The Invention of the AeroPress

http://priceonomics.com/the-invention-of-the-aeropress/

by duck • 12 years ago

280 127 12 years ago

Just ordered my first AeroPress, wondering what type of grind works best?

With his plans mapped out, Adler went to Westec Plastics in Livermore, California, ordered $100,000 worth of molds, and put the invention into production.

Just how does one go about stepping up from something like 3D printing (manifold meshes [0] are easy) to something like injection molding?

[0] http://www.shapeways.com/tutorials/prepping_blender_files_fo...

atto• 12 years ago

Around a medium grind, finer if you prefer richer coffee (closer to espresso). Since you're using a filter, it doesn't need to be nearly as large as a french press grind.

cpenner4613• 12 years ago

I use a fairly fine grind, although not as fine as I use for espresso. According to the stock AeroPress instructions it should take about 20s to depress the plunger, if it's too hard to press it's too fine, and conversely if it presses with little to no resistance then it's too coarse.

fieldforceapp3• 12 years ago

20s with 'average' pressure... good guidance, thanks!

joezydeco2• 12 years ago

I use a very fine grind (actually I cheat and use Cafe Bustelo right out of the bag). I've noticed using the inverted method makes the plunge step a lot easier, probably because the grounds are mostly still suspended in the water and not sitting on the filter right away.

uncleruckus• 12 years ago

I go with the finest possible while not impossible to push down the plunger. I bought an AeroPress about 18 months ago and haven't made coffee different way since.

ChuckMcM2• 12 years ago

"Just how does one go about stepping up from something like 3D printing (manifold meshes [0] are easy) to something like injection molding?"

Pretty straight forward actually. If you have the solid shape you want and can find a line of symmetry that does not result in any over hangs, a good CAD package will let you slice the shape and create two halves. You use boolean subtraction from a solid block to create the mold profile, now you will add alignment pins (at least 3) and add sprue paths (this will depend on the injector you are using) then send that to a suitably equipped milling machine to mill out of a couple of blocks of alumninum. Assemble to two halves and hold them together (you can use a press or bracket for that) take your thermo plastic under modest pressure and heat, and squirt it into one sprue hold until it squirts out the other. That has to happen reasonably quickly as the plastic starts to harden as soon as it hits the Alumninum.

Pull apart the mold, pop out the part. if you get a machine like this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/140895101602?lpid=82 you can pop out a hundred copies pretty quickly.

fieldforceapp3• 12 years ago

$12k??? is there no way to prototype an injection mold for less money? I'm trying to make something like the Xbox Kinect housing, for example.

deckiedan7• 12 years ago

I've been using an AeroPress almost every day for over 3 years, and love them.

I've had only one issue with them, in that the inside has become scratched and discoloured, which somehow messes up the taste as well (after about 2 years use).

A totally worth-while purchase. I'm now on my second one, hopefully this lasts longer, but if not, I'll just buy another one in a couple years.

One thing I like is how manual the process is - I can make a much weaker cup of coffee for guests who don't like it so strong without it becoming bitter. For different types of coffee, I can brew it in different ways.

And it's odd, but even cheap pre-ground supermarket coffee tastes hugely nicer with the AP. These days, I buy pretty much whichever the cheapest fairtrade coffeebeans the supermarket has, and grind enough for each cup, and it tastes great.

jseliger• 12 years ago

How do you feel about it compared to a Chemex, which is what I used when I drank more coffee and less tea (now I'm the other way around, in part due to this: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1934051).

cpenner4613• 12 years ago

They're pretty close in my book (have been using the AeroPress for ~1 yr and the chemex for a few months). The chemex is a bit easier if I want several cups at a time.

caycep• 12 years ago

yeah, I'll have to test it out; I use a pour over funnel similar to this, a hario something or other. I like it a lot better than the bog standard bodum press.

deckiedan7• 12 years ago

I've never used an actual Chemex, but I do quite like other pour-over coffee makers. They're convenient, and much more controllable than auto machines.

I find that areopress tends to make cleaner coffee - if that makes sense - and that the flavours come out more. Especially certain kinds of coffee it's nice to let them brew longer - french press / cafetiere style. The areopress can do that easily (inverted style), but the pour-over ones can't.

If you want, you can use an areopress pretty similarly to a pour-over, by simply not pushing down the plunger and letting gravity pull the water through.

dankoss• 12 years ago

I hadn't noticed the scratches affecting the taste on my unit (now 3 years old). But it could also just be the coffee flavor leeching into the plastic over time.

I find that with drip coffee, it's much harder to tell the difference between bean varieties and burr ground vs conical. The AP brings out the flavor as intensely as you can stand.

jankins• 12 years ago

And it's odd, but even cheap pre-ground supermarket coffee tastes hugely nicer with the AP.

I'll second that, with the AP even decaf folger's will brew a cup that I really enjoy.

At the risk of sounding insane, sometimes my biggest motivation to stop working and go to sleep at night is that I can have a cup of coffee in the morning. I actually just confided that fact to my wife, and she empathized, so either we're both insane or it does indeed make very good coffee.

jorde• 12 years ago

I been using an Aeropress daily for 2.5 years and even with scratches I haven't noticed a difference to brand new ones (I own several). What colour is your brewer? If it's clear with a blue tint, then it might be due to plastic they used to use. Few years back they switched to more brown coloured plastic as there was some issues with the old plastic they used (I don't know the details).

deckiedan7• 12 years ago

Yeah, my first one was a clear/blueish plastic one, the new one is a tinted brown. I'm hoping it's that. :-)

mapt• 12 years ago

Possible delta: UV exposure will yellow plastic. Has it been in direct sunlight?

deckiedan7• 12 years ago

Not really - a little while in the drying rack, maybe. It seems to be all inside the tube, which would seem so indicate something to do with the hot water, or something. I wondered if it were the water being too hot - but figure that that can't be it, as the top part, which I put water into first from the kettle to cool down to 80 deg, isn't cracked or scratched at all. I'm hoping its just a one off issue.

drcode4• 12 years ago

I am not a coffee nut, but got one of these serendipitously as a present and can attest it makes a good cup of coffee. Here's some facts (maybe obvious to others) I found out after the fact that I wish I had known a long time ago:

1. If you've never owned an electric kettle, you may not know that they will boil water in mere seconds (!) and are a key part in making an Aeropress practical. (And they're cheap: http://goo.gl/8dVnP2)

2. If you ever get heartburn and drink coffee, you MUST buy one of these ASAP, it will help immensely. Fast-brewed coffees have very low acidity, so you should treat yourself with aeropress (or Starbucks Clover coffee, another fast-brewed method) if you have this problem... you will probably feel better.

3. That said, these things brew a coffee that is like a hybrid between espresso and drip coffee, so if that sounds bad/good to you, you'll feel about the coffee you get from this the same way.

4. An aeropress is the easiest to clean kitchen appliance I've ever owned. You will NOT think to yourself "boy this coffeemaker could probably use a thorough cleaning" every time you want a cup of coffee... no such anxiety with this device.

NamTaf• 12 years ago

Wait, what? Electric kettles aren't in every house there? That's insane! Here in Australia, it's like the one thing EVERYONE has. Hell, even hotel rooms usually contain a microwave and a kettle even if they have absolutely nothing else.

Maybe it's the fact that in the US, you have 120V/10A max, so your kettles are 1200W peak and therefore take twice as long as ours at 240V/10A and thus 2400W? I don't know. I just find that staggering that someone could not have an electric kettle.

As an aside, it's always been amazing to me that the 'standard' coffee you buy here is espresso, everyhwere, whereas the standard there to my knowledge is usually drip or french press. That in itself (that entire nations can have substantially different ways of making 'coffee') is pretty incredible to me.

All that said, the whole 'makes 5 or 6 cups minimum' problem is the one I've always faced with making coffee at home. I might actually pick one of these things up if it really does solve that and really deliver something that's more towards espresso rather than drip/press.

ojbyrne• 12 years ago

I think most/all people in North America have electric kettles. With HN, you're probably dealing with a particular demographic (recent college graduates) that would have a lower adoption.

drcode4• 12 years ago

As I said, maybe obvious to others.

2muchcoffeeman• 12 years ago

I have used an AeroPress for years. I also own a $1400 domestic espresso machine and a $700 grinder. These days I'm using one of those Hario pour over cones as my espresso alternative.

The AeroPress is good. But it's not close to espresso at all. If you over dose and are prepared to push very slowly for a long time, you can get some espresso like flavours out of it, but this can take a while.

That said the AeroPress is really worth it. The filters are truly reusable. I still have not gone through my original pack of filters that I got with mine several years ago.

function_seven• 12 years ago

I'm pretty sure it is because of the 120V. Most circuits are actually rated for 15A, but it's possible that kettles sold here draw lower currents. Anyway, that's going to heat water a lot slower than on 240V.

I've never seen an electric kettle in anyone's home, but almost everyone I know does have a stovetop kettle.

danshapiro• 12 years ago

The US is 120V/15A-20A.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ampere#North_American_domestic_...

lutorm• 12 years ago

Heating water in a microwave also works well.

rahimnathwani• 12 years ago

In the UK, too, almost everyone has an electric kettle. The last one I had there drew 3kW (although strangely I couldn't find such a kettle for sale here in China, which also runs on 220-240V).

Kettles have frequently been cited as the source of surges in power usage during the commercial breaks of popular TV shows. For example: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/5059904.stm

opminion• 12 years ago

Wait, what? Electric kettles aren't in every house there? That's insane!

Anywhere people don't drink that much tea, use a Moka pot for coffee, and boil the milk.

ubernostrum• 12 years ago

I don't have one, and don't know anyone who has one. In fact, I've never seen one in an actual home. We don't drink tea the way Britain and other former British possessions do.

(in my case I don't drink a lot of hot tea, but I do drink a lot of iced tea, and a worthwhile amount of that is larger than what most kettles can do -- I typically brew a gallon or more at a time)

pkulak• 12 years ago

Yeah, 240 sounds really convenient. But are you scared of it? How dangerous is it to get hit with that kind if voltage? Is everything over there GFIed?

hrktb• 12 years ago

Electric kettles are definitely popular, but I don't think it makes such a difference compared to a decent standard kettle [0].

Boiling one or two cups of water won't take too long (30 sec ? 1min) on a gas or IH stove, it's easier to clean, no electric components, no maintenance, you can roughly adjust the temperature you want (i.e some teas are best at ~80°C), and it works with a gas burner during black outs.

[0] for home use of course. I don't see any way an hotel could provide a classic kettle without a full kitchen corner.

cmelbye• 12 years ago

Electric kettles are not very common, which is probably easy to believe considering the higher popularity of coffee than tea here.

fnl• 12 years ago

ever since we have an induction stove, we're technically "e-kettle free". so I could state the contrary: "what? you still own and use an e-kettle?" ...

lsc2• 12 years ago

Wait, what? Electric kettles aren't in every house there? That's insane! Here in Australia, it's like the one thing EVERYONE has. Hell, even hotel rooms usually contain a microwave and a kettle even if they have absolutely nothing else.

I remember once I watched a friend's cats while he was on extended vacation back home in China.

You try very hard to be accommodating when someone capable of covering your pager shift asks for a favor, because you know the currency in which that favor is to be repaid. Besides, he was senior to me (in terms of skill) and got me the job in the first place, so I kinda owed him at the outset. But it's almost always worth it to put in a lot of effort to have more than one person who can cover your pager feel like they owe you. But still, I'll totally clean out your cat's liter box if I think I can get you to cover my pager.

Anyhow, the weird thing was that he had like six electric kettles scattered throughout his house; and most of them were in 'sleep mode' - they were still on and plugged in and ready to dispense water fairly quickly. I guess the idea was that they were heavily insulated, so it didn't take a lot to keep the water warm?

Being me, I unplugged them all.

I've considered a kettle for myself, but the kettles I've used, mostly in ersatz office situations, all took a pretty long time to warm up from 'cold' - and all of them were nasty, because some asshole decided to put tea (or something) directly in the kettle.

What I find funny is that I bought one of those fancy super-automatic espresso machines of craigslist; You know, one of those brushed-aluminum deals where you pour whole beans in the top and just press a button? It doesn't take that long to warm up, and it's on a 5-15r (15 amps of 120v) - I know the reservoir on this thing is room-temperature, and it's pretty quick to warm up. Much faster than any kettle I've tried.

It makes pretty good espresso, too. Not as good as, say, chromatic coffee, or even B2 in san jose, but it beats the heck out of starbucks, and I don't have to put on pants. It does require periodic work, which I don't mind. I like working on mechanical things. Just don't make me do it in the morning, you know? As for effort expended to get my coffee? it's gotta be even easier than the aeropress. Expensive, though. I think I paid $300 for mine, and it's about 4x that new.

js2• 12 years ago

Fast-brewed coffees have very low acidity

Try cold-brewed coffee if you're really going for low acidity. It makes a delicious iced coffee.

http://www.americastestkitchenfeed.com/do-it-yourself/2011/0...

e12e• 12 years ago

I agree with try. To me, cold-brew coffee generally tastes a lot like "semi-instant" machine coffee (made from paste/syrup -- probably essentially cold brew+added hot water) -- and it is absolutely different from other kinds of brewing methods. I think it tastes rather awful -- but whatever one prefers...

vijayr• 12 years ago

I got one of those electric kettle you linked. It is made of plastic - the boiled water smells, tastes like plastic. This is not just the first time, even after a dozen times it tastes the same, and it is horrible.

I don't know anything about aeropress, but it is not a good idea to buy a plastic electric kettle. stainless steel ones are better.

lobster_johnson• 12 years ago

It's just your kettle that's bad. An electric kettle made of plastic should not impart any flavour on the water. I have used a bunch, never had a problem (and I consider myself highly sensitive in that regard).

fudged712• 12 years ago

you may not know that they will boil water in mere seconds

What are you talking about? Even the link you shared had comments saying that even the minimum boiling time was over 2 minutes.

drcode4• 12 years ago

For a liter, a cup of water takes less.

udfalkso• 12 years ago

Should users be concerned about pouring hot liquid into plastic and then consuming the result? BPA and such?

molecule• 12 years ago

The AeroPress is made of three different plastics. The clear chamber and plunger are made of copolyester. The hard black filter cap, filter holder, funnel, and stirrer are made of polypropylene. The rubber like seal on the end of the plunger is made of a thermoplastic elastomer. All of these materials are FDA approved for use in contact with food. None of these materials contain bisphenol-A (BPA) or any phthalates, chemicals that have been in the news lately because of possible health effects.
Aerobie has been shipping AeroPress coffee makers made of the materials described above since August 1st, 2009. Prior to that date, the clear chamber and plunger were made of a very special high humidity and temperature resistant polycarbonate. Polycarbonate does not contain phthalates but it does contain BPA. Even though the FDA and other governmental agencies around the world approve polycarbonate for use in contact with food, we had an independent lab test coffee brewed in a well used AeroPress to determine how much, if any, BPA leaches into coffee brewed in a polycarbonate AeroPress. Absolutely none was detected. Given that result, one could ask why we switched to using copolyester. The answer is simple. The use of copolyester removes any perceived risk from BPA and it is a more attractive material.

http://aerobie.com/Products/Details/AeroPressMaterialsDescri...

SippinLean2• 12 years ago

Plastics containing BPA were once FDA-approved too. Copolyester (currently in Aeropress) may be dangerous.

kalleboo3• 12 years ago

Most of the world uses plastic electric kettles with no ill effects.

guelo• 12 years ago

I used an Aeropress for a while but now I'm back on a glass French press. Its easier to deal with, glass feels cleaner and more durable, and the coffee is delicious.

foobarian• 12 years ago

I like both Aeropress and French press results, but I find them both to make too little coffee while being hard to clean and operate. Standard drip coffee machine still does better on those metrics.

Meanwhile in all cases having fresh roasted and evenly ground beans makes a big difference.

jedrek5• 12 years ago

Where is the difficulty in cleaning the aeropress? I wash mine once a week, otherwise I just rinse it off. I also prefer to make coffee by the cup - it's much tastier than making a pot and leaving it to stand.

sliverstorm• 12 years ago

Buy a bigger french press, and use a thermos if you need storage?

DontGiveTwoFlux• 12 years ago

I switched back to a French press as well. For half the amount of beans I can get twice the amount of coffee out of the French press.

chmullig• 12 years ago

And a quarter the quality!

nvarsj• 12 years ago

Have you tried the inverted method for Aeropress? Pretty similar to french press, and you use about half the coffee of the 'normal' Aerorpess method. It also tastes better, IMO.

hackerboos• 12 years ago

French glass press is also known as a cafetiere.

I had to google French glass press.

dsego• 12 years ago

Cafetiere can also mean a moka pot.

deckiedan7• 12 years ago

Cafetiere is what they're called in the UK - you'll hardly ever hear them called "French Press" here.

Also Moka Pots are often called "stove top coffee makers", and vacuum pots are often called "Cona"s.

(Also, Espresso is often called "Expresso", Tasimo or Nestle pod machines are often called "Espresso machines", and Instant is often called "Coffee"...)

badman_ting• 12 years ago

Same here. The main factors were that brewing with the Aeropress is fussy (all the stirring and timing and inverting), but more importantly, it doesn't make very much coffee (I like to drink somewhere between 12-16 oz). French press makes as much as you want and you just dump in the water and coffee, wait, and press.

The Aeropress cleanup is a breeze though, and it makes a nice clean cup. I'm not a fan of the sludge and mess of the french press.

tomdeakin• 12 years ago

I can never work out the amount of coffee to put in the French press so that the plunger still goes down all the way and the coffee is a good strength. So if you go with a 7g scoop per cup in a (say) 8 cup press, then there is more coffee grounds than there is space for the plunger to go down all the way. Any tips?

JasonCEC• 12 years ago

For anyone interested in quantitatively measuring the flavor profile of your coffee, and seeing how dosing and other changes effect your perceived quality of your daily (hourly?) ritual....

My startup [0] makes an Android App just for the occasion! We run statistical quality control and flavor profiling for coffee roasters, beer brewers, and distillers, so your reviews may actually help your favorite coffee companies make better roasting and sourcing decisions.

[0] www.Gastrograph.com [1] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gastrograp...

misframer• 12 years ago

If you're looking for a grinder to go along with the AeroPress, the Hario hand grinder[0] is a good choice.

[0] http://www.amazon.com/Hario-Coffee-Mill-Slim-Grinder/dp/B001...

djKianoosh2• 12 years ago

I prefer a conical burr grinder as they give you more control over how coarse/fine of a grind you need:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dap...

mtkd• 12 years ago

I can recommend Iberital MC2 grinders. Getting grind consistent and not too fine makes a big difference to taste (esp. reducing bitterness) when making non-espresso.

L_Rahman• 12 years ago

The Hario Slim is a conical burr grinder. You can adjust the grind size by adjusting a small bolt on the underside of the grinder mechanism.

skunkworks• 12 years ago

Hario Slim is a match made in heaven with the Aeropress, as it fits neatly inside the Aeropress's opening to dispense coffee grounds without needing to use the funnel.

makeset• 12 years ago

It takes a good 5 minutes of vigorous cranking against resistance to grind just two scoops of coffee though. Forearms are not amused. I'm shopping for an electric.

dhughes• 12 years ago

I wonder if I could just use a large bore syringe and some cotton wadding?

jedrek5• 12 years ago

The aeropress is like 25 bucks.

pistle• 12 years ago

Have this, enjoyed it. Cut coffee out as my caffeine deliver device, so I could gift one with a pile of filters.

Very good. You don't get the creme that you get with a French press, but it's still head and shoulders above drip. I had roughly equivalently good quality coffee over a wide range of beans and a fairly moderate range of grinds/grinders from espresso to fine grinds in the cheapy bean/spice grinders you can get at your grocery or walmart/target.

Cleanup and maintenance is better than my drip ever was and the process is quicker, somewhat fun even, and a little bit zen.

elwell• 12 years ago

I use the inverted method, which is pictured in the first photo. It helps you get all the oils, which float to the top.

ValentineC• 12 years ago

I use the inverted method myself, but I found that the paper filter absorbs the oils. A Kaffeologie S filter [1] seems to help in that aspect.

[1] http://www.kaffeologie.com/shop/s-filter-for-aeropress-coffe...

gingerlime• 12 years ago

I'm yet to get an aeropress, but what was striking me most about it, was what I would consider an "internet-age packaging" - with a customer testimonial printed on the package. I thought it was brilliant and can't recall any other product that does it - then again, I don't shop much, so I could be wrong.

I wonder if they A/B tested it ;-)

thom• 12 years ago

For my shame I now mostly use a Nespresso, but my Aeropress is certainly the best coffee _placebo_ I've ever used. I have no idea if the coffee was better or worse, but it certainly felt like I was sciencing up the perfectly crafted liquid with space-age tools. It's a lovely ritual, especially when it breaks you out of a hard problem at work to grind the exact right number of beans, measure the exact right temperature, steep for the exact right number of seconds etc.

blt2• 12 years ago

I love the Aeropress! It's also lightweight and tough, so you can take it camping. A big upgrade from instant coffees.

jevin2• 12 years ago

I'm curious as to how this compares to a percolator. Anyone tried both?

cpenner4613• 12 years ago

We've done a few blind taste tests at the office between an AeroPress and percolator (and keurig and pour over if we're counting). I suspect it's largely personal preference as the percolator advocate has chosen the percolator brew and I (the AeroPress advocate) choose the AeroPress. To me the percolator has a certain (undesirable) taste profile that always tastes like percolator. Academically I don't like that the percolator keeps "recycling" the water during the brew cycle.

jevin2• 12 years ago

Thanks for the info.

Side note, I just discovered that what I was referring to as a percolator, is actually called a Moka Pot : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moka_pot

SippinLean2• 12 years ago

Someone PLEASE make a glass or stainless Aeropress. Aerobie refuses to, I don't want to mix hot water with plastics, and the plastic discolors.

The Invention of the AeroPress

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