Posted Fri Jan 27, 2006, 12:55pm Subject: Re: Aerobie Aeropress
Hello everyone. Here are a few responses.
For nicepants. I've tried varying the mix time and find that it has very little effect. Because it has little effect, it's not critical, so you needn't time it with a watch. I never do.
Temperature has a much greater effect. Yes, increased temperature gives more edge and is more bitter.
Next, jerseysteve asked about using coffee pods. You'll all laugh when you read how I use pods. I tear the pods open and dump their contents into the AeroPress.
The key to rich flavor is what Mark Prince calls "total immersion", which is stirring loose grounds and water together. Passing a stream of water through a pod is wimpy compared to total immersion.
I learned this from testing. I machined a custom AeroPress with a special cap to hold a pod. The resulting watery brew was far inferior to the tear-and-dump brew.
Kenneth Davids did a study of pod distribution and decided that the average pod is consumed about nine months after it was roasted and ground. Pods are more expensive than loose coffee and I suspect that they don't keep any longer than loose grind in a can or bag.
At the SCAA show last April, I met a representative from the Dallis Coffee Company of New York. They were experimenting with small sealed pouches of loose coffee. He showed me one which held the equivalent of a double AeroPress shot. I said, "That's just what I'm looking for". Then he said, "Unfortunately we find that the shelf life of this product is only about ten days".
The December 2004 issue of Consumer Reports Magazine tested the three most popular pod brewers and reported the flavor as "mediocre at best".
Posted Fri Jan 27, 2006, 1:04pm Subject: Re: Aerobie Aeropress
rawman Said:
Any kind of decent coffee is appreciated when you are in the field. Making coffee in tents with 5 lb tins of preground coffee sucks. Although, it 's better than the Taster's Choice instant packets in the MRE's :)
You couldn't be more right there! Instant is rough! While I truly appreciate Mr. Adlers offer (and have emailed him), the point of my post was to illustrate that even though I am using very average coffee not at its freshest, I am still able to produce a very good cup with this product. Well very good compared to brewing in ye ole drip brewer. I am impressed to say the least. The aeropress provides me a portable method of preparing a good cup of coffee that is small enough that I can take with me where ever I go.
Since the whole commercial post issue keeps rearing its ugly head.... This is a moderated forum. The moderators of the forum have not said anything concerning the nature of the posts. If they have no issues with the posts, why should anyone else. As far as I can tell (and I have read every post here, on this thread at least) The only post that have involved some level of commercialism have been following another member of the forum asking for information of a COMMERCIAL nature.
jerseysteve Senior Member Joined: 22 Jan 2006 Posts: 38 Location: nj Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Fri Jan 27, 2006, 1:21pm Subject: Re: Aerobie Aeropress
Hi - I will try the tear and dump method on my pods. the reason I would think of pods is not because they have better shelf life rather since they are individualy packed thay tend to be fresher. When I open a new can the first run is great the problem is after that it does not retain its freshness. I purchase coffee paks that are 1.5 ounces so not to have this problem so much. I wish someone would sell 1-2 serving coffee packed well that we could tear and pour into single serve machines be it French press Aeropress or plain old drip makers. Did you have success with the tear and dump method?
twalker294 Senior Member Joined: 2 Jan 2006 Posts: 39 Location: Louisiana, USA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Aeropress Grinder: Solis Maestro Classic Vac Pot: Bodum Columbia FP
Posted Fri Jan 27, 2006, 1:23pm Subject: Re: Aerobie Aeropress
When I got home from having lunch the UPS man had left me a wonderful prize -- my Aeropress. I had considered stopping by my favorite coffee shop for an after lunch coffee on the way home but decided instead to come straight home because I have some work to do. I think the coffee gods were watching out for me :-)
I eagerly tore open the box and reviewed the instructions a couple of times over. I decided to try an espresso first so I ground a scoop of Miscela d'Oro (which I haven't been overly impressed with in my french press,) and ran it through the Aero process. Wow. I don't usually drink espresso and haven't had one in a while but man this was VERY good. The only thing missing was the crema.
I then decided to try an Americano. After a quick cleaning (which was very easy,) I set it up with two scoops of the Miscela and whipped up a great cup of Americano. The flavor is much better than I have been able to get out of my FP and the cup is completely clean -- joy!
I am HIGHLY impressed with the Aero and I will recommend it to everyone I meet ;-)
MightyMik Senior Member Joined: 11 Jul 2005 Posts: 45 Location: Berkeley, CA Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Espresso Grinder: Melitta MEBG8B (modified) Drip: Melitta 4 cup Roaster: FreshRoast Plus 8
Posted Fri Jan 27, 2006, 1:47pm Subject: Re: Aerobie Aeropress
OK...i found out about this on Digg and then read the reviews. I was already in the market for a press to suppliment my espresso machine (which i don't feel like firing up at 5AM). My roommate has a french press, so i borrowed it. YUCK! no matter what i did, i got sludge. I thought i'd try the Aeropress, and wow...what a product. I'm still playing with it, and for the moment all i have is some stale coffee, but i like that there's nothing at the bottom of the cup, and it's a snap to clean. Bought off the Locals Only link. My roaster is temporarily out of action...but i can't wait till i can do come fresh grinds. Still playing w/ amounts. I plan to take this with me when i travel.
Posted Fri Jan 27, 2006, 8:04pm Subject: Re: Aerobie Aeropress
AlanAdler Said:
Wow. I try to check this thread daily and suddenly six posts have streaked in.
First of all. Thank you Todd for your words of encouragement. We are a small family-run business, owned by my sweetheart Irene (AKA wife) of 42 years, and myself. Our original product was the Aerobie flying ring, which we've been making here in the USA for over 21 years. I still play Aerobie with the local teens every week. Now, the AeroPress is a totally new path for us. I find it very exiting and am greatly enjoying the give and take with people on this forum.
Next joepfohl asked about the maximum brew. Four scoops in a single pressing, takes about one minute, and will make enough espresso to dilute to twenty ounces of standard brewed coffee.
Next, a comment for Dalton. The two sour coffees I've tasted were both light roasts. One was $40/lb, 100% Kona from a French press, the other was an espresso blend at the Seattle Coffee Fest brewed in a $10,000 commercial espresso machine. However I hasten to add that I've tasted light roasts which were not sour. I suspect that medium-to-darker roasting (which I prefer) tends to tame the more obstreperous beans. Hopefully you bean gurus out there will shed more light on this.
Next the comments from stinkyjones and ruk. Hi stinky and ruk. Your points are well taken. I was conflicted about the appropriateness of that post. I realized that localsonlycoffee also sells AeroPresses, but I also realized that the people reading this thread were doing so because they were curious about the AeroPress and wanted to know what others thought about it. So, I went ahead and posted localsonly (which had eight reviews) and two other links to reviews. But I appologize to anyone who I may have offended.
I search for reviews every few days. Would you like me to keep them to myself, or would you like to know about them? I'll abide by your inputs.
Finally, I thank jerseysteve and nicepants for their support and look forward to comments and questions from all of you.
Alan: Plse don't get goosey over the few negative comments regarding pushing your fine product--push away!(truthfully,of course). It is such a joy to get tips directly from the source,and you do it so well,with obvious sincerity. I wish some others would follow your fine example. While of course,you want to sell your product,you are obviously a true coffee geek and your advice is invaluable. I hope you will remain a member of our forum--you are an asset and a joy. Best regards, Barry
Graydon Senior Member Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Posts: 27 Location: Fenton, MI Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Astra Pro Grinder: Isomac Gran Macinino Drip: Capresso CoffeeTeam Luxe Roaster: Freshroast
Posted Fri Jan 27, 2006, 10:05pm Subject: Re: Aerobie Aeropress
I bought the Isomac Macinino grinder in our classifieds area which arrived yesterday and I received my aeropress today from CoffeeBean Corral. I have at least a half pound of freshly roasted coffee from Java-Roasters in Brighton, MI and with all of this new equipment, tonight I made a couple cups of coffee. Despite my lack of experience, they were some of the best cups of coffee I've ever had. It works great and the coffee tastes great. The mess is minimal and easy to clean up. I look forward to trying a few variations on the basic recipe to see how the different coffees turn out.
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