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The AeroPress is one of our favorite ways to get a great cup of coffee, espresso or even a delicious coffee drink like a cappuccino or latte. This great tool is perfect for making delicious coffee with the highest level of consistency.
The AeroPress is one of the best coffee makers for travel. It is lightweight, compact, and incredibly easy to use. It’s a fan favorite for backcountry campers, long international flights, and even business travelers that want a great cup of coffee no matter where they are. It is certainly one of the most useful coffee tools on the market.
Recently, a new version of AeroPress was unveiled. The AeroPress Go is the same great AeroPress product but in an even more compact and travel-friendly package. It comes with all the things you need for a great cup of coffee, including its own travel mug.
If you are considering one of these products, we’ve compiled a side-by-side review of Aeropress vs Aeropress Go so you can decide which option is the best for your travel needs.
Things To Consider Before Buying Either AeroPress
Before you run out and buy an AeroPress product, it’s helpful to know which of the two options will best suit your needs. To make this decision you’ll need to consider a few product features.
In this buying guide, we’ve compiled some of the features that you should consider while shopping for an AeroPress or AeroPress Go.
Size and Weight
To be fair, neither the AeroPress nor AeroPress Go is large or heavy. However, you do need to consider how you are actually going to use this product.
If your primary use for one of these compact coffee presses is for travel, and you really want to keep the bulk to a minimum, you’ll want to go with the AeroPress Go. This option is smaller and more compact, intended for making just a single cup of coffee.
The original AeroPress is a great pick if you want to use this press for making coffee on the go or at home. It is a bit larger and weighs a little more. However, it is able to make more than one cup of coffee, while still taking up minimal space.
Capacity
There isn’t a huge amount of difference between the AeroPress and the AeroPress Go when it comes to capacity, but there is enough difference to talk about.
If you are making coffee for more than one person, or if you really like a “large” cup of coffee, the capacity between the two products is something you need to think about. The AeroPress has a slightly larger overall capacity than the AeroPress Go.
It should be noted that with AeroPress coffee makers if you are serving more than one person, you’ll likely have to make a couple of presses worth of coffee.
This is an ideal option however if you want an easy way to make espresso for more than just yourself. Using the AeroPress options for espresso results in one to four servings of espresso.
Ease of Use
The AeroPress line of coffee makers is a great option if you don’t want to work too hard for a great cup of coffee. These are fully manual and work similarly to a French Press but in a smaller package.
The AeroPress is probably the easiest way to make espresso, and in many respects, it’s a lot faster than using a traditional espresso machine.
One of our favorite things about the AeroPress line of coffee makers is that they are all dishwasher-safe. You can make your morning joe, and throw the whole setup in the dishwasher. Cleaning the AeroPress is as easy (or maybe easier) as using the AeroPress.
Presenting the AeroPress vs AeroPress Go
When it comes to making the decision between the AeroPress and the AeroPress Go, you should weigh all the options.
The Go is designed as a travel companion, however, the original AeroPress has long been a favorite of traveling coffee lovers. Both offer a compact and easy way to make a good cup of coffee.
To help you make your choice, we’ve lined up some pros and cons of the two options so that you can clearly see which one is the best option for your needs.
Do keep in mind that these two products are fairly similar in how they operate so either way you go, you’re sure to pick a great coffee maker.
AeroPress
Pros:
- Makes up to four cups of coffee
- Completely disassembled for easy cleaning
- Lightweight, durable construction
- Comes with a useful stirring paddle
- Filter holder easily holds a full sleeve of filters
Cons:
- Doesn’t come with a mug
- Larger size, not as compact
- The coffee scoop is a bit awkward
- Still can’t brew enough coffee for multiple people
AeroPress Go
Pros:
- Comes with a handy travel mug
- Compact design
- 350 paper filters are included
- Made from BPA-free plastic
- Dishwasher safe
Cons:
- Not as much capacity as the AeroPress
- Doesn’t work well with many off-brand accessories
- Doesn’t come with a tube for filter storage
Features & Benefits
Design
The AeroPress line of coffee makers is some of the most versatile and easy-to-use coffee makers on the market today. Their simple design allows just about anyone to enjoy a wide range of coffee styles.
The AeroPress easily makes espresso, cold brew, and regular coffee by simply changing the coarseness of your coffee grounds.
Both the AeroPress and AeroPress Go utilize a simple design using metal or paper disc filters and function much like a French press.
The plunger for both models evenly presses your coffee grounds and scrapes the side of the cylinder so you don’t have to worry about a big mess to clean up.
The ease of cleaning is one of the best design features of the AeroPress line of coffee makers. Both AeroPress and AeroPress Go are made from lightweight, durable, BPA-free plastic. This sturdy design allows all the parts of the coffee maker to be top-shelf dishwasher safe, so cleaning is easy.
Both coffee makers also fully disassemble so you are able to get all the nooks and crannies of the AeroPress clean.
Size & Weight
One of the best features of AeroPress and AeroPress Go is their compact size. The AeroPress is a favorite of travelers and small kitchen owners because it is exceptionally compact and easy to store. The AeroPress Go is even more compact and lightweight than the AeroPress original.
Though AeroPress Go only makes 3 cups of coffee, instead of 4, this coffee maker is ideal for traveling. The Go is lighter than the AeroPress and is two-thirds the size of the original AeroPress.
If you are looking for an option that fits easily in camping bins, your suitcase, or a small cabinet, the Go is a great option thanks to its compact size and lightweight construction.
Portability
The original AeroPress is a fan favorite for travel. The AeroPress Go makes enjoying your favorite coffee drinks even more portable. The smaller, more compact design of the AeroPress Go is ideal for packing in a suitcase or with your camping gear. The parts of the press all connect so you don’t have to worry about losing parts or figuring out how to arrange multiple parts in your luggage.
The Go was designed with travel in mind. It comes with its own mug that securely attaches to the bottom of the maker. The Go mug has a nice rubber lid so you can take your hot coffee on the trail, or in your cup holder for a day on the road. We like the security of the lid, it doesn’t come off easily so it prevents spills well, which is a great feature of a portable coffee maker and mug.
Capacity
Capacity is the one place where AeroPress is better than the Go. The Go can make three shots of espresso or a single, 8-ounce cup of regular coffee. The AeroPress on the other hand increases that capacity to 4 shots of espresso and 10 ounces of regular coffee.
When it comes to regular coffee, neither option is great if you need to make coffee for more than one or two people. You’ll only get one cup of coffee at a time from both the original AeroPress and the Go. We would only really recommend the AeroPress or AeroPress Go for one or two people.
Alternatives
If you’re not sure about AeroPress or AeroPress Go and want to check out some similar products, we’ve compiled a list of similar products that allow you to enjoy coffee on the go.
1. Stanley Travel Mug French Press
If you want an option that is sturdy and takes a bit of rough and tumble, the Stanley Travel Mug French Press is a great option. This coffee maker and mug combination are made with the same heavy-duty stainless steel that other Stanley products are known for.
One of the best features of the Stanley travel mug and French press is that it can be used for more than just coffee. The plunger can be removed and replaced with a nice sipping lid, so you can also enjoy tea, hot chocolate, or any of your favorite hot or cold beverages.
The thermal design of the Stanley mug keeps your drinks hot (or cold) for multiple hours. So you don’t have to worry about chugging your hot coffee. The cup holds 16 ounces of beverage and is slender enough to fit comfortably in most vehicle cup holders.
Our complaint about the Stanley is that it really is a one-person coffee maker. It works great, but since you make your coffee directly in the mug, there’s really not a good way to share.
2. Delter Coffee Press
You’ll notice a lot of similarities to the AeroPress when you’re looking at the Delter Press. Both options work very similarly, utilizing a filter and a plunger press to brew a coffee.
The biggest difference between the two options is that the Delter keeps the water and coffee separate until you are ready to brew.
Instead of steeping your grounds in the cylinder, the Delter uses injection brewing, which is more similar to how an espresso machine would work. This results in a more robust coffee, and if you really love a strong cup of espresso, the Delter may be a more logical choice.
The Delter is also nice because you can make a couple of cups of coffee without adding more grounds, thanks to the separation of grounds and water, and the injection-style brewing.
3. ESPRO P0 Ultralight French Press
The Espro P0 ultralight French Press is a nice single-serve option if you want to brew your coffee and not have to worry about transferring it to another container for drinking.
The Espro is one of our favorite portable French press coffee makers because it utilizes an ultra-fine mesh filter to keep grounds and grit from mixing with your coffee.
The insulated stainless steel construction keeps your coffee hot for around 3 hours. The Espro comes with a tight sealing lid with a handle so you can utilize the mug for other beverages when your coffee is gone.
Aeropress vs Aeropress Go – Final Thoughts
When it comes to picking the AeroPress or the AeroPress Go, you really need to consider where and how you’re planning on using your coffee press. While the AeroPress original has been popular for travel, thanks to its compact size, the Go really improves the portability of the AeroPress.
If you’re not using this coffee press for travel, we’d recommend that you stick with the original AeroPress. If portability and travel are what you have in mind, the Go and its mug and compact design is a great pick for you.
Overall, we really like both of these coffee presses. AeroPress’s quality and durability make either the AeroPress original or the AeroPress Go a great option for coffee lovers.
