Review: It's American Press

[@jaymackenzie6410]

I brew with one at work and have done so for the last two years. I really enjoy it partly because it feels robust and makes a good cup once you've got everything dialed in, but mostly because no one else knows how to use it so it doesn't go wandering like my French Press used to.

[@Adam-vx6to]

Jay Mackenzie genius

[@ladyflimflam]

Non-wandering is an important consideration. Possibly the perfect use case.

[@Adam-vx6to]

@@ladyflimflam It's all about confusing the enemy

[@saeedanasir]

What grind do you use? And how long do you let it sit??

[@timothybracken1728]

usually, i use finer and i let it pre-infuse for a minute. their website has a guide on how to use it. once you pre infuse and let it sit on the top of the press then slowly push down with moderate pressure and finally pour

[@JBB1970]

Coffee Attenborough. You’re my favourite softly-spoken coffee-loving Englishman.

[@bungiecoocoo]

Jeremy Beasley coffee Attenborough! Yes that sums him up perfectly! Haha good one

[@eknib]

There are other softly spoken coffee loving Englishmen on KZbin? :O

[@48956l]

I see people compare hosts with British accents to Attenborough literally weekly. This isn’t a compliment, it’s meaningless, and if British people were underprivileged it would literally be racist.

[@samwise1790]

@@48956l take the stick out of your ass

[@cognitivedissonancecamp6326]

There are only two things in the world I can stomach with a Brit accent one is Monty Python and the other is this channel. Ok, three with D.A.

[@voltagecoffeeproject8078]

After speaking with the owner, they recommend pushing down just until the coffee is fully saturated with the water. Then let it soak for a minute before finishing the plunge. I ran into all the same issues that James ran into and came to the same assessment, but the coffee was better after taking their tip and letting the coffee soak before plunging.

[@time1187]

You could even go as long as 3 minutes like I do if the grind is medium coarse..total max brew time recommended including pre-infusion is 4 minutes.

[@LiveLoveLaugh102310]

@Luthfi right?! Lol

[@stefanshapiro1245]

The Espro mug does almost exactly this. It looks very similar to this product except that you put the coffee on the bottom below the filter. You let the coffee sit in the water for a few minutes then push the plunger down, isolating the water from the grounds. It's better than French press because it has a very fine double filter so you can use a medium-to-fine grind size.

[@hawleyrigsby3123]

Late to this, but really confused: are there no instructions provided at point of sale?

[@mukkaar]

I mean, it's immersion coffee maker at that point. Might as well go with aeropress which is simpler, cheaper and probably just better

[@DRoth2150]

I have one of these. It's a good "office" device. My office doesn't have the greatest coffee so I often use an American Press there to make my own coffee. The ease of cleaning really shines in that environment and it's a little quicker to make than a V60. One thing I do is I let it "bloom" in a way. I get the puck almost completely submerged and let it sit for about 15 seconds. This increases the contact time and makes a slightly better cup of coffee.

[@iletyoucallmestevesy]

*You use It's American Press

[@Joric78]

@@iletyoucallmestevesy It's worse than that, it's *You use an It's American Press.

[@Daddy-Samy]

Get an aeropress :D

[@forget3817]

Quicker than a V60? Don't you just toss the V60 filter?

[@serialragamuffin]

I feel a bit like the shirt is foreshadowing. It’s American Press, it’s fine.

[@icyvapor]

Thought it's about the proper ground size.

[@serialragamuffin]

Felix Wang it’s a joke (the joke was fine too)

[@icyvapor]

@@serialragamuffin Yep, totally fine.

[@andersenzheng]

...

[@willnzsurf]

It's not unpleasant...

[@o0Avalon0o]

Since you said "American," my brain went into American mode, so when you next said it was "60 pounds," I was impressed you could hold it so easily in one hand... and then I immediately laughed at myself.

[@Ziris85]

I did the exact same thing 😆

[@ThePdog3k]

I did the exact same thing 🤣

[@Sir.YeetusIII]

😂😂😂

[@jthibault5353]

Glad I wasn’t the only one who was momentarily thrown 😂

[@Daltwardo]

Tungsten and lead is now food safe.

[@eclogite]

I absolutely love the aesthetic of the clear water right next to the coffee as it's pressed. Like you're painting the liquid.

[@edghhfdchjnmmm]

a good chuck of my reason for purchasing this was just on that aesthetic alone. i use this everyday at this point. it's a beautiful brewer in my simplistic mind and it has done a great job in making my coffee the way i like it. i usually use a medium fine grind, pre-infuse for a good 4 or 5 minutes, press for 30-50 seconds and i always get great cups from it.

[@chompers5568]

I can't be the only one, I've never drunk coffee yet enjoy these video's no end. The oddity of knowing the prefect method for a V60, the difference taste of the papers and that creme effects the taste of an Americano, how eggs mix with coffee, why expressos aren't as beautiful as they once were but not drinking coffee is just weird.

[@crazyjoedavola9002]

Go and drink some coffee.

[@114HAna]

Me too, I'm more tea person but I find these very intresting. My partner is into coffee so I have have bought v60 kit for christmas because of these videos!

[@sas3dx]

But.... Why... Why you don't drink coffee?

[@allenlark]

Did you say expressos? Is that what you call it when you reuse grounds for something?

[@tmpecho]

You cant never have had some coffee..

[@emceeunderdogrising]

I haven't seen the American press turn out this level of quality in decades.

[@yuccatree4298]

Well fucking said. Excellent 👍🏼🙌🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼✨🧡

[@rubensoeteman]

Savage :D

[@alsteiner7602]

Perfect 🥰

[@citizenoftheninthdivision]

That's because they're all owned by only 6 companies.

[@kristoffer3000]

That's because they're only there to shape your opinion, not inform you.

[@DavidRamseyIII]

“Let’s see how far away from good this is” - Tony Robbins

[@trentkollar9419]

Had this for about a year now. Use it 2 time a week maybe as a college student. As far as longevity the mesh is still kicking! I will have to replace it in a few months. What you said about this is more a "dark roast" brewer is pretty spot on. When you are really able to play with this think it can make some killer coffee with little to no mess. Very good for travel because of the plastic instead of glass, don't have to worry about it breaking! As always James great video, as a "third wave barista" you are always my go to for coffee gear advances in the industry. Keep it up my friend.

[@mattiaricci910]

To me this brewer is kind of weird, as you said it fixes problems that, at least for me, are non existent. Great review James! Waiting for the ultimate recipe for the AeroPress

[@Robert.Dickson]

Mattia Ricci I’m waiting for that recipe too. 😁😁

[@marcusnewey8287]

me too!

[@worawatli8952]

That's what American are great at, fixing problems that aren't problems. Make the world buy anythings.

[@manictiger]

​@@worawatli8952 (Insert ridiculous over-acting.) Are you tired of (problem that no one ever has)? Well boy do we have the solution for you! Introducing (useless product that doesn't do what is claimed)! For only 29.99. Wait, scratch that! For this LIMITED TIME OFFER of 9.99...

[@zehph]

@@manictiger Except this time is 80 freaking dollars! Haha

[@katherinemize9380]

I bought It’s American Press based on this review because it solves these problems for me: (1) The coffee is very hot when made and since I add half and half the mixture is then the perfect temperature immediately. (2) I am not a good pourer or particularly patient and this is the perfect setup for those issues. (3) It makes one large mug of coffee, which is the perfect amount for me as the lone coffee drinker. (4) It really is very easy to remove grounds without spilling. (5) Everything goes in the dishwasher. (6) The taste of the brewed coffee is very clean. I let it steep for 2 minutes and then complete the press with a medium-dark roast.

[@ajcsinclair]

I've used this for about a year or two, min twice a day every day. I now charge the coffee by holding it just under the top part of the water for a min or 2 then I slowly push it down to get a decent pre-infusion. I get a more robust cup than the Aeropress out of it. The only flaw I have it the top mesh pops out from time to time when I do the washing up. Other than that I have not had an issue at all. If you forget that top mesh then you end up with a lot of excitement and mess. The good thing about it is that I don't need to add water after it's just how I want it, clean up is much easier than the french press, and the vacuum walls mean I get a constant temp for longer.

[@JC-fj7oo]

If you want a robust cup and easy to clean, Just get a metal filter for the aeropress. They're like 10 bucks. Or you can drop 25 and get the prismo anti-drip valve with a metal filter. That american press has a fun look. And it's impressive when guests see you push down and it changes like some kind of coffee-jesus. But 80 dollars is just too much. I'd rather put that into a better grinder or better beans or water filter... 401k? The point about the walls is good though. It's kind of a brewer and a thermos in one. Though a purpose built thermos will keep the coffee hot for like 12 hours and it won't keep extracting. And they can be had for 15 bucks. Or $2. Goodwill is full of brand new thermoses with the paperwork still in them.

[@nugrahaprihutama8789]

Alex Sinclair how's the result between american press and aeropress ?

[@JC-fj7oo]

@@nugrahaprihutama8789 The american press uses a hole filter instead of a paper filter. You can buy a metal hole filter for an Aeropress for a few bucks. Other than that the only difference in flavor is going to be how long you let it steep and grind size. But the aero has more options. You can use paper filters, you can brew upside down for longer steeping. You can use it upright like a v60. You can press light until you get to air, or you can press harder and squeeze the grounds dry. The american press only has one brewing style. Which you might like, but you can do the same thing and more with an aeropress. For much cheaper.

[@ajcsinclair]

I prefer the American press to be fair. Less mess more contained but it takes timing to get it to the same strength. I steep my American press just under the water line for 30 seconds then press. The added pressure of the wet grind helps give a much better flavor though it takes some doing.

[@jasonbrown323]

@@JC-fj7oo or buy both.

[@PeterAmbos]

When I saw the title I thought "please let this not just be the Freedom Fries of immersion brewers", and I am very happy to see that it seems to be very much its own thing.

[@MPInvictus]

It's American KZbin Viewer: I heard him say "it's 60 pounds" and my gut reaction was "there's no way that thing weighs that much, it's so small!"

[@unspecifiedx2096]

Same lol

[@sophianradio]

That's $70-80, depending on how Brexit Britain is being today.

[@protohipster7015]

I thought it was the weight of money. Like like for instance, 1 dollar in England weighs about one pound.. so it takes 60 pounds of money to buy this thing...

[@justjuanpanda]

Me too lmao

[@maamold]

Rats just saw your comment....I delete the exact same comment I just made :-)

[@hcrivelli]

“Weak, watery, not unpleasant but not pleasant either” So it really is American coffee after all

[@LeonardoBorges]

Henrique C. Hahhahha

[@starwf07]

Ouch...

[@vegahimsa3057]

Like sex in a canoe

[@Valspartame_Maelstrom]

bruhh

[@tomh.5750]

Not american, starbucks coffee. Dont think there is such a thing as american coffee actually but if there is it would have to be made the old way no sugar no milk just coffee and of course, boiled above a camp fire

[@usel1500]

I do not care for coffee at all, but I love watching your videos. You have a lovely presence. Thanks for making excellent content.

[@moranalilith]

I'd like to see your brewing technique on a vietnamese filter press, both the tamp version and the screw down version. You test things in such a scientific way, I love it.

[@rosetrinh3939]

I've had It's American Press for about a year. My trick with adding coffee to the pod if you already have an aeropress is using the funnel from the Aeropress to add your grinds to the pod. You can also extract better by just pressing enough for the water to come up from the top and time it for a minute or two before plunging

[@xanderthekid]

Rose T Yes! Not knowing this brewer, I was wishing James would try something like an extended pre-infusion.

[@rosetrinh3939]

@@xanderthekid I found pre-infusion to be key for this brewer!!

[@ajcsinclair]

I pre-infuse too much better cup.

[@whiskyguzzler982]

Do over with proper bloom/pre-infusion?

[@jrip4789]

I used one for a few years. There is a inverse relationship between fineness of the grind and the ease of plunging. Clean up was a charm. I never had a problem with the gaskets. The clear plastic parts, however, will degrade over time. I needed to replace my pod twice. However, customer service was really great and made things easy to get things done. Also, for those wondering: do not double plunge. Pulling the plunger up through the column of liquid will create a vacuum against the interior of the carafe and it will eventually distort the plastic.

[@tcarr6822]

OMG, I've been waiting for this review!!! My American press is my go to. I have been on the move (4 different apartment/houses) due to work. Its space savings, portability, simplicity, no filter, and easy clean features have made it essential to my every day. With long commutes I have even brewed on the go (prep the pod and carry or get hot water). Lastly, if I know the field conditions I'll pair it with my msr. Its weight can be cumbersome but for a full cup of coffee it worth it to me.

[@corrda1993]

As a touring musician I see the same potential. This and a hand grinder can fit easily in a guitar case. You could feasibly fill this up with hot water and brew it anywhere on the go and have fresh coffee anywhere.

[@WithUsStillMusic]

The thing I can see it being used best for is something I’d take to work after I already had my morning coffee but need a mid afternoon pick me up. I’d probably spend some time dialing it in when I first got it and, once I dialed it in, it would travel with me daily to work. The benefits of it being a work place maker is that you could prep it in the morning before you leave with coffee and then, as long as your workplace can supply hot water, make coffee later in the day. Then, when you get home, clean it, let it dry overnight, and then prepare it for the day once more.

[@WayneReich]

I'm coming to this a tad late, but I have also been using this product almost daily for about two years now. The main point of contrast I find in my own routine is that I let the coffee rest at the top of the column just after I can see the coffee seeping through the top mesh , and I let it sit there for about 30-60 seconds. I have found that this lets me get a little courser on the grind without clogging up the mesh filter as would sometimes happen with finer grinds, otherwise making it more difficult to press. I like the way the double-wall insulation keeps my coffee hot and portable in the original brewing vessel so I can make coffee first, prepare breakfast second and the coffee is still very hot and ready to pour when I'm ready. I can also say that I was concerned about the durability of the mesh when I first received it, but it hasn't failed, yet.

[@time1187]

How are those rubber gaskets/seals holding up for you? I’m a bit concern that it will deteriorate due to exposure to hot water...

[@WayneReich]

khalis711 - I’m not having any issues with the gaskets. Keeping all the components clean and dry between uses is important, just as it is with most brewers.

[@dnyaneshkulkarni]

“..and things like small changes to grind size will have a big impact on the way the water moves through the coffee cake.” Next thing you know, James is publishing hydrodynamic chaos equations depicting the butterfly effect for the percolation method of brewing coffee. PS - as a physics student, I find your quantitative insights into how-to-coffee greatly joyful!

[@brianharder7714]

I've had one since they first came out 3-4(?) years ago. I simply love how the process looked. I've also never been a fan of the grit in French press so this seemed a nice alternative. As others no doubt state below, immersing the pod just enough and then let the steep happen for 1-2 minutes before pressing makes a huge difference. I like this better than shrinking the grind size due to the increased difficulty in pressing the coffee when doing so. As for the screen longevity, no issues so far. I also like the fact that it makes a full cup of coffee (American size) compared to the Aero Press where I typically top off the cup to fill it up.

[@OowoO]

Brian Harder I had it since they first came out too... played with it and didn’t quiet enjoy the coffe from it. I gave it away and went back to using all the other brewing methods specially aeropress which I loved far more.

[@rbnhd1976]

I would so adore a taller aeropress

[@ArdyIRL]

Thanks for this review James ! I think this does fix my relatively few set of problems that I have, and your presentation of that showed me, more than their promotional material. Much love from Japan!

[@AMTunLimited]

I'm so glad there are people like you who can take something as seemingly "mundane" as coffee and put so much experience and quiet passion and thought into it and make all of our lives better. Also, pre-infusion? I'm not actually sure what it would do, but it seems like something it *can* do. Maybe escape so CO2, like a bloom?

[@acostaguill]

Thank you for another excellent video. I own an It's American Press (agreed, it's name is cumbersome), and have brewed my morning coffee with it for just over a year. I was intrigued by the "...press without the mess..." claim, the vacuum insulated, double wall carafe, and the internal pressure during the press due to the tight seal the pod gasket makes against the carafe wall. It was a stretch to justify the purchase, yes, but I was feeling adventurous. The pod has proven a breeze to clean, and all of the components appear to be holding up well. Yes, I agree the unit would benefit from having a slightly larger diameter, but more from the standpoint of being able to easily clean the bottom of the carafe (my hands just barely don't fit, and I'm not a big person). Early on, I brewed my share of weak coffee with it, too-but this is easily remedied by the suggestion in the instructions (and on the website) of a short "pre-infusion" period. I have found that when my grind is on the fine side, pressing can be difficult as the screen is very fine and will become congested (also covered in the instructions). I prefer darker roasts, so coarser grinds suit me just fine. For any interested viewers/readers, I would say expect to experiment with the technique to see what works best for you. That's been part of the fun, though. Thanks again- your videos are enlightening and entertaining. :)

[@sinocte]

Like someone else commented, this seems like it would be great to have at your desk at work, not necessarily for home use. When you're talking about a work environment where your break room isn't necessarily full featured, ease of clean-up would definitely weigh heavily in the decision making. I would also be curious to see how it would do with loose leaf teas. Some varieties of tea prefer a shorter contact time.

[@Aerowind]

"It's the press without a mess." But I already have an aeropress.

[@Rick-wn5oh]

Let's see. I can spend 2 times the amount for something almost as good as an aeropress. Same form factor and nothing is as easy as easy to clean as the aeropress. Seems like James avoided talking about the aeropress just a little.

[@Caffeine.And.Carvings]

This. Aeropress: throw puck away, rinse rubber gasket, done. American press, clean two mesh parts. Always a pain to clean mesh parts and fine grounds

[@gonzajd777]

buy a expresso machine, why ppl complicate his life there is a very good ones for a couple of pounds

[@Rick-wn5oh]

@@gonzajd777 Not everybody wants an espresso machine. Some people just want a Cup of coffee. An aeropress is a great choice. But not that American thing.

[@JulienGaudfroy]

@@gonzajd777 if you want inferior coffee, do not buy good beans, sure !

[@MobileObserver]

I have one of these. It's an excellent office coffee maker. At home, I'll basically never reach for it; but at work, it's the best way to get great coffee that cleans up well. I've had it for a year, and with pretty regular... okay, constant use (expose my addiction, why don't you), the mesh has held up well, and the gaskets have not proved to be an issue. I am happy to have this one in my collection.

[@hybridheroplays]

James Hoffman has the best hairstyle on KZbin.

[@nibaljbn8572]

He's kinda a mix of a silver Fox and Bob Ross

[@shermano2153]

Don't forget David lynch

[@Rick_Hoppe]

Bradley Fisher - James’s hair is more than best, it’s important.

[@jvebarnes]

I think his hair reflects how much coffee he has drunk that day when making episodes.

[@Crusader_No]

С этим может поспорить Михаил Борзенков (бывший редактор What Hi-Fi Russia) :)

[@fukomoku]

I would probably use it for an afternoon coffee. The process is visually appealing so if you are hanging out with someone that would be nice too 👌🏻✨

[@trumanseverson]

James: that smells wildly under-extracted me: you can't REALLY smell extraction James: and I know you can't smell extraction...

[@BibleStorm]

You kind of can though, if you know what your dose, roast and grind is meant to taste like. But I guess it's not that simple.

[@NikoBellaKhouf]

You can. You know when something is weak just by smelling it.

[@Chinookman]

Get iced coffee at Panera. Tell the 12 year olds something is very wrong. Looks like weak tea. They try to tell me it’s coffee. I say okay I’ll taste it. Tastes like water. They make me a new one. I ask how it’s made. They brew it over ice they say so that it’s cold. Ah, lightbulb goes off. Dummies. Eyes, nose...yeah you can sort of tell.

[@duffman18]

@@Chinookman that's the proper way to make iced coffee. James has a video on it. It's the Japanese method. You use hot water pour over method, but have ice cubes in the container below. And you use the same amount of water total, so it's not more watery than usual. It's just you use the same amount of water but some of it starts off frozen. Perhaps you have only ever had bad coffee, and so you think coffee is meant to taste really bitter and sour, and so when you get a properly made coffee that's brewed with excellent coffee beans that are freshly ground, you don't even recognise it as coffee, because it lacks all that instant-coffee bitterness you're used to.

[@TheRealMycanthrope]

@@duffman18 bro stfu, no-one asked lmao

[@pete9894]

That intro was so good James! The whimsical music with the waving flags. You're video making skills get better every video!

[@M60Smurf]

Having used this for two years almost daily, it is my go to brewer. You are not wrong, slight adjustments to grind and temperature have a big impact, and that is the amazing part. I vary from light roast single origins to dark roast blends and this is amazing (once you know how to use it) also preinfusion is a game changer.

[@shaunspruch5369]

I bought this when it was on Indiegogo at the beginning about 4 years ago and it has served me well. I use it mainly at work and alternate between it and my Aeropress. Its a great device and IMO makes great coffee. I like the quick convenience of it.. Thanks for the review!

[@sriampojwalam4907]

James I have been watching your videos for a while now... but wow that intro, the segway into the video, the overall production quality... all 100% spot on this time. I dont know what you're doing but I am impressed.

[@ferbeybill]

I own an Aeropress and The American Press...I definitely use the Aeropress more often. The American Press works fine but the issues I've experienced are price, small pod size, getting the grind right and difficulty in pressing. The first one I owned was so hard to press it became almost unusable, that alone made it hard to recommend. I bought a second one because I really like the idea of this and the customer service is personal and top notch. It does help if you let the coffee steep for a minute or so and pull it up a couple of times at the end as you did. I can't seem to get a strong enough cup of coffee with this like I can with the Aeropress.

[@wilfrancis554]

Enjoyed your video James. I have actually had the American Press (I, too, dropped the ‘it’s’ almost immediately) for about three years. I purchased it through the original Indiegogo campaign. I don’t use it every day, and prefer to use a Bialetti Moka of a morning, but I do use it once or twice a week, and everything has held up quite fine. The mesh is still flexible without being warped, and the rubber shows no sign of wear.

[@brianperry889]

Saying nothing of a awkwardly named coffee tool, I have to say: This current studio setup is really, really fantastic. The back-light of the shelving is spot-on and really allows a perfect showcase of what you’re explaining at the table. Bravo.

[@vennic]

James, for what it's worth, your recommended French press method had the happy consequence of easier cleanup of the plunger, which wasn't mentioned in that video but has made me reach for it more often, and helps balance out the extra time it takes to brew.

[@spaghetticode3107]

Love the review, always fun to see interesting brewing techniques. Please do the "breaking bad" style vacuum brew as well in the future!

[@exJacktar]

I have been using this press for over 4 years now. Watching you brew James, was slightly frustrating. It's best to let the coffee steep first by just submerging the puck, which was what l was advised to do by the manufacturer. I let it darken below as much as l want it to then, press it down. I've only replaced the upper screen as I wore the rubber seal on the edge down by removing the filter too often. The company was fantastic about sending a replacement at a fair price. I have a french press too, but this is my daily maker. Worth every penny to me and I'll recommend it anytime. There's also no need to unscrew the top of the pod either, leave it in place.

[@tomgwerzman3644]

"let's see how far away from good this is" classic James 😂💕

[@mescellaneous]

This is a fantastic product. This guy literally combined the french press with the aeropress with the moka pot, and probably took inspiration from that tea kettle that can infuse tea in a similar fashion.

[@FrayAdjacentTX]

I saw this thing a while back, and wondered "what would this do better than my Aeropress with a metal mesh filter?" My answer was "not enough to justify $80".

[@PanchromaticNoise]

I've had this press for over a year and an aero for only a week. I will say that the American press has less steps whereas the aero seems a lot more involved. Nothing wrong with each - just the price of the American press.

[@57richm]

Doesn't topple over on a boat

[@JC-fj7oo]

@@PanchromaticNoise Aeropress steps: Put filter in cap, put cap on body, mix coffee and water, push plunger. How can there be less than that?

[@Nathan-nd7py]

I've had my eye on this coffee maker for months, I'm so glad you reviewed it as no other review really spoke about how the process affects your brew compared to other processes. The only reason I haven't bought one yet is the price. What appeals to me about it is that I can make a good coffee at work. I don't like the idea of having a French press or aeropress at work, what I like about this is I can drink from the brewer and that it will be easy to clean with limited facilities at work. It also looks straightforward to brew as the only thing I'll have at work is a kettle, so I can simply keep a bag of coffee at my desk and discreetly make some nice coffee. A French press would be too much coffee, and something like a drip or aeropress would honestly just be a bit annoying to use in front of everyone. The price still puts me off a bit, especially if it the parts are not high quality.

[@TavisAllen]

I'm curious as to why you feel it would be annoying to brew coffee using certain brewers (Aeropress), but not others. On one hand, who am I to suggest how to live your life, but on the other hand, it is your life to live. You only live it once, so who cares how others may feel about something that brings you pleasure and does them no harm?

[@Nathan-nd7py]

It's mostly that it's easier to clean in work as we don't have a dedicated kitchen. The kettle, sink and food waste bin are in three different locations. I just don't like the idea of having some elaborate process on my desk and having to explain to everyone what I'm doing

[@BlitzNor]

@@Nathan-nd7py How is brewing the standard method with an aeropress any more work or cleanup? It would also be faster.

[@GrowthCurveMarketing]

Can you imagine the absolute beast this guy turns into if he's kept away from his coffee for, say, half a day?

[@ClassicalPianoRarities]

After 2 hours!

[@HittokiriBatosai]

😂

[@BrewReview]

This…likely does not ever happen. Where there is a will, he will find a way to continue to stay caffeinated!

[@Gradytrain]

Bit late to seeing this but just found James's channel and have really enjoyed his video. I have owned "It's American Press" for something like 2 years and I like it a lot for my individual coffee needs. My recipe that I have refined is for medium-dark roasts, ground to medium-coarse. I put 20g of coffee in the pod and push enough to submerge, the instructions call this "preinfusion", I let it do this for about 30-60 seconds depending how impatient or how timely I remember to continue, then press. I then lift the plunger up and press again. This has worked for me for the past years.

[@dbomber69]

What happens if you let the coffee bloom before the final press like a pour over? Press enough to get the coffee wet and then wait a 30 seconds or so. Then press for the final time.

[@PixelGaming_2020]

Exactly what I was thinking.

[@TheNinnyfee]

My thought as well.

[@artblackwood7936]

Received an American Press as a gift a number of years back. Durability has been good. I did drop the pod assembly and crack a plastic part. American press replaced it, free of charge. I have found more consistency and ease of use by submerging the pod for ~ 4 minutes and then pushing the pod through the water.

[@vetlehove5650]

Would love to hear your thoughts on the Hario Woodneck, or generally cloth filters!

[@jameshoffmann]

This is a good idea!

[@Coffeeology]

@@jameshoffmann I love mine and use it almost daily for over 2 months.

[@Chinnipher]

I use a coffee sock with on a V60.

[@Thallishman]

I really like cloth with siphon, imagine it being nice with those woodneck aswell

[@DrWaffles31]

I have one and it is my go to work brewer. You can load it easily at home with fresh grinds and it stays all together, no bag like an aero press, and no need for a specific size cup. It’s all contained, and a quick rinse gets it home where you can properly clean it out if your in a rush! I’m glad you tried a finer grind because I found the same problem/solution to it... it’s just a shame that it becomes exponentially harder to press with a fine grind

[@_mball_]

The most James shirt there is. I need one of those!

[@aleksey_doro]

Hi James, you can use it with paper filters from aeropress inserted above removable top mesh. Have to grind not too fine with a paper filter to avoid clogging it up. Also both manufacturer and power users advise at least 1 min of pre-infusion. Additionaly it really helps to warm it up a bit before use. I just fill it with hot tap water before grinding and boiling the kettle.

[@845H1R]

I love light sweet African coffee so this is not going to replace my Aeropress anytime soon. That and also . . . . . . I'm broke!

[@spencjon4822]

I used to a similar brewer to these every day for years. I used dark coffee, got the grounds wet then let it sit for a few minutes before plunging. I switched to an espresso machine for my norm but I still have one for camping/on the go.

[@ted_maul]

Sat down to watch this having just made coffee by your awesome French Press method. Nope, won't need to buy one of these.

[@bensilverston7693]

Have 2 and love them. Normally push half way down, leave for a couple minutes and then push all the way down. Also just pop out the small filter and rinse, rather than screw apart. Biggest issue is I have forgotten the small filter and sprayed coffee everywhere and burned myself.

[@davidharrismusician]

I laughed like every time he said "It's American Press" 😂😂😂

[@havek23]

"Let's see how far away from good this is" is probably my favorite lead-up to a review lol

[@jldkrank]

For when your coffee needs more freedom.

[@benefactionhindrance]

With some good ol’ Bisphenol S.

[@godofbiscuitssf]

I guess they deserved that with naming it the way they did. The US puts increasing ideological tariffs on our “freedom” exports.

[@LewisVanAusdle]

I got one of these when the initial fundraising campaign was going on. I’ve enjoyed using it periodically. That I’ve used to get the flavor how I like it is to lower the basket just into the water and let it sit for about 2 minutes. Then press the rest of the way. Then it comes out a little more like a French Press.

[@alansaxon]

It’s interesting...I’d play with preinfusion (like I do with my La Pavoni) and even the ratio of coffee to water. I’ll wait though until they come up in a sale!

[@rgevanckerschner]

I bought one of the original production models from kickstarter and I love it. My brew recipe is 20g medium fine coffee, 355ml of water, press till submerged and let sit for 1min, then press fully for a 1 1/2min, pour and drink.

[@TheIgor120299]

I have to say, your intros got real good!

[@germaniacov]

This is what we call "café de talega" in México! Excellent review as always.

[@Huskie]

The name sounds like something you'd purchase in the Sims

[@rubenrios113]

This may be better as a cold brew instrument. Leave it overnight in the refrigerator and it should give you a great cold brew. I'm so glad to have come across your channel and have learned a great deal from you.

[@Khandrake]

the look of when the coffee came out the top of the pod was oddly satisfying

[@Wolverine3660]

James- I happen to know Alex Albanese, the fellow who designed and now manufactures the American Press, and so, I bought one the moment it was available for sale. I did not quite get why it was so popular among my friends in the local coffee industry. Trying to get a good cup was rather difficult, and you had to sort of leave it for about 2 minutes in the middle of pressing the plunger assembly down, etc. All said, for my needs, I found that I got far better results with my stainless steel Bodum French Press, so I got the smaller version of it. The American Press I cleaned it up real well, and gave it to a friend who seems to think that using a French Press is a very messy operation. LIke you, James, I feel that I think that a French Press makes me wonderful coffee every morning, and so Alex's American Press is not a coffee making device that I would reach for, first thing in the morning. Keep up the good work.

[@sebastiangraf6204]

Am I the only one finding James’ “It’s fine…” t-shirt spot on? 😂 Love your work, Mr Hoffmann ☕️

[@singwolfx1]

It is the French Press without the suggested messy scooping out of the coffee powder to stop extraction. Use the grind size similar to French Press and done.

[@Kevin15047]

I'll stick with my French press. Also being an American when he said it was 60 pounds I thought "THERE IS NO DAMN WAY THAT THING WEIGHS- he means money."

[@Ristina81]

Kevin Hosford American here as well... I want to just set the timer and leave it. I do French Press as well. I lived in England bc of the military and I remember the British pound to Dollar being almost double in the summers. So 1 pound would be $2. Guess it went down.

[@nevereverstopsinging]

Ristina Durivage and thank god it did 😂💸⬆️

[@larryplaxco1228]

This brewer is a perfect desk side brew for work. The secret is the pre-infuse, and a grind similar to pre-ground drip coffee. I preheat the vessel with hot water once, then pour the hot water in, and press until there's about 1/2 of inch of coffee over the filter pod. Wait 90 seconds, then press for about a minute. Beautiful and rich coffee when using a med to med-dark roast.

[@KirkPlymptonMD]

"It looks a little weak so far. Interesting." The instructions say to pre-infuse for 30 seconds, at least. It makes by far the best cup. Easily better than a pourover.

[@darenmoon5156]

I worked in international development and I lived overseas for several years in a fairly low-resource setting. When I saw the advertisements for American press online, I really wanted one. And so I was delighted when my parents brought me one on a visit over two years ago. I used the American press every day, often multiple times per day (I'm a big coffee drinker). I found the results uneven, because a lot depended on the grind level and roast. I totally agree that it's better for dark roast. I drank a lot of under extracted coffee with this device. I would compensate sometimes by over filling the puck basket, and this often created a lot of pressure when brewing. It would require so much pressure I'd have to put my full weight on it. I'd set the brewer on the floor and press down with the weight of my entire body -- just to get a good extraction out of this. By the end of 2 years, I became so tired of using this brewer. It was too exhausting and too fussy just to get a cup of coffee. What's more, less than a year after I started using the brewer water somehow leaked into the space between the inside and outside of the brewer (the space intended to insulate against the high temperature). How this happened I'm not sure -- perhaps the high heat temporarily caused the seal to break, allowing water in, but then closed on its own. The water remained in the insulated space and gradually gave rise to mold growing inside. Because of my limited access to an alternative, I continued using the brewer even like this. It did not affect the actual brew, but it was an eye sore. My opinion is that french press, aero press, or a chemex are all better options for brewing. Thanks for your video, James. I wish I had seen it before I bought American press.

[@YaPeter]

Hey James, will you make a video on how you use the aero press and what kind of recipe you use with it? Cheers

[@orangelinn9547]

Hes made dice then got a guy to put it onto a mobile app. It's called areopress. Use it screen shot the recipe do it see which one works best and keep that one it's a pretty fun way of using the aeropress

[@YaPeter]

@@orangelinn9547 Thanks for the tip will look into it

[@jameshoffmann]

Eventually

[@YaPeter]

@@jameshoffmann Looking forward too it Just got myself one and I am not quite sure which methods i am gonna use

[@orangelinn9547]

@@Kuesa cheers!

[@ahikernamedgq]

"Let's see how far away from good this is." - James, I love your content. I have learned so much. But, I love the way you frame things - it's almost as enjoyable as a wonderful coffee.

[@PierceTrey]

Love the intro and "I've done a bad job here" 😂

[@kwtheng]

I don't even drink coffee any more but your videos are always the best event of my day

[@adamlippold8308]

Be interested in seeing a review of the Espro press.

[@minshd]

I like James's style. No bs, straight to the point. Props to you james

[@lisav8443]

Thanks for the video James! I was considering upgrading my 32 year old Bodum French press to one of these. After watching the video it is very apparent that the interfacial area between the coffee and water is much decreased, reducing extraction levels and overall flavor (based on a French Press grind). As you demonstrated, perhaps adjusting the particle size of the grind will help to maximize extraction/flavor? For me, quality of a good brew far outweighs ease of use, and a conventional “French Press” is tried and true. My mind is made up…“upgrading” to a Fellow Clara press.

[@jvallas]

I looked up the Clara. Nice!

[@gabebennett818]

I’m a big fan of the American press! Been using one for a few months. I use a bit more coffee, generally around 24g (slightly finer than I would for 8C Chemex) and pre-infuse before re-drawing the plunger and fully pressing. Including pre-infusion, it’s a 3.5-4min brew time. I find I’m able to get cleaner, less silty coffee using a higher dose of more coarsely ground coffee and relying on the internal pressure of the grinds in the pod :)

[@goudagirl6095]

James: "it's about 60 pounds..." Me: Huh. Doesn't look that heavy. 😕 So...what if you press it down partially, let it brew a bit, then press the rest of the way? I'd get one just *because* of the mess with a French press!

[@johnenriquez6757]

I think the use case is more straight forward - it’s a very clean way to do James’s French Press technique. Submerging the grounds just enough at the top for four minutes is like letting the crust form for the first four minutes, and plunging here is like knocking the crust down to stop the brew. One difference though would be that you’d get extra extraction due to extra agitation during the plunge.

[@jasb78]

That brewer could be improved by having a screw at the top drive down the piston slowly. You could even have an actuator do the work of turning the screw.

[@PanchromaticNoise]

Attach a hand grinder handle to the top and submerge by 'grinding.' I like this idea.

[@LIL-MAN_theOG]

Man.. I was thinking the exact same thing

[@christiandharma4116]

I use a French press at home but I use the American press at work because it is easy to clean up. It's also perfect for camping. This press produces a much cleaner cup of coffee than any french press I've ever used or seen. This thing is built extremely well and I have no concerns about the mesh. Have not had to replace it at all in two years. I suspect that the mesh could easily last another three or more. I did have a problem with the initial mesh that was a manufacturing defect, but the company sent me another mesh free of charge immediately. I drink lighter roasted coffee and so my method for this is: I grind the beans slightly finer than for my French press. I fill pod almost to the top with the coffee. Fill with boiling water, I plunge down about halfway I let it steep for 3 and 1/2 minutes I will plunge the coffee back up to the top and then all the way down through to the bottom The American press is expensive, and I wouldn't really use it at home but it has been great for work and camping for me.

[@insomniafuel000]

Countries except america : "we brew coffee by pressing water to coffee" America : Hold my Uno Reverse Card...

[@uhu4677]

😂

[@NikoBellaKhouf]

We like going against the grain

[@donaldmcintosh6545]

Another great video. I agree the price is a little steep for my tastes. I have a Mokka pot for the mornings and an Aeropress in the office. They both work fine. I like the amount of fiddling each requires. And the cleaning up for both is fairly quick.

[@silviomartin]

Had it for two weeks and just returned it. Didn't like the taste of the coffee or the price for what you get. I'm still using my aeropress and my French press.

[@greysuit17]

I tend to switch between Chemex & French Press. I find some coffees just work well through the press and taste better than a Chemex on occasion or vice versa. Also I’ve never found the French Press to be that difficult to clean, I kinda enjoy it.

[@tedpill8877]

James, please tell me where you got that mug I must have one.

[@ted_maul]

Ha, this sort of smoked glass mug has been around in the UK since the 70s. They were so common that they were given away at petrol stations at one time. It's funny how stuff becomes desirable again over time.

[@m.s.g1890]

Songs: Ohia lol You’re spot on. I was wondering why he had such a naf old mug. My dad used those when I was a kid, and stuck with them right up to his final cuppa. What goes around...

[@ted_maul]

@@m.s.g1890 We used to have cereal bowls made out of the same smoked glass. Now, they *are* rare :p

[@blasterargento5743]

That just looks like an ordinary Duralex tea glass though...

[@adriankubiszewski4339]

@@ted_maul In eastern europe, not really. You can buy it on every corner.

[@nnbtv67]

I've got one which, I must confess, is gathering dust at the moment. Like James, I found it fiddly to use and, by design, it was solving problems I didn't have, so I abandoned it after a short while, returning to my tried and trusted methods of coffee brewing.

[@MrZqkuro]

I'm waiting for the moka pot guide :D

[@ItumelengS]

Chefsteps vid

[@nyan2317]

But he already made one, just not in his channel.

[@everydayeater5656]

I found you very odd, it's the very video that introduce him to me

[@Ma_Ba]

Search you tube and it is there; as W said, it is on another channel with him. The memorable point from it is he puts water in that is already heated so the moka pot is almost ready. He said done in order not to cook the coffee.

[@orrinbelcher6593]

Great review, always fun and informative. Interesting coffee brewing device. Love the lights in the background highlighting the bookshelf. Looks superb.

[@ranieldenicen.marpuri6544]

6:10 that mark on his hand tells alot about how much he was pressing and for two minutes ? wow