Try this before spending money on an expensive machine.
Positive Product Points
Produces excellent espresso/Americanos. Easy to use. Easy to clean. Very reasonable price. Well made.
Negative Product Points
None for a $30 device. For multiple cups, a little more time consuming than setting up your drip coffee machine. Not espresso like from a E61.
Detailed Commentary
I am getting ready for a trip and will need to say goodbye to my Anita and Macap for a couple weeks. On a rafting trip last year I brought the Aeropress but did not have a milk frother. So, I recently purchased the Tirra milk frother at a kitchen store going out of business sale. Today in trying to figure out the right Aeropress grind for the coffee I am bringing on my 2 week trip, I put some milk in a mug and microwaved it for 40 seconds and then frothed it with the Tirra. Then I did a double with the Aeropress right on top of the frothed milk.
People - this was excellent!!! It is better (I'm drinking it now as I type) than 95% of the caps you buy out there in retail coffee land. I cannot say enough about how good this is. For a large majority of the cap and latte crowd this little combo with a good grinder would give them everything they need. Wow! I am blown away. I'm sure the Pacific Bay Colombia organic "Mesa de Santos" is a big part of the equation, but, still - a press and battery powered frothing wand producing something this good puts me in a state of disbelief.
That said, I am not going to sell my Quickmill Anita and start using the Aeropress 100%. When away from home you can bet I will have the Aeropress and Tirra Frothing wand with me. If you don't have a grinder get your coffee ground fine to very fine. I asked for a French press grind when away from home and my Macap grinder and got something way too coarse.
Regarding the round filters that come with the Aeropress, one of my friends reuses his. They are so cheap I don't see the need. I left my filters behind once and just cut a drip paper filter to a round shape and it worked fine.
If you really want to fine-tune your Aeropress use then invest in a thermometer for measuring the water temp, and, then track and vary by coffee type. Your money is well spent to buy the best and freshest beans!
