For buyers torn between the two most popular models
AeroPress vs AeroPress Go: Which One Should You Buy?
AeroPress vs AeroPress Go compared on capacity, portability, price, and brew quality so you buy the right model the first time.
The short answer
Buy the AeroPress Go if you brew away from home; its kit nests inside the included travel mug. Buy the AeroPress Original if you brew at home; it has a roomier chamber, costs less, and fits every accessory. The cup quality is effectively identical, so this decision is purely about where you brew.
Top picks at a glance
The picks, ranked
| Product | Capacity | Includes | Filters | Brew method | Material |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AeroPress Go | 1 to 3 cups per press | Travel mug with silicone lid | Paper micro-filters included | Immersion plus gentle air pressure | BPA-free plastic |
| AeroPress Original | 1 to 3 cups per press | - | - | Immersion plus gentle air pressure | BPA-free polypropylene |
| AeroPress Clear | 1 to 3 cups per press | - | Paper micro-filters included | Immersion plus gentle air pressure | Tritan (clear, shatterproof) |
| AeroPress Stainless Steel Filter | - | - | - | - | Stainless steel, reusable |
Swipe sideways to compare all picks
01Buy this for travel
AeroPress Go
The full AeroPress brew shrunk into a package that nests inside its own mug.
- Capacity: 1 to 3 cups per press
- Includes: Travel mug with silicone lid
- Filters: Paper micro-filters included
The Go exists for one reason: the entire kit nests inside its own lidded travel mug. If your coffee happens in hotels, campsites, or offices, that packability beats the Original's roomier chamber every time.
Strengths
- Brewer, plunger, filters, stirrer, and scoop all pack inside the included travel mug
- Mug ships with a silicone lid for drinking on the move
- Same immersion-plus-pressure method as the Original, so recipes transfer directly
- Paper micro-filters included in the box
Limitations
- Smaller chamber than the Original, so large mugs need a top-up of hot water
- The nesting design adds a few extra parts to keep track of
- Costs more than the Original for essentially the same brew
| Capacity | 1 to 3 cups per press |
|---|---|
| Includes | Travel mug with silicone lid |
| Filters | Paper micro-filters included |
| Brew method | Immersion plus gentle air pressure |
| Material | BPA-free plastic |
Sources: AeroPress official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published coffee gear reviews
What owners report
- Owners praise how the brewer, plunger, filters, stirrer, and scoop all nest inside the included travel mug
- Many owners like the silicone lid on the mug, which lets them drink on the move straight from the kit
- Owners say recipes transfer directly from the Original because the immersion-plus-pressure method is the same
- Some owners find the smaller chamber tight, so a large mug needs a top-up of hot water after pressing
- Owners note the nesting design means more small parts to keep track of while traveling
- A common complaint is paying more than the Original for what is essentially the same brew
Best for: Travelers, campers, and office brewers who want the Original's cup on the road.
Skip if: You only brew at home; the Original gives you the same coffee with a roomier chamber.
02Buy this for home
AeroPress Original
The 2005 original that turned a tube and a plunger into a brewing icon.
- Designer: Alan Adler (released 2005)
- Capacity: 1 to 3 cups per press
- Filters included: 350 paper micro-filters
The Original's larger chamber is easier to stir and plunge, it costs less than the Go, and it accepts every attachment in the line. For a brewer that lives on your counter, there is no reason to pay the travel premium.
Strengths
- Brews a full-immersion cup in about two minutes, then plunges through a paper micro-filter
- Ships with 350 paper micro-filters, plus a stirrer and scoop in the box
- Chamber and plunger rinse clean in seconds with no carafe to wash
- Compact and shatterproof, and a staple of brewing competitions worldwide
Limitations
- Makes 1 to 3 cups per press, so batch brewing means repeat presses
- Paper filters are a recurring consumable (a reusable steel filter fixes this)
- Grind size and plunge pressure take a few brews to dial in
| Designer | Alan Adler (released 2005) |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 1 to 3 cups per press |
| Filters included | 350 paper micro-filters |
| Brew method | Immersion plus gentle air pressure |
| Material | BPA-free polypropylene |
Sources: AeroPress official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published coffee gear reviews
What owners report
- Owners praise how a full-immersion cup is ready in about two minutes, with the paper micro-filter keeping it clean
- Many owners say the box is generous, with 350 paper micro-filters plus a stirrer and scoop included from day one
- Long-term owners like that the chamber and plunger rinse clean in seconds, with no carafe to scrub
- Some owners find the 1 to 3 cup limit frustrating, since brewing for a group means pressing again and again
- A common complaint is the ongoing cost of paper filters, since each press uses a fresh one unless you switch to steel
- Owners note that grind size and plunge pressure take a few brews to dial in before the cup tastes right
Best for: Brewers who want a fast, forgiving, travel-friendly cup with near-zero cleanup.
Skip if: You brew for more than three people at once; the chamber tops out at about three cups per press.
03Consider this instead
AeroPress Clear
The Original's recipe in crystal-clear Tritan so you can watch the extraction.
- Capacity: 1 to 3 cups per press
- Material: Tritan (clear, shatterproof)
- Compatibility: Fits all Original-size filters and attachments
If the choice is really about enjoying the ritual at home, the Clear adds visible brewing to the Original's formula. Same capacity and compatibility, with a window into the extraction.
Strengths
- Tritan construction is clear and shatterproof, unlike actual glass
- Identical chamber dimensions to the Original, so all recipes and attachments fit
- Watching the coffee level makes the inverted method easier to learn
- Paper micro-filters included
Limitations
- Priced above the Original with no difference in the cup
- Clear walls show coffee staining faster (it rinses off)
- Same 1 to 3 cup batch limit as the Original
| Capacity | 1 to 3 cups per press |
|---|---|
| Material | Tritan (clear, shatterproof) |
| Compatibility | Fits all Original-size filters and attachments |
| Brew method | Immersion plus gentle air pressure |
| Filters | Paper micro-filters included |
Sources: AeroPress official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published coffee gear reviews
What owners report
- Owners praise the Tritan body for being clear like glass but shatterproof in daily use
- Many owners say identical chamber dimensions to the Original mean every recipe and attachment still fits
- Owners like watching the coffee level during the brew, which makes learning the inverted method easier
- Some owners question paying above the Original when there is no difference in the cup
- Owners note the clear walls show coffee staining faster, even though it rinses off
- A common complaint is the same 1 to 3 cup batch ceiling as the Original
Best for: Brewers who want to see the bloom and the plunge, and prefer a glass-like look.
Skip if: You want the lowest price; the Original brews identically for less.
04Add this either way
AeroPress Stainless Steel Filter
The official reusable steel filter for a fuller-bodied, zero-waste AeroPress cup.
- Material: Stainless steel, reusable
- Compatibility: AeroPress Original, Go, and Clear
- Effect: Fuller body vs paper micro-filters
Whichever model you choose, the steel filter fits both the Original and the Go and ends paper reorders. Travelers especially benefit: one less consumable to pack.
Strengths
- Reusable stainless steel eliminates the paper-filter consumable entirely
- Lets more oils through for a fuller, heavier-bodied cup
- Fits the Original, Go, and Clear (all use the same filter diameter)
- Rinses clean in seconds
Limitations
- Allows fine sediment that paper would catch
- Cup is noticeably heavier-bodied, which some drinkers dislike
- Does not fit the XL, which uses larger filters
| Material | Stainless steel, reusable |
|---|---|
| Compatibility | AeroPress Original, Go, and Clear |
| Effect | Fuller body vs paper micro-filters |
| Waste | Zero paper waste |
| Care | Rinse clean; no consumables |
Sources: AeroPress official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published coffee gear reviews
What owners report
- Owners praise the reusable stainless steel for eliminating the paper-filter consumable entirely
- Many owners like how it lets more oils through for a fuller, heavier-bodied cup
- Owners say it fits the Original, Go, and Clear since they share the same filter diameter
- Some owners dislike the fine sediment that paper would have caught
- A common complaint is the noticeably heavier body, which some drinkers do not enjoy
- Owners note it does not fit the XL, which uses larger filters
Best for: Daily AeroPress brewers who want more body and no paper-filter reorders.
Skip if: You prize the ultra-clean cup; paper micro-filters still filter finer.
Questions, answered
Does the AeroPress Go brew the same coffee as the Original?
Effectively yes. Both use the same immersion-plus-pressure method and paper micro-filters. The Go's chamber is smaller, so large mugs may need a hot-water top-up, but the extraction itself is the same.
Is the Go harder to press because it is smaller?
Slightly. The narrower chamber means a touch more plunge resistance, but the difference is minor and disappears after a few brews. Grind size affects plunge effort far more than the model does.
Can I use Prismo and the metal filter with the Go?
The stainless steel filter fits the Go's standard-size filter cap. The Prismo is designed around the Original-size chamber, so check Fellow's current compatibility notes before pairing it with a Go.
Which is better for the office?
The Go. The lidded mug doubles as your drinking vessel, the kit packs away into a drawer, and there is no glass or carafe to break in a shared kitchen.