Espresso Addiction at Sea

Thinking of installing a generator and a bigger house bank just so you can run your espresso maker onboard? Oh yes, we know about the old stovetop espresso makers, but they tend to make a bitter brew, as the water is too hot, and the extraction not well controlled. Well, here’s a nice little solution for you—the Aeropress, created by the folks who brought you the Aerobee flying disc (the one that goes so far, that the first time you throw it, you have to run to the other end of the park to find it). It may look like another variation on the French press, and it sort of is, but it can make a much stronger, yet tasty coffee, that has a passable resemblance to espresso.

Captain Rodriguez picked one up, and is pretty pleased with it. And I concur, having given one to my brother for Xmas. The flavor of the coffee was outstanding—mellow yet strong. And cleaning up was much easier than a French press, who’s grounds seem to go everywhere (and threaten to either plug your sink drain or make a gushy mess in the trash). You just unscrew the bottom cap, and pop out the little puck of nearly dry grounds, and rinse a little residue from the parts.

Issues? Well, it’s really a single serving device, so better suited to small crews who won’t come to fisticuffs waiting for their turn to get a caffeine fix. It also uses small, paper filters which you’ll need to keep on hand, though this is not much of a problem. You can cut your own out of regular coffee filters if you’re desperate, and each one can be reused several times if you care to rinse them out.

Okay, so it’s not really espresso, but it does make quite a tasty Americano. And with a little milk frother, you could make a fairly convincing latte or cappucino. And you can put off that $15,000 electrical upgrade for the espresso machine.