AeroPress Review: Original, Clear and XL Compared
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AeroPress review: a fast, versatile one or two cup brewer, plus which version to buy and the accessories worth adding.
This AeroPress review comes to a simple verdict: the AeroPress is one of the most versatile and forgiving coffee makers you can buy for well under $100. It brews a clean, smooth cup in about two minutes, makes espresso style concentrates for milk drinks, packs into a travel bag and cleans up with a quick rinse. Its main limitation is volume: it makes one or two cups per press.
AeroPress now sells several versions, including the classic Original, the shatterproof Clear and the larger XL. Below we cover how it works, what it does well, its limitations, which version to buy, brewing tips, accessories and alternatives.
AeroPress Review: Key Specs
We focus on the AeroPress Clear, which uses the same brewing design as the Original in a crystal clear, shatterproof Tritan body, and compare it with the other versions below. Details come from the Amazon listings.
| Feature | AeroPress Clear |
|---|---|
| Brewing method | Immersion plus gentle air pressure, paper micro filter |
| Body | Shatterproof Tritan, clear |
| Brew time | About 2 minutes, including a 30 second steep |
| Styles | French press, pour over and espresso style, plus cold brew and iced coffee |
| Cleaning | Pop out the puck of grounds and rinse |
| Price | Around $50 |
How the AeroPress Works
The AeroPress is a plastic chamber with a plunger and a cap that holds a small paper filter. You add ground coffee and hot water to the chamber, stir and let it steep briefly, then press the plunger down. Air pressure pushes the coffee through the micro filter into your mug. AeroPress describes it as combining French press immersion, pour over clarity and espresso style concentration in one brewer.
Because the brew time is short and the paper filter catches fine particles, the cup tastes clean and smooth, with less bitterness and grit than many French press brews. You control grind size, water temperature, steep time and coffee dose, which makes the AeroPress popular with hobbyists who like to experiment and with beginners who want a forgiving brewer.
What We Like
Fast, Clean, Smooth Coffee
From hot water to finished cup takes about two minutes. The paper filter produces a clean, sediment free cup, and the short brew time helps avoid harsh flavors.
Remarkably Versatile
You can brew a classic mug, an espresso style concentrate for lattes, cold brew style coffee, or iced coffee pressed straight over ice. Countless recipes exist, and the brewer adapts to light and dark roasts alike.
Easy Cleanup
After pressing, you remove the cap and push the compact puck of grounds straight into the trash or compost, then rinse the plunger. There is no messy carafe of grounds to scrape out, which makes it ideal for busy weekday mornings.
Travel Friendly and Durable
The AeroPress is light and compact, and the Clear version's Tritan body is shatterproof. It is a favorite for offices, travel and camping, and it takes up almost no space in a kitchen drawer or carry-on bag.
Limitations to Know
Small Batches
The standard AeroPress brews one or two cups at a time. If you serve several people, you will press multiple batches, or consider the AeroPress XL or a French press.
Not True Espresso
AeroPress concentrates are strong and work well in milk drinks, but they do not reach espresso machine pressure, so you will not get real crema. Accessories like the Fellow Prismo cap get you closer.
Requires a Grinder or Pre-Ground Coffee
Like any manual brewer, the AeroPress tastes best with freshly ground coffee. A medium fine grind works well, so a burr grinder is a worthwhile companion.
Paper Filters to Buy
The standard method uses small paper filters. They are inexpensive, and reusable metal filters are available if you prefer.
Which AeroPress Should You Buy?
AeroPress Original
The Original is the brewer that started it all, includes 50 paper micro filters and costs around $40. It is the best value for most people.
AeroPress Clear
The Clear uses the same design in crystal clear, shatterproof Tritan, so you can watch the brew. It costs a little more, around $50, and comes in several colors.
AeroPress XL
The Original XL is an extra large version that includes a shatterproof Tritan carafe, so you can brew more coffee at once. It suits couples or anyone who wants larger batches, at around $80.
How to Brew With an AeroPress
A simple starting recipe: heat water to about 185 to 200°F, grind about 15 to 18 grams of coffee medium fine, and place a paper filter in the cap, rinsing it with hot water. Assemble the chamber on your mug, add the coffee and about 200 to 250 grams of water, stir for 10 seconds, insert the plunger slightly to create a seal, and wait until about one minute has passed. Press slowly and steadily for 20 to 30 seconds until you hear a hiss.
For a stronger concentrate for lattes, use about 18 grams of coffee with 100 grams of water, then top with steamed milk. For iced coffee, press a concentrate directly over a glass of ice. Our guide on how to use an AeroPress covers more recipes, including the inverted method.
AeroPress Recipes to Try
The Inverted Method
Many fans flip the AeroPress upside down, plunger at the bottom, so no coffee drips through before pressing. Add coffee and water, stir, steep for one to two minutes, attach the filter cap, carefully flip it onto a mug, and press. It gives a full immersion brew with more body. Handle it carefully, since the brewer is top heavy when inverted, or use a no-drip cap instead.
Espresso Style Concentrate for Lattes
Use about 18 grams of finely ground coffee and 90 to 100 grams of water just off the boil. Stir, steep for 30 seconds and press firmly. Top with about 6 ounces of frothed milk for a latte or less for a cortado.
Iced AeroPress
Put a glass full of ice under the AeroPress, brew a strong concentrate with about 18 grams of coffee and 120 grams of hot water, and press directly onto the ice. Stir, add cold water or milk to taste and serve.
Quick Cold Brew Style Coffee
Steep coarse coffee in room temperature water in the inverted AeroPress for several minutes, stirring often, then press and dilute. It is not true overnight cold brew, but it gives a smooth cold coffee when you are short on time.
AeroPress vs French Press vs Pour Over
Compared with a French press, the AeroPress makes a cleaner cup with less sediment, brews faster and cleans up more easily, but a French press makes larger batches with more body. Compared with pour over, the AeroPress is more forgiving and takes less technique, while pour over gives a slightly brighter, more delicate cup and suits larger batches with brewers like the Chemex. Many coffee lovers keep an AeroPress for travel and quick single cups alongside a larger brewer for weekends.
Common AeroPress Mistakes
- Pressing too hard or fast: slow, steady pressure over 20 to 30 seconds gives a better cup and avoids squirting.
- Using boiling water with dark roasts: slightly cooler water around 185°F reduces bitterness.
- Grinding too fine for a long steep: fine grinds plus long steeps can taste bitter and make pressing difficult.
- Skipping the filter rinse: rinsing the paper filter removes papery taste and preheats the cap.
- Storing the plunger compressed in the chamber: this wears the rubber seal; store it fully pushed through or separately.
Useful Accessories
Paper micro filters are the main ongoing purchase; a 350 count pack lasts most people a year. The Fellow Prismo cap replaces the standard cap with a pressure actuated valve and a reusable fine metal filter, which helps make espresso style coffee and prevents dripping during immersion brewing. A reusable stainless mesh filter, such as the ALTURA disc, lets more oils through for a fuller body. A gooseneck kettle and a small scale make results more consistent.
Who Should Buy the AeroPress
The AeroPress is ideal for solo coffee drinkers, travelers, campers, office workers and anyone who wants a clean, flavorful cup with little effort. It is also a great second brewer for people who own a drip machine or espresso machine.
Skip it if you regularly brew for a group, want true espresso with crema, or prefer push button convenience. Compare it with immersion brewing in our guide to the best French press, or browse more manual brewers in our French press and pour over section. For paper filtered cups in larger batches, see the best pour over coffee maker.
Care and Cleaning
After each brew, remove the cap, push out the puck of grounds and rinse the plunger seal and chamber. Let parts air dry. Store the plunger pushed all the way through the chamber, or separately, so the rubber seal does not compress over time. Wash it occasionally with warm soapy water and a soft sponge. Replace the plunger seal if it stops sealing well.
How We Evaluated It
This review is based on research rather than in-person trials. We studied the Amazon listings for the Original, Clear and XL versions, compared them with French presses and pour over brewers, and considered how widely the AeroPress is bought and how owners describe long-term use.
FAQs
Is the AeroPress worth it?
Yes, for most coffee drinkers who brew one or two cups at a time. It is affordable, fast, versatile and easy to clean.
Can the AeroPress make espresso?
It makes strong, espresso style concentrates but not true espresso with crema. Accessories like the Fellow Prismo help get closer.
What grind size should I use for an AeroPress?
Medium fine is a good starting point. Grind finer for shorter brews and coarser for longer steeps.
What is the difference between the AeroPress Original and Clear?
They use the same brewing design. The Clear is made from crystal clear, shatterproof Tritan and costs slightly more.
Is the AeroPress good for travel?
Yes. It is light, compact and durable, especially the shatterproof Clear version, and it only needs hot water, coffee and a filter. Many travelers pack it with a small hand grinder.
Does the AeroPress need special coffee?
No. Any coffee works. Medium fine grounds are a good start, and freshly ground beans give the best flavor.
How many cups does an AeroPress make?
The standard AeroPress makes one to two cups per press. The XL makes larger batches.
Final Verdict
Our AeroPress review verdict: it is one of the best value coffee makers available, brewing clean, smooth coffee in two minutes with endless flexibility and easy cleanup. Choose the Original for value, the Clear for a shatterproof see-through body, or the XL for bigger batches. If you brew mainly for yourself, the AeroPress review ends with a strong recommendation.
