Aeropress vs Aeropress Go: What’s The Difference?
The original Aeropress is a famous travel coffee maker among serious coffee lovers. Aeropress is lightweight, durable, affordable, and brews great-tasting coffee. So why the need for the Aeropress Go? Is it any better for coffee brewing on the go?
This article pits Aeropress vs Aeropress Go in a head-to-head showdown. Home Grounds will review both models, their pros and cons, and key differences to help you choose the best Aeropress for you.
Aeropress
The classic Aeropress was invented in 2005 by Alan Adler (1). It was inspired by the technology used in espresso machines, with the idea that using pressure allows you to create a faster and stronger great cup of coffee.
It is an immersion brewer, like a French press, which means that the coffee steeps in hot water before extraction. A simple plunger design generates air pressure that forces the brewed coffee through a filter into a waiting cup.
The Aeropress quickly became famous for traveling and camping. It is compact, lightweight, made from durable plastic, and requires no external power sources, and all you need is a way to heat water.
Pros:
- Portable
- Brews strong and smooth coffee
- Durable and lightweight
Cons:
- Have to buy a separate mug
- Hard to brew for a crowd
Aeropress Go
The new Aeropress Go was released in 2019 (2). The company designed it to be a more portable version of the Aeropress. Aeropress Go features the same design and materials as the original version, but they shrunk it to about two-thirds the size.
The most apparent difference is that the Aeropress Go includes a mug and silicone lid designed to house the entire brewing set-up when traveling. Accessories like the coffee scoop, paper filter holder, and stirrer have also been redesigned to fit in the mug.
Pros:
- Very small and light
- All-in-one design includes a travel mug
- Made from durable BPA-free plastic
Cons:
- Small capacity
- Not compatible with all after-market accessories
The Face-to-Face Showdown: Aeropress vs Aeropress Go
This section pits the two brewers into four categories – portability, capacity, versatility, and price. Both brew the same delicious coffee, according to Aeropress inventor Alan Adler, so we don’t need to worry about that.
The brewing process is the same in the AeroPress and the AeroPress Go, so the quality of coffee brewed is the same
Of course, if that weren’t the case, coffee quality would be our most important criterion!
With that in mind, keep reading to decide which Aeropress is the one for you. Or whether there is a case for owning both.
Portability
The Aeropress and the Aeropress Go are both very portable coffee makers. There was a considerable surprise in the industry when the Go was released. Why? Because the Aeropress was already so popular for travel and camping.
Both coffee makers are small, lightweight, and don’t require a power source, and both are made from durable BPA-free plastic.
It is undeniable that the Aeropress Go is the more portable of the two.
First, there is the size. The Aeropress Go is about two-thirds the size of the original Aeropress and weighs 50 g less. But it’s the design that really makes the difference. The Aeropress Go includes a travel mug with a lid that houses the entire set-up, including the coffee maker and all the accessories. You’ll think nothing of tossing it in a backpack or purse. In contrast, the original version includes only a cloth travel bag, for which you’ll have to pay extra, and you’ll need to factor in bringing your mug.
There is one way in which the standard Aeropress is more travel friendly. This is important if you are a coffee lover who appreciates freshly ground coffee beans, even when you’re on the road. You can actually fit a small hand coffee grinder – the Porlex Mini is a popular choice – inside the Aeropress chamber, making for a very compact coffee brewing kit. Sadly, the Aeropress Go is too short to fit a grinder. So if you want fresh ground beans, you’ll need to provide the extra space to carry a grinder.
Winner: The Aeropress Go wins this round. It’s right there in the name. This brewer was designed to be taken on the go, though coffee drinkers who demand freshly ground beans may feel differently.
Brewing Capacity
One complaint many coffee lovers have about the original Aeropress is that it is difficult to brew coffee for a crowd. With only a 295 ml capacity, you can make a single cup or a stronger brew and dilute it into two or three Americano-type drinks. But it isn’t precisely a batch brewer.
This problem is exacerbated in the Aeropress Go, which has an even smaller 235 ml. While you can theoretically brew a strong coffee and dilute it, it’s best to think of the Aeropress Go as a single-serve coffee maker. Luckily, brewing coffee with Aeropress is very fast, thanks to the pressurized extraction, so making back-to-back coffees isn’t the end.
Winner: The regular Aeropress wins thanks to having a slightly larger capacity.
Brewing Versatility
The Aeropress Go and Aeropress are incredibly versatile, especially given their simple design. You can brew regular coffee, robust espresso-style coffee, iced coffee, and cold brew. To create new Aeropress recipes, you can experiment with grind size, water temperature, and coffee-to-water ratio. You can alter your brewing method from regular to inverted. Or you can opt for metal or paper filters to create a different style of coffee. The fact that an Aeropress World Championships exists is a testament to how creative you can get with Aeropress brewing methods (3). All of this is true of both Aeropress brewers.
The difference in this category is the after-market accessories. A few – like the popular Fellow Prismo, for example – are only compatible with the original Aeropress. This should only be a minor factor when considering your purchase. Most popular add-ons, like the Able Disk and Joepresso, work equally well with both models.
Winner: The original Aeropress just squeaks out a win in this category. Because it has been around for 14 years longer, there are simply more established accessories and recipes. But give it time, and the Aeropress Go may catch up.
Value for Money
Initially, the Aeropress Go was priced higher than the Aeropress, but that is no longer the case. Both are currently sold for around £30.
The only difference between the two is the included accessories. In both cases, you’ll get the brewer (which includes a plunger, brew chamber, and filter cap), 350 filters, a stirrer, a scoop to measure coffee, and a filter holder for extra filters. These latter three have been redesigned to fit into the mug for the Aeropress Go, with a foldable stirrer and a more compact filter holder.
The Aeropress comes with a funnel for adding coffee grounds to the brew chamber. The Aeropress Go lacks a funnel but includes a travel mug with a lid that doubles as a carrying case.
Winner: I’ll give a slight edge to the Aeropress Go in this case because the mug adds value without upping the cost. But value comes down to what you need.
The Verdict
Both Aeropress and Aeropress Go are excellent coffee makers. Indeed, they are essentially the same coffee maker. In my opinion, if you already own the Aeropress and a travel mug, there is no reason to buy the Aeropress Go. But if you don’t own either model, here’s what I would suggest:
Buy the Aeropress Go if you…
- Have strict size and weight restrictions for your travel coffee set-up.
- Don’t already own an Aeropress.
- Want the included travel mug.
Buy the Aeropress if you…
- Plan to brew at home or can afford slightly bulkier travel gear.
- Want to brew larger volumes of coffee.
- Already have a travel mug you love.
FAQs
There are different versions of the Aeropress, though the design has remained consistent over the years. Eight versions have been released since 2005. The only significant change was the switch to BPA-free plastic in 2009 due to health concerns. The other updates have all been cosmetic changes to colours and fonts.
Use a medium-fine grind size for the Aeropress and Aeropress Go to make great coffee. If you prefer to buy pre-ground coffee, a standard medium grind for a drip machine will work. But Alan Adler suggests a grind size halfway between drip and espresso for best results. Opt for finely ground coffee, closer to espresso, if you want to brew smaller shots of espresso-style coffee.
The Aeropress inverted method is a brewing technique that inverts the Aeropress to avoid water dripping into your mug before applying pressure. It is famous for brewing a richer cup of coffee, though it is more precarious and easier to spill. Both Aeropress and Aeropress Go can brew using the inverted brewing method.
References
- Prinsloo, M. (2019, March 13). The History of the AeroPress, From Concept to Championships. Retrieved from https://perfectdailygrind.com/2019/03/the-history-of-the-aeropress-from-concept-to-championships/
- Brown, N. (2019, March 15). AeroPress On the Move with the Forthcoming AeroPress Go. Retrieved from https://dailycoffeenews.com/2019/03/15/aeropress-on-the-move-with-the-forthcoming-aeropress-go/
- BeanScene Magazine. (2022). 2022 World AeroPress Championship location announced. Retrieved from https://www.beanscenemag.com.au/2022-world-aeropress-championship-location-announced/
