AeroPress
Versatile · Fast · Forgiving
What is AeroPress?
The AeroPress is a versatile, portable brewer invented in 2005 that uses gentle pressure from a hand-pressed plunger to push hot water through coffee and a filter. It brews in under 2 minutes, is nearly impossible to over-extract badly, and is highly forgiving for beginners — while also being a favourite of competition baristas for its creative flexibility.
✦ Best for: Any roast level. Especially good for espresso-style concentrate, travel brewing, and experimentation.
What You'll Need
- AeroPress (standard or Go edition)
- AeroPress paper filters — or reusable metal filter
- Coffee grinder
- Kettle
- Scale + timer (recommended)
- Sturdy mug or cup to brew into
Brew Parameters — Standard Method
| Parameter | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Coffee dose | 15–17g |
| Water amount | 200–220ml |
| Water temperature | 85–96°C (185–205°F) |
| Grind size | Medium-fine |
| Total brew time | 1:30 – 2:00 minutes |
Step-by-Step: Standard Method
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Place a paper filter in the AeroPress cap. Rinse it with hot water over your cup to remove paper taste, then screw the cap back on.
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Place the AeroPress on top of your mug (narrow end down). Add 15–17g of medium-fine ground coffee.
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Start your timer. Pour hot water (~90°C) to the "2" mark (about 200ml). Stir for 10 seconds.
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Insert the plunger and gently pull up slightly to create a vacuum — this holds the water in place during the steep.
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At 1:30, press the plunger slowly and steadily over 20–30 seconds. Stop when you hear a hiss.
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Dilute with hot water to taste if desired. Serve and enjoy.
☕ Pro Tip
Stop pressing the moment you hear the "hiss" — that's air coming through. Pressing beyond that point extracts harsh, bitter flavors from the puck.
Inverted Method (Advanced)
Stand the AeroPress upside down with the plunger inserted 1cm. Add coffee, pour water, stir, and steep for 1:30. Screw on the filter cap, then carefully flip onto your mug and press slowly. The inverted method allows a longer, more controlled steep.
| Parameter | Inverted Method |
|---|---|
| Coffee dose | 17g |
| Water amount | 220ml |
| Water temperature | 88–92°C (190–198°F) |
| Grind size | Medium |
| Steep before flip | 1:30 minutes |
Ratio Guide
| Coffee | Water | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 15g | 200ml | Regular cup (~180ml) |
| 17g | 220ml | Slightly stronger cup |
| 20g | 100ml | Concentrate — dilute 1:1 with hot water |
| 22g | 110ml | Strong concentrate for milk drinks |
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Too sour | Under-extracted | Grind finer or increase water temp |
| Too bitter | Over-extracted | Grind coarser or lower water temp |
| Hard to press | Grind too fine | Go coarser for an easier plunge |
| Watery result | Too few grounds | Increase dose to 17–20g |
| Grounds in cup | Filter not seated properly | Ensure cap is fully and firmly screwed on |
🌟 Beginner Tip
The AeroPress is incredibly forgiving. If something doesn't taste right, adjust just one thing at a time — grind size is usually the biggest lever. There are no bad AeroPress cups, only learning ones.
