The AeroPress is a hugely successful coffee brewer that hit the scene in 2005. Invented by Alan Adler (who also produced the well-known Aerobie flying ring), the AeroPress quickly rose to fame given how quick and easy it was to brew with.
The AeroPress was basically the simple route in specialty coffee. As opposed to the also popular Pour Over, the Aeropress came with all the accessories required for brewing, was simple to use, and could be easily transported or taken on adventures.
Fast forward 14 years, and in 2019 the AeroPress Go was released. This came as a surprise to the coffee world as the AeroPress was already known to be a very travel-friendly coffee maker. In this review, we will set the AeroPress against the AeroPress Go in a duel to see which brewer comes out on top.
The AeroPress
The AeroPress is a manual coffee maker that in many ways resembles a giant syringe. It is made up of three components: a plunger and seal, a brew chamber, and a filter cap. Coffee is brewed using a combination of steeping time and pressure. While this may sound complicated, brewing is anything but. Ground coffee is placed into the brewing chamber, hot water is added for a period of time and then the plunger is gently pushed down, forcing the water through the coffee grinds and filter and into the cup.
While the AeroPress is effortless to use, there are thousands of variations in the way you can brew with one. To name a few, you can play around with the dose of coffee, coffee-to-water ratio, steeping time, water temperature, and using a paper or metal filter. Altering any of these variables will result in a slightly different tasting brew, which is part of its beauty. In terms of taste, if you opt for a short brew time the AeroPress coffee will be similar in taste and texture to Pour Over coffee. If you opt for a long brew time or use the metal filter, the coffee will be richer with a heavy mouthfeel, more similar to French Press coffee. See our guide to how to use an Aeropress for some brewing tips.
The versatility, simplicity, and sturdy build of the AeroPress are all reasons this brewer is so well-loved in the coffee community. The only criticism users have for it is the limited capacity. The AeroPress is really a single-serve brewer, or can make coffee for two at a push.
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The AeroPress Go
The AeroPress Go was designed to be a more travel-friendly version of the AeroPress. While the AeroPress Go functions in the same way as the AeroPress, it has a smaller capacity and is slightly shorter than the original, at about one-third the size. Like the AeroPress, the Go comes equipped with all the accessories required to start brewing. Some of these have been redesigned so that they all pack up neatly into an eight-ounce travel cup, which is very convenient for travel.
The compact and lightweight design of the AeroPress Go makes it the go-to brewer for travel.
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AeroPress vs AeroPress Go
So now let’s compare the AeroPress vs AeroPress Go to see the differences in portability, capacity, versatility and value for money.
Brewing Capacity
When it comes to brewing with the AeroPress vs AeroPress Go there is no difference, and both brewers will produce the same quality coffee. The one complaint users have had with the AeroPress is that it is really only a single-serve brewer. The original has a 10 oz capacity so can brew a single cup of coffee or two at a push.
Unfortunately, the AeroPress Go has an even smaller capacity of only 8 oz, so really is strictly single-serve. Thankfully, brewing is quick so you can pump out multiple drinks with no problem.
Portability
AeroPress
Dimensions: 5.4″ x 4.2″ x 3.8″
Weight: 13 oz
Capacity: 10 oz
AeroPress Go
Dimensions: 4.6″ x 3.6″ x 3.6″
Weight: 11 oz
Capacity: 8 oz
The AeroPress was renowned for being a very travel-friendly coffee maker, which was why it was a surprise when the AeroPress Go was released. It seemed like an attempt to solve a problem most people didn’t have. Both coffee makers are small, lightweight, and made of sturdy BPA-free plastic that can stand up to a beating. The other advantage of the AeroPress for travel is that it can be used with minimal other gear.
When it comes to portability, the AeroPress Go has a slight edge, weighing less and having a smaller design. The fact that the coffee maker and accessories all pack up into a travel mug and lid is another huge advantage.
While the AeroPress is still portable, it does not come with a bag to store everything in, this must be purchased separately. If you like to grind fresh beans when traveling the AeroPress does have the upper hand, able to fit a small coffee grinder like the 1Zpresso Q2, Porlex Mini or Aergrind into the chamber.
Versatility
Both the AeroPress and AeroPress Go are extremely versatile brewers. As mentioned earlier, there is a huge range of brewing parameters that can be tweaked to produce different brews. If you look online you will find hundreds of different AeroPress recipes, including ones from the Aeropress World Championships to try out. In addition to using different recipes, you can also brew iced coffee or cold brew AeroPress coffee.
There is also a range of additional accessories you can purchase to go alongside your AeroPress. Popular accessories include the:
Fellow Prismo- The Fellow Prismo is a popular accessory that is only compatible with the AeroPress. It is a pressurized valve that works in a similar way to a pressurized portafilter basket, producing espresso-like coffee. While it produces a stronger coffee, it is still a far cry from espresso.
Joepresso- The Joepresso attachment is similar to the Fellow Prismo with the goal of creating espresso-like coffee. It comes with a pressurized basket and tamp. While it does produce a stronger brew it is still not able to reach the pressures required for real espresso. The Joepresso v2 is compatible with both the AeroPress and AeroPress Go.
Puck Puck Cold Brew Adapter- The Puck Puck is another interesting accessory that can be attached to the top of the brewing chamber and slowly drips cold water over the grinds to create cold brew in 2-3 hours. This accessory is also only compatible with the AeroPress Original.
Able Disk- The Able Disk is a metal AeroPress filter that fits perfectly into the AeroPress cap. There are two filters available; a standard one which is thick and robust and a fine one which is thin with smaller holes. The standard filter functions like a typical metal filter, while the fine filter produces a cleaner cup with less sediment. Using a metal filter will produce a rich, heavy coffee similar to French Press. The Able disk is compatible with both the AeroPress and AeroPress Go.
As you can see there is a huge amount of versatility in how you use an AeroPress or AeroPress Go. However, the original does come out on top having been around for much longer, there are more resources and accessories available for it.
Value For Money
Finally, we come to value for money. Both the AeroPress and AeroPress Go retail for the same price. The difference between the two comes down to the accessories included. Both models come with the brewer (plunger, chamber, and filter cap), 350 filters, a stirrer, a filter holder, and a scoop. In the AeroPress Go, these last three accessories have been redesigned for portability. The stirrer folds up and isn’t as convenient to use. The filter holder is smaller, holding only 20 filters and the scoop is shorter.
The AeroPress classic also comes with a funnel to add ground coffee to the brewing chamber. A travel tote bag, to store everything in, can also be purchased for an additional cost.
However, the AeroPress Go wins out here with the addition of the travel mug and lid to use when brewing and which also doubles to store everything.
Which Is Better For Travel?
The AeroPress Go is the obvious choice if you are looking for an AeroPress for travel. It has been designed with this in mind, is smaller, lighter, and packs into a convenient travel mug with a silicone lid.
AeroPress vs AeroPress Go- The Bottom Line
So should you choose the AeroPress or the AeroPress Go. The bottom line is that it comes down to where you are intending on brewing. If you are looking for an AeroPress that you will mainly use at home it is best to stick to the original. This has a larger capacity, and more accessories available.
If you are looking for an AeroPress for travel, the AeroPress Go is the obvious choice with its compact, lightweight design. However, it is hard not to conclude that the Go model was the answer to a question that very few people were actually asking.
If you already own an AeroPress, in our opinion, there is no reason to upgrade to the AeroPress Go. And our ultimate preference would still land with the classic model.
Faqs
Can you fit a grinder in the AeroPress Go?
A popular travel-hack with the AeroPress is that you can fit a small grinder like the 1Zpresso Q2 or Porlex mini into the brewing chamber. Unfortunately, this cannot be done with the AeroPress Go. The AeroPress Go is too short to fit any of these grinders in.
What is the AeroPress inverted method?
The AeroPress Inverted Method is a brewing technique that involves brewing with the AeroPress upside down (with the filter cap at the top) and then flipping the AeroPress and drinking vessel before plunging. Brewing with this method means there is no leakage during extraction. However, flipping the AeroPress can be difficult and is easier to spill.
What Grind Size Do I Use for an AeroPress and AeroPress Go?
What grind size you use will come down to the recipe you are using. If you are brewing with a quick brew time you will need a fine grind size- slightly finer than table salt.
If you are brewing with a longer steeping time you will need a medium grind size with a similar consistency to sand.
What is the difference between the AeroPress vs AeroPress Go?
This chart from AeroPress is an excellent summary of the difference between the AeroPress vs AeroPress Go.
