Aeropress XL Coffee Press

This thing is pretty cool. I'm new to coffee but had heard about this device 3 yrs ago. When I found I loved lattes, I decided to make my own as best as possible without buying an expensive espresso machine. This is the perfect device to nearly mimic espressos without the expensive machine. No it won't heat the milk for you or put the coffee grinds under intense steam pressure but it will brew up a pretty mean cup. With quality beans and a grinder and a milk frother you have what it takes to make a $5 latte every day for a fraction of the cost. It won't take you long to pay for this device at that savings rate. This is a kit and comes with the plunger press, the paper filters, filter holders, stirring blade, scoop for the beans or grinds and a funnel to help with pouring ground up beans into the press without spillage. Youtube has lots of videos on how to use this thing. What's interesting is that parameters for how to make a cup of coffee in this device vary all over the spectrum. So ultimately it's a subjective decision on what tastes good to you. My recipe so far... For me start with placing a paper filter into the filter cap and place that into a narrow mug that has a diameter that narrows, stopping the descent of the cap half way down inside the mug. I then pour very hot water over the filter to rinse the paper taste away. The mug prevents scalding my fingers if I were to hold it. It also catches the poured-through water, which I dump after removing the filter cap. I then identify my mug i will press the coffee into and add any sugar/sweetner desired at this time into the empty mug. I then grind 1 scoop of some quality beans to a fairly fine grind. I then pour them into the press turned upside down (plunger extending from the bottom of the tube with filter end on top) using the funnel. I add just enough hot water from my hot water pump (it's set to 208F but is usually cooler by the time it hits the press) to cover the grounds. I then insert the stirring blade and stir gently to expose water to all grounds evenly for 10 sec. Then I add water to near the top of the plunger tube which ends up being about 6-8oz total. I gently stir a couple of times to get the floating grounds near the top to mix into the added water better. Then remove it and twist on the filter cap. After a total of 60 sec. from time I add more water I carefully invert the press (plunger and tube assembly) over my mug. Then start gently pressing on the plunger so that it slowly slowly starts depressing into the tube. Total time to press the plunger is about 30 sec. There should be a small air cavity between the filter cap lid and the plunger rubber head so as you near the bottom of pressing on the plunger, you will hear a hissing as air passes through the paper filter cap at the very end of the press. LIft off, shake drips off over mug, then twist off the filter cap. The paper filter is likely still stuck to the coffee grinds. Place the lid aside for rinsing and press the plunger the rest of the way through the tube OVER the trash can. Grounds will fall off with the paper filter. Rinse the plunger assembly under hot tap water. Same for the filter lid. You now have 6-8 oz of strong coffee. At this point you can add more water to dilute to your taste or continue on with the milk prep. I put 1/2c milk or alternate milk (soy is my fave) into a tall 2 c measuring cup. Heat for 30 sec in 1200w microwave. If you have a frother, insert it into the 2c glass and froth to desired consistency. Pour this into the top of your coffee mug. I assume your mug holds at least 16oz or you may run over with the milk and foam. Yumm! This device is very simple to use, cleanup is rinse-off easy, and the whole kit is very portable. It's probably a little slow if you have a half-dozen friends wanting coffee but for one or two, this thing is super easy to use. It delivers a terrific mug of coffee.