---
title: "AeroPress Premium (Glass) vs. Clear Plastic: Why I Didn't Upgrade"
description: I almost dropped $200 on the new glass AeroPress Premium. Here's what real reviews said, why I bought the plastic Clear instead, and why I don't regret it.
image: https://www.joshcaliguire.com/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-09-24%20at%203.49.18%20PM.png
---
[Josh Caliguire](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/?hsLang=en)
[Blog](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog) [Tea](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog) [Friendship](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog) [About](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/about?hsLang=en)
[Subscribe](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/contact#newsletter)
Coffee
# AeroPress Premium (Glass) vs. Clear Plastic: Why I Didn't Upgrade
Josh Caliguire · Sep 24, 2026
I almost bought the glass one.
AeroPress released the [Premium](https://link.amazon/B0eFASvza)last year: double-wall borosilicate glass chamber, anodized aluminum cap, stainless steel accents, the whole thing built to look like it belongs on a shelf rather than shoved in a cabinet.
It's $199.95. (Well, check the [price](https://link.amazon/B0eFASvza) today). It is, by every account, a genuinely beautiful object.
I had the tab open in my cart for about a week. Then I did what I always do before spending real money on gear: I went and read everything I could find about how it actually performs, not just how it photographs.
Here's what I found, what I decided, and why I'm glad I saved the money.
**What people actually like about the [glass Aeropress](https://link.amazon/B0eFASvza)**
To be fair to it, the praise is real and it's specific. From AeroPress's own customer reviews and professional coverage:
*"Amazing coffee maker. Makes the best cup of coffee I've had. Easy to clean, and I love that it's more environmentally conscious than the plastic ones.*" — AeroPress Premium customer review, aeropress.com
*"The coffee, though, is outstanding, smooth, sweet, and utterly lacking any bitterness."* — Tom's Guide, AeroPress Premium review (I don't think bitterness has a TON to do with the aeropress material, but let's roll with it)
*"Really good coffee maker, the coffee taste amazing, no bitter taste and its not messy to clean."* — AeroPress Premium customer review, aeropress.com
Tom's Guide also called it "well-made and attractive" and noted it's "easy to master" for anyone who has used a standard AeroPress before, since the brewing method itself hasn't changed.
Multiple customer reviews on AeroPress's own site echo the same two points over and over: it tastes as good as any AeroPress, and it looks a lot nicer doing it.
Another HUGE category of people were talking about making the decision based on Microplastics. Think what you will, that is an enormous avoidance obsession right now.
None of that is manufactured. If you want a coffee maker that looks like a piece of glassware and don't mind babying it, people who own one are genuinely happy.
**What made me hesitate**
This is the part that actually changed my mind. A few things kept showing up across professional reviews and owner feedback. I was paying attention especially to people who have been lifetime customers of aeropress, who were anxiously awaiting this higher tech version.
**Price.** Tom's Guide flagged it directly: at $199.95 (it launched around $149), it's roughly four times the cost of the standard plastic Original, for a very delicate piece of machinery. You must treat this thing with more reverence if you want it to last as long as the one that sits on your shelf now.
**Weight and fragility.**
The glass and metal construction pushes it to around 1.7 pounds, compared to a few ounces for the plastic version. Reviewers covering the launch (Homes & Gardens, Geeky Gadgets) pointed out the obvious tradeoff: it's glass, in a kitchen, that you're pressing down on with real force every time you use it. That combination makes some owners nervous enough to handle it more carefully than they'd like to for a daily-use item.
**Care requirements.**
It's hand-wash only. Tom's Guide confirmed it's not dishwasher-safe and not microwave-safe, which matters if part of the appeal of your AeroPress is that you can just toss it in with everything else.
**Not built for travel.**
AeroPress markets the Go and Go Plus for travel specifically because the Premium isn't meant to leave the house. If you're someone who brings your AeroPress camping, to the office, or on a trip, the glass one simply isn't an option.
**No steel filter included.**
At this price point, several reviewers noted they expected AeroPress to include the reusable stainless steel filter rather than just the standard paper filters, especially since the whole pitch of the glass model is "invest once, buy less plastic."
I also have seen that the scoop doesnt fit inside, and there is no funnel that comes with the kit for smaller cups.
**The taste doesn't actually change.** This is the one that mattered most to me. Every review, positive or critical, agreed on this: the glass Premium does not brew better coffee than the plastic version. Tom's Guide's own conclusion was that the appeal is aesthetic and "eco-conscious," not performance.
Read enough of that, back to back, and the math stopped making sense for me. I wasn't going to pay four times as much for the same cup of coffee in a container I had to hand-wash and couldn't travel with.
**What I did instead**
I bought the [AeroPress Clear](https://link.amazon/B07Xzk9UC), the plastic one, for $49.95. It feels like a massive upgrade.
I'd been using the original gray AeroPress for years, so this was really an upgrade decision, not a first purchase. And it's a genuinely good one. The description I keep coming back to is the one Tom's Guide used for it: "easier to use than you might think," lightweight, and it comes in seven colors if you want something besides clear.
I went with clear, and I mean it when I say it's [crystal clear.](https://link.amazon/B07Xzk9UC) Not "clear for plastic." Actually clear. You can watch the whole brew happen, which was the one thing I actually wanted from the glass version anyway. Here's a brew of Yerba Mate I made recently. [Yes, Mate works PERFECTLY in Aeropress.](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/yerba-mate-aeropress-the-cleanest-brew-youre-not-making-yet?hsLang=en)
It's dishwasher-safe. It weighs next to nothing, so it still travels the way an AeroPress is supposed to. And at $49.95 it was roughly a quarter of the price of the Premium, for the same brew. Throw it against a wall, it will still love you.
If you're still using the original gray AeroPress and you've been eyeing an upgrade, this is the one I'd point you to. Same coffee, better to look at, still built for actual daily use.
**[Grab the AeroPress Clear on Amazon](https://link.amazon/B06DhUmsi)**
**If you still want the glass one**
I want to be straight about this: nothing above means the Premium is a bad product. If the look of it is genuinely worth $200 to you, and you're not worried about hand-washing a glass vessel or leaving it home when you travel, go for it. The people who own one are not disappointed in the coffee, they knew what they were signing up for.
**[See the AeroPress Premium on Amazon](https://link.amazon/B0dMZmHkm)**
If you go this route, I'd genuinely like to know how it holds up. Let me know what you think once you've lived with it for a while.
**Related reading:**
**[Blog: Yerba Mate AeroPress: The Cleanest Brew You're Not Making Yet](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/yerba-mate-aeropress-the-cleanest-brew-youre-not-making-yet?hsLang=en)**
**[Blog: ](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/tea-aeropress?hsLang=en)Tea Aeropress**
About Josh Caliguire
Writer, friend, and community builder splitting time between Mazatlán, Boulder, and Alberta. I write about tea, friendship, and the deliberate small choices that make life richer.
[Subscribe to the newsletter →](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/contact#newsletter)
Keep Reading
## More from the blog
[](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/ideal-electric-kettles-for-tea-2026-edition?hsLang=en)
Tea
### [Ideal Electric Kettles for Tea: 2026 Edition](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/ideal-electric-kettles-for-tea-2026-edition?hsLang=en)
I research and test everything I recommend. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission on purchases through my links. Your price ...
[](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/is-the-ember-mug-worth-it-for-tea-2026?hsLang=en)
Tea
### [Is the Ember Mug Worth It for Tea? (2026)](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/is-the-ember-mug-worth-it-for-tea-2026?hsLang=en)
I research and test everything I recommend. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission on purchases through my links. Your price ...
[](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/my-biggest-fails-in-being-a-better-friend-and-meeting-new-people?hsLang=en)
Friendship
### [My Biggest Fails in Being a Better Friend and Meeting New People](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/my-biggest-fails-in-being-a-better-friend-and-meeting-new-people?hsLang=en)
I desire to be a good friend. When I die, that’s what I would love to be remembered by. Not money, achievements… but “he was a true friend”.
## Pull Up a Chair
If you liked this, you'll like the newsletter. Notes on tea, friendship, and intentional living — every other week.
[Subscribe on the contact page →](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/contact-me?hsLang=en)
Josh Caliguire
Writer, tea lover, and community builder. Exploring friendship, intentional living, and the best cup of the day.
Explore
- [Blog](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog?hsLang=en)
- [Work](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/work?hsLang=en)
- [About](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/about?hsLang=en)
- [Contact](https://www.joshcaliguire.com/contact?hsLang=en)
Partners
© 2026 Josh Caliguire. Powered by tea, friendship, and midnight oreos and milk.
```json
{
"@context" : "https://schema.org",
"@type" : "BlogPosting",
"author" : {
"@type" : "Person",
"name" : "Josh Caliguire",
"url" : "https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/author/josh-caliguire"
},
"dateModified" : "2026-09-24T22:52:07.592Z",
"datePublished" : "2026-09-24T22:50:08.000Z",
"headline" : "AeroPress Premium (Glass) vs. Clear Plastic: Why I Didn't Upgrade",
"image" : [ "https://www.joshcaliguire.com/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-09-24%20at%203.49.18%20PM.png" ],
"mainEntityOfPage" : {
"@id" : "https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/aeropress-premium-glass-vs.-clear-plastic",
"@type" : "WebPage"
},
"publisher" : {
"@type" : "Organization",
"logo" : {
"@type" : "ImageObject",
"url" : "https://www.joshcaliguire.com/hubfs/josh_caliguire_logo_v4.svg"
}
}
}
```
```json
{
"@context" : "https://schema.org",
"@type" : "BlogPosting",
"author" : {
"@type" : "Person",
"name" : "Josh Caliguire",
"url" : "https://www.joshcaliguire.com"
},
"dateModified" : "2026-09-24",
"datePublished" : "2026-09-24",
"description" : "I almost dropped $200 on the new glass AeroPress Premium. Here's what real reviews said, why I bought the plastic Clear instead, and why I don't regret it.",
"headline" : "AeroPress Premium (Glass) vs. Clear Plastic: Why I Didn't Upgrade",
"image" : "https://www.joshcaliguire.com/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-09-24%20at%203.49.18%20PM.png",
"keywords" : [ "AeroPress Premium review", "AeroPress glass vs plastic", "AeroPress Premium worth it", "AeroPress Clear review", "AeroPress Clear vs Premium", "is the AeroPress Premium worth it", "AeroPress Premium glass review", "AeroPress borosilicate glass", "AeroPress Premium price", "AeroPress Premium vs original", "AeroPress Clear vs original", "best AeroPress to buy 2026", "AeroPress upgrade from original", "AeroPress gray vs clear", "AeroPress plastic vs glass coffee maker", "AeroPress microplastics", "AeroPress Premium hand wash only", "AeroPress Premium dishwasher safe", "AeroPress Premium fragile", "AeroPress Premium travel", "AeroPress Go vs Premium", "AeroPress Clear colors review", "AeroPress Clear crystal clear", "does AeroPress Premium taste better", "AeroPress Premium vs Clear taste test", "AeroPress Premium steel filter", "AeroPress coffee maker comparison", "best AeroPress model", "AeroPress Premium pros and cons", "AeroPress Clear pros and cons", "AeroPress Premium customer reviews", "AeroPress Clear customer reviews", "should I buy the glass AeroPress", "AeroPress Premium worth the price", "cheapest AeroPress upgrade", "AeroPress Clear yerba mate", "AeroPress coffee maker 2026", "AeroPress Premium weight", "AeroPress Premium vs Clear plastic durability", "AeroPress buying guide 2026" ],
"mainEntityOfPage" : {
"@id" : "https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/aeropress-premium-glass-vs.-clear-plastic",
"@type" : "WebPage"
},
"publisher" : {
"@type" : "Organization",
"name" : "Josh Caliguire",
"url" : "https://www.joshcaliguire.com"
},
"url" : "https://www.joshcaliguire.com/blog/aeropress-premium-glass-vs.-clear-plastic"
}
```