BREW GUIDE
AeroPress
Clean, forgiving, fast and travel-friendly. The most beginner-proof speciality method.
- Easy
- ⏱ 3 mins total
- ☕ 1 cup (220ml)
GEAR
AeroPress + grinder + kettle
RATIO
1:13 (16g coffee, 220ml water)
GRIND
Medium-fine
WATER
79-85°C (175-185°F)
THE RECIPE
Seven steps to a great AeroPress
AeroPress is the most forgiving brewing method on this site. Get the water temperature and grind size in the ballpark and you'll make great coffee. Here's the recipe.
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Heat your water to 79-85°C
Prep: 2 minsBring water to a boil, then let it sit for 30-45 seconds to drop to 175-185°F (79-85°C). This temperature range matters - too hot scorches the coffee, too cool under-extracts. A digital kettle makes this easy.
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Grind your beans medium-fine
30 secUse 15-18g of coffee. Grind to a medium-fine consistency - finer than V60, coarser than espresso. Think table salt texture. Grind size is the biggest variable in AeroPress flavour.
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Rinse the paper filter
15 secPlace a paper filter in the AeroPress cap. Rinse it with hot water before brewing. This removes the paper taste and pre-heats your AeroPress, locking in brew temperature.
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Add coffee, then pour water
Pour: 20 secPosition the AeroPress over your mug or carafe. Add the ground coffee to the brew chamber. Pour your hot water over the grounds, filling the chamber to your desired level (200-220ml for one cup).
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Stir for 10-15 seconds
Steep: 1 minStir the slurry for 10-15 seconds with the paddle (or a spoon) to ensure even extraction. This is what makes AeroPress so forgiving - the stir does the work that pour technique does in V60.
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Press steadily for 20-30 seconds
Press: 20-30 secInsert the plunger and apply steady, even pressure over 20-30 seconds. Don't rush it - too fast causes channelling, too slow over-extracts. When you hear the hiss, stop pressing.
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Clean up while it's easy
10 secPush out the puck and filter into the bin, rinse the AeroPress with hot water. Done. The fastest cleanup in coffee - this is why people travel with AeroPress.
PRO TIPS
Three tips to level up
AeroPress is built for experimentation. Here's how to get the most out of it.
Try the inverted method
Flip the AeroPress upside down, brew, then flip onto your mug to press. Gives you full control over steep time and prevents drip-through before you're ready.
Metal filters change everything
Swap the paper filter for a fine metal disc and you get more body and oils in the cup - more like a French press. Less clean, more rich. Worth experimenting.
AeroPress espresso-style
Use 17g of fine-ground coffee with just 50ml of water and press hard. You get a strong concentrate that approximates espresso - great with hot milk for an AeroPress flat white.
BEANS FOR AEROPRESS
Which beans to use
AeroPress works with almost any roast. Light single origins give you a clean, bright cup. Medium-dark blends like Re Firma bring more body, closer to an espresso-style brew.
Other brewing methods
Same beans, different flavours. Try the same coffee through different methods to taste the difference.
