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What's the most unexpectedly useful item you've ever bought under $20? (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 year ago by to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world
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[–] 31 points 1 year ago (10 children)

An Aeropress. I bought it when work removed the free coffee and was super surprised at how good it tasted vs what they were serving. Later, I found a bean hand grinder that fits right inside the Aeropress plunger and now I take it on work trips, vacation and camping.

It's not fully inclusive for $20 because you need a cup, some way to procure and heat water and beans but still, it's served me well.

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  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    I didn’t buy an aeropress for years as I had a coffee machine and was like, surely that’s better.

    But finally got one, and my god. The simplicity. The ease of cleaning. The nice coffee.

    It’s basically my sole way of making coffee now, despite more pricey alternatives at my disposal.

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  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    I find a good pour over cone makes better tasting coffee with a little less fuss, but the aeropress is irreplaceable for iced coffee.

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  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago (5 children)

    I've found that it tastes kinda plasticky compared to my glass French press. Am I aeropressing wrong?

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  • [–] 7 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    I have an old one, maybe they were manufactured differently. The main part is a hard plastic. I never noticed a plastic taste, but it could also be the rubber/silicone plunger stopper that imparts a taste. They do now sell a glass one, but I've heard that it's overpriced.

    I know people who also swear by their French press. From what I know, regardless of the brew method, the grind is the most important factor, followed by the water quality and temperature.

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  • [–] 4 points 1 year ago

    If its made before 2009 its likely not BPA free and you should consider upgrading to a modern one. I think the plastic was changed again around 2014. Mine is from that time period and doesnt have an after taste either.

    As well as the glass one you can get one made of tritan, which would be my pick over the glass as its mostly the same look, a lot cheaper, and pretty much unbreakable.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    Is it an authentic aeropress, not a cheap knockoff? There are a bunch that sell under the same name but aren't in fact manufactured by aeropress ltd., and those can taste off since the cheap plastic is not certified for use with boiling water, and might not even be bpa free.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    It's Aeropress™ and purchased from a reputable roaster. I suppose it's unknowable to me if some shenanigans were pulled further up the supply chain.

    I'll add that the thing I noticed is that it tastes plasticky if I use water at 205°F but not 185°. I prefer the hotter temp because I think it gives a better extraction, and I need the caffeines.

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