I'm not ready to invest in an espresso grinder and machine right now but I want to make something akin to a cappuccino on the weekends. Weekdays I use the trusty french press for my morning brew but it seems like I might be able to get something a little more pungent and espresso like out of the Aeropress, no? I was thinking this combined with an Aerolatte or Bonjour whirly frother would do the trick until I'm ready to take the plunge. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

If you are using freshly roasted coffee, and IF you have a decent grinder, then try the The "Coava Disk" in the Aeropress instead of using the paper filters. That setup with the milk frother should make a very drinkable beverage.

If you are buying pre-ground coffee or getting it in the big red plastic cans then it won't matter much.

Just picked up a Virtuoso a few days ago

Out of curiosity, what advantage will the metal filter provide?

PressingMatters wrote:Just picked up a Virtuoso a few days ago

From Williams Sonoma?

I got the last one from the Santa Monica store the other day.

Randy

PressingMatters wrote:Out of curiosity, what advantage will the metal filter provide?

Good question. The paper filters (for all methods of coffee preparation) tend to filter out oils and other elements. You want those in the cup. I find (stress the "me" factor) that the Espro Press give a fuller, rounder tasting cup then the Aeropress does when using the paper filters. So much so that I put the Aeropress aside and just use the Espro press when I want a single cup of coffee. The Espro has stainless steel screen filters built into the plunger. Remarkable when you consider that the Espro brews by immersion and the Aeropress first immerses the coffee then brews under pressure. I have not tried the The Coava Disk yet, but maybe some time in the future it will happen. I have read positive reports on it from a user or two though.

I think that the Virtuoso will serve you well for either (or both) methods.

Since you have a grinder, also consider the Mypressi Twist. It uses NO2 cartridges and pulls 4 doubles per cartridge. It is a "real" espresso machine and can brew a remarkable cup of espresso considering that it only costs $150.

randytsuch wrote:From Williams Sonoma?

I got the last one from the Santa Monica store the other day.

Randy

What a deal, huh?

Randy G: Thanks for explanation. Of course, now you have me contemplating the Espro and Mypressi, but I think for the purposes of the poor man's cappuccino the Aero fits the bill.