How did a frisbee pave the way for the invention of one of the easiest and most reliable home brewing devices for coffee? Alan Alder, CEO of Aerobie toy company, utilized his knowledge in making aerodynamic plastic toys, that’s how. His knowledge of polycarbonate and copolyester was essential to creating the Aeropress in 2005. It’s made with two airtight plastic cylinders that press coffee through the use of pressure inside the tube. Then a metal or paper filter are used to remove the air and extract the coffee. Since its creation, it’s become an international success and people now develop different brewing methods specifically for the Aeropress, such as the inverted method (shown in this photo). By brewing the coffee inside the device before extracting it, a longer brewing time is possible. The Aeropress is such a versatile tool because brewing recipes are limited only by your imagination, be it an espresso, filter coffee, or even cold brew. Its popularization has also been attributed to the annual Aeropress Championships held in multiple countries, a gathering fondly celebrated by coffee communities worldwide—also one we were happy to host just last month.
