AeroPress XL

Equipment notes

The AeroPress XL is a double-capacity version of the AeroPress, invented by Alan Adler, the engineer behind the Aerobie flying disc. It keeps the original's core design idea of using air pressure to shorten extraction time and suppress bitterness, while expanding the chamber so a single press can brew enough for two people. The principle is the same as the standard model. Coffee steeps briefly inside the cylinder, then the plunger pushes it through a paper microfilter under air pressure, capturing the body of immersion together with the clean texture of paper filtration. The larger chamber does require dedicated XL filters, and the inverted method calls for more care than on the standard model because of the added size and weight. The basic approach is a 1 to 2 minute steep followed by a gentle 20 to 30 second press, using hotter water for light roasts and lower temperatures to tame bitterness in dark roasts. Brew it strong and dilute, and you can serve americano-style coffee for a group in one go. This is a brewer for those who want to keep the AeroPress's forgiveness and room for experimentation while removing only its limit on capacity.

Filters that fit

• AeroPress XL StandardDefault
• AeroPress Stainless Steel Filter XLOriginal