When the Aerobee AeroPress used to be first presented in 2005, and become certainly one of the most up to date discussion board subjects within the outdated CoffeeGeek boards, one of the not unusual requests put against the inventor, Alan Adler, used to be for a bigger model of the AeroPress.
Adler at all times resisted. He felt the 250ml brewing max measurement of the AeroPress used to be superb. He infrequently brewed that a lot espresso in it himself, who prefer a shorter, extra concentrated quantity, one thing the AeroPress used to be greater than able to handing over.
For years, requests persevered to be made within the longest thread ever to exist in CoffeeGeek’s outdated boards. Some simply sought after a 350ml model of the AeroPress. Some sought after double the scale. Even a couple of sought after an AeroPress that might brew a liter of espresso at a time (that’s simply foolish, IMO).
Just about twenty years after Adler began tinkering with a espresso tube instrument that might turn into the AeroPress, the corporate, now owned by way of Tiny Capital (Adler continues to be a minority proprietor) acquiesced and is rolling out the AeroPress XL Style.
Double the capability of the unique AeroPress. Identical silhouette, however the whole thing’s larger. The cost is greater too, at $79.95 MSRP (it might be much less as soon as it will get out to common retail channels past REI and AeroPress direct). Nonetheless made in america of A!
Let’s get into the brand new AeroPress XL somewhat extra, protecting in thoughts that is simply an advent publish, no longer a assessment (that’s coming).
The New AeroPress XL
In a nutshell, the AeroPress XL is kind of 90% just like the unique and present AeroPress, aside from, a) the whole thing is greater, b) it options new branding and an up to date emblem, and c) there’s a design exchange to the piston portion of the brewer (I’ll get to that). Plus the plastic is a darker gray polypropylene subject material – the similar roughly plastic utilized in the usual AeroPress, however darker (the brand new Transparent style makes use of Tritan copolyester).
Right here’s how the field seems to be subsequent to the usual and transparent packing containers. It’s in truth no longer that a lot larger, all issues thought to be, and is just about the unique field measurement when the AeroPress shipped with a funnel and clear out paper holder.
Right here’s how the AeroPress XL seems to be subsequent to the usual AeroPress.
The obvious max capability of the AeroPress XL is 500ml, however it may well stretch to about 550ml for those who dare to do the inverted brewing manner. It may be used as a nobypass brewer (certainly, it’s neatly suited to this stylish brewing manner), which makes the capability just about limitless.
Within the field, you get 100 filters (greater measurement than unique AeroPress), the recognizable Aeropress paddle stirrer, and a espresso scoop. You additionally get a brand new part liter carafe this is designed to paintings with the XL style (however may also do positive with a normal AeroPress).
That is the second one AeroPress to send with a carafe or ingesting vessel – the AeroPress Cross is the primary – and it’s comprised of the similar transparent shatterproof Tritan copolyester plastic that the Aeropress Transparent is. It’s hexagonal formed, has a pour spout, and has an etched model of the brand new AeroPress emblem on one aspect. Its capability is ready 600ml, however actually most effective 500ml for those who use the AeroPress XL with it, because the brewer’s clear out space sits throughout the carafe relatively.
The whole thing’s Larger
The whole thing about this brewer is greater, this means that maximum of your legacy AeroPress equipment and doo-dads received’t paintings with the XL.
- The diameter of the brewing tube is greater
- The period of the brewing tube is greater
- The clear out paper is greater
- The clear out cap (and the place it screws into the brewing tube) is greater
- The internal diameter of the piston tube is greater (your Aergrind will wobble round inside of).
In case you stocked up on a 1,000 AeroPress paper filters, they received’t paintings with this style; you gotta purchase some extra. Your nifty Aliexpress AeroPress show stand or leather-based grip received’t paintings with this style. You probably have aftermarket steel filters for the AeroPress, they’ll no longer paintings within the XL style.
Relying at the acclaim for the XL, search for corporations like Ready and others to begin making their XL sized steel filters quickly.
The Branding
With this style, AeroPress has up to date the glance in their emblem and the branding on their field. I fairly like the brand new emblem taste, with the sans-serif selection, rounded ends of the letters and the transfer to capitalized / decrease case. It seems to be much more fashionable.
The up to date branding is in all places at the XL: the brewer itself, the embossing at the backside of the brewer, at the Tritan plastic carafe, or even at the stirring paddle.
The field additionally will get excellent branding updates that make it extra skilled taking a look and extra informative as neatly.
Piston Design Alternate
Regardless that this isn’t a assessment. That stated, I did need to indicate one thing I realized in an instant with the AeroPress XL. The piston – that’s the section you push down into the principle brewing chamber, with the rubber plunger connected – is other in alternative ways than measurement from older AeroPress fashions, and the present AeroPress Transparent. There aren’t any information ribs at the aspect of it. I will have to notice the newest model of the usual AeroPress additionally has no ribs at the piston tube, one thing I most effective spotted not too long ago.
Those information ribs stay the usual AeroPress piston strong while you plunge down on it. I’ve brewed most effective 6 occasions up to now with the AeroPress XL (two times as inverted, as a result of I’m nuts), and I famous it’s extra wobbly and will canter backward and forward somewhat when plunging down. It’s no longer sufficient to wreck the seal inside of.
However given this brewing instrument is far greater, I don’t know why they’d take away the ribs. I’ll in finding out for the assessment.
The Increasing AeroPress Lineup
With the release of the XL, AeroPress now has 4 fashions in their brewer, in addition to a couple of equipment, together with the steel clear out and the glide keep an eye on cap.
The 4 fashions come with the AeroPress Cross, the usual AeroPress, the AeroPress XL, and the AeroPress Transparent.
There’s nonetheless yet another within the pipeline to come back: the AeroPress Top rate.
It’s Right here – is it Price It?
So after just about twenty years of other people begging for an AeroPress Further Huge, we in any case have one. At $80, it’s just about 3x costlier than the unique AeroPress in 2005. It’s two times the cost of the present AeroPress same old, although it does include the Tritan 500ml carafe.
As for whether or not it’s price it or no longer, I will be able to quilt that within the impending assessment and be offering an opinion. However for the reason that $30 in 2005 is just about $50 in buying energy lately, it’s no longer a big bounce in worth to get two times the brewer.
Something I haven’t observed a lot point out of but (particularly no longer from AeroPress themselves): the AeroPress XL lends itself to nobypass glide via brewing, higher than the usual fashions. It’s because the entire brewing chamber diameter is greater. Individuals are spending $50 to $150 on devoted nobypass brewers. With the XL, you get a sexy first rate one (albeit with very tall aspect partitions, and the semi opaque darkish plastic makes it more difficult to look the brewing motion).
That, too, provides some price to the AeroPress XL.
Mark has qualified as a Canadian, USA, and Global Barista Championship Pass judgement on in each sensory and technical fields, in addition to operating as an trainer in espresso and coffee coaching. He began CoffeeGeek in 2001.
