The History of The AeroPress, From Concept to Championships
The AeroPress was non an overnight smash hit. It didn't expect like a coffee brewing device. It was produced by a sports toy manufacturer best-known not for their coffee just for their flying disc.
Yet somehow, today, the AeroPress is one of the world's most iconic coffee-brewing methods; the tool of a world java championship, the World AeroPress Championship (Due west. A. C.); and even the subject of its ain moving-picture show, AeroPress Movie.
How did this happen? We reached out to Alan Adler, AeroPress designer and President of AeroPress, Inc., to hear his stance.
You might also like v AeroPress Lessons I Learned From iv Champions – And Their Recipes
Brewing AeroPress coffee. Credit: Neil Soque
The Origins of The AeroPress
A pocket-size, ii-tubed device, the AeroPress quickly brews a full-bodied coffee by allowing the user to push the h2o through the puck. Unlike pour over devices, it'due south inspired past espresso machine applied science – except electricity and levers are replaced by human pressure.
It besides has similarities to the French press, although it'due south become embraced by the specialty coffee industry in a way that the humble French printing has yet to accomplish. What's more, the brew fourth dimension (and recommended water temperature) is significantly shorter with the AeroPress.
In other words, while the device is a mutual sight nowadays, information technology was truly something out of the ordinary when it commencement appeared dorsum in 2005. Alan Adler approached creating it like the engineer that he is, starting off with the problem (he wanted reduced bitterness in his daily coffee) and from in that location finding the solution (reduced brew time).
In order to reduce the brew time, he realised that he needed to have reward of pressure. A closed chamber increased the pressure from the "push" sufficiently that Alan was then able to brew his coffee faster. (Of course, today, you'll notice a wide range of AeroPress recipes – some with longer brew times than others!)
Numerous prototypes later and Alan Adler had his AeroPress. His small-scale, family-run business (which still only has a dozen or so employees) shortly began producing it and demonstrating it at trade shows.
Alan Adler with an AeroPress Credit: AeroPress, Inc.
Winning Over The Coffee Manufacture
Many in the specialty coffee industry responded sceptically, dismissing the AeroPress as a gadget device from a toy maker rather than a revolutionary new brewer.
But over time, this started to modify. Alan responded to the raised eyebrows with brewed coffee samples and the news began to spread. The proof of the AeroPress' quality was, after all, in the coffee cup.
Yet there are many coffee brewing devices out there. How did the AeroPress accomplish such remarkable popularity?
Alan says, "Coffee is a global phenomenon. And various brewing methods accept gone global. It helped that the AeroPress brews a very tasty cup in one minute, is self-cleaning, portable, inexpensive and tin be used many different means."
And maybe at that place was something else backside the AeroPress' surge in popularity – the very same thing, mayhap, that led to the World AeroPress Title. I'g talking about the ability to experiment.
Brew time, push time, coffee dose, java:water ratio, water temperature, and even whether or not you invert the brewer; there is a wealth of ways to play with the AeroPress and so raise different characteristics in your brewed coffee.
Find more in: AeroPress Coffee Guide: How to Brew For Unlike Flavor Profiles
Ready to brew: ground coffee inside an Aeropress. Credit: Fernando Pocasangre
Champion of The World
Specialty coffee has plenty of competitions: the World Barista Championship, the Globe Brewers Loving cup Championship, the World Latte Art Title, the World Roasting Title… not to mention all of the greenish bean competitions and awards.
Merely in 2008, a new one appeared – an irreverent, playful one that never expected to be taken seriously. The commencement ever World AeroPress Championship (Westward.A.C.) was held in Oslo and, despite the thou name, had just three competitors. Information technology was organised by Tim Varney (who notwithstanding runs the event today, forth with Tim Williams) and Tim Wendelboe.
But – much similar the AeroPress itself – the competition has become a pop and indispensable part of the coffee championship calendar. In 2018, over 3,157 people from 61 countries competed, watched by a grand total of 68,265 eager spectators.
"Obviously, an AeroPress tin can be used many ways. Competitors invent new ways and fine-tune existing ways. It'due south not likely that a competition could develop around a push-push automatic brewer," says Alan.
He considers the W.A.C. to be "the people's championship", one that anyone can compete in, regardless of their resources or access to light-green coffee. Information technology'south one that rewards creativity and experimentation – so long, of course, as that creativity results in better coffee.
You might likewise similar: How Have World AeroPress Championship Recipes Changed Over The Years?
Brewing AeroPress coffee with the inverted method. Credit: Fernando Pocasangre
What'south Next For The AeroPress?
The AeroPress has gone from underdog to a giant of the coffee industry. Nevertheless while its success has rocketed, niggling well-nigh the device has changed. It's now a transparent black as opposed to clear plastic, but if information technology weren't for that, y'all would be hard-pressed to spot the differences between one from 2006 and one from 2019.
Notwithstanding is something new on the horizon? "A more than portable version is coming shortly," hints Alan, while not giving whatever farther details.
Equally for the W.A.C., Alan is optimistic about its future growth. "We strive to enhance the enjoyment of the participants. That's our highest priority. This year'south outcome was extended from i day to 2 days and the participants all loved the opportunity to socialise. More enjoyment will be added in 2019," he says.
Enjoyed this? Check out five AeroPress Lessons I Learned From 4 Champions – And Their Recipes
Feature photo credit: Camilo Marulanda.
Please note: This article has been sponsored past AeroPress, Inc.
Desire to read more articles like this? Sign up for our newsletter!
Source: https://perfectdailygrind.com/2019/03/the-history-of-the-aeropress-from-concept-to-championships/
0 Response to "The History of The AeroPress, From Concept to Championships"
Post a Comment