AeroPress Manual Coffee Grinder and AeroPress Go Complete Travel System Review

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It must have been a dozen years ago, and I still remember one of the best cups of coffee I have ever had. I was in a small town in Nicaragua when I was served a cup that was creamy, bold, and incredibly smooth. The beans were locally grown and roasted in house, and behind the counter the barista was using a syringe style coffee press. For the next hour we talked at length about coffee. He was a true expert, having owned coffee shops from Nicaragua to New York City. He spoke about many brewing methods, but one thing was consistent…his favorite way to make coffee was with an AeroPress.

The story of AeroPress is long and storied. It begins with scientist and inventor Alan Adler, who had been inventing since the age of 13. Over the years he created everything from racing sailboats to one of my favorite childhood flying toys, the Aerobie. Still inventing in 2003, Alan set out in his garage to create the world’s best single serve coffee maker. After months of designing and refining, the AeroPress was born. Today the AeroPress has stayed true to its original design, just as Alan intended. Through the years it has won numerous coffee competitions and has even inspired its own global brewing championships. What started as a simple press has grown into a full lineup of bundles, grinders, and brewing options.

For our on the go lifestyle, we chose the Go Complete Travel System and Manual Coffee Grinder. This system has become our go to setup for ski trip pick me ups, camping mornings, and all of our outdoor adventures.

About the AeroPress Manual Coffee Grinder

The AeroPress Manual Coffee Grinder is a high performance, compact manual grinder designed for serious coffee drinkers who value both precision and portability. In addition, it blends the grind quality of a premium countertop grinder with a streamlined form that integrates seamlessly with AeroPress brewing systems.

AeroPress Manual Coffee Grinder

At the heart of the AeroPress Grinder is its burr set. Not only are the burrs made from titanium coated stainless steel, but they also provide long lasting durability and consistent performance. Likewise, this is the same level of quality you would expect from high end electric grinders. Furthermore, the grinder offers more than 60 grind settings through a stainless steel adjustment dial, making it suitable for everything from espresso fine to coarse cold brew. As a result, the dual bearing support keeps the shaft stable, allowing for a smooth and effortless grinding experience even with light roasts.

Coffee Grind Size Adjustment

Above the burrs, you will find a slim aluminum hopper built entirely from metal for added durability in outdoor environments. In addition, the hopper holds up to 25 grams of whole beans, which is ideal for a single large cup or two smaller servings. Meanwhile, the magnetic handle stores neatly along the side of the grinder, keeping the setup compact and travel ready. For those who want to speed up the process, the grinder is also compatible with a power drill for quick, high speed grinding.

Grinder With Handle Attached

Finally, the entire grinder is designed to slide neatly into the plunger of the AeroPress for easy storage and transport. Additionally, the unit is backed by a one year warranty, with a lifetime warranty on the burr set.

Compact Storage

About the AeroPress Go Plus Complete Travel System

The AeroPress Go Plus Complete Travel System is built for coffee lovers who want café quality results in a compact, all in one travel setup. In addition, the system includes a portable coffee maker and a stainless steel travel tumbler, creating a complete brewing and drinking solution.

AeroPress Coffee Maker Go Plus System

The coffee maker is constructed from durable, clear Tritan plastic. Not only is Tritan highly heat and chemical resistant, but it is also shatter resistant and BPA free, making it both safe and rugged for travel, camping, and daily use.

AeroPress

The brewing system uses AeroPress’s proven three stage process to produce a clean, full flavored cup of coffee. First, a fast immersion step reduces acidity and bitterness. Next, gentle air pressure extracts rich flavors and aromatic oils from the grounds. Finally, a micro filtration stage delivers a smooth, grit free cup. As a result, this method is widely respected in specialty coffee for its consistency and clarity of flavor.

The brewer can produce up to 10 ounces of coffee in a single cycle. In most cases, can brew and clean up in about two minutes. Additionally, it is designed to be compatible with standard AeroPress paper or metal micro filters and is covered by a one year warranty.

The included tumbler is a double walled stainless steel container designed to keep drinks hot or cold for extended periods. Moreover, it features a magnetic lid for easy opening and secure closure. The tumbler is available in black, white, or pink, and is shaped to fit easily in cup holders and backpacks.

AeroPress Tumbler

Thoughts on the Grinder and AeroPress Traveler Bundle

Over the past few weeks, I have been making some fantastic coffee. I am not sure I will ever rival that small shop in Nicaragua, but my cups have been consistently exceptional.

AeroPress Manual Coffee Grinder

The Travel Grinder is an impressive piece of gear. The all metal construction feels durable and built to last. It folds up and fits neatly inside the plunger of the AeroPress, which is perfect for saving space since this setup will spend a lot of time in our limited space camper. Its compact size makes it ideal for travel, and I can easily see it becoming a permanent part of my kit.

The grind quality rivals high end electric grinders. The burr system produces a uniform grind that noticeably improves flavor. For most of my brews, I have been using the “7” setting. This works well for a drip style cup with the AeroPress. The adjustment dial on the bottom is easy to use, and the included instructions are helpful for dialing in different brew methods.

The grinder holds up to 25 grams of coffee beans. It takes a couple of minutes to work through a full load. The oversized handle makes a big difference. Once you start grinding, it is clear why it is there. Finer grinds take more effort, but the results are worth it. For camping and outdoor use, this grinder is a perfect solution when electricity is not available. If you want to speed things up, the included drill bit attachment can grind beans quickly, but there is something satisfying about doing it by hand.

Perfect Coffee Grind

Small cleaning brushes are included and make it easy to remove stray grounds from tight spaces, keeping the grinder clean and ready to go.

The Press

The AeroPress itself feels like essential equipment for any coffee drinker and makes an excellent gift. I cannot believe it took me this long to finally get one.

There are many ways to use the press. It can brew drip style coffee, work in the inverted method for steeping, and even handle cold brew. I usually stick to the drip and inverted methods. The AeroPress fits well over the included tumbler, a travel mug, or a ceramic cup. Once the water is hot, it only takes about 90 seconds to brew. I pour in the water, stir to suspend the grounds, and after about a minute, press the plunger to create a clean, rich cup. It takes a little experimentation to dial in the right coffee to water ratio. I tend to prefer a stronger cup or a concentrate that I dilute slightly.

Drip Method

The Satisfying Press

I have especially enjoyed using locally roasted beans from Big Iron Coffee here in Steamboat. Between the quality grind, the AeroPress, and good beans, the results have been consistently excellent.

Good Beans + AeroPress Grinder = Good Coffee

The AeroPress is very reasonably priced, and I plan to pick up a couple more. It would be great to keep one at work and another at my in laws’ house.

The Tumbler

The integration of the tumbler with the AeroPress is very well designed. Everything, including the stirrer, scoop, filters, and brewer, stores neatly inside the tumbler. After freezing on late season hunts, I look forward to making coffee mountainside. A warm cup of coffee can dramatically boost morale on a cold day. With ice fishing season approaching, this kit will be coming with me throughout the winter.

Enjoying the Coffee

One upgrade I am excited about is the reusable metal mesh filter option. It replaces paper filters and allows a little more body in the cup while reducing waste.

Stainless Steel Filter Option

Cleaning the AeroPress is incredibly easy. After pressing, the end cap is removed and the compact coffee puck slides right out. There is a huge difference between cleaning an AeroPress and a traditional French press. Instead of dealing with a mess of wet grounds, everything comes out cleanly, which is perfect for outdoor use.

AeroPress Travel Grinder Specifications

• Type: Manual burr coffee grinder
  
• Burr Material: Titanium coated stainless steel
  
• Burr Type: Conical
  
• Grind Settings: 60+ adjustable settings
  
• Adjustment Method: Stainless steel bottom dial
  
• Bearing System: Dual bearing supported shaft
  
• Hopper Capacity: Up to 25 grams of whole beans
  
• Body Material: Aluminum and stainless steel construction
  
• Handle: Folding magnetic handle
  
• Power Option: Compatible with drill attachment
  
• Storage: Designed to fit inside AeroPress plunger
  
• Cleaning: Includes cleaning brushes
  
• Warranty: 1 year on body, lifetime on burrs

AeroPress Go Plus Complete Travel System Specifications

• Type: Portable pressure coffee maker
  
• Brew Method: Immersion, pressure, and micro filtration system
  
• Material: Tritan plastic body
  
• BPA Free: Yes
  
• Shatter Resistant: Yes
  
• Max Brew Capacity: 10 ounces
  
• Brew Time: Approximately 90 seconds
  
• Filter Type: Paper micro filters standard, compatible with metal filters
  
• Included Tumbler: Double wall stainless steel
  
• Tumbler Lid: Magnetic sliding lid
  
• Kit Includes: Brewer, tumbler, scoop, stirrer, filters
  
• Color Options: Black, white, and pink
  
• Warranty: 1 year

Final Thoughts on the AeroPress Go Complete Travel System

The AeroPress Travel System is the kind of setup that just makes sense. It’s simple, tough, and makes really good coffee no matter where you are. The combo of the Manual Grinder and the AeroPress works incredibly well together, and it’s easy to pack, easy to use, and easy to clean, which is exactly what you want from a travel coffee system.

What really stands out is the taste. The grinder delivers a consistent grind and the AeroPress pulls out clean, rich flavors that beat most typical travel coffee options by a long shot. It honestly feels like bringing a mini coffee shop with you.

If you care about good coffee and spend time camping, traveling, hunting, fishing, or just running around town, this setup is an easy recommendation. It has earned a permanent spot in my gear and will definitely be coming with me on future trips. For more info or to pick up a system, visit aeropress.com, rei.com or amazon.com.