Yes, AeroPress is BPA free plastic. It’s also free of phthalates and made of food-grade consumable plastics. This means it’s safe and won’t leach harmful chemicals in to a cup of coffee. While they don’t offer any other type of material for their coffee-making devices, the plastic serves several crucial purposes.
That said, it’s important to be aware of the kinds of plastics that an AeroPress comprises. This is so you can make an educated choice about whether to use an AeroPress or not for your morning caffeine ritual each day. While the plastics are fairly harmless, it’s good to know what they are in exact terms.
What Kind of Plastic Comprises an AeroPress?
There are three different plastics that make up the whole AeroPress device. The funnel, filter holder, filter cap and stir tool contain polypropylene. Copolyester comprises the main chamber and plunger while the plunger tip and rubber seal are silicone, or thermoplastic elastomer.
AeroPress advertises these plastics as being safe due to the fact that they’re free of BPAs and phthalates. Also, the types of plastics they use are generally considered safe for people to consume without having to worry about any adverse health effects later on.
What Are BPAs?
Bisphenol-A, or BPA, is a chemical agent manufacturers add to their plastics to make them durable and transparent. Recent studies show the damaging effects BPAs can have on human health. This includes inducing hormonal disruptions, brain damage, diabetes, infertility, endometriosis, breast cancer and a host of other types of cancers.
What Are Phthalates?
Phthalates are plasticizers that, like BPAs, help make plastics stronger and more durable but have dire and devastating health effects. Phthalates are very dangerous and can damage the kidney and liver as well as hormonal disruptions and infertility.
What Is Polypropylene?
Polypropylene is a plastic polymer that produces a transparent material. It’s lightweight, has low levels of toxicity and a high melting point. It has many applications throughout the food and beauty industries.
Is Polypropylene Safe for Human Consumption?
Even though polypropylene is typically safe for people to consume, there are a few dangers people should take note of. Mainly, it is a type of plastic and all plastics have the potential to leach harmful cancer-causing agents into food and beverages.
What Is Copolyester?
Copolyester is a thermoplastic resin that’s durable with widespread use. It’s an amorphous material which is clear and hygroscopic. This forms when modifications apply to standard polyester and maintains its composition when exposed to chemicals and heat.
Is Copolyester Toxic for Humans to Consume?
While there are no toxicity warnings on official Material Safety Data Sheets, the effects of copolyester have not undergone thorough testing or study. This includes how it affects human health and the environment.
However, the Eastman Group did a study in 2010 on Tritan copolyester. They found it to not only be free of BPAs but also bereft of the endocrine disruptors common in many plastics.
What Is Thermoplastic Elastomer?
Thermoplastic elastomer is a class of copolymer often referred to as a type of rubber. It’s technically a kind of silicone and has a wide range of uses in the beauty, medical and food industries.
Is Thermoplastic Elastomer Dangerous for People to Consume?
There are no known dangers to people after consuming products, food or beverages that come into contact with thermoplastic elastomer. This is why it has many widespread uses in preparing, storing and marketing food as well as its myriad of applications in science and medicine.
What Is the Purpose of an AeroPress Being Plastic?
It only makes sense for an AeroPress to comprise plastic. It’s inexpensive, cost effective, lightweight, durable, strong and convenient. This means you can chuck it into the sink when you’re in a hurry without worry about damaging the coffee-making device.
The convenience offered by an AeroPress means you can take it with you to school, working, camping or anywhere you need it to go. You don’t have to wrap it up carefully as you would have to with something like glass or metal.
Since there isn’t a handle on an AeroPress, the plastic offers a protective barrier between you and the hot water used to brew the coffee. This means you won’t burn yourself by handling the device. Something like metal or glass would make things a little frustrating and painful.
Is the Plastic What Makes an AeroPress Affordable?
Yes, it’s the plastic that makes an AeroPress affordable. It helps with lowering the cost of production while making it available for anyone to buy. It only costs around $30 and something like glass or metal would increase that price exponentially.
Is BPA-Free Plastic Really Healthy?
BPA-free plastics are typically considered safe enough for people to use in combination with consumables like food. However, removing BPAs from plastics could mean a trade off with other chemicals that can be just as harmful, if not more so.
This is why it’s incredibly important that when a company advertises its products as “BPA Free,” you do further research. Determine the exact type of plastic and look up the Material Safety Data Sheets to read about cautions, warning and other potential dangers.
Is It Possible to Recycle an AeroPress?
For the most part, you can recycle many of the components of an AeroPress. You can toss everything into a recycling bin except for the silicone parts like the plunger tip and rubber seal. But everything else, including the filters, can go into recycling.
Is AeroPress Known for Producing Coffee that Tastes like Plastic?
If you peruse online reviews and forums, there are reports that are all over the board on whether a cup of coffee from an AeroPress tastes like plastic. There are those who say they’ve never tasted plastic from their AeroPress and others who do notice a plastic flavoring to their coffee.
However, it’s important to note that if you’re tasting plastic in your coffee, something is definitely leaching in. This is usually not a good sign.
Hi, I’m Jen Williams, chief editor and writer for ThirstPerk.com.
I’ve been drinking coffee and tea for most of my life, but it wasn’t until I started working at Thirstperk.com that I became an expert on the subject. I’m a total caffeine addict who has spent hours upon hours reading about and experimenting with the different types of coffees out there in my search to find the perfect cup of joe.
I’ve been a tea lover for as long as I can remember as well. I grew up in a house with a mom who loved to drink herbal tea, and I think that’s where my love for tea first began. These days, I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting teas to try, and I love experimenting with different brewing methods and flavoring combinations.