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vacuum pot or aeropress

PostPosted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 11:41 pm
by jon
Fancy a bit of a change from moka pot/french press. The options in budget are pretty much either vacuum pot or aeropress. Any particular benefit of one or another? And, if I go for a vacuum pot, anything to look out for if buying off ebay or similar?

TIA :)

PostPosted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 11:44 pm
by lukas
Both. Just take both. You'll love both!

PostPosted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 11:46 pm
by lukas
Did I mention that both are great tools?
Oh, I did. Take the aeropress for your personal joy. It makes a faboulus coffee, and you can experiment endlessly with it. Take the vacpot for entertaining 2-6 people. It's great to watch and makes a very clean, nice and welltasting cup. Also, it's more tolerant to aging beans than the aeropress is, so you can take the old beans for your visitors and the fresh for yourself in the aeropress ;)

PostPosted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 11:46 pm
by Aadje
stick with the moka, buy a bialetta brikka

PostPosted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 11:54 pm
by jon
wow - such quick replies so late at night -- anyone would think that coffee kept you awake ;-)

Thanks for the replies. I like the mocha pot I have -- it is branded gB if that means anything -- so I'm reluctant to get another one. Actually, if the aeropress is better for just making one or 2 cups that may be the best one to go for (if I have lots of people, it is easiest to do just a big pot of French press). I've got a bodum santos grinder, which doesn't go all that fine -- will that do for the aeropress?

PostPosted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 11:59 pm
by lukas
It was a Jolt, actually. Soft drinks tend to not keep me awake the whole night ;)

I mostly use filter/vacpot grind for the aeropress (a bit finer than for french press I guess) with stunning results. 1 1/2 measuring spoons of coffee, the aeropress full of not-anymore-boiling-water, 30 second infusion and press - it's just great. That makes one big cup or two small ones.

PostPosted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 12:05 pm
by jon
cheers - sold :)

Actually, one other though - the cheaper gaggia espresso machines (e.g. gran gaggia) might be within my pricerange... Are they any good?

PostPosted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 12:37 pm
by lukas
If I remember correctly, the Gran Gaggia only has a 700 watt heating element, so it might not be as good as the "normal" gaggia machine range - baby, espresso, coffee, coffeedeluxe and classic. They all have the same group, boiler, thermostats etc. and differ in details such as a 3-way-valve ...
I think you will have more fun with an Aerobie than with a Gran Gaggia.

PostPosted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 11:22 pm
by jon
No fair! Went to order an aeropress along with some beans from has bean, and they're about of stock :(

PostPosted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 1:04 am
by CakeBoy
Go with the Santos then and get an Aerobie when they come back in. You will love both for sure. As for cheap espresso machines, you would be better going for a Gaggia Classic as the cheapest option.

PostPosted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 12:23 am
by jon
CakeBoy wrote:Go with the Santos then and get an Aerobie when they come back in. You will love both for sure. As for cheap espresso machines, you would be better going for a Gaggia Classic as the cheapest option.


Bad...very bad...really don't need too many types of coffee makers piling up :D Think I'll go for the aeropress, and wait (will be passing a pumprey's store tomorrow, anyway - so can stock up on a few beans then....)

PostPosted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 10:15 am
by lukas
Oh, did I mention that fresh, good coffee is key for success with the aeropress? :)

PostPosted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 11:02 am
by Aadje
Let me guess . . . a good grinder is also essential? ;)

PostPosted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 11:21 am
by lukas
Oh, I took that for given ;)
Always forget to ask about the basics ...
On the other hand, a preground Brazil Sitio Steve brought with him was very exciting as well. Only a day (or a few hours?) after opening the bag the aroma was nearly completely gone ...

PostPosted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 7:00 pm
by jon
have got a bodum santos grinder - seems to do the job :) And yeah, I try to get good, fresh coffee...