If you are new to AeroPress and you still haven’t figured out how it works, don’t worry! This guide will tell you everything that you need to know to brew the best coffee with your AeroPress coffee maker.
We will show you how to use the AeroPress, step by step so that you can get the most out of your coffee brewing experience!
What is The AeroPress?
If you’ve been living under a rock and have no idea what an AeroPress is, it’s a coffee brewing device that was invented in 2005 by Alan Adler.
It works by using a plunger to press hot water through coffee grounds, which results in a cup of coffee that is much smoother and less bitter than coffee made with other brewing methods like the French Press.
The AeroPress is portable, easy to clean, and makes a great cup of coffee, which is why it’s become so popular in recent years.
AeroPress Brewing Guide For Beginners.
Now for our AeroPress brewing guide! We’ll go over the basics of how to use your AeroPress, as well as some tips and tricks to make the best coffee.
Equipment:
- An AeroPress coffee maker with the paper filters
- A burr coffee grinder
- A coffee mug
- A kettle
- The stirring scoop that came with your AeroPress
- A timer (or your phone)
Ingredients:
- Fresh coffee beans
- Filtered Water (you can use tap water, but filtered water will taste better)
- Sugar (optional)
Let’s start with the steps:
1. Grind Your Coffee Beans.
As any coffee lover knows, the quality of your coffee beans is just as important as the quality of the water you use. If you want to make the best possible coffee with your AeroPress, you need to use freshly ground beans.
By grinding your beans right before brewing, you’ll ensure that they’re at their peak flavor and aroma. Additionally, grinding your beans will allow you to better control the strength of your coffee.
If you use pre-ground beans, it’s difficult to know how long they’ve been sitting on the shelf and how much flavor they’ve lost. When you grind your own beans, you can be sure that your coffee will be fresh and flavorful.
So, how do you grind your beans? If you have a burr coffee grinder, simply grind them to a medium-fine grind. If you don’t have a grinder, you can use a mortar and pestle to grind the beans. Just make sure that they’re not too coarse or too fine.
2. Boil The Water.
The second step to brewing coffee with the AeroPress is to boil the water. The water temperature should be around 195–205˚ F (90–96˚ C). Doing so will ensure that your brewed coffee is not too weak or too strong.
Also, make sure to use filtered water to remove any impurities that could affect the taste of your coffee. Filtered water will make a big difference in the flavor of your coffee, so it’s worth the extra effort.
Remember that more water is not always the better option. The ideal water-to-coffee ratio for AeroPress coffee is 1:16. This means that for every gram of coffee, you should use 16 grams of water.
3. Weigh Your Coffee.
The third step to brewing coffee with the AeroPress is to weigh your grounds. Depending on how strong you like your coffee, you’ll want to use between 10 and 20 grams of coffee.
It’s important not to mess with the amount of coffee you use because it will affect the taste and strength of your coffee. If you want to experiment with the amount of coffee, make sure to brew a separate batch so you can compare the results.
Experimenting with your brew will make it easier to find the perfect coffee-to-water ratio for your taste, and also help you dial in the perfect grind size.
4. Place the Paper or Metal Filter into the AeroPress.
You can use paper or metal filters with your AeroPress (I prefer paper). The primary difference between the two is how they affect your brewing process. Paper filters help retain more oils out of your coffee and are easier to use.
Because of this, paper filters are ideal for making short cups of coffee that you can drink right away; however, if you want to brew coffee over multiple hours, it’s better to use a metal filter with your AeroPress instead.
So, for this step, you need to place the filter into the AeroPress and close the filter cap. If you’re using a paper filter, make sure to wet it with hot water first. This will help remove the paper taste from your coffee.
5. Add The Coffee In The AeroPress.
Add the coffee in the AeroPress, but don’t overfill. The best thing to do is to start by adding the coffee in at about half the amount you have, then taste it later on. If you need more coffee, just put some more in.
If you followed every step correctly by now you should have a good idea of how much coffee you want to add. The last thing you want is for your coffee to be too weak or too strong.
6. Pour The Water and Press!
The last step is to pour the water and use a method called coffee bloom. Coffee bloom is the process of pouring hot water over the coffee grounds and letting them sit for 30 seconds before stirring.
This allows the coffee grounds to expand and release their oils, which helps to improve the flavor of the coffee and create a perfect AeroPress crema. After blooming the coffee, pour the remainder of the water into the carafe.
Then, press the plunger slowly, and stop when you hear a hissing sound. This indicates that all of the air has been forced out of the coffee and that it is now ready to be enjoyed.
TIP: You can brew your coffee using the AeroPress inverted method (upside-down method) or the traditional method. I prefer the inverted method because it’s easier to control the brewing process and produce a more consistent cup of coffee just like an espresso.
Get this free cheat sheet to step up your coffee game and learn about the different grind sizes!
A Quick AeroPress Recipe For Beginners.
If you love iced lattes then you’ll love this cold brew coffee recipe with AeroPress. It’s easy to make and will definitely give you a kick start to your day!
Ingredients:
- 18g of freshly ground coffee beans
- 60ml of hot water
- 5 ice cubes
- 130ml of Milk
1. Grind 18g of beans.
The first step is to grind 18 of beans. Use a medium-fine grind size as with almost every AeroPress recipe.
2. Boil water and let it cool for about 30 seconds.
Boil the water and then let it sit for about 30 seconds before continuing. This will ensure that your water is not too hot and will result in a better-tasting cup of coffee.
3. Insert filter paper into the AeroPress filter cap.
Wet the filter paper and insert it into the AeroPress filter cap. This will help to create a seal and prevent coffee grounds from getting into your cup.
4. Prepare a mug with 5 ice cubes and 130ml of Milk.
Get your favorite mug and add 5 ice cubes along with 130ml of Milk. Try to use cold or room temperature milk for the best results.
5. Press the plunger down slowly and evenly.
Now it’s time to brew! Slowly press the plunger down, making sure to do it evenly. This will help to extract all of the coffee goodness and prevent any grounds from getting into your cup.
6. Enjoy your delicious iced latte!
You’ve now made a delicious iced latte using the AeroPress. Enjoy it on its own or with your favorite breakfast foods!
Download The Recipe Here:
Iced Latte with AeroPress
Equipment
- 1 AeroPress Coffee Maker
- 1 Coffee Mug
Ingredients
- 18 g Ground Coffee
- 60 ml Water
- 130 ml Milk
- 5 Ice Cubes
- 1 tbsp Sugar (optional)
Instructions
- Grind 18g of beans.
- Boil water and let it cool for about 30 seconds.
- Insert filter paper into the AeroPress filter cap.
- Prepare a mug with 5 ice cubes and 130ml of Milk.
- Press the plunger down slowly and evenly.
- Enjoy your delicious iced latte!
Advanced AeroPress Instructions.
1. Always “Bloom” Your Coffee.
Blooming will help to release the natural oils in your coffee grounds and help to improve the flavor of your coffee. To bloom your coffee, simply pour hot water over the coffee grounds and let it sit for 30 seconds before stirring.
2. Keep An Eye on The Brew Time.
Brew time is an important factor in making AeroPress coffee. If you brew for too long, your coffee will be over-extracted and taste bitter. If you don’t brew long enough, your coffee will be under-extracted and taste weak.
The key is to find the sweet spot with brew time and experiment until you get it just right. A good rule of thumb is to brew for about 1 minute 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
3. Use The Right Water To Coffee Ratio.
The water to coffee-ratio is another important factor in making AeroPress coffee. If you use too much water, your coffee will be weak and watery. If you use too little water, your coffee will be strong and concentrated.
The key is to find the right balance of water to coffee. A good starting point is to use a ratio of 1:16, or 1 gram of coffee for every 16 grams of water.
4. You can use the paper filter around 5-6 times.
The paper filter that comes with the AeroPress can be used multiple times. In fact, you can use it up to 5 or 6 times before you need to replace it. This helps to cut down on waste and saves you money in the long run.
You can also compost your paper filter after you’ve used it.
5. Use Your Microwave to Test the Temperature of Your Water.
You want to make sure you are using hot water when you make AeroPress coffee, but not too hot. The ideal water temperature for brewing coffee is between 195-205 degrees Fahrenheit.
One easy way to test the temperature of your water is to use your microwave. Simply heat up your water in the microwave until it is hot, but not boiling. Then, use a food thermometer to test the temperature of the water.
Keep in mind that the water will cool down slightly when you pour it over the coffee grounds, so you want to make sure it is slightly hotter than your ideal brewing temperature.
6. Plunge Gently for the Best Results.
When you are ready to plunge, do so gently. Plunging too hard can result in a mess, or even break your AeroPress. Simply place the plunger on top of the coffee and press down gently until all the coffee has been pressed through the filter.
Read Also: 21 AeroPress Tips and Tricks to Step Up Your Game.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do you let AeroPress brew?
When it comes to AeroPress brewing, there really is no right or wrong answer. It all depends on your personal preferences. Some people like to let their coffee brew for 1 to 2 minutes, while others prefer to steep for closer to 3 minutes.
The important thing is to experiment and find the brewing time that works best for you. Keep in mind that the longer you let your coffee brew, the stronger it will be. So if you like a strong cup of coffee, you may want to let it brew for a minute or two longer. On the other hand, if you prefer a lighter cup of coffee, you may want to shorten the brewing time. Ultimately, it’s all up to you!
How much coffee should I use in an AeroPress?
The answer depends on how strong you like your coffee. A general rule of thumb is to use 1 gram of coffee for every 16 grams of water. If you want a weaker cup of coffee, you can use less coffee, and if you want a stronger cup of coffee, you can use more.
Experiment until you find the ratio that works best for you. Keep in mind that the type of coffee beans you use will also affect the strength of your coffee. So if you’re using a dark roast, you might want to use a little more coffee than usual to get the same level of strength.
What do the numbers on AeroPress mean?
If you’re new to AeroPress, you might be wondering what those numbers on the side of the chamber mean. Well, they actually match up to the number of scoops of coffee and water you will use.
So, if you’re making one cup of coffee, you would use one scoop of coffee and fill the chamber up to the one mark with water. If you’re making two cups of coffee, you would use two scoops of coffee and fill the chamber up to the two mark with water, and so on.
Of course, you can always adjust the amount of coffee and water you use to suit your personal preferences. But if you’re not sure where to start, the numbers on the AeroPress are a good place.
How many grams are in an AeroPress scoop?
An AeroPress scoop holds 11.5 grams of coffee, which is the perfect amount for a single cup. Although, of course, you can always use more or less coffee depending on your personal preferences.
Last Thoughts
As you can see, the AeroPress is as easy as 1-2-3. With just a few simple steps, you can brew yourself a delicious cup of coffee in no time.
So what are you waiting for? Give it a try today! And if you want to learn about grind sizes etc, make sure to download our free grind size cheat sheet which you can find below!
Evelina
Evelina’s passion for coffee could never been hidden. Having worked as a barista, she learned the true value of the coffee bean and its secrets. As she continued to evolve as a barista, so did her knowledge, techniques on making different coffee blends and most importantly how to operate every kind of gear when it comes to coffee. Having a degree in biomedicine and being a barista, allows her to provide our community with in-depth knowledge surrounding the topics of coffee.
Get this free cheat sheet to step up your coffee game and learn about the different grind sizes!
