Ref to Post #21 this thread
It happens. This tool that had so much promise didn't live up to it.
I hereby take back any implied recommendation for the PorterCable 371K Compact Belt Sander. See the earlier post (Pg 2) if interested.
Aeropress, a tool that works
Aeropress is a tool for making a great cup of coffee in a unique way.
It was invented by a Stanford professor (so....?) and is made by the Aerobie company who invented the ring frisbee.
That might be cause for caution BUT we can associate the drinking of the brew
with great pleasure and good times - and certainly a necessary ingredient for break fasting.
It's a great tool to have at hand during an Ariel rehab.
Look it up. It'll make this description easier to understand.
It's a plastic tube that has a screw on bottom piece that holds a smallish paper disk filter.
After loading the filter put into the tube a measure of 20 second espresso grind - using a wide-mouth funnel that comes with the kit.
Mine is electrically ground fresh in a loud and ancient Krupps, but the coffee could be brought aboard preground in an airtight container.
Put the tube on top of a coffee mug, pour in hot water. Stir with the paddle that also comes with the kit. Then take the plunger which has a rubber boot on the end that fits tightly in the tube
and push the mixture slowly to the bottom.
The plunger also pushes a short collumn of air on top of the mix through the filter along with a the brew.
Hence the name Aeropress. Remove from the cup.
Unscrew the filter holder and push out a semi-dry puck of coffee grounds.
Cheapskate here peels off the paper filter and uses it again and again.
The kit comes with a stack of 350 filter papers.
Just used the last filter after four years of two-plunge mornings.
The company hype uses the word 'espresso' to describe the brew its gizmo makes.
It is as close perhaps as any $30 plastic coffee maker can come, BUT
only a talented barista on a $10,000 machine can make a better cappachino.
Using only esspresso grind coffee in this Aeropress is as close as any purista can hope for a really GOOD cup of fresh coffee to bring up the sun in the cockpit of the A/C.
You can take my word for it.....Scandanavians drink more coffee per capita than anyone else on the planet.....
believe me, there's roasted bean in me blood.
Because there is no percolating or soaking of the grounds - the water and coffee quickly strirred and pressed thru the filter - this brew is NON-ACIDIC and gets the best out of whatever roast you use. I do like intense concentrated coffee mellowed with a dollop of moojuice. Add hot water to taste for a regular cup of coffee.
It's certainly cheaper to press your own coffee. And you can buy and support organic, family farmed co-op beans. Hope so anyway.
There are parts and pieces to this kit. A lot of moves to make a cupa.
imco It's worth a try aboard the boat, but if it doesn't fly there, no better coffee can be made in your kitchen at home or office.
On the Aerobie site there is a page detailing that the plastic they make the press from is phthalate and bisphenol free.
My original antique model is made with polycarbonate, can't mistake clear plastic with a blue tinge to it. May have been rearranging my endocrine system these past years - there have been signs. But the coffee has been delicious, dahling!
New Aeropress models are made with another plastic "co-polymer". ??? What BS they want us to swallow, at least the company is conscious!
The rubber seal at the bottom of the plunger finally gave out. Couldn't make a tight enough seal to get a column of air to go through the grounds. Called up Aerobie, they sent me two replacements for $5, NO shipping. Can't beat that.
I'm no jingo, but this doodah isn't glass French press or chrome Italian steam or emameled camp percolator
- it was conceived right here in the good ole Western hemispere and it's all plastic, fits our life-style.
Time to move on, second cupa gone......
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(10/2012)Will add a new post below in the que. It has been awhile. A s.s metal disk has finally made it to the market!
Able DISK-FINE Filter for AeroPress from Prima-coffee.com
towards a non-bitter brew
Jerry on another thread asks whether
the Aeropress makes non-bitter coffee?
Purely by chance I ran into Karlc's tastey essay:D on the subject at
google> How do I make coffee less bitter?
askville.amazon.com>Food & Drink > Drink
He covers all the points. And there is a bean learning curve.
Maybe it's like grilling or bread-making: quality ingredients, temperature, gear, experience, luck. And our own expectation.
But his article makes clear the mysterious rhumb we must take from bean to brew.
Karlc also recommends the unique Aeropress as our best bet.
Because it makes only one or two cups, imco it is perfect for a small boat galley
if you insist on enjoyable coffee. The gizmo has its own but simple learning curve.
Here is another site:
google> Aero Press Brew instructions from Sweet Maria's
http://www.sweetmarias.com/aeropress...structions.php
Good PHOTOS showing the jig. Not as complicated as they instruct. You'll find your own method once you get into the swing of it.
Aeropress recommended 170/180 degree water makes too thin a brew for me - but it does make my beans less bitter. Bitter is directly related to beans, roast, grind, and how much time the grounds are kept in the hot water. Aeropress just naturally makes less bitter brew.
However, I use a heaping measure of whole beans and grind them to an almost espresso powder for ONE cup. Milk takes the edge off bitter.
If boiling is 212 degrees, I guess the temp is around 200 by the time it gets poured in for pressing. Dump in the hot water ignoring the blue printing on the sides - never understood them anyway. Wet the plunger and slowly push it down to the bottom. Unscrew the filter holder - peel off the filter - push out the grounds puck - and rinse the pieces. I reuse the paper filters until they are almost black and starting to frey. Have to rinse them and set aside to dry - which is another step. Always press through a dry filter.
Coffee house reputations are built on non-bitter brew (and a decent pastry).
A beautiful chocolaty smooth brew is like the search for the wholly grail. Or that distant island paradise.
It's all about how to get there - if it is there!
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Later edit, 7/3/11. Been focused on 'less bitter brew' since Jerry mentioned it.
Bitter is definitely related to water temperature. And I've been doing some 'tests' while making the morning coffee.
Happen to have a little GoodCook meat thermometer that sits in a pencil-like tube with pocket clip -
in case we want to carry it around in a shirt pocket. It has a small dial with easy to read numbers on it.
It's accurate because when I get it out to use, it's already reading ambient temp.
Slip it into the waterboiler's pour spout while the water is heating.
Not letting it boil and bringing it up to no more than 190 degrees makes non-bitter brew with my beans. Brewers state that water can be anywhere from 160 to 180.
Otherwise, by the time my Aeropress is in the cup and raised for the morning's first glorious sip it has lost its steamy aroma. So I have to nuke it 30 secs.
But that's yor science.
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Later edit. 7/22/11. This coffee press uses espresso grind to make brew. The gizmo isn't making espresso that you get at a coffee bar. But let's say it's more like espresso when just a little water is used than a good cup of coffee made with coarse grind. (In a french press, eg)
Making a good cuppa is definitely a luxury. I can't extend that to having an expensive onboard grinder.
Haven't found a 12V grinder yet, anyway. There are hand grinders....
Have to bring pre-ground coffee. This is where the morning ritual starts getting expensive. Unless I do my own grinding and vacuum packing I'm stuck with what the marketplace has to offer. Here is an online where I will start researching - seems to have a decent rep AND, for starters, has a 8oz can of LAVAZZA espresso-grind for $7 which is cheap compared to other sites. Cheaper by the case. I'll get a can and experiment. We'll see how bitter Arabica can get. (Nothing about 'fair trade, hand picked, shade grown, or organic' in the description.)
www.espressozone.com
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an even later edit, 7/31/11
There is a little KYOCERA CERAMIC BURR (no rust, no rust taste) HAND GRINDER that'll grind fine for the Aeropress or coarse for the Frenchpress. Just had it recommended by a trusted source and the internet immediately brought up an aeropress forum - some of whom liked it too. Haven't tried it yet. Compact. Hold in one hand, turn the crank with the other.
There seems to be a couple $45 models, one slender and one squat. We want the one with the longer handle. Am of the opinion that the better cuppa is obviously freshly ground.
It's a match to the Aero as it is designed to grind two scoop double shot loads. Two cappuccinos or two large cups regular.
Very good regular strength joe is made by simply adding more hot water to taste.
Add the hot water after aeropressing or, better, add extra water befor putting the plunger in the tube (once commited the plunger cannot be withdrawn without sucking the filter up into the column and making a royal mess) and press through the grounds.
Maybe you can Frenchpress coarse grind in the Aero - never tried it, never will. The finer the better, because cheapskate thinks he's getting more out of his bean the smaller he grinds it.
OK, OK, to close this loop, now we really want an efficient water boiler!
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[Endless edit 8/29/11.
Aeropress is becoming more popular!
There's evena bunch of aussies on UTube purporting to show how to use this efficient brewer upside down. Waste of time. Here is a good video that makes a great intro to this brew tool's plunge into fame: http://aeropresso.com
The video there explains its attributes, which you have to admit are considerable for this ridiculous little plastic jig.
Phoned Aerobie twice today and talked with two gals who are completely NOT interested, for instance, in Coava from Portland OR which is a s.s. screen we can use instead of paper filters. Fantastic! Nor in the Euro hooplah around its product
There is the World Aeropress Championships - 3 years going strong - and this October takes place in Venice. First prize is the Bronze Piston trophy! AWLRAHHTE!
COAVA is a coffee bar in Portland.
They have a store where we can buy the s.s. filterscreen. $15. 1-503-894-8134. Be patient! http://coava.myshopify.com
More research on the Kyocera ceramic grinder reveals that a convincing and difficult upgrade shown in a long video for the CM50CF (orphanespresso.com) persuades me that the more expensive, better made, and more slender Kyocera CM45CF will out perform and custom grind to exactly what we want. Aimed at the travel market.....
and the grinder cup into which the beans are put has a cap, a cover, that the slightly larger one doesn't have. imco It is absolutely a requirement for two handed grinding. Unless your breakfasts are always tied up in the marina, don't get the topless CM50CF. The CM45CF is not in any stores & only one internet vendor in the US. I don't do Amazon or eBay.
We are sadly behind what's hip: I dreamt I saw the PaloAlto Aeropress, the new Portland made Coava s.s. filter, the Japanese CM45CF grinder, and two fat red silicone rubber demitasse cupnsaucer sets in a truly global trekking kit.
orphanespresso has the two fat combokit with another brand ceramic all stainless grinder but not with the upgrade disk. NOR with a mug to take a receive the pressing! Point is we can skinny the kit by not having to take paper filters, nor the bulky funnel, as we can load the press directly from the grinder. But we do need something strong to press into. What we need now is a nice bag or rollup to keep it all together. {'Ah dreamed ah saw a joe kit last nite, as fine as it cud be.....')
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Apologies to Ben and Mike - who have posted just below here - for all the extra bruhaha I have added in edits that wasn't here when they first posted!
top bearing slot cutter for trim router
How did I miss it? Have the catalog right here....er somewhere under these pile of paper.
But it cuts a slot only 3/8" deep...
which I'm guessing won't accommodate the screws of a normal fill fitting - will it?
The fasteners might be outside the donut-ring (in the balsa core), or partially which would make it dicey to bore fastener holes.
Could oversize the screw holes if they were thru balsa, fill them as we have dissussed here, and redrill for the exact screw size.
I like your 1/2"-9/16' undercut, what ever you're getting with your method.
So IF there was no choice and you choose this 1/4" shank MCLS slot cutter, would the deed be done this way?
The main hole bored thru the deck to size with a holesaw.
Thru-drill oversize holes for the fasteners, where they have to be..
Evacuate main hole with slotter. The top bearing would ride on the thick top glass layer of the deck composite.
Block off all the holes from underneath with cardboard, seranwrap and sticky tape.
Pack with mishmash. Fill scew-holes with liquid epoxy. Cure.
Rebore to EXACT size of the fitting and screws.
Chamfer edges of all holes to create caulk rings.
A bit wastefull of epoxy, but you'd get an absolute - total isolation from the balsa core.
And no distortion in the composite when thru-bolting.
Minimal backing block needed.
If you used the holesaw with a pre-bored guide-block, the way you'd bore a hole without the center drillbit.....
just the undercut ring in the deck could be packed if your filler was stiff enough.
After cure use the same guide-block with the holesaw to clean up the hole, rather than re-boring thru solid stuff.
Able DISK-FINE Filter for AeroPress
http://prima-coffee.com/catalog/able...lter-aeropress
Bet some people think I've hi-jacked the Tools That Work & Etc thread with this coffee-maker rant. Figured that ETC left the door open!
My old PORTABLE, $26, java-maker, the plastic syringe, Aeropress, is still going strong after I forget how many years. Had to get a new rubber plunger.
Sometimes I stop drinking coffee - but I always come back.
This disk ($12.50) takes the place of paper filters. The stack of paper disks (350 for about $.01 ea) in their holder are a major part of our coffee making kit, eventually become waste. My morning regimen included rinsing paper filters after use and drying them on the bottom of upturned water glasses to reuse the next day. Cheapskate environmentalist.
This stainless filter came about by popular demand - the makers of the AeroPress were not interested in offering an alternative to paper.
Used this metal disk filter for a couple weeks now and it is perfect - makes almost perfect coffee (at 190degrees.)
You have to learn to use it. It's slower than pushing coffee and hot air thru paper. Patience, brother....
It IS perfect for the inverted Aeropress method of pressing that translates more of the oils and bloom - that fanatics insist is the only way - to the cup. The inverted method puts the aromas and oils at the bottom of the squeeze - right at the filter - where the good stuff is first to come thru when you invert it over your mug to do the press. Quite logical, really. You get instructions printed on a card with your new s.s.disk to perform the reverse method. Reads like a botony experiment!
The stainless filter doesn't remove flavors like the paper seems to.
Sometimes the bottom of the cup ends up with some visible fines in it - but they are so fine that (my) tongue can't feel them. Down the hatch!
The first "celebrated" stainless disk on the market had larger holes and produced a turkish chew.
This is the one.
Don't make my coffee inverted - normal makes me a contrary snob.
This is a better brew, for sure. I'm a two cuppa. Sometimes later in the day I find my second cup
untouched & forgotten in the microwave - obviously the one richer cup by the new disk seized the day!
In My Considered Opinion you cannot make a better tasting cup of coffee in your galley by any other method. Even with paper!
This new, by popular demand, Able Disk Fine is paper thin. Be interesting to see how long it lasts.
As we might expect, when you go to the Q&A page on the Aerobie site, they insist using their paper makes better coffee. What can they say?
Purists argue that filtering thru paper makes coffee flavored tea. Ebb knows his cuppa is more robust and tastey using the new filter.
If the metal filter lasts in the long run, it will reduce the portable kit, making it more compact. The paper has no pedigree (do you know where your paper has been?), it could contain manufacturing residues, and it represents a waste cost for every cup that doesn't have to be part of the ritual. It is a smart upgrade for the Aeropress. [Right! Do you know where your stainless has been?]
On site Prima flogs an 18k gold plated coarse disk for $50.
Has to be a popular product for this kind of tackle !
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OK, later EDIT.
What alloy are the Able stainless steel etched (not wire mesh) disks made from? 316? I went to their relatively new site. They do not say - and I will say - that for real purists, and for anybody who swallows - what and how your personal coffee is made isn't something that can be glossed over.
You want to know if you are drinking dioxins & furans when you filter your coffee with paper.
You want to know if the stainless filter disk is food grade. I did see "laboratory grade" mentioned - but not on the Able site.
I obviously think - because I'm primed to think - that if important information is missing, that is a deliberate form of DECEPTION. The metal disks may be made in the US, but the metal roll the disks are made from may come from China, eg. Alloy stainless steel (even labeled 316) sheet made from recycled metals can be infused with poisonous rare metals, that can invert the immune system. Suspect are the paper disks that come with your new Aeropress, if they are specifically silent about the filter. Paper is notorious for carcinogens hidden in it. Makers of food related products have to be totally transparent - if they are not, then they are not.
On site Aerobie talks about materials used to make their product. BPH & polycarbonate are mentioned and pthalates are not found in tests done on the coffee their coffee making syringe produces. Were the tests any damn good?
Their very white paper filters are not discussed. Come Monday I'm calling the manufacturers.