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The Ultimate Guide To AeroPress Coffee
What is AeroPress, what makes it special, and how to use it to make a delicious cup of coffee?
Published December 3, 2021
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Susan Rov
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
While AeroPress is only a relatively recent invention, its popularity rose quickly and spread rapidly around the world. Today, once a novel and obscure brewer, is commonly used by coffee lovers as well as specialty cafes.
Even though brewing coffee with an AeroPress is not difficult, its unusual shape can be intimidating and if you’ve never used it before, it is not as intuitive as other simpler brewers, such as the French Press.
One of the main reasons for its popularity is its versatility that allows you to brew different types of coffee with no additional setup required. But the bigger room for adjustments and variations also allows for more room for doubt.
How do you make a coffee with AeroPress?
If you want to join the large AeroPress fanbase and start brewing your morning caffeine hit with this innovative gadget, this article is for you. It will answer all the most common questions and provide you with the ultimate guide to AeroPress coffee.
About AeroPress
The first AeroPress was invented by Alan Adler in 2003 who wanted to create a brewing device that could produce a superior cup of coffee.
While he enjoyed the pour over coffee, he wanted to revolutionize the process by making it faster, more convenient, and more consistent.
This innovative brewer is made up of a cylindrical brewing chamber, a plunger with a rubber seal that fits inside it, and a filter cap that is attached to the bottom of the brewer.
Brewing with AeroPress is manual and doesn’t require any external power, but it still generates around one bar of pressure.
This is significantly less than an espresso machine, which generates at least 9 bars of pressure, but is still higher when contrasted with pour over brewing that is only aided by gravity.
Why Brew With AeroPress?
If you’ve never tried making coffee with an AeroPress, you might be wondering: what’s the fuss about and why would someone swap their usual brewing method for this new one?
The AeroPress quickly became one of the most popular manual brewers worldwide, with baristas as well as coffee connoisseurs quickly embracing this new brewer.
Here are the top reasons how is AeroPress different and why it is worth giving it a go:
1. Versatile
One of the key ways in which AeroPress is distinct from all the other manual brewers out there is its unparalleled versatility.
Simply by adjusting the recipe, grind, and brewing technique, you can make a completely different type of coffee.
It allows you to make a coffee similar to a pour over but you can also use the same device to make a cold brew or a concentrated shot of coffee similar to espresso.
That’s why, if you like to add variety into your daily coffee ritual, the AeroPress can be the perfect companion that will allow you to experiment simply by adjusting the recipe.
2. Affordable
Purchasing an AeroPress kit is extremely affordable, even on smaller budgets.
And because the AeroPress allows you to brew filter coffee as well as a coffee similar to espresso, when you compare it to the price you would spend on a full pour over set-up as well as an espresso machine, the AeroPress offers incredible value.
3. Quick
While there is no doubt that you can brew a delicious cup of coffee with your V60 or a French press, these methods typically take around 5 minutes.
On top of that, if you’re brewing pour over coffee with V60, this method requires your constant attention and precise technique.
Even though making coffee can be an enjoyable process, the time in the morning is precious and you don’t always have 5 minutes to spare to prepare your morning caffeine hit.
An AeroPress presents a revolutionary way of brewing that is more forgiving and produces a tasty cup of coffee in only 1 minute.
4. Portable & Durable
Because of its durable construction and compact design, the AeroPress is popular among adventure lovers and travelers who don’t want to compromise on the quality of their coffee when on the road.
Most other brewers that can produce a decent cup of coffee, such as Chemex or a French Press, are constructed from glass and are easy to break.
In contrast, you can take your AeroPress anywhere without having to worry about breakage and enjoy an amazing cup of coffee outdoors with minimal setup required.
What Does AeroPress Coffee Taste Like?
Brewing coffee with an AeroPress produces a clean taste with delicate flavor notes.
When compared to other manual brewers, such as V60, the AeroPress is more forgiving and produces a consistent taste every single time.
The only objection some people have is that the AeroPress coffee tastes too clean.
This can be easily solved by swapping the paper filter for a stainless steel version that doesn’t absorb all the flavors and oils from the coffee, resulting in a more flavorful brew.
Aeropress Coffee Grind
As most coffee lovers know, the first step to brewing a delicious cup of coffee with any device is the correct grind size.
While we know that French Press requires coarse grind and making an espresso very fine grind, the answer is not that straightforward with an AeroPress grind.
Since there are so many ways and recipes you can follow to brew coffee with this brewer, there is also a wider range of grind sizes suitable, ranging from medium to fine grind.
If you want to follow the standard recipe, a medium-fine grind and 1:30 minute brewing time, using 17 grams of coffee per 250ml of water, will produce the best result.
As you make adjustments according to your taste preferences, bear in mind that the finer grind will require a shorter brewing time since the extraction will happen faster.
AeroPress Brewing Methods: Classic Or Inverted?
The two most widespread ways of brewing coffee with AeroPress are the classic or inverted methods.
With the classic method, you place the device on your mug filter-down, while with the inverted method, the device is flipped over and the plunger is inserted in the chamber before brewing.
The AeroPress fans tend to prefer one method over the other. The inverted method camp argues that it gives you better control over brewing since no coffee is allowed to drip out.
While the counterargument of the classic method fans is that if the coffee rests on the rubber part of the AeroPress, as is the case with the inverted method, it can affect the taste of your brew.
Prestige Coffee Maker Instructions For AeroPress
- Use the 175F water temperature
- Grind your coffee medium-fine and start with the 1:18 coffee to water ratio
- Cover the coffee grounds with the first pour for a coffee bloom that releases the carbon dioxide and helps to develop the flavors
- Fill the AeroPress to the top with hot water, stir, insert the plunger (if using a traditional method) and let it brew for around 1-1:30 minutes
- Put the filter cap on top, if using the inverted method, and flip the device back over, using a mug
- Push the plunger down slowly
- Enjoy!
Use the above instructions as a guide only and feel free to experiment with different recipes or explore our AeroPress brewing guides to unlock the full functionality of this brewer.
The Best Coffee For Aerobie AeroPress
As with other AeroPress brewing decisions, the type of coffee you use will depend on your preferences.
If you want to brew coffee similar to a pour over, use your favorite single-origin beans that will showcase the delicate tasting notes in your cup.
On the other hand, if you want to brew concentrated coffee similar to espresso, use espresso coffee beans and a dark roast that is most suitable for being mixed with milk or diluted to make an Americano.
How To Clean Your AeroPress?
The last question you might be asking when it comes to brewing coffee with AeroPress is, how do you clean it?
The good news is that the materials are easy to clean and rinsing your AeroPress after use and removing the coffee grounds will be sufficient. Occasionally cleaning your device more thoroughly is recommended to prevent coffee buildup.
Have you tried brewing coffee with an AeroPress and how do you like it compared to other brewing methods?
About the author
Susan Rov
A retired barista who turned into a writer. I love discovering coffee flavors and learning more about the magic bean.
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