The Ultimate Press Espresso and Tea Maker is without doubt one of the latest espresso units in the marketplace. However is it made for the tough, tumble, and excessive caffeine wants of the paths?
I’m at all times searching for new and improved methods to devour espresso with out sticking it straight into my veins, so when the chance got here to present the Ultimate Press Espresso and Tea Maker a spin, I shot my hand up.
This nifty machine is in contrast to every other espresso maker I’ve seen earlier than (and sure it may well make tea, however let’s be actual right here, espresso is the prime promoting level). For those who’re eager to seize one for your self, use our low cost code ‘WEAREEXPLORERS’ to obtain 10% off your buy.
How does the Ultimate Press Espresso and Tea Maker work?
It’s primarily a person French Press that sits straight in your espresso cup. Working the machine is comparatively simple – unscrew the bottom/filter and fill it with espresso, re-screw on the highest/plunger, add it to your cup of sizzling water and stir for ten seconds, then press down on the plunger and watch your espresso darken.
Learn extra: 13 Greatest Espresso Makers in Australia 2024
Easy, proper? Sure, and never fairly.
I took it with me on a 3 day climbing journey that concerned chilly, early mornings and many elevation – what I’m saying is, espresso was essential!
On first use, I realised I didn’t understand how a lot espresso so as to add to the filter. The Ultimate Press web site says the filter holds as much as 12g of espresso. Since I didn’t have scales on me (or reception to search out this out) I ended up filling it about ¾ full, which appeared to work.
As I stirred the filter in my cup of sizzling water, I watched tiny espresso grounds enter my cup. Rattling.
Then got here the enjoyable half – plunging! It was actually a little bit of campground pleasure watching the darkish espresso drip by the filter because the plunger pressed down and it appeared to make fairly a powerful cuppa joe. Stronger than a conventional French Press!
However as I sipped, it was fairly apparent {that a} important quantity of espresso grounds had escaped by the 200 micron holes of the filter, and I used to be left with a small deposit of espresso on the backside of my cup, which I threw away together with the previous few sips.
Regardless of, it was nonetheless a enjoyable lil expertise – till it got here time to scrub.
Cleansing the Ultimate Press Espresso and Tea Maker
As I disassembled the espresso maker, I realised that the strain placed on the espresso by the plunger made it fairly tough to get the grounds out, and the tough grip of the holes on the within of the filter triggered them to stay to it.
Cleansing the plunger part was one other job. I learnt that pushing the plunger right down to separate it from the lid with a lip allowed for simpler cleansing. However with a number of surfaces and crevices, cleansing the highest half of the espresso maker wasn’t a easy course of both.
Cleansing the machine appeared to require a good quantity of water, or maybe a material – each of which aren’t at all times on faucet whereas within the bush.
I wasn’t overly harassed about having it spick and span, but when I used to be brewing tea subsequent, I’d be extra fussy.
Fortunately, popping the filter again in its carrying sleeve stopped the espresso residue from spreading all through my pack.
Packing the Ultimate Press Espresso and Tea Maker
Coming in at 102g, the Ultimate Press is comparatively gentle and positively extra compact than some espresso makers, particularly an Aeropress and all its equipment. The Ultimate Press slipped simply into an exterior pocket alongside my different foodware, taking over a small quantity of area.
Nonetheless till now, my go-to machine for espresso on the paths has been a GSI Ultralight Java Drip – arguably the lightest and most compact espresso maker in existence. And contemplating the Ultimate Press makes a fairly related brew, I can’t see myself swapping it out any time quickly.
What’s good in regards to the Ultimate Press Espresso and Tea Maker?
All my criticism apart, there are many positives in regards to the Ultimate Press Espresso and Tea Maker.
It’s fabricated from 100% chrome steel, which is fairly rattling spectacular and you may really feel the standard and sturdiness of the product as quickly as you deal with it. It’s arduous to think about you’d be changing it any time quickly, if ever.
It additionally doesn’t require any further single-use filters like another espresso makers do (Aeropress 👀).
The Ultimate Press is a multi-purpose machine, as it may well additionally brew your favorite type of unfastened leaf tea and even make chilly brew (you probably have entry to a fridge and a mason jar). For those who drink as a lot tea on the path as espresso, the Ultimate Press might be an excellent machine for you!
The plunger and filter mixture means that you can management how sturdy you need your espresso to be. You’ll be able to add kind of espresso to the filter, select how lengthy you stir it for, and whether or not you plunge it in any respect.
Ultimate Ideas
The Ultimate Press Espresso and Tea Maker is actually a one-of-a-kind machine. It’s extremely effectively made, simple sufficient to make use of, and its multi-purpose offers it further worth past conventional espresso makers which are typically solely for brewing sizzling espresso.
Will it develop into my go-to espresso maker for the path? In all probability not. However it might simply discover its manner into my common rotation of espresso units at dwelling, whereas I’m travelling, and even on a automobile tenting journey too.
Images by @jackjbrookes
