Unpopular opinion: Aeropress isn't actually better than a regular drip machine

I used to think the Aeropress was the only way to get good coffee at home. For about two years I would spend 4 minutes every morning pressing and stirring and measuring everything out. But last month I switched back to my old $30 Mr. Coffee drip maker and honestly I like the coffee just as much now. The Aeropress gave me a cleaner cup but I missed the body and warmth you get from a full pot. Has anyone else gone back to basics after trying all the fancy methods?

3 comments

3 Comments

hannahsingh27d ago

Actually I read this article in the New York Times a few months ago where some coffee snob admitted he went back to a $20 drip machine after years of pour over and Aeropress stuff. He said the same thing about missing the body and the warmth of a whole pot, and it really stuck with me. For me it was the convenience too, like I don't want to measure coffee grounds to the gram before I've even had my first sip. I think people get caught up in the hype and forget that a drip machine was literally designed to make decent coffee without all the fuss.

uma_taylor4727d ago

Right my Aeropress is currently gathering dust in the back of my cupboard after my drip machine came back from the dead. I got so tired of the whole ritual of pressing and timing everything like I was running a lab experiment. Last week I poured a full pot and just let it sit on the hot plate while I did my makeup and it felt like such a treat. Honestly my Mr. Coffee makes a cup that tastes just fine to me and I don't have to pretend I'm a barista every morning.

the_emery26d ago

Wait, are you sure you're actually getting a cleaner cup from the Aeropress? Because I've found the opposite - the paper filters catch more oils and fines, which makes it cleaner but also strips out some of the body you're talking about. If you want that thicker, heavier mouthfeel from a drip machine, you're probably right that a $30 Mr. Coffee is going to beat the Aeropress every time. The hot plate also keeps the whole pot warm which is a huge deal if you're not drinking it all at once. I think people forget that "better" really just means "what you personally prefer" when it comes to coffee.