After designing flying discs for Parker Brothers, Alan Adler turned his attention to coffee following a conversation with a friend's wife. The two were discussing how hard it was to brew a single cup of decent coffee using a drip machine. That was in 2004. By the following year, Adler had his prototype -- a pair of plastic cylinders that fit together to create an air-tight seal. By forcing the hot water through the grounds at a high pressure, Adler was able to reduce the steep time to as little as 10 seconds (though many will wait up to 30 seconds before pressing the plunger).

The whole setup might seem overly simplistic, but it has inspired an entire subculture dedicated to devising the best ways to brew using an AeroPress. There's even a World Championship where competitors battle it out to see who can make the best mug of Joe using the device. Fast Company has an interview with the inventor and you can see Tested's method for brewing with the AeroPress below.

Image via the Department of Coffee and Social Affairs.