AeroPress is so much easier to use than you think — here's why it's my favorite manual coffee maker

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

The Coffee Lab

the smeg emc02 mini pro manual espresso machine in jade green — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

I'm Erin, and welcome to the fifth episode of The Coffee Lab, the series where we forget coffee snobbery. The Coffee Lab is all about making coffee fun. Join me as I help you kickstart your coffee journey!

I know AeroPresses can look a little daunting, but please don't let the plastic contraption put you off! AeroPress is so much easier to use than you might think — and it's my favorite manual coffee maker. I love my gorgeous pink AeroPress, and I'm sure you will too.

Yes, the AeroPress starts from just $39, but it makes full-bodied yet aromatic coffee. AeroPress doesn't require tons of fancy equipment or pro know-how to master — AeroPress is actually way easier to use than you think. Here's why the AeroPress is my favorite manual coffee maker.

Unbeatably portable and storable

the aeropress clear color in pink photographed against the blue tom's guide background — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

At just 5 inches tall with a 4-inch diameter, the AeroPress is uniquely portable and storable. If you get the AeroPress Manual Grinder, it even fits inside the AeroPress, so you don't have to lug around a huge bag just for coffee accessories. The AeroPress stacks inside itself, too — the plunger is hollow, so you can fit your stirrer and scoop inside.

The AeroPress is only 8 ounces, so you can easily stuff it in your backpack for camping trips, overnight bag, or, honestly, even in your purse. This is much lighter than any portable espresso machines I've tested, like the Wacaco Picopresso (12 ounces), Wacaco Minipresso GR2 (10 ounces), or the Wacaco Pixapresso (30 ounces).

I literally leave my AeroPress in my cutlery drawer between uses, where it fits just fine. I love this little contraption.

Unique flavor

Alright, now for the most important thing: flavor.

And, boy, what a flavor. It's difficult to describe just how good the AeroPress tastes, but I'll do my best. Let's put this Creative Writing degree to good use.

While your beans will — obviously — affect the flavor, AeroPress brings out different tasting notes. My usual testing beans are Ethiopian beans with notes of citrus and bourbon biscuits (chocolate), but AeroPress amplifies delicate cherry notes absent on other brewing methods.

AeroPress creates a rich, full-bodied cup, but with soft aromatic notes that round out the mouthful. It's like all the best parts from espresso, French press, and pour-over in one satisfying mouthful.

There's seriously nothing else like it. AeroPress is patented for a reason.

Remarkably affordable

This last one may be the most important feature for most people. Yes, the AeroPress starts from just $39 for the AeroPress Original. It goes all the way up to the $199 AeroPress Premium, a glass-and-metal version of the plastic model.

When you consider the Chemex is $48 for the 8-cup model and the Kalita Wave is $44, you're actually saving five bucks with the AeroPress OG. Obviously, this isn't a huge amount in the grand scheme of things, but think about it like this: you could buy a $20 bag of coffee, and it would only cost you $15. That's girl math — and also coffee snob math.

I do think the AeroPress Clear Color is a little overpriced — it's $49, not $39 — but if you really want a pink AeroPress, you're gonna have to pay that $10.

Let's look at the bigger picture, though. I'm not saying the AeroPress is the most affordable manual coffee in the world, because that would be untrue. The cheapest coffee snob dripper is the Hario V60, just $11-13.

As much as I love V60 coffee, I just can't forget about the AeroPress. The flavor is unlike anything else I've ever tasted. It's rich, strong coffee, with a super-delicate floral aroma that drifts across your tongue with every sip. You just have to try it.

Do you still have doubts about trying the AeroPress, or is it next on your list now? Let me know in the comments!

I post new Coffee Lab videos every Friday on Tom's Guide's TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, so be sure to check back for next week's video!

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Erin Bashford is a senior writer at Tom's Guide, focusing on reviews. She has a Masters in Broadcast and Digital Journalism from the University of East Anglia. As an ex-barista, she knows her way around a coffee machine, and as a music lover, she's constantly chipping away at her dream of having a multi-room home sound system. In her spare time you can find her reading, practising yoga, writing, or stressing over today’s NYT Games.