Buying an AeroPress was straightforward; for years, there was just one mannequin. Thanks to its ingenious design—a syringe-like plunger that pushes espresso within the brewing chamber via a small paper filter—it made implausible espresso, provided all types of room for experimentation, and was straightforward to wash. In 2019, some 14 years after the debut of the primary AeroPress, the corporate launched the travel-friendly Go. This minimally miniaturized model of the unique design was notably good for utilizing on journeys, because it meant an finish to counting on crummy Okay-Cups in lodge rooms.

For some time, it was simply these two. Then, this yr, the dam broke—the results of each a 2021 funding in AeroPress by Tiny Capital and followers’ insistent clamoring for extra AeroPresses—and the corporate launched just a few new variations of its brewer. Unfortunately, whereas the Original and Go had a “lightning strikes twice” vibe, the brand new crop is extra of a combined bag. Somehow, in any case this time, what’s come out nonetheless feels rushed. We’ve been utilizing the Original and Go for years and began testing the brand new gear as quickly because it got here out. While it is not as universally interesting, there are options that followers might need to think about and a few to keep away from. If you have already got an AeroPress, that is virtually actually every part you want. But when you’re shopping for a brand new one, this is some recommendation on which model to get.

Be certain to take a look at our different espresso guides, together with the Best Coffee Grinders, Best Portable Coffee Makers, Best Coffee Bean Subscriptions, and Best Espresso Machines.

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Best for Home or Office

If you are a longtime AeroPress proprietor, likelihood is that is the one you’ve got obtained. Not a lot of a looker in its cloudy grey colour, but it surely’s an exceedingly excessive performer and has been a favourite of baristas and residential brewers because it got here out. Part of the reason being that it lets you management so lots of the brewing variables: water temperature, quantity of espresso, grind dimension, and bloom and brew instances. Even when you do not make an ideal cup, it is normally nonetheless fairly good. The compact dimension means it barely takes up more room than a mug in your kitchen, and it is pretty straightforward to tackle a visit. Plasticky? Yes, but in addition sturdy sufficient that I now not bear in mind how lengthy I’ve owned mine. I’ve an Original and a Go, and I have a tendency to make use of the previous at house and take the Go on the street. If I labored in an workplace, I might preserve an Original there. Compared to the opposite fashions, it is in all probability probably the most versatile, able to accommodate your inside nerd while you need to take a deep dive. Even if this have been nonetheless the one one in existence, we might be simply as fanatical about it.

Best for Frequent Fliers

It by no means actually dawned on me that the Original could possibly be improved, and in a means the Go is only a barely smaller model, but the modifications are ingenious, permitting for it to nestle inside a mug, together with a scoop, stirrer, and little compact-like clamshell that holds filters. Pack all of it up and toss it within the backside of your suitcase in your subsequent flight, or put it in your backpack and head for the hills. (Campers love these.) You can, after all, deliver entire beans and a hand grinder, however that looks as if overkill to me. Grind what your want earlier than heading for the good open air or, in case your journey is extra city, discover a espresso store at your vacation spot, meet some locals, purchase a bag, ask them to “grind it for AeroPress,” and ask if they’ve any brewing recommendations—I wager they’ll. Before you skip city, purchase a bag of beans to grind at house and name it each a memento and self-care reward. The 8-ounce Go is clearly for the vacationers on the market, however when you’re not too finicky, it is shut sufficient to the 10-ounce Original that proudly owning each feels redundant. I journey lots, so if I needed to pare it down, this could be The One.

We’re Cloudy on the Clear

I believed this could be the one to dethrone the unique. It’s costlier, but it surely’s notably higher wanting and options the power to see into the brewing chamber, elements that make the bump in worth price it. It appeared utterly believable that the corporate would quietly sundown the Original within the Clear’s favor, however I’m unsure anymore. Aside from this one being product of Tritan plastic, the 2 fashions look like bodily an identical, but once I began testing in depth, issues felt the other way up. AeroPress nerds love to make use of the “inverted method” the place the barrel is ready on prime of the plunger and the espresso brewed earlier than attaching the lid and filter, flipping the rig onto a mug, then miserable like regular. Inverting means no dripping together with a bit extra precision and management. It’s my default methodology, however on the Clear, inverting felt a bit of dicey. If the plunger or inside of the barrel are damp from washing or a fast rinse between cups, the barrel, which you may bear in mind will get crammed with scalding sizzling water and low grounds, is not as steady as it’s on the Original; the match is not fairly as comfortable, one thing that for individuals who like—or assume they could sometime like—going inverted ought to think about a nonstarter.

I’ll word that regardless of testing with a full-production mannequin, I have not seen a lot in the way in which of others experiencing this downside. If you really need the Clear, perhaps wait a yr, watch evaluations, and see if this turns into an issue.

Best for (Really) Big Boys

AeroPress followers have been clamoring for a much bigger model of the traditional brewer for years, largely as a result of the Original’s 10-ounce capability means making espresso for a couple of individual is usually a ache within the butt. Those followers obtained their want with a mannequin that is twice the dimensions of the unique. But greater doesn’t appear to be higher. In truth, greater appears a bit of extra harmful. While the Original, Clear, and Go all use the identical dimension cap and filter, each bit of the XL is bigger. It has its personal filters, and also you brew into the carafe it comes with, as a result of the XL’s bigger diameter makes it too massive to brew immediately into most mugs. It additionally positive aspects a whole lot of peak. With the plunger prolonged and related to the barrel, and all of that sitting on the carafe, it is 19 inches excessive. In our testing, 5’3″ Seattle barista Reyna Callejo from Olympia Coffee Roasting Company stood on a stool to get it to work, a balancing act involving hot liquids you likely will not want to be doing before your morning coffee, or ever, really. Using the inverted method also feels more perilous—that’s half a liter of hot water you’re perching high above your countertop, legs, and private parts. If you really love AeroPress, want an extra cup’s worth every time you brew, and aren’t put off by the potential perils, go for it, but most of us who crave more coffee would likely be better off with a different kind of brewer.

Put a Lid on It?

This accessory—which attaches to all AeroPress models except the XL—is designed to keep your brewing dripless, which it does if things are working right. A ketchup-bottle style pressure-actuated valve allows the inverted-averse to experiment with grind sizes and brewing times with no drip. Your coffee won’t go anywhere until you press the plunger. It also is supposed to create an “espresso-style crema” with dark roast, which turns out to be vaguely sudsy bubbles, not the delicious, dense, caffeinated foamy goodness you might hope for. It’s sort of like the peach fuzz on a teenage boy’s upper lip compared to a legit bushy mustache. In fact, I did not notice much in the way of positive change that the cap had on the coffee it made. That flow control works great, though. Good luck cleanly ejecting the puck into the compost bin; without some peculiar futzing that I—and a lot of people online—never figured out, the filter and a layer of grounds tend to detach from the rest of the puck and get stuck in the cap. I had fun looking through the Amazon reviews, many of which complained about leaking, but laughed out loud at the one that hit home the most: “I don’t think it does anything.”

Filtered Results

This reusable stainless filter allows AeroPress users to avoid using and pitching the paper filters. Cutting down on paper waste is a noble intention, but I was fairly unimpressed with the results. Most notably, the end product is much sludgier than what AeroPress users are used to. Even for me, a French-press fan who doesn’t mind some sediment in the bottom of my cup, this seemed like a lot. Unless you use a Flow Control cap, the stainless filter also lets coffee drip through much faster than a paper filter does. Amazingly, water poured from a tap through an empty (no grounds) AeroPress with the stainless filter and stock cap will fill then overfill the vessel beneath it, not the brewing chamber. With a paper filter and the same cap, the brewing chamber fills, then takes well over a minute to empty out. Similarly, when you’re brewing coffee and depress the plunger, it sinks so fast and easily that keeping steady pressure on it is tricky. Finally, among all of our daily environmental sins, pitching a compostable 2.5-inch wide paper disc (which can be used for multiple brewings) barely makes a blip compared with, say, that plastic or plastic-lined bag your coffee comes in. As with the Flow Control cap, there’s probably a tiny niche of people who will make regular use of this, but I think most of us will drop 15 bucks on it, struggle with it a few times, then forget about it in the utensil drawer.

My Own AeroPress Setup

Most of us will be completely happy with just one AeroPress. Through work, I happen to own two, which is mostly redundant. If I had to whittle it down to just one, I’d take the Go. If I traveled less, I’d be fine with the Original and just take that on trips—it does just fine.

The remainder of my house setup consists of an Oxo scale for weighing espresso beans by the gram. The present model of the dimensions is this Stainless Steel Food Scale ($56), an amazing all-rounder within the kitchen. WIRED editor Michael Calore likes Oxo’s Precision Scale ($45) that includes a built-in timer, which is helpful with extra sophisticated AeroPress or pour-over brews.

My grinder is a Baratza Encore ($150), which I like for the standard of the grind, general worth, and sturdiness. It’s additionally repairable, a spot the place many different producers fall brief.

While I like the look of gooseneck kettles, I discover them finicky and slow-pouring when I’m not utilizing them for espresso. Instead, I’ve been utilizing the Cuisinart CPK-17 ($99) for 4 years, and it is nonetheless chugging away fantastic. It’s a reviewers’ darling, with six preset temperatures and a “preserve heat” button to hold it it at that temperature for 30 minutes.

One little factor I’ve come to understand is engaged on a silicone mat whereas I brew. AeroPress fails are rites of passage, largely as a result of they’ll make a spectacular mess. I exploit a Silpat mat from my baking drawer, which offers a stable, nonslip base and helps preserve catastrophe at bay.