AeroPress Brewing Methods | Standard or Inverted |

How do you Brew? Upright Vs Inverted AeroPress

When Alan Adler invented the AeroPress coffee maker back in 2004, his idea was simple. Great tasting, non-bitter coffee that could be brewed in an instant, anywhere.

Loved by coffee aficionados and baristas, the AeroPress caught the imagination of the coffee world, and new ‘recipes’ were devised, using different amounts of coffee and water ratios. Then… the brewing of coffee in an AeroPress was, quite literally, tipped on its head! The inverted method was born.

But what is the difference between the two brewing methods, and how do they work?

What is the standard method?

The standard brewing method is the one that you will find on your instructions. It begins with you inserting your filter paper into the filter cap, screwing onto the chamber and placing the now chamber, filter and filter cap on top of your mug. You then pour your ground coffee through the top, followed by the hot water. The plunger is in then inserted and the coffee and water are pressed into the cup below, resulting in a great, quick, cup of fresh coffee.

What is the inverted method?

This twist on the original technique was devised by Baristas who wanted to explore the ability to steep your coffee for longer for a different brew, so how does it work?

The plunger needs to be placed around four inches into the body of the AeroPress and then stood upright with the back of the plunger flat on your table or work surface. Place the filter paper in the filter cap and pre-wet. Pour your ground coffee and water into the chamber and finally screw your pre-wet filter cap and paper on. You can then allow it to brew for as long as you like! The final step is to take your mug, turn it upside down and place on top of your inverted AeroPress. The knack is in the flip, keep your mug tight to your AeroPress to avoid spills!

What’s the difference?

Using the inverted method does give you a little more control of the amount of time you wish to brew and steep your coffee, as you don’t have to worry about the coffee dripping through the filter, it won’t do so until you ‘flip’ it.

You can also play around a little more with your coffee/water ratios, allowing for more experimentation until you find that perfect blend.

However, if you have a need for speed (and are nervous of getting boiling hot water mixed with coffee grinds all over yourself when a flip goes awry), then the standard method may be a better bet. It’s also a great way of ensuring consistency in the outcome. The standard method also allows the coffee grounds to remain at the bottom of the chamber which creates a self-filtering layer which can help with better pressure.

Should I choose standard or inverted?

Well, it really does depend on you! In the AeroPress World Championships, around 50% of contenders use the inverted method, showing that even the experts are divided.              

Just like music, when it comes to coffee, we all have our own tastes, so it’s worth experimenting with both styles of brewing to find out which suits you best.

Photo credit: 3FE, Irish W.A.C hosts 2018 (https://3fe.com)