Review: AeroPress Clear Coffee Press
By Coffee Expert
Derek Premenko
12 photos
The Curated Take
4.2/5
The AeroPress Clear Coffee Press is ideal for budget-conscious coffee enthusiasts and travelers seeking a quick and simple brewing method. Its hybrid design combines the best qualities of a French press, espresso, and pour-over. Although it requires experimentation to perfect the brew due to vague instructions, its durability and compact size make it convenient for everyday use. The addition of the Flow Control Filter Cap is essential for a cleaner and more precise brew. Overall, the AeroPress Clear offers a decent cup of coffee at an affordable price, making it a popular choice for those who value simplicity and portability.
Ideal for
- User-friendly
- Simple, durable design
- Best "quick" brew method out there
Not ideal for
- Takes some experimenting to find the right brew method (directions are vague)
- All plastic/rubber design is less than ideal
- Process is a bit sloppy without an additional Flow Control Filter Cap
Quality of Brew
I like the quality. I've found that if I do a fine grind with the Flow Control Filter Cap, do a bit of room temp water to saturate the grounds,...Read more
Ease of Use
It's not a "plug-and-play" kind of device. Users have to really experiment with their grind size, brew time, ratios, etc. if they want something decent. I found the instructions it...Read more
Size
I like the XL and the Travel size for specific uses, but for an everyday brewer, this does it for me. It makes one diner mug full of coffee (if...Read more
Speed to Brew
I do an espresso-size grind, and it takes me literal seconds to brew a personal cup. The speed is actually the only reason I use it over my Chemex or...Read more
Design
The AeroPress' genius is really in its simplicity. Two durable BPA-free plastic tubes that fit together with a simple twist-on cap and a filter that goes inside the cap before...Read more
Curated Experts are not sponsored by brands. Their reviews are based on their honest experiences testing products.
Derek Premenko
About the espresso equipment
- Model: AeroPress Clear Coffee Press
Test conditions
- When I received this: December 2023
- Where I’ve used it: Home
- How many times I've used it: 40
Expert Reviews of the AeroPress Clear Coffee Press
Derek Premenko While the brand has been around for a little while now, the AeroPress Clear Coffee Press is newer to the game and is a nice aesthetic upgrade from the old cloudy grey color. The function, however, is the same.
The maximum capacity equals one literal cup, about what an average diner mug will hold. The directions could be clearer, but users can find the best brewing method/technique with some experimentation. It's marketed as a combo between a French press, espresso, and pour-over, taking only the best qualities from these brewing methods, but it falls short when dealing with specialty coffee. Users will need a pretty fine grind with the standard filter cap; otherwise, they'll get a ton of drippage before they ever press the plunger down. A nice addition (I'd call it essential) is the Flow Control Filter Cap. It's about an extra $25, but it restricts the flow, so I can get a little less drip-through and even dial my water volume back to make something more akin to espresso.
If one dreams of proper espresso, they'd be "hard pressed" to get nine bars of pressure from the plunger and pure muscle power. Still, for the budget coffee lover and even the traveler, the AeroPress Clear is a really neat little piece of affordable and compact coffee gear worth trying out.
Product Specs
| Color | Clear |
| Housing material | Tritan |
| Product height (in) | 8" |
| Product Depth (in.) | 4.5" |
| Depth (in) | 4.75 |
| Features | BPA-Free |
Review Ratings
Quality of Brew
3/5
Derek Premenko gave 3 of 5 stars. I like the quality. I've found that if I do a fine grind with the Flow Control Filter Cap, do a bit of room temp water to saturate the grounds, fill it up all the way, stir really quick, and immediately press down to extract, I get something south of a strong pour-over that might have been a little over-brewed. It's a little muddy in terms of clarity, but it will have plenty of body and none of the "sludge" that a French press would give. So it's not exceptional, but it's not awful either.
Ease of Use
4/5
Derek Premenko gave 4 of 5 stars. It's not a "plug-and-play" kind of device. Users have to really experiment with their grind size, brew time, ratios, etc. if they want something decent. I found the instructions it came with to yield an okay result, but not great. Beyond that, it's quite simple to operate. Throw a filter on the cap, pop the cap on the bottom, fill it up with coffee and water, and press the plunger down over a mug. It's that simple. I love the simplicity, but I wish it were more scientific at times. But I think "vague" and "simple" were the goal. This lets the simpleton make coffee simply, and the coffee geek go nuts over trying to perfect the brewing method.
Size
5/5
Derek Premenko gave 5 of 5 stars. I like the XL and the Travel size for specific uses, but for an everyday brewer, this does it for me. It makes one diner mug full of coffee (if I don't go over the top), and that's really all I need most days. Fresh coffee is always the best, so it's easy enough to brew another cup if I need more later.
Speed to Brew
5/5
Derek Premenko gave 5 of 5 stars. I do an espresso-size grind, and it takes me literal seconds to brew a personal cup. The speed is actually the only reason I use it over my Chemex or Hario. For what it's worth, the coarser size and longer brewing time didn't seem to give me a better cup than my espresso-grind size. But not everyone can grind espresso fine, so even if someone has a coarser grind that takes 30 seconds, that's still a pretty speedy brew.
Design
4/5
Derek Premenko gave 4 of 5 stars. The AeroPress' genius is really in its simplicity. Two durable BPA-free plastic tubes that fit together with a simple twist-on cap and a filter that goes inside the cap before twisting on: I can't ask for much more. But the missing star is solely due to the stock cap that comes with it. The holes are absolutely massive. I could squeeze mashed potatoes through there if I wanted, and it'd take no effort. Why is this so awful? It leaks. Big holes mean coffee drips through easily. They say it's standard for a little drip, but it's way more than a little. AeroPress offers the Flow Control Filter Cap, which solves my woes but is an extra cost. If that cap wasn't offered, this wouldn't ever see the light of day.
FAQs
What do you love about this product?
Derek Premenko The AeroPress Clear is a pretty unique product and the only one of its kind really on the market. It combines the ease of a French press with pressurized espresso brewing, so I get something that isn't gritty and still super quick to make. I really enjoy the optional Flow Control Filter Cap that AeroPress offers. It prevents any drip-through and gives me more pressure when brewing. This is a really great way to make what I call "poor man's espresso": fill the water up to the "1" with a scoop it comes with, and with that Flow Control Filter Cap, I get something with crema that is totally espresso-esque.
Why did you choose this product?
Derek Premenko This was sent to me. I didn't pay anything for it, but it was part of a lineup sent to test out. I've used this one the most out of all the different options, but it also just happens to be the one I have out most often. The main reason I use this one most often is that it's flow-control compatible, and it can make a full cup in one go. The travel size is a little small, and the XL size is a little large to brew on top of a diner mug.
What is the value for the money versus other options?
Derek Premenko The AeroPress is pretty unique. Its only competitor is a French press, really. I grab it for its ease of use and speed. It's a good pick for lots of other folks due to its cheaper price point.
Most French presses are either opaque or glass. Glass just asks to be broken, and a lack of transparency makes it hard to tell what's happening inside. I'm a feedback kind of guy, so I like to be in the know.
It's more expensive than some really cheap French presses, but I've also seen some that go for a wild amount, so the AeroPress still sits nicely right in the middle of the affordability scale while being a decent price for what one gets.
My only complaint is that it doesn't come with the Flow Control Filter Cap. It's only worth it with that cap.
