People are divided into dog lovers and cat people, Dostoevsky fans and Tolstoy lovers, owls and larks. For those who drink coffee in the morning, and those who prefer tea. For the tea ceremony, there are various sets - funny and elegant, oriental and European, porcelain and glass. But the process of making tea is very simple and uniform. Coffeemen were much more fortunate: the number of accessories for making coffee is amazing. Coffee is brewed in the Turk, in the sand, brewed in a French press, in coffee machines, sometimes it is simply poured with boiling water. A self-respecting coffee lover is well versed in all the advantages of each of these methods. In this article we will talk about a device such as aeropress for coffee.
A bit of history
Coffee came to us from the Middle East. Ethiopia is considered its homeland, from where it spread to Egypt and Yemen. Europeans tasted this drink in the 17th century and after a hundred years began to break coffee plantations around the world. Coffee houses began to open in Paris and London, an invigorating drink began to gain more and more popularity. True, at first many refused to drink it, considering it poisonous. He was even called the "drink of the devil." However, soon this superstition came to naught, and the use of coffee became widespread. This is not surprising. It perfectly tones up brain activity, is an excellent antioxidant, improves mood and increases overall vitality.
Initially, coffee was brewed in sand in a Turk, as was done in the East. In the 20th century, various machines for making a drink began to simplify this process. At home, you can also use a Turk and cook it simply on the stove. Although now it has become very fashionable to purchase sets for making coffee in an oriental way - with sand and a special bowl where it is heated. For those who love technical innovations, it will be interesting to get acquainted with such an accessory as aeropress for coffee. User feedback, despite its recent appearance, it has already received very positive.
Airpress structure and principle of operation
In 2005, Alan Adler first patented a device that helps bring the taste of a homemade drink to the taste of espresso. It was called aeropress for coffee. Due to its compact size, it is very convenient to use it not only at home, but also to take with you on a trip, to the cottage, on a picnic. Aeropress consists of a plastic flask with volume divisions applied on it, a piston with a rubber gasket, a lid with holes so that the drink freely passes through them, leaving a thick bottom. Also included are paper filters. The principle of making coffee is identical to a French press. The only difference is that the brewing process is much faster and takes less than a minute, and the taste of the drink is richer and stronger.
How to make coffee in an aeropress? Preparing the accessory for work
First you need to grind the coffee beans. Which coffee grinder to choose - manual or electric - is your choice, but the true followers of this drink say that a manual coffee grinder is best for this. Take the piston of the aeropress and place it in the flask, dropping to the fourth division. For the best taste, connoisseurs recommend preheating the unit. Put the filter inside the lid and pour hot water through it, then rinse it several times with hot water.
Second stage: brewing coffee
Now proceed to brewing. The recommended dose of ground powder per person is 17 grams. Pour the required amount to the bottom of the press and fill it with boiled water to the mark of three. Please note that pouring coffee with boiling water is not recommended, it is better to let the water cool for a minute. Especially meticulous culinary experts advise using water of 80-85 degrees. Using a special kitchen thermometer, you can easily measure it. After thoroughly mixing the drink with a spoon, add more water - up to the mark of two. Now you can close the aeropress cover with a filter. After a few minutes, you can pour your drink into a cup.
Some tricks
There is one piece of advice that professionals give to beginners who decide to use airpress to make coffee. After the drink has infused for a minute, carefully grab it in your hand, tilt it 45 degrees and begin to slowly rotate. This will allow him to mix better. Now your coffee is ready! Put the aeropress on the mug and begin to carefully lower the piston to the bottom of the bulb. This process should take you at least 15-20 seconds. As soon as you hear the whistle coming out of the bulb, stop. There is real espresso in your cup! You can dilute it with water in a suitable proportion.
What is the difference between airpress and other ways of making coffee?
Recently, coffee aeropress has become an increasingly popular method of preparing an invigorating drink. Since 2008, even the World Cup has been held, where they compete in the art of using this unit. How is making coffee in an aeropress different from making it, say, in a coffee machine? Firstly, the coffee machine requires regular maintenance and proper cleaning. Often, due to improper use, bacteria and waste accumulate in it, which not only spoil the taste of the drink, but can also cause serious harm to health. Secondly, as true coffee lovers say, only manual work helps the grains to give all their taste and aroma. And, finally, thirdly, aeropress takes up much less space in the kitchen and is not at all whimsical to care for.
What coffee is better to choose for aeropress?
In fact, there is no special variety for aeropress. And this is its next advantage: if for small budget coffee makers special tablets or capsules are often required, which can not be bought in every store, then here you will need the most ordinary natural coffee beans. If you want to become a true barista, do not buy already ground coffee. In this case, it is difficult to guarantee that cheap robusta or any other ingredients that have nothing to do with coffee beans are not mixed with coffee flour. In addition, ground coffee is quickly exhaled, so it is recommended to grind it immediately before preparation. Coffee grinding for aeropress should be the same as for espresso, that is, medium - not very fine - since the finest grinding is used to brew coffee in an oriental way, in Turk - and not very large. Grinding is a very important detail, so it is worth dwelling on it.
Each type of coffee has its own grinding
Very often, due to improper observance of the grinding size and coffee brewing time, the drink turns out tasteless, and we sin on the manufacturer. In fact, knowing some tricks, you can enjoy the magnificent aroma of the drink, even just brewing it in a cup. The finest grinding, as mentioned above, is poured into a Turk. This is the only way in which the thick remains in the cup, and the less it is there, the better. For such a grinding, you will have to use only a professional coffee grinder, the usual one will not cope with this. If you prefer to brew an invigorating drink in a French press, then you need to use the coarsest, coarsest grinding. Cooking time will be 4 minutes. If the grinding is medium, then it must be reduced to three minutes. For aeropress, medium grinding is best suited, as for coffee machines.
Cleaning and care of the device
Aeropress for coffee must be cleaned after each use. This will help him serve you as long as possible. Do not think that coffee grounds can be left in the flask until the next time. Waste after coffee is produced by bacteria that settle on the walls of the vessel and subsequently spoil the taste of your favorite drink. The cleaning process is very simple, it is no more difficult than washing the cup, and it will take you no more than 20 seconds. Having unscrewed the lid, squeeze the pressed coffee grounds with the piston together with the paper filter directly into the garbage container. Then wash the aeropress under running water and leave to dry completely. Aeropress does not require any special further care.
Aeropress for coffee: customer reviews
The Internet is not only a place where you can order anything from anywhere in the world while at home on the couch, but also a platform where users share their opinions on the latest innovations. Aeropress for coffee is gaining more and more popularity. Real reviews will help you decide if you really should buy it. Connoisseurs of an invigorating drink write that one of the advantages of aeropress is the combination of two methods of preparation in it: at first it is brewed for several seconds like a normal American, and then it is passed through a filter. Thus, his taste is very balanced - rich and soft, without the bitterness of espresso. It is most in demand among young people, but fans of traditional cooking methods also appreciated the airpress for coffee. Their reviews indicate that the taste of the drink satisfied them no less than a real espresso, prepared according to all the rules of an experienced barista. Some even decided to abandon his beloved Turks in his favor, they were so captivated by the possibilities of aeropress.
Where could I buy?
Aeropress is manufactured by the American company Aerobie. In Russia, it can be purchased at a variety of online stores selling coffee accessories. The price of this device is quite real - about four thousand rubles. It's a little more expensive than a good french press, but cheaper than a coffee maker. Do not forget to put paper filters in the basket as well - 350 pieces will cost you 700-800 rubles. In a store that sells real products, and not analogs, they will sell you an airpress for coffee (a photo of which you will find below) along with a convenient bag in which it is convenient to take with you. Shockproof material (polypropylene) will allow your accessory to last a long time. Therefore, beware of fakes, buy only in trusted stores.
Coffee is one of the most beloved drinks of most people. To make its preparation at home simple and convenient, without losing its taste, airpress for coffee will help.