no//AGRFaC3nrw7fFDP219oVYQ-one6GgfK_yq075cFJq...
    - ctdonath 12y ago
      That's so gloriously obvious I'm amazed I'd never come across the suggestion.

jkyle 12y ago

I would guess your grind is too fine. It shouldn't take an enormous amount of pressure.

csours 12y ago
It doesn't, I'm just impatient.
elwell 12y ago
If you push too hard anyways it will shoot out the sides. I often use mine as a pour over container anyways because I find it tastes better.

Afton 12y ago

If you leave it full of grounds for any length of time, it starts to corrode the interior of the tube (it starts to look 'scratched'). This can lead to seepage.

joezydeco 12y ago
You also shouldn't store the plunger in the cylinder. I've had mine 4 years, use it daily, hand-wash it, and never seen any stresses on the plastic.
- wampus 12y ago
  That's a good point. If you wash it immediately after use, you can push the plunger all of the way into the cylinder (with the filter cap off) until it pops out the other end. It will spin freely and not put any pressure on the cylinder during storage. Then you can just rest it on top of the filter cap in a small dish and drop the accessories in the top. Of course, you can argue this adds unnecessary stress by doubling the number of plunges, but I haven't had any issues with it.

x3n0ph3n3 12y ago

Mine has been stress-cracking from heat expansion and contraction. Definitely thinking of giving it up in favor of my glass french press.

helyka 12y ago
You don't seem to be the only one: http://www.reddit.com/r/AeroPress/comments/2r06e1/stress_fractures_is_this_normal_anyone_else_get/ http://www.reddit.com/r/AeroPress/comments/2r06e1/stress_fra... I do think that contacting the company though might help.
duncans 12y ago
Had mine for 3 years now. It's looking cracked/scratched, but still works just fine. Not bad for £25; I'll buy a new one in a heartbeat if/when it breaks.
elwell 12y ago
If it's cracking your probably using water that's too hot. I've used mine almost daily for years with no issues at all.
- wampus 12y ago
  Same here. I never use water over 180 degrees Farenheit and never put it in the dishwasher.
  - kylecesmat 12y ago
    For most coffees you're going to want to be a little higher, around 198-203 degrees for proper extraction. Very good choice to never place it in the dishwasher, it takes just a few seconds to clean and it lasts a lot longer
    - dfan 12y ago
      The standard recommendation for the Aeropress, including from Adler himself, is to use 175F water, much less hot than you'd use in other preparation methods.