As a latte obsessive, I never thought I'd find myself moving away from my automatic coffee machine. I own a sleek, $900 machine by De'Longhi, which creates café-quality lattes at the push of a button. For ages, my mornings started with a perfect, vanilla soy latte.
But during a recent doctor’s appointment, I received a wake-up call. I’ve been navigating hormonal imbalances, and my doctor advised that soy milk might not be the best choice for my health. My body would benefit more from cutting it out or choosing organic full-fat dairy instead (but I don't like the taste).
This prompted me to reevaluate my coffee routine. I have to admit, I was also getting tired of cleaning my automatic machine anyway – it needs descaling every month and filling with endless, expensive coffee beans. After looking into hormone disruptors, I decided I wanted a new, non-toxic coffee maker that could make good americano.
With all things considered, here's what I'm using instead.
The Aeropress
I'm a kitchen editor, and I've been covering Black Friday coffee maker deals that have been tested and approved by our resident barista. That's where I found this Aeropress deal for just $29. Praised its ability to brew rich, smooth coffee with minimal effort, it seemed too simple compared to my fancy machine, but simplicity was exactly what I needed.
Why I prefer it
- Delicious americano: The Aeropress brews the smoothest, most flavorful Americanos I’ve ever tasted. The paper filter catches the oils, resulting in a rich, aromatic cup that's better than my automatic coffee machine.
- Easy to clean: Every morning, my partner turns to me as he's washing up in the sink and says: 'This thing is so easy to clean.' It's got me feeling pretty smug about my purchase. We simply pop out the coffee puck and give it a quick rinse. No descaling, dirty milk containers or coffee grinds spilling everywhere.
- Simple to use: One of the reasons I loved my automatic machine was the ease; I barely had to turn my brain on to use it. Once you get the hang of it, the Aeropress is equally easy.
- Non-toxic materials: One of the biggest selling points for me was the fact that the Aeropress is made from BPA-free plastic. As someone who’s cautious about endocrine disruptors, this was a huge relief. Many high-end coffee machines are vague about the materials they use, but Aeropress is transparent. They say: 'All materials used in AeroPress coffee makers are free of BPA and phthalates, and are FDA and EU approved for use in contact with food.'
- Portable design: I only have one coffee a day in the morning now, but my partner travels for work. He could pop this in his luggage, along with the filters and ground coffee pouches to enjoy rich americanos.
Black Friday deals on non-toxic coffee makers
Final thoughts
Switching from a $900 coffee machine to a $29 Aeropress might seem like a drastic downgrade, but for me, it’s been an upgrade in every way that matters. It's easier to clean, just as simple to use, and I know I'm making good choices for my health.
If you want to read more about non-toxic coffee machines, we've written a guide here – as well our full review of the Aeropress Original.
