In 2005, Alan Alder had already made a name for himself as the inventor of the Aerobie, an aerodynamically improved flying ring. For his next project, the engineer ended up creating a similarly ingenious coffee maker: the AeroPress, which looks like a big needle-less syringe that pushes a cup of brewed coffee down through a filter and directly into a mug.
More than 20 years later, the AeroPress remains a cult classic because it is so easy to use, so easy to clean and the coffee it makes is the perfect middle ground between drip’s reliability and French press’s richness. You can also enjoy something stiffer and vaguely espresso-like, or even brew iced coffee.
For a while there was just one AeroPress, now known as the Original. As kitchen gadgets go, it’s still near perfect. (More on why below.) In recent years, though, the lineup multiplied with some big hits, and some wild misses.
I’ve tested every one of them. Crucially, any AeroPress is a tinkerer’s delight, giving you control over the major axes of coffee making: grind size and amount, water volume and temperature, and brew time. The caffeine-addled internet’s star coffee pundit, James Hoffman, has praised its versatility often to his millions of followers. (This is also made evident by the rabbit hole of AeroPress-specific recipes you can go down.)
In my personal AeroPress evolution, I started with the Original, then upgraded to a Clear. I also became a quick convert to the travel-friendly Go. Here’s my ultimate rundown of which may be best for you, and which you’re better off avoiding.
The best AeroPress coffee makers at a glance
Most budget-friendly:
Aeropress The Original
Aeropress
Original 3 in 1 Coffee Press
from $34.95
What’s it best for? A beginner’s first foray into the AeroPress universe. This is the most budget-friendly model.
The review: If AeroPress only ever put out this model and called it a day, we’d all still be fans, happily caffeinated and sipping delicious coffee. If you own this one, you might get a bit of fomo looking at the newer, prettier models, but quality and ease of use are the same here, and sometimes easier.
This one set the standard, not only for the great-tasting coffee it brews, but also in the fan-favorite way you can shoot the puck of spent grounds into your compost bin with a satisfying thwap – then transfer every single part to the dishwasher.
Compared particularly to its fancier siblings, it is much lighter, and better balanced when full of hot liquid, making it easier to handle. (Fans of what’s called the “inverted method” will appreciate this even more.) It travels well. In fact, long ago, it was briefly offered with a travel tote. Importantly, it’s practically indestructible. I had one kicking around for six years of steady, flawless use before I passed it along to a friend when I started testing a newer model. If anything breaks or wears out, replacement parts–plungers, scoops, pretty much whatever you might need–are available on the brand’s website.
Worth it or skip it? If you want the cheapest AeroPress that performs just as well (if not better) than the rest of them, start here with no regrets. It will last you a very long time.
Specs
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Dimensions: 4.2 in x 5.25 in
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Weight: 7.7 oz
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Capacity: 10oz
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Materials: Polypropylene, silicone
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Dishwasher Safe: Yes (top rack only)
Aeropress
Original 3 in 1 Coffee Press
from $34.95
The upgrade:
Aeropress Clear and Clear Colors
Aeropress
Clear and Colors 3 in 1 Coffee Press
from $49.95
What’s it best for? Getting the most out of your brewing and nerding out to your heart’s content.
The review: Since it came out in 2023, my Clear has seen near-daily use. While the brewing chamber has taken on a slight coffee-colored tint and the exterior’s little paint has faded a little, I can’t remember having a single problem with it.
The Original approaches perfection, but with one tweak, the Clear may have achieved it. Performance wise, it is identical to the Original. The major difference is the Clear is … clear. It’s made of durable Tritan plastic, which makes it easier to see some steps that make brewing a bit easier and more customizable.
Once you pour in the hot water, you can see the grounds releasing bitter-flavored carbon dioxide that visibly dissipates, which helps you choose when or how often you want to give it a stir. That carbon dioxide also causes the grounds to swell at the top of the brewing chamber, and I came to understand that if my coffee was getting old, they likely won’t swell as much. These are some nerdy but helpful little differences, and they made my transition away from the Original feel like a smart next step.
The Clear comes in a variety of colors including blue, green, and pink. Though these hues are attractive and transparent, they don’t allow you to see into the brewing chamber nearly as well as the uncolored version. All of the Clears are, however, fairly better looking than the smoky-gray Original, a dull color that reminds me of the grayed-over eyes of a fish that’s no longer fresh. Go with what speaks to you.
Worth it or skip it? Worth it. Being able to see what’s happening in the brewing chamber gives this one a slight edge over the Original, and it is just as durable and looks good to boot.
Specs
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Dimensions: 4.2 in x 5.2 in
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Weight: 8.1oz
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Capacity: 12.8 oz
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Materials: Tritan plastic, silicone, polypropylene
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Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Aeropress
Clear and Colors 3 in 1 Coffee Press
from $49.95
Most travel-friendly:
Aeropress Go
What’s it best for? Hitting the road knowing you won’t have to suffer crappy coffee.
The review: As a food and travel writer, I’m on the road so much that I keep a packing list, and one of the most important items on it is my AeroPress Go.
Brewing an 8oz cup, the Go’s capacity is a whisker smaller than the 10oz Original and Clear. But in return, you get a stirrer, scoop and makeup compact-style filter holder that all packs neatly into a plastic mug, held closed with a red silicone lid.
Mine has been in service for more than five years, logging thousands of air miles and plenty of road and camping trips. Yet it still functions as well as new. Typically, I keep it ready to roll in my kitchen, and toss it into the bottom of my roller duffle when it’s time to leave. When I get to my destination, I buy a bag of dark roast at a local café and ask them to grind it for me. Then all I need is hot water and I’m in business. Bad coffee is a drag on any trip for me, and whether I’m on assignment in Mexico or at a trade show in Chicago, my coffee game and my whole trip, really, gets a lot better when I bring my Go.
Worth it or skip it? Totally worth it, especially when faced with the prospect of crummy coffee when you’re traveling. You can use it at home, too.
Specs
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Dimensions: 3.6 in x 4.5 in
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Weight: 11.5 oz
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Capacity: 8oz
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Materials: Polypropylene, silicone
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Dishwasher Safe: Yes (top rack only)
Perfect for no one?
Aeropress Go Plus
Aeropress
Go Plus
from $89.95
What’s it best for? Commuting. At least that’s the idea. I think.
The review: The Go Plus is the Go’s bigger sibling. Like the Go, everything fits into the mug, but the Plus has you brew into a large insulated travel mug that seems designed for commuters’ cup holders…and that’s where they lost me.
You bring the Go with you and brew when you get there. The Go Plus is made for drinking on the move … but do you brew into the mug and then bring the spent, grounds-filled brewer with you to the office in a separate bag? Just leave it at home? Just as annoying, the magnetic slider on the mug lid has a raised AeroPress image on it, making either sipping or sucking out your coffee equally awkward to attempt.
Worth it or skip it? Hard skip! This one’s a dud. Use a regular AeroPress to brew into the travel mug you probably already own.
Specs
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Dimensions: 4.2 in x 7.3 in
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Weight: 1.13 lbs
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Capacity: 10oz
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Materials: Tritan plastic, silicone, polypropylene, stainless steel, neodymium slider magnet
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Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Aeropress
Go Plus
from $89.95
Too big, too fragile:
Aeropress Premium
Aeropress
Premium
from $199.95
What’s it best for? Classing up your countertop as a statement piece. While it does a nice job brewing, the glass walls of the brewing chamber mean you’ll need to be careful with it.
The review: I was excited for the Premium with its sleek borosilicate glass, stainless steel, and aluminum build. The construction quality makes me think of aircraft parts. Available in silver, black, and white, its impressive design would look great next to the bold slash of color in an orange Moccamaster, or in a museum shop.
But the engineering constraints of making a glass and metal version have lost what make the Original and Clear so great. It’s unwieldy. It’s not dishwasher safe. The brewing chamber is much narrower than all other models, meaning you’ll likely need to stir more than you want. I also couldn’t imagine a future where I didn’t break the glass once a year. All for $200? No thanks.
Worth it or skip it? It has an industrial-chic beauty to it, but skip it. While there’s less worry about plastics here, it’s harder to handle, far more fragile and exponentially more expensive than past models.
Specs
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Dimensions: 4.5 in x 7.1 in
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Weight: 1.8 lbs
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Capacity: 10 oz
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Materials: borosilicate glass, anodized aluminum, stainless steel, silicone, ABS plastic
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Dishwasher Safe: No
Aeropress
Premium
from $199.95
Least plastic:
Aeropress Steel
What’s it best for? Providing the best AeroPress experience with the least amount of plastic.
The review: This is the brand’s latest brewer, and after the disappointment of the recently released Premium, it was a relief to see some course correction. While you might worry about shattering the glass brewing chamber of the pricey Premium, it’s hard to imagine how you could damage the slightly less pricey Steel. If you drop the Premium on the floor, you’ll likely need a broom to pick up the broken glass. If you drop the Steel, you might dent the floor.
The Steel, along with the Premium, uses the least amount of plastic parts among its siblings. The only non-metal parts here are the silicone business end of the plunger, called the “seal,” and a classy collar that prevents a clink or a pinch when the plunger is fully depressed. I love that every part can go in the dishwasher.
It makes 12oz of coffee, a bit more than the Clear and Original’s 10oz. A spokesperson told me this increase was in response to customer requests, though if you’re a multi-AeroPress person, you might find this a little annoying, as you’ll need to remember to use more grounds and water to make more coffee at the same strength.
Does the stainless steel affect the coffee’s taste? I set up a blind tasting for Ian Peters, owner of Seattle’s Empire Roasters and Records, brewing one of his darker roasts in identical cups in the Steel and Clear. There was no metallic taste – and he actually preferred the Steel-brewed cup.
While the Steel performs well, I still find the Original, Clear and Go easier to use, and if I could only own one, I would choose one of those. The Steel is much heavier than the others – almost three times as heavy as the Clear in particular. You might take it car camping, but you’re probably not tossing it in your weekend bag. The Steel also has a slightly narrower brewing chamber than they do, which means the grounds almost always need a bit more stirring to be fully immersed.
Worth it or skip it? With all that said, if you want an incredibly durable AeroPress that uses the least amount of plastic in their lineup, this is it.
Specs
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Dimensions: 4.4 in x 6.75 in
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Weight: 1.4lbs
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Capacity: 12oz
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Materials: Stainless steel, silicone
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Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Extra awkward:
Aeropress XL and Clear XL
AeroPress XL
AeroPress Clear XL
What’s it best for? Making larger batches. The XL and XL Clear are the same shape and size, but the latter’s plunger and brewing chamber are made with clear Tritan plastic.
The review: They aren’t kidding with the name. With the plunger extended above the brewing chamber, and all that on top of the included carafe that you brew into, the whole thing rises about 19in above the countertop. I once watched a 5ft 3in barista climb up onto a stool so she could get high enough to operate it. That meant there was a whole lotta very hot liquid in an awkward position right in front of her, and that was enough for me.
Worth it or skip it? Skip. Since the XL is so large, it can get hard to control. AeroPress is great for brewing a single cup. If you want to brew up a pot’s worth, you can get nice coffee makers for the same cost.
Original XL
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Dimensions: 4.6 in x 7.6 in
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Weight: 1.1 lbs
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Capacity: 20 oz
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Materials: Polypropylene, silicone
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Dishwasher Safe: Yes (top rack only)
Clear XL
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Dimensions: 4.6 in x 7.6 in
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Weight: 1.3 lbs
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Capacity: 20oz
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Materials: Polypropylene, silicone, Tritan plastic
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Dishwasher Safe: Yes
How exactly does an AeroPress work?
An AeroPress’s charm stems from the way it makes coffee: unlike pour over setups that require you to continuously shower coffee grounds with water, the AeroPress uses an “immersion” method akin to a French press, in which you steep the grounds in hot water before you plunge.
You add coffee grounds and hot water into the brewing chamber–the “barrel” of the syringe – then stir, wait a bit, then insert and depress the plunger, pushing coffee through the filter and directly into your mug or a carafe. It’s coffee good enough to stop special agent Dale Cooper in his tracks.
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