Aerobie AeroPress Espresso Maker
When it comes to coffee I’m very picky. Not that I’m trying to be rude, but if I visit and you offer me instant, I’ll pass thanks. I still remember the first time I tasted a proper cup of coffee from a proper copper coffee pot (and I can say it!).
Nineteen years old and I’d never seen a cafetiere but there I was being shown the ropes behind one of those trendy café style bars that were springing up all over the place in the early ‘90’s.
The coffee machine was a huge copper domed affair. Beautiful to look at, it made great coffee but was a nightmare to clean and keep shiny. The first time I got a perfect espresso from the beast I was hooked.
The liquid hot and black beneath the sweet, brown crema rose to elixir status in my mind. I became a Master Barista very quickly. My cappuchinos were legendary; my espressos were nicknamed Nuclear Coffee. Since then I just can’t do the instant stuff.
I get a steaming cuppa delivered every morning to my bedside. I know, I know. I’m lucky. And it’s in one of those thermos mugs too so it stays hot even if I have a lie in. But it took me a while to train the coffee-maker to get it just right. We use a cafetiere at home. It’s simple, easy to keep clean and the only variables are the amounts of coffee and water going into the pot. I’m very practised and know just how I like it.
Taking a glass cafetiere out to the woods has never been an option, so I’ve been forced to drink tea. Which is okay to a certain extent but I have missed the smell of a fresh, hot brew in the mornings in the woods. You can imagine my delight when Christmas morning I opened a brand, spanking new Aerobie AeroPress Espresso Maker.
Handy for a decent cup of coffee in the woods
Made from highly durable plastic the AeroPress basically consists of a plunger, a container and a filter. Nice and simple like my cafetiere. Easy to get to grips with, easy to clean. There’s a load of little accessories that come with it but I can’t see me packing those for a few nights bushcrafting.
Aerobie AeroPress - The Accessories
The plunger feels powerful and solid creating some great pressure as everything within the container is pushed towards the filter. Gravity does most of the work for you. The container is placed on top of a mug with the filter in its holder at the bottom end.
Bitter and sweet, ready for pressing
Coffee grounds and water are placed inside the container and the liquid begins to drip into the mug. It does need to be a sturdy mug, although I found my thermos mug worked very well. It was a good fit for the filter base.
I was only trying it at home and did have the advantage of being level on a counter surface but everything felt very solid. I had expected the AeroPress would want to tip over, to feel wobbly. It didn’t. A delicious looking crema appeared so I got the plunger ready and pressed down. Again, the AeroPress didn’t feel wobbly.
I was a bit disappointed when I looked into the mug after finishing the coffee making process. None of the crema had made it through the grounds and filter. Not even a tiny hint. Just hot, black liquid. I should have warmed the milk; that might have saved it. But I didn’t and my first sip was so appalling I had to chuck it away.
slurp.....
So I tried again, this time with less coffee grounds and more water. I took Lurch’s advice (he does give great advice about the Lakeland Bushcraft products) and only waited a couple of seconds before depressing the plunger.
Oh, and ooooh…it was delicious!
From now on, I’ll be able to sit by the campfire in the morning sipping delicious hot coffee. The AeroPress doesn’t take up much pack space (15cms x 9.6cms). Neither does a small packet of coffee.
Bliss.
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I use mine even at home, so much so that my Rancilio lay neglected so I sold it on.