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The AeroPress Original remains one of the easiest low-cost ways to make adjustable coffee without committing to a large machine. The current £39.99 brewer combines immersion, paper microfiltration and manual pressure in a compact 10oz / one-to-two-cup format. It is quick to rinse, easy to pack and unusually flexible around grind, water temperature, steep time and concentration. What it does not do is make conventional espresso, and AeroPress now sells dedicated Go and Go Plus models that make more sense when travel is the overriding priority.
This review covers the current AeroPress Original Coffee Maker. AeroPress now has Original, Clear, XL, Go, Go Plus, Steel and Premium variants. Their materials, capacities and travel arrangements differ, so check the exact model rather than assuming every AeroPress is the same brewer in a different colour.
One or two people who want a compact manual brewer for home, office or occasional travel and enjoy adjusting recipes.
You specifically want true espresso, need several cups in one brew or want a push-button machine with no manual measuring.
A £39.99 brewer gives you meaningful control over concentration, grind, temperature and steep time with very little cleanup.
The 10oz capacity is small and travel-specific AeroPress models now package more neatly for life on the road.
Our rating: 8.9/10
A remarkably versatile manual brewer for home and travel
This is an editorial score based on the current Original specification, recipe flexibility, cleanup, portability, £39.99 UK price and its position in the AeroPress range.
The Original is appealing because it is simple without being restrictive. There is no boiler, pump, electronics or capsule format deciding how the drink must be made. You choose the coffee dose, grind, water temperature, steep time and final amount of water. The plunger then pushes the brewed coffee through a microfilter into the cup.
That means the same brewer can produce a relatively light longer cup or a short concentrated base for milk, but those outcomes depend on recipe choices rather than preset buttons. It rewards a small amount of measuring and experimentation while avoiding the cost and maintenance of an espresso machine.
Current AeroPress Original specifications
| Product | AeroPress Original Coffee Maker |
|---|---|
| Brewing method | Fast immersion + paper microfiltration + manual air pressure |
| Capacity | 10oz / approximately 296ml; AeroPress describes it as 1–2 cups |
| Published dimensions | 5.25in high × 4.2in wide |
| Filters | Paper microfilters supplied; compatible reusable filter options sold separately |
| Dishwasher | Top-rack dishwasher-safe |
| BPA | BPA-free |
| Warranty | 1 year |
| Current UK price | £39.99 |
How the AeroPress works
The AeroPress combines immersion and filtration rather than relying on one continuous pour. Coffee and water spend time together in the chamber, then the plunger forces the liquid through the filter. The paper microfilter keeps most fine sediment out of the cup, which creates a cleaner texture than an unfiltered cafetière while retaining more recipe freedom than a fixed capsule machine.
Manual pressure speeds up the final separation of brewed coffee from the grounds, but it is only one small part of the AeroPress brewing process. Grind size, coffee-to-water ratio, steep time, water temperature and agitation all play a more direct role in shaping the finished cup. A slow, steady press is therefore all that is needed; pushing harder does not inherently produce better coffee.
The standard upright method is also only one way to use it. Inverted recipes, where the brewer is turned upside down during steeping, are popular with some users because they prevent coffee dripping through before the press begins. They are not essential, though, and the normal method on a sturdy mug is the simpler place to start.
Recipe flexibility is the real reason to own one
The Original gives you enough variables to adapt it to different coffees without requiring specialist equipment. A finer grind and shorter brew can create a concentrated cup; a coarser grind and longer immersion changes extraction in another direction. More or less water can then alter the strength directly or be added after pressing as bypass water.
That makes rigid “one perfect AeroPress recipe” advice less useful than a repeatable starting point. Weigh the coffee and water if you want consistency, keep one or two variables fixed, then alter the grind or steep time based on taste. The brewer is forgiving enough that small recipe changes are easy to test without wasting an entire pot of coffee.
A burr grinder helps because it lets you return to a known grind setting, but it is not mandatory for the first cup. Pre-ground coffee can be used, particularly if the grind is suitable for a short immersion brew. The limitation is that you cannot change grind size when the coffee needs a different extraction.
AeroPress can make concentrated coffee, but not traditional espresso
AeroPress itself describes some recipes as “espresso-style”, which is the useful distinction. You can make a short concentrated coffee that works well as the base for milk or dilution, but the brewer is not a pump-driven espresso machine and does not replicate the pressure, puck geometry or extraction process of a conventional portafilter setup.
That matters if the purchase is motivated by cappuccino or straight espresso. A concentrated AeroPress drink can be very enjoyable with milk, but it will not give you the same texture and extraction style as a properly dialled espresso shot. You also still need a separate way to heat or texture milk.
If traditional espresso is the goal, spend the money towards the machine and grinder ecosystem you actually want. If a compact concentrated coffee is enough, the AeroPress avoids turning that occasional drink into a much larger equipment commitment.
Ease of use and cleaning
The basic workflow is short: add coffee and water, stir or agitate as the recipe requires, allow the chosen steep, then press into a sturdy cup. There is no warm-up time for the brewer itself, although you still need hot water. The total routine can comfortably fit into a few minutes once the coffee and kettle are ready.
Cleanup is one of the design’s strongest practical features. Remove the filter cap, push the plunger through to eject the compressed grounds and filter, then rinse the parts. The plunger seal wipes much of the inside of the chamber as it moves. AeroPress says a simple rinse is sufficient for everyday use and recommends occasional more thorough washing, including removing and washing the seal.
The Original is top-rack dishwasher-safe, but easy hand-rinsing means a dishwasher is rarely necessary after every brew. AeroPress also advises storing the brewer with the seal pushed fully through the chamber rather than leaving it compressed inside, which helps preserve the seal’s shape.
Is the Original a good travel coffee maker?
Yes. It has no glass carafe, no electronics and no built-in power requirement, so the only external necessities are coffee, a suitable cup and a source of hot water. Its compact body is easy to put in a suitcase, desk drawer or camping box, and the paper filters take up very little additional room.
What has changed is the competition from AeroPress itself. The Original was once the obvious model to recommend for travel because there were few alternatives in the range. The current AeroPress Go packs a travel-focused brewer with its own mug, while Go Plus packages the press into an insulated stainless-steel tumbler with a built-in filter holder.
The Original therefore wins on value and general-purpose simplicity rather than being the automatic “best travel” choice. At £39.99 it is cheaper than the £49.99 Go and much cheaper than the £89.99 Go Plus. If it will live mostly at home and only occasionally go in a bag, paying extra for the integrated travel packaging may solve a problem you do not have.
AeroPress Original vs Go and Go Plus
AeroPress Original
Current price: £39.99.
Choose it for: home, office and occasional travel when you already have a mug and do not need the brewer to pack into its own drinking vessel.
AeroPress Go / Go Plus
Current prices: £49.99 / £89.99.
Choose them for: a package specifically designed to store with its drinking vessel, with Go Plus adding an insulated stainless-steel tumbler.
None of those models changes the basic decision about coffee style: they are AeroPress brewers, not conventional espresso machines. The travel models mainly change packing, serving vessel and convenience. Choose the Original unless those travel-specific features are worth paying for.
Pros and good to know
Pros
- £39.99 current direct price
- Compact 10oz / 1–2 cup format
- Meaningful control over grind, ratio, temperature and steep time
- Paper microfiltration keeps sediment low
- Very quick everyday cleanup
- Portable with no electronics or fragile glass carafe
Good to know
- Does not make conventional espresso
- Small capacity is not designed for a large batch
- You need a kettle or other hot-water source
- Paper filters are a recurring consumable
- Manual recipes benefit from a scale and grinder if you want repeatability
- Go and Go Plus package more neatly when travel is the primary use
Verdict: is the AeroPress Original worth buying?
Yes — particularly as a low-cost general-purpose manual brewer. For £39.99, the Original allows much more control over how the coffee is brewed than a pod machine, takes up almost no permanent kitchen space and is quick enough to use at a desk, in a hotel room or as a second coffee method beside an espresso machine. Its recipe flexibility is a real capability rather than a long feature list you may never use.
Its limits are equally clear. The 10oz chamber is for one or two cups, it needs manual measuring and hot water, and an “espresso-style” concentrate is not conventional espresso. If travel is the only reason you are buying, compare the Go range; if home and occasional travel both matter, the Original remains the simplest and best-value place to start.
Frequently asked questions
Does AeroPress Original make espresso?
Not conventional espresso. It can make a short concentrated “espresso-style” coffee, but it does not use the same pressure-driven extraction or portafilter workflow as an espresso machine.
How much coffee can the AeroPress Original make?
AeroPress lists a 10oz capacity and describes the Original as a 1–2 cup brewer. It is not designed for a large batch in one press.
Do I need a grinder for AeroPress?
No. Pre-ground coffee works, but a burr grinder gives you control over grind size and makes it easier to repeat or adjust recipes.
Is AeroPress Original dishwasher-safe?
Yes, AeroPress lists it as top-rack dishwasher-safe. For everyday use, the manufacturer says a simple rinse is normally sufficient.
Should I buy AeroPress Original or Go?
Choose Original for lower price and general home or office use. Choose Go when you specifically value a travel package that stores with its mug. Go Plus goes further by packing into an insulated steel tumbler.
Can I use a metal filter?
Reusable filter options are available, but they change the filtration and cup texture compared with the supplied paper microfilters. Treat the filter as part of the recipe rather than assuming one material is universally better.
Guidance based on current AeroPress UK Original specifications, current care guidance and current Original, Go and Go Plus range pricing checked in August 2026. Prices and bundle availability can change.