Solves my single serve coffee needs at work and permits using home grind easily. Makes a mean smooth cup of cofffee....NOT espresso really...
Positive Product Points
Portable and perfect for office setting when desperate
Can easily use own grind for single serve coffee
Makes great coffee with very smooth flavors
Provides control of grind, steep time, volume, and H20 Temp
Negative Product Points
This does NOT make espresso (this isn't necessarily bad...just different). They and other advertise as an espresso maker.
Paper filters lose the oils but can use felt or metal filter mods to retain these if you want
Detailed Commentary
I've been looking for an office solution for coffee (academic research setting). Main brewer is a Bunn the I've brought my own beans for and really improves but read alot about the Aeropress so thought I'd try for a minimal cost buy in.
Really very impressed. Primarily have used it with 4-6d roast Intelligensia Kid-O and boy does it brew a fast and smooth cup. No bitters. Can control lots of variables from amount of coffee to steep time to experiment with how it comes out. Hot H20 source has to be considered but the office water cooler puts out H20 at 180-185F which works ok for now.
I had been researching other single serve coffee setups (e.g. Keurig, Bunn, pods) but none have easy ways to use your own grind and all have criticisms of producing weak coffee. A few years ago I might not have cared but since the espresso bug got me I can't really drink normal swill anymore. Typically have to add extra water after brewing to make it less strong. It doesn't have the mystique of getting a machine to push the water through but it is pretty fun and turns heads. I'm looking forward to trying a polyester 5 micron mod filter that people have used to send more of the oils through.
The minimal investment is really worth lots of happy coffee smiles so far.
