If you’ve spent any time in the coffee-sphere, you know the original Aeropress is a legend. It’s the indestructible, weird-looking plastic tube that somehow makes a cup of joe better than your fancy $500 machine. But for the folks at Aeropress, “portable” wasn’t portable enough. Enter the Aeropress Go.
I’ve been putting this through its paces, from the kitchen counter to a holiday, to using it at work. Seeing if the downsizing sacrificed the soul of the brew and of course the fundamental joy of the Aeropress brewing itself.
The Aeropress is one of my favourite coffee makers, full stop. Between that and the Hario V60, it’s proof that good coffee doesn’t need a lot of kit and doesn’t need to cost the earth. Further to that, it’s just good fun. Why shouldn’t you have a little bit of a science approach to your daily cup?
You can use the Dying Art Media method of Aeropress brewing still. Just remember that the Aeropress Go is smaller, so you need less water.
Aeropress Go
The genius of the Aeropress Go isn’t just that it’s smaller; it’s the packaging.
The entire kit (press, stirrer, scoop, and filter holder!) nests inside its own drinking cup with a silicone lid. It seems ridiculous to be quite so impressed by something like that, but it just makes my day every time I get it out to brew. You can just chuck the Aeropress Go in a bag and be on your way. It’s just amazing.
If you love gadgets and trinkets/toys of all kinds, you’ll see the fun in this, too.
Size: The Aeropress Go is about 1/3 smaller than the original.
Durability: It’s that same “drop it off a cliff and it’ll be fine” plastic. Easy to clean, easy to put together, and seemingly bult to last.
The Mug: It’s sturdy, heat-resistant, and actually pleasant to drink from. I was concerned that the plastic might leave an odd taste, but so far, so good. Plus the lip around it makes it satisfying to use.
The Brewing Experience
The Aeropress Go uses the same physics as its big brother. You’re still getting that immersion-meets-pressure magic. However, the smaller chamber means you’re capped at about 237ml of coffee per press.
If you’re a just brewing for yourself, this is your holy grail. But if you’re trying to caffeinate a group of three while camping, you’re going to be doing a lot of plunging. Don’t let that deter you! It’s just clearly best for single use here and there, rather than being the coffee machine for the family. If that makes sense?
A smooth cup o’ Joe on the go. It’s ideal.
DAM Tip: Because the chamber is smaller, I’ve found that a slightly finer grind helps maintain that body and “punch” the Aeropress is known for.
The Pros and Cons
| Feature | The Good | The Not-So-Good |
|---|---|---|
| Portability | Fits in a water bottle pocket. | Smaller capacity than the original. |
| Clean-up | The “puck” ejects perfectly. | The folding stirrer feels a bit flimsy. |
| Versatility | Makes espresso-style, cold brew, or filter. | Requires proprietary filters (or a metal disc). |
Overall
The Aeropress Go isn’t just a travel version of a great brewer; it might actually be the better version for most people. Unless you absolutely need that extra 100ml of volume provided by the original, the Go’s integrated cup and compact form factor make it the ultimate choice for the nomadic coffee lover.
It’s tactile, it’s consistent, and it makes a damn fine cup of coffee whether you’re at a desk or a campsite. It’s a “buy it once, use it forever” piece of kit.
Now my daily brewer at work. It’s had some eyebrows raised and some questions (they regret asking…..). But good, consistent coffee, away from home? Sign me up. My only real regret is that I left it this long to get the Aeropress Go in the first place.
