AeroPress Coffee: 8-Step AeroPress Coffee Maker Guide + Recipe

You didn’t buy your Aeropress so you could drink subpar coffee. These machines are designed for coffee enthusiasts who appreciate a high-quality brew. Not only is it convenient on the go, but it also makes coffee of similar quality and potency to the ever-popular french press.

However, if you don’t know what you’re doing with an Aeropress, then you can end up with a mug that is little different from the filter brew at Dunkin’ Donuts. Using one of these machines is as specific as it is delicious and making the right cup requires an in-depth refining process. 

A process you’ll master after reading this Aeropress guide! And, perhaps, after watching this video from the Aeropress Coffee Maker:

In this brewing guide, you’ll learn about  the quality of the ground you buy, the method you use, the temperature of your water, and many other steps and factors. All with one single goal in mind: getting you the perfect cup of Aeropress coffee every time. 

What is the Aeropress? 

The inventor of the Aeropress is Alan Adler. He designed the portable coffee maker so coffee lovers could enjoy flavorful cups of coffee on the go. It is a plastic tube that brews great coffee directly into a mug or cup. You add grounds and hot water into the tube and then press the coffee through a filter using a plunger. 

The company Aerobie started in 1984 after Alan, an engineering professor at Stanford, decided to start a company for his sporting goods inventions. In 2004 he switched from sporting goods to coffee makers and debuted the Aeropress in 2005. 

Today, the Aeropress is one of the most popular coffee brewing methods in over 60 countries. It is now widely considered one of the most effective and delicious methods for brewing coffee. 

Why is Aeropress Coffee So Good? 

Aeropress has several aspects which separate it from the competition. Almost all of them come from the total immersion of the coffee into the water, allowing for richer flavor and higher caffeine content. 

Like a French press, the water and coffee interacting for a longer time allow the coffee a better chance to fuse with the water and create a potent cup. Aeropress also brags about several other advantages of their machine.

First, the coffee it brews is “rich and smooth without bitterness.” They also claim it has lower acidity than other brewing methods, no grit, a quick brewing time (under a minute), it can brew both American and espresso-style coffee, and it’s incredibly portable. 

Equipment

  • Aeropress brewer
  • Aeropress filters
  • Mug
  • Water kettle
  • Coffee grinder
  • Scale
  • Timer

Ingredients

  • Water: 220 g for regular-sized Aeropress, that’s a bit less than 1 cup
  • Coffee beans (grind them yourself for best results): 17 grams, that’s 2 1/2 tablespoons

What Coffee Goes in an Aeropress? 

You can use almost any type of coffee in an Aeropress. It is incredibly versatile, so the origin country and species of coffee you prefer do not affect the Aeropress’ blending abilities. However, the type of grind is essential. 

Like all brewing methods, you will need to grind the beans before you can brew. While some brews might work better with coarse grounds, for the Aeropress, you’ll want to use a fine grind intended for drip coffee. 

We also recommend grinding your own beans for the Aeropress because the taste difference is noticeable. Pre-ground coffee beans lose a lot of their flavor in the process and aren’t as good for brewing. You can learn more about the perfect grind size in our coffee grind size chart.

You can also choose espresso blends for a more robust cup. 

Which Equipment Do You Need for Aeropress Brew Method? 

Most of the equipment you need will come with your Aeropress brewer, but you will need special Aeropress paper filters, a water boiler, a coffee bean grinder, a scale and a timer for the best cup. You can use a pot to boil the water, but it’s much faster to have an electronic water boiler or a kettle. 

Aeropress Parts
All Aeropress Parts

You can also monitor the temperature more efficiently with these devices. For grinding, we recommend a manual burr grinder to keep up with the portability of the Aeropress. You can find hand-held coffee grinders, which will take up little space in your kitchen drawer or hiking backpack. 

Aeropress Equipment
Your Aeropress Setup – photos courtesy of Jess Jaime

Inverted or Normal Method? 

There are two ways to brew Aeropress coffee: the inverted method and the normal. We’ll get into the differences at the relevant time in the brewing guide.

Consider the Aeropress Guide: How to Brew the Perfect Cup of Aeropress Coffee

Here’s a step-by-step Aeropress brew guide to extract the best cup of coffee from your Aeropress.

TIP: at the bottom of this article you’ll find a downloadable/printable recipe card!

Step 1: Heat the Water

The ideal temperature for Aeropress

Before you can brew, you’ll need to heat the water. 

Aeropress Guide Stagg Kettle

The water temperature significantly affects your coffee’s flavor. Water that’s too hot will scald the beans and result in a more bitter taste. The ideal temperature for brewing coffee is 195 to 200℉
If you don’t want to sit with a thermometer and try to find the golden ratio, you can just bring your water to a boil and wait 45 seconds before pouring.

How much water do you need?

The amount of water depends on the size of your Aeropress, but try to keep the level about a quarter of an inch below the rim. For a regular-sized Aeropress, you’ll pour 220 ml in total (that’s a bit less than 1 cup).d give enough information to earn their attention.

Step 2: Prepare and Rinse Your Filter and Cap

The Aeropress’ microfilter is what sets it apart from the french press. It doesn’t allow tiny chunks of coffee or mud to form on the bottom of your cup. To prepare the paper filter, first, you’ll have to run water over it. This will remove the paper flavor from the filter.

Try using a small glass for rinsing your filter, so you don’t make a mess. 

Aeropress Rinse Filter
Step 2: Rinse the filter

Step 3: Assemble the Aeropress

Your Aeropress is composed of three main parts: the filter, the tube, and the plunger.

The Aeropress also comes with a grind funnel to help pour the beans inside. Once your coffee is ground, you can attach the funnel to the open end of the Aeropress tube. 

Depending on your brewing method (inverted or normal), you will begin by attaching either the plunger or the filter to the tube. 

Benefits of the Normal Method

The normal method follows the standard steps we’ll mention in this article. In short: put the filter cap on the tube, place the tube on top of a mug, add coffee, add water, add more water, then seal off with the plunger and press it into the mug). This method is easier and faster, and you don’t have to balance the tube on the unstable plunger. 

Benefits of the Inverted Method

For the inverted method, you have to begin with the plunger already in the tube (and without attaching the filter cap at first). Then you repeat these steps with the tube upside down, mixing the coffee and water on top of the plunger. After it’s mixed, you put the filter and mug on top, flip it right-side-up, and plunge the coffee down into the mug. 

Most Aeropress enthusiasts prefer the inverted method because it allows the coffee that would normally be stuck at the bottom against the filter to flow freely through the water during the final press. This method results in a richer and more even flavor for the coffee. Yet, in this article, we’re showing the original/normal Aeropress method

Step 4: Measure and Grind Your Coffee

For the best Aeropress coffee, you need an exact amount of coffee grounds. 

What grind size should you use for Aeropress? 

As we mentioned earlier, the best type of grind for the Aeropress is finely ground beans. These will blend better with the water, lead to better extraction and you don’t have to worry about them escaping through the microfilter.

How much coffee should you use for Aeropress? 

Too little coffee means your coffee will be watery. Too much, and you’re going to get a cup that’s too bitter. The perfect amount is 17 grams of coffee or 2 ½ teaspoons. The Aeropress comes with a scooper for measuring this exact amount of beans. 

Aeropress Add Coffee
Step 4: Add coffee

Step 5: Bloom the Grounds

You don’t want dry spots or clumps in your coffee. The best way to avoid this with the Aeropress is to add a small amount of hot water at first, just enough to cover the grounds. This will allow them to adapt and soak into the water before adding the rest. 

Aeropress Pour
Step 5: Add water

After you add this water, you will want to stir it to be sure no grounds are dry and then wait 20 seconds. If done correctly, the grounds will bubble and bloom at the top and create a nice light brown froth. 

Step 6: Complete the Pour

After your bloom is complete, it’s time to add the rest of the water. Fill the Aeropress to about a quarter of an inch from the top with hot water. 

Aeropress Pour
Step 6: Complete the pour

Agitate the grounds

After you pour the water in, it’s a good idea to give the grounds another quick stir with a spoon or stirring stick. This process is called “agitating the grounds” and helps all the coffee get exposed to the water evenly.

Aeropress Bloom The Grounds
Step 6 (optional): Agitate

What’s the Total Brew Time?  

After you’re finished agitating the grounds, you’ll want to wait one more minute before the final press. This allows the coffee times to blend better with the water. The total brew time for the Aeropress is about 2.5 minutes. 

Step 7: Push the Plunger Down

When pushing down the plunger of your Aeropress, you want to do it slowly and with steady pressure. Give the coffee time to seep through the filter, and if you feel resistance, stop for a second. Once you hear a hissing sound, you can stop pushing down. 

Aeropress Push Plunger
Step 7: Push the plunger down

Normal method

For the normal method, you can attach the plunger after you’ve let the water sit for a minute. Then press it down using the method described above. 

Inverted method

For the Aeropress inverted method, you’ll attach the filter cap and a cup to the top of the tube. Once they’re secure, flip the entire Aeropress right-side-up and repeat the method described above. 

Step 8: Enjoy a Perfect Cup of Aeropress Coffee

If you’ve followed all the steps correctly, then you should have a delicious and rich cup of coffee ready to go. Tweak your recipe by adding milk or sugar to your liking (or not at all) and enjoy! 

Frequently Asked Questions

If you still have some questions about the Aeropress, check out our frequently asked questions section below. 

Why is my Aeropress coffee bitter? 

Too much coffee or water that’s too hot will both result in bitterness. Make sure to use the coffee scooper (or measure the coffee precisely) and wait 45 seconds after the water boils to avoid causing bitterness. 

Conclusion

The Aeropress is a fantastic machine that works wonders in the coffee world. Now that you know how to use it, you’ll have delicious coffee in minutes every time. We hope this article was helpful for you. Please enjoy your Aeropress coffee! 

Aeropress Guide: Step-By-Step Recipe For The Perfect Cup

Recipe by Lukas Van VyveCourse: Brewing Guides
Prep time

10

minutes

Ingredients

  • Equipment
  • Aeropress brewer

  • Aeropress filters

  • Mug

  • Water kettle

  • Coffee grinder

  • Scale

  • Timer

  • Ingredients
  • Coffee beans (use about 17 grams, that’s 2 1/2 tablespoons ). Grind them yourself for best results: here’s a coffee grind chart that can help you with finding the perfect coarseness, depending on how you brew your Aeropress

  • Filtered water (for a regular-sized Aeropress, use 220g, a bit less than 1 cup)

Instructions

  • Heat the water to 195-200°F.
  • Add a paper filter to the cap, then rinse your filter cap to remove the paper flavor.
  • Assemble your Aeropress: put the filter cap on the tube and place the tube on top of a mug (filter-cap down)
  • Grind your coffee (you can use the Aeropress scooper for measuring the exact amount of beans; for a regular-sized Aeropress, use 17 grams or 2 1/2 tablespoons of beans)
  • Place your coffee grounds in the Aeropress
  • Bloom the grounds: add a small amount of hot water at first, just enough to cover the grounds. Then wait 20 seconds.
  • Complete the pour: add the rest of the hot water by pouring in concentric circles. Slowly fill the Aeropress to about a quarter of an inch from the top. This should take about 2.5 minutes in total.
  • Optional: Agitate the grounds by stirring the grounds with a spoon or stirring stick.
  • Place the plunger on top of the tube, sealing it off. Then slowly push the plunger down, with steady pressure. If you feel resistance, stop for a second. Once you hear a hissing sound, you can stop pushing down
  • Enjoy your perfect cup of Aeropress coffee!

Notes

  • You can also use the “inverted method” to brew Aeropress: in this case, you have to begin with the plunger already in the tube and place it upside down on your tabletop. Then, pour the coffee in the tube. Then, you attach the filter cap to the top of the tube to seal it off. Once they’re secure, flip the entire Aeropress right-side-up on top of a cup or coffee pot. Then you can push down the plunger until you hear the hissing sound!

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