Ahead of National Coffee Day on Tuesday and just weeks after dropping a stainless steel version of its iconic coffee press, AeroPress released its walnut collection, marking the first time the company has launched a wood design.
Known for its three-in-one brew method that combines immersion like a French press, aeration like a pour-over and air pressure like an espresso machine to give you your java in under two minutes, AeroPress’s walnut collection is an extension of the brand’s premium line and includes both a brewer and a manual grinder in solid, clear-grade walnut.
Why walnut?
A representative for AeroPress told CNET that because the brewer and grinder are tactile products, the company has been interested in using wood for quite some time. They settled on walnut for its warm tone that contrasts nicely with the final design’s darker finishes.
A warm walnut was chosen to complement the new darker finishes.AeroPress
What else has changed?
Like the other brewers in the premium collection, the walnut version is still made of 304 stainless steel, aluminum and double-wall borosilicate glass with laser-etched measurement markings.
However, the AeroPress representative said that the brewer’s chamber had to be completely redesigned to accommodate the walnut accent. So did the plunger, flange, scoop and stir accessories, all of which are made of solid wood.
What the walnut collection looks like on my own countertop.Anna Gragert/CNET
As for the 25-gram-capacity grinder that has over 60 grind settings, AeroPress gave its arm a new black finish and its handle a walnut makeover, while the overall body now has a darker tone. The catch’s metal component was designed to fit a solid walnut sleeve. It also has Italian-made, titanium-coated 38-millimeter conical burrs with a lifetime warranty, dual bearings, a patent-pending Easy-Grind system and a removable magnetic handle that allows the grinder to be easily stored inside the AeroPress itself.
Being able to store both the grinder and its handle inside the AeroPress brewer is a first-of-its-kind design for the company.
I especially love the grinder’s walnut handle, which has a lovely feel. Anna Gragert/CNET
Sustainability
When asked about sustainability, the AeroPress representative said that the walnut used in the new design is grown in the USA and sourced from responsibly managed forests.
“For us, sustainability is also about durability and longevity,” the representative added. “Everything we make, including our walnut line, is designed to last, and we offer replacement parts for key components so products can be repaired rather than replaced.”
The walnut is sourced from responsibly managed forests in the USA.AeroPress
Price and availability
In addition to being repairable, the walnut collection was designed with the countertop — not the inside of the cabinet — in mind. The brewer and grinder each cost $250 for a total of $500 and are now available on AeroPress.com and Williams-Sonoma.com.
Anna Gragert
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