Aram Espresso Maker + Steel Stand – manual espresso without electricity
The Aram Espresso Maker pushes the water through the coffee bed using a hand crank. It needs no electricity, no capsules and no paper filters. With the steel stand it sits firmly on the counter, without the stand it travels along in your backpack.
The Aram is built by Aram Soulcraft in a small studio on the outskirts of Curitiba in the Brazilian state of Paraná, together with more than 20 local suppliers and craft workshops. The body is made of wood, the stand of galvanised, powder-coated steel. You can find more from the brand in our Aram collection.
How the Aram works
You fill hot water up to the perforated plate and turn the crank. It moves a piston that pushes the water through the coffee. You control the pressure through grind size and dose: if you feel hardly any resistance while cranking, you need a finer grind or more coffee. According to Aram, this means you are not tied to the classic 9 bar.
For espresso, we go by weight ratio; 1:2 is a starting point, taste decides. Espresso is complex, but it is not rocket science. Our opinion is one of many.
The details in everyday use
53 mm basket
Included is a double precision basket for 18 g in the standard 53 mm size (La Spaziale). Aram lists a single basket for 10 g and a triple basket for 21 g as further 53 mm sizes.
Around 60 ml per shot
The Aram is designed for a double espresso of around 60 ml: water up to the perforated plate, crank all the way up and back down again. For around 40 ml, according to Aram, you turn the crank about 29 turns upwards.
Stopping the flow without force
At the end of the crank movement, you do not press any further. To stop the flow, turn the crank back anticlockwise until you feel a click, then a quarter turn clockwise.
Steel stand
The stand is made entirely of galvanised steel and is powder-coated. It gives the Aram a fixed place at home.
Care
After the shot, discard the remaining water and the coffee puck, and rinse the basket and portafilter under running water. Do not soak the wooden parts or put them in the dishwasher; on the outside, a slightly damp cloth is enough.
Spare parts in standard sizes
Aram built the parts to standard sizes so that spare parts such as gaskets and baskets are easy to get.
At a glance
| Type | Manual espresso machine with hand crank and piston, no electricity |
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| Use | With steel stand on the counter or without stand on the go |
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| Basket | 53 mm, double basket 18 g (La Spaziale) |
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| Shot volume | Around 60 ml (double espresso) |
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| Body | Wood |
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| Wood variants | Light (Tatajuba), reddish (Jatobá), dark (Ipé) |
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| Stand | Galvanised steel, powder-coated |
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| Origin | Aram Soulcraft, Curitiba, Brazil |
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| What's included | Aram Espresso Maker, steel stand, 1 glass, 1 basket 18 g (53 mm), 1 mini tamper |
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| Care | Do not soak wooden parts, not dishwasher-safe |
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Who it is made for
For everyone who wants to pull espresso by hand and be independent of electricity, at home as well as on the go. What matters is a grinder that grinds fine enough for espresso. For everyone who wants a grinder that is affordable and precise: hand grinders from Comandante and Timemore, or the electric VS3 from our Varia collection. If you want more: Weber Workshops or Option-O. You can find all models under hand grinders and coffee grinders.
For the weight ratio, you need a scale. For everyone who wants a scale that is affordable and precise: Normcore. If you want an app and flow rate display: Acaia. Matching 53 mm tampers can be found in the tamper collection.
Our advisory tool helps with the choice, as does a free consultation appointment. If you want to test machines and grinders side by side, you can book the espresso machine and grinder comparison in the showroom in Bern or Zurich, an option, not a requirement. Online, we deliver within 2–4 working days, throughout Switzerland and to Liechtenstein; Click & Collect is available in Bern and Zurich.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Aram need electricity?
No. The Aram works completely without electricity. The pressure comes solely from the hand crank, which moves a piston.
Which wood variants are available?
Three: light Tatajuba wood, reddish Jatobá wood and dark Ipé wood.
What is included?
The Aram Espresso Maker, the steel stand, a glass, a basket for 18 g (53 mm) and a mini tamper.
Which baskets fit the Aram?
The Aram uses the standard 53 mm size. A double basket for 18 g from La Spaziale is included; Aram also lists single baskets for 10 g and triple baskets for 21 g.
How much espresso does the Aram make per shot?
Around 60 ml, a double espresso. For around 40 ml, according to Aram, you turn the crank about 29 turns upwards.
Can I see the Aram before buying?
That depends on whether the Aram is currently on display. In our showrooms in Bern (Gerberngasse 44) and Zurich Oerlikon (Hagenholzstrasse 50b) we show a wide selection, but not the entire range. Write to us before your visit at [email protected] or call during business hours, and we will check whether the Aram is there. More at coffeecoachingclub.ch.
Tip from the roastery: For dense, full-bodied espresso from the Aram, we roast Cozy Chocolate and Nutty Delight. If you are looking for maximum body without acidity, reach for Very Nutty. For a fruity discovery, there is Wild Peach. That is our recommendation, one of many.
