Coffee press pleases Accent newspaper staff

Thursday nights, when the latest issue of the Accent newspaper has to be ready for print before the Round Rock Campus closes, it's a marathon to get the paper looking and written just right. The fuel that keeps the editing train running is a lot of coffee.

So it was a no-brainer for the coffee-drinking Accent editorial staff to review the Aeropress, a portable coffee maker that claims to make the "world's smoothest, richest brew."

Stanford University engineering lecturer and famous Aerobie sports product inventor Alan Adler invented Aeropress when he was disappointed with home brewed coffee. After trying several coffee makers, Adler decided to study coffee brewing to find the ideal conditions.

At first glance, the Aeropress looks simple to assemble but without the instructions, it isn't. There are extra pieces that are used for funneling the grounds or holding the filters. However, users won't know that unless they go to the website, aerobie.com/products/aeropress.htm.

Preparing the coffee is very similar to using a french press where you apply pressure to the mix of coffee grounds and water in a container. However, the Aeropress uses micro-filters so coffee particles don't seep through the filter, producing a smooth drink.

It took less than 10 minutes to make coffee through the Aeropress. Applying the pressure to the coffee takes no more than 30 seconds. The majority of the waiting time was from preparing the hot water.

The first round of coffee made through the AeroPress resulted in immediate "wow" and "that's surprisingly good." The coffee was smooth and there wasn't much acidic taste to the drink.

But the second round of coffee didn't have the same results.

This was because after the espresso shots were made, we mistakenly separated the double espresso in two separate cups and then added water to fill them up. This resulted in very watery coffee.

And sadly, the editors who were served these drinks are the more intense coffee addicts on the staff. So based on that, they were quick to dismiss the Aeropress.

The Aeropress is retailed for $30 and doesn't require plugging in a machine. It is easy to clean and store. Although you will have to find a stove or something else to heat up the water, it's a fairly easy gadget to use.