How to Brew Coffee With an AeroPress

Coffee lovers are likely to have tried out a number of different coffee makers and brewers, from drip coffee makers to cafetieres. If you’ve recently decided to try out the AeroPress, or are considering switching to enjoy the superb tastes created by this special coffee press, then you may be wondering just how it works. We share our guide on how to brew coffee with an AeroPress.

What Will You Need to Use the AeroPress?

Most of what you will need to make coffee with an AeroPress will come as part of the equipment in the box. Alongside the actual AeroPress plunger, you will be kitted out with several accessories which you will need to make the perfect cup of coffee. These accessories include a coffee scoop measure, filter papers, a cap for the end of the plunger, a funnel to get the coffee grounds into the chamber easily and a paddle for stirring.

The only items you’ll need to acquire will be a cup, hot water and the coffee of your choice – freshly ground is the best! Like with drip coffee, you’ll want your beans to be quite finely ground. For the water, you’re aiming for around 80 degrees Celsius, as adding boiling water will make your coffee taste bitter. Instead, wait for around a minute after your water has finished boiling.

How to Brew Coffee Using the AeroPress

The AeroPress is incredibly simple and quick to use. However, there are two different methods you can use to create great quality coffee: the original method and the inverted method. AeroPress lovers get great results from both methods, so we will show you how to make an incredible cup of coffee with either way.

The Original Method

The most basic and easy way to brew your coffee.

1. Heat the water by bringing it to the boil and leaving it to cool for a minute. You’re aiming for around 80-90 degrees Celsius.
2. Place a paper filter inside the detachable plastic cap and pour a little water over the filter. This helps the filter to adhere to the cap.
3. Screw the filter cap onto the chamber and place over a cup or mug. Tip: if you’re using an espresso cup, the smaller end of the funnel sits on top of the cup and the AeroPress sits on top of the larger end to create a stable platform.
4. Measure out two full scoopfuls of coffee beans using the AeroPress scoop. This is about the equivalent of four tablespoons. The beans should then be ground until fine. We use the Rhinowares hand grinder for this. Or if you’re using pre-ground coffee, aim for 1 heaped AeroPress scoop which is about 17g of ground coffee
5. Add the ground coffee to the AeroPress using the scoop.
6. Add in the warm water until it reaches the top line on the AeroPress. However, as you use the AeroPress, you can experiment with adding in different amounts of water to see which you prefer.
7. Stir the water and coffee using the paddle stirrer for about 5-10 seconds.
8. The plunger should then be inserted and firmly pressed down on for about 20 seconds, until a hissing noise can be heard. This means that there is no water left in the device to be pushed through.
9. Taste the coffee that has been pressed. The AeroPress produces a fairly concentrated cup of coffee, so you may wish to add a little more hot water if desired.
   
   

The Inverted Method

A variation on the original method, the inverted method lets the coffee steep for a minute, which can extract more flavour, producing a strong and robust cup of coffee.

1. Heat the water by bringing it to the boil and leaving it to cool for a minute. You’re aiming for around 80-90 degrees Celsius.
2. Measure out two full scoopfuls of coffee beans using the AeroPress scoop. This is about the equivalent of four tablespoons. The beans should then be ground until fine.Or if you’re using pre ground coffee, aim for 1 heaped AeroPress scoop which is about 17g of ground coffee
3. Assemble the AeroPress upside down by putting the plunger in the chamber and flipping it over. Do not put the cap or filter on yet.
4. Use the spoon to pour the ground coffee into the chamber.
5. Pour in hot water until the chamber is almost full, then stir using the paddle or a spoon.
6. Leave the coffee to steep for between 30 seconds and 1 minute, depending on how weak or strong you like your coffee.
7. Place a paper filter inside the detachable plastic filter cap and pour a little water over the filter. This is really important with the inverted method to ensure the filter paper stays in place when you flip the AeroPress over. Screw this onto the chamber tightly.
8. Put your cup upside down on top of the filter cap.
9. Quickly and carefully turn the AeroPress over, using one hand to hold your cup to the filter cap and one hand to turn the AeroPress by the chamber, so that the cap is now facing down onto a cup.
10. Press the AeroPress, and you will know that your coffee is fully brewed when it makes a hissing noise.
11. As with the original method, the coffee should then be tasted and diluted if desired.

Cleaning the AeroPress

The AeroPress is incredibly easy to clean, especially in comparison to the likes of a French press. When the AeroPress is done brewing up a fantastic cup of coffee, the cap can be unscrewed to reveal the filter and the puck of condensed grounds. One more little push of the AeroPress plunger will have that popped out, ready to be disposed of in the compost or bin. The plastic AeroPress and all of its accessories can be very quickly and easily rinsed clean. Make sure that your AeroPress is fully dry before storing to make sure your seal stays fresh.

If you’re ready to get started with the AeroPress on the go coffee maker, then you can find all you need, including replacement accessories and more filters online here at AeroPress UK.