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If you enjoy brewing coffee in the French press, we think you’ll love using the AeroPress. It uses the same immersion-style brewing principles, but the end result is noticeably better – well, we think so anyway.
The Aerobie AeroPress coffee maker is a firm favorite of ours, and simplicity is where the AeroPress truly shines.
Going on a road trip? This pocket-sized brewer is great for on-the-go brewing and is the perfect companion when you’re stuck out in the wilderness.
If you’re relatively new to using the AeroPress and looking for some advice, we’ve got you covered.
In our step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through the standard AeroPress brew method. With our recipe, you’re guaranteed maximum flavor extraction.
At A Glance
Brew Time: 2.30 minutes
Yield: 1 short mug
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AeroPress Coffee Recipe:
Water to coffee ratio: 15:1
Water: 275g
Coffee: 18g
Grind: Medium/Fine (think table salt)
What You’ll Need:
AeroPress
Coffee grinder (recommended)
Weighing scale
Timer
Thermometer (optional)
Kettle (gooseneck preferred)
Good quality whole coffee beans
Getting the most out of your AeroPress starts with a solid foundation; by that, we mean perfecting the correct coffee grind size.
So, before we dive in, here are a few pointers on nailing the perfect AeroPress grind.
Best Grind For The AeroPress
Although the AeroPress is very forgiving when it comes to the brewing variables, it’s still a good idea to start with some loose guidelines.
Similar consistency to table salt, somewhere between a medium to fine grind, will be the best coffee grind for the AeroPress.
If you go too fine, you won’t be able to push down on the plunger, so that’s something to keep in mind.
The great thing about the AeroPress is you have the freedom to play with a wide range of different grind settings. Each grind will transform the flavor of your brewed coffee.
Go on, experiment until you find your perfect cup!
Before You Brew
This goes without saying, but always make sure your AeroPress is clean and completely dry before you start to brew. If it’s not, you may find that the plunger won’t be able to form a perfect airtight seal inside the chamber.
It could get messy, and the last thing you want is coffee exploding over your kitchen counter.
When it comes to coffee, don’t cut any corners. We strongly recommend using whole-bean coffee rather than store-bought pre-ground.
Wherever possible, always grind, using a burr grinder, immediately before brewing. As soon as you grind your coffee, oxidation begins, and the clock starts ticking.
Within a short span of time, your freshly ground coffee will quickly begin to lose a lot of the flavor compounds and aromas that were once locked inside the coffee bean.
While it may seem unnecessary, after all, you have a scoop that came with the AeroPress, using a coffee scale makes brewing easier by removing any guesswork from the equation.
By keeping track of coffee brewing ratios, you can brew the same exact-tasting cup of coffee each time.
The plastic measure scoop that came in the box isn’t very accurate and should be used as a last resort when measuring your ground coffee.
However, for reference, the level scoop holds roughly 11.5 grams of coffee or about 2.5 tablespoons.
AeroPress Brewing Instructions
If you’ve got everything to hand: AeroPress, coffee, scale, timer water, and kettle, let’s begin.
1. Prepare Your AeroPress, Preheat, And Rinse
Have your coffee mug and AeroPress components ready. Place a paper filter inside the cap and screw it to the underside of the AeroPress.
Place the AeroPress on top of your mug and slowly pour in a small amount of hot water, making sure to touch the sides of the AeroPress as you do.
Swirl the water into your mug, then discard the water and place the AeroPress back on top of your mug.
You have essentially rinsed the paper filter and preheated your AeroPress and coffee mug by doing this.
Why preheat? If you don’t preheat the AeroPress, you will find that when you begin to add your boiling water, the cold side of the press will bring the temperature of your water down from its ideal range.
Preheating will keep the water temperature where it needs to be when you start to brew.
2. Weigh And Grind Your Coffee
Next, weigh out your whole-bean coffee and grind. Take your scale, hit the tare button, and weigh out 18 grams.
Set up your grinder to a medium-fine setting and grind your coffee. The consistency should be very similar to table salt.
3. Boil Your Water
If you have a thermometer, great. Boil your water and aim for the ideal AeroPress water temp somewhere between 175°F and 205°F.
Don’t have a thermometer, no problem. Boil your kettle, and once boiled, allow it to sit for roughly 40 to 60 seconds. That should bring the water temperature down to the perfect range.
4. Add Your Coffee
Let’s make coffee! With your AeroPress sitting on your mug, slowly pour your ground coffee inside the chamber; use the funnel supplied with the AeroPress to ensure there are no spills.
Once your coffee is inside, give the AeroPress a gentle shake to help even out the coffee bed.
5. Start Brewing
If you are using a gooseneck pour-over kettle, you will find this part a lot easier; if you don’t own one, you’ll need a steady hand.
Start your timer and slowly pour your hot water up to the number two mark on the AeroPress.
Take the black paddle stirrer or a spoon and vigorously stir the coffee slurry for 30 seconds.
6. Fill To The Top
When the timer hits 30, continue to slowly pour hot water until you reach the number four mark.
Gently stir once more.
7. Add The Plunger And Push
Insert the AeroPress plunger into the brewing chamber, straighten it up, and pull it out slightly to create a vacuum seal. This will help to prevent any coffee from prematurely dripping through the filter.
Wait for the timer to hit 2 minutes, and then gently push down on the plunger.
It takes a little bit of effort to push down on the plunger. So, for reference, you’re aiming for this step to take around 30 seconds.
If you find that you’re having a hard time pushing down on the plunger, then your coffee grounds are too fine.
If the plunger slides down too easily, your coffee grounds are too coarse. If you complete the plunge within around 30 seconds, your coffee grind is in the right ballpark.
When you begin to hear a hissing sound, stop plunging.
8. Dilute To Taste
Carefully remove the AeroPress.
At this stage, you have a relatively strong coffee concentrate that can either be enjoyed as is or diluted with hot water to create a tasty Americano.
Did You Know There Is More Than One Way To Use The AeroPress
Our recipe is a slight twist on the standard original AeroPress recipe instructions shipped with the AeroPress. But did you know that there’s more than one way to brew using AeroPress?
By changing the orientation of the AeroPress, you are able to brew using the inverted method. This technique is a favorite with coffee enthusiasts around the globe.
The filter cap and the paper filter are the last parts you assemble, and you need a steady hand to flip the AeroPress and the hot coffee over onto your mug; only then do you push down on the plunger.
The process is entirely different and needs a separate brew guide from start to finish to show you exactly how it’s done.
AeroPress Recipe Variations
Once you’ve mastered the basic AeroPress recipe, try to switch up some of the variables to see how you can change the flavor of your brewed coffee.
You can have a slightly different tasting cup by adjusting the type of whole-bean coffee, the coffee grind, water temperature, and steeping time.
For example, the AeroPress grind.
Ideally, you should aim for a grind size range from medium to fine, but anything goes with the AeroPress.
Just remember the basic coffee brewing advice: the shorter the brewing time, the finer the grind.
The water temperature plays a vital role in how your cup of coffee tastes.
So try switching it up!
Take the official AeroPress instructions that suggest a water temperature of 175° F. There’s nothing wrong with that advice, but many AeroPress world champions prefer using water that’s slightly hotter in their winning recipes.
So don’t be afraid to play with the water temperature and see what happens!
A Few Last Words
The greatest thing about the AeroPress is its versatility.
Rules are not set in stone, and you can play around with almost all of the brewing variables, such as coffee grind size, water temperature, and steep time to produce a cup of coffee that is tailored to your specific taste.
Even the paper filter can be replaced with a permanent AeroPress metal filter. Plus, if you want to transform your AeroPress into a pocket-sized espresso maker, you can purchase third-party attachments such as the Fellow Prismo.
Enjoy brewing coffee in the AeroPress your way, and have fun experimenting!
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