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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

It's American KZfaq 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!"

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

James Hoffman has the best hairstyle on KZfaq.

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!

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.

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

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

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.

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

I've had one for about three years now and really enjoy it for a Bialetti style brew. It's my go-to travel brewer and I use it for an after lunch cup at work every day. I use 24g coffee ground as for a Bialetti and fill to the third dot (don't have a kitchen scale at the office). I pre-infuse for about 90 seconds and then push down for about 30s. This makes two small but stout servings which I share with a coworker

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.

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.

“..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!

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

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

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.

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.

Victory! Posted asking you to do this for a while 😊 so happy

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!

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.

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.

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?

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

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

James, I love your content. Please keep up the awesome reviews.

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 👌🏻✨

For when your coffee needs more freedom.

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.

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.

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. :)

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.

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

I commented earlier on another video being a bit critical but your video production and analysis is fantastic. Im currently binging your videos at work (which I shouldn't be doing, oop) because they're so interesting. Love the quality of your reviews

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.

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

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.

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

the intro was pure gold thanks for that

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

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

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.

Very informative review. Thank you as always for sharing

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!

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.

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

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.

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

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".

"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.

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.

Be interested in seeing a review of the Espro press.

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

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.

Cleanup is very nice, will definitely look for this in stores.

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

I have to say, your intros got real good!

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.

is it just me but i just put playlist on while working, and listen James at morning. Just listening and vibin

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

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

Hey James, I've just discovered your channel and I love it. I'm on a low budget so I only have a cheap french press and a cheap drip coffee machine, I've already seen your video on the ultimate french press technique and it's great, so I was wondering if you could do a video on how to get the best possible coffee from a cheap filter coffee machine. Cheers

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.

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."

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

Great review! Your open mindedness is always commendable and admirable. I do wonder what the extraction rate is compared to a French press.. Perhaps that'd be a fun video - Exctraction Off 2019! (featuring all the brewers you reviewed throughout the year)

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

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.

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.

I had one of the original from the crowdfunding project a couple years back. I feel much more validated now that your experience was the same as mine, I always felt like I was doing something wrong and neither me nor my coffee enthusiast friends could get a good cup dialed in using lighter roast coffees. I never considered the fact that a darker roast coffee might work better because I don't typically associate expensive manual brewers with "cheaper" coffees (I know dark roast does not always equal cheaper but by and large most specialty coffee people use lighter roasts). Great review as always, James!

"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.

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!

I appreciate that you wore a shirt matches the product.

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