AeroPress guide – how to make great AeroPress coffee
AeroPress is a compact and versatile coffee maker where coffee and water steep together before the coffee is pressed through a filter.
This makes it possible to experiment with dosage, grind size, water temperature, and brew time without the brewing process having to be complicated.
AeroPress can be used for both a regular cup of filter-style coffee and more concentrated recipes. It is also easy to clean and takes up very little space, making it popular at home, in the office, and while traveling.
In this guide, you will get a simple AeroPress recipe and learn how to adjust the brewing to your own taste.
Quick AeroPress recipe
A good place to start is:
15 grams of coffee
250 grams of water
Medium-fine grind size
Water around 85–95 °C
Brewing time approx. 2 minutes
How to do it
- Place a paper filter in the filter cap.
- Screw the filter cap onto the AeroPress.
- Place the AeroPress directly on a sturdy mug or serving carafe.
- Grind 15 grams of coffee medium-fine.
- Add the coffee to the brew chamber.
- Pour 250 grams of hot water over the coffee.
- Make sure all the coffee gets wet.
- Stir gently.
- Insert the plunger a little way into the top of the brew chamber. This can reduce how much coffee drips through the filter.
- Let the coffee steep so that the total brew time is around 2 minutes.
- Optionally, remove the plunger briefly, stir gently, and put it back in.
- Press down slowly and controlled.
- Stop when the plunger reaches the bottom and serve the coffee.
This recipe is just a starting point.
AeroPress is precisely interesting because it can be used with many different recipes.
How much coffee should you use for AeroPress?
There is no single correct ratio between coffee and water.
For a regular cup, you can start around 60 grams of coffee per liter of water.
This corresponds, for example, to:
• 12 g coffee to 200 g water
• 15 g coffee to 250 g water
• 18 g coffee to 300 g water
• 24 g coffee to 400 g water
AeroPress' own recommendation is based on about 14–15 grams of medium-fine ground coffee per cup.
Use this dosage as a starting point and adjust to taste.
If the coffee is too weak, you can, among other things, use a little more coffee.
If it is too strong, you can use a little less coffee or add more water after brewing.
How fine should coffee be ground for AeroPress?
Medium-fine grind size is a very good place to start.
This typically means finer than coffee for a standard drip machine, but coarser than classic espresso.
However, there are AeroPress recipes with both very fine and relatively coarse grinds.
The grind size works in conjunction with the brew time:
A finer grind generally extracts faster.
A coarser grind may require a longer steeping time.
Therefore, you should not view grind size in isolation from the rest of the recipe.
How do I adjust the grind size?
Taste is the best indicator.
If the coffee tastes very thin, sharp, or lacks sweetness, you can try to:
• Grind finer
• Let the coffee steep longer
• Use more coffee
• Use hotter water
If the coffee is very bitter, dry, or heavy, you can try to:
• Grind coarser
• Shorten the steeping time
• Use a slightly lower temperature
• Adjust the amount of coffee
Preferably only change one thing at a time.
Otherwise, it will be difficult to know which change made the difference.
How hot should the water be for AeroPress?
AeroPress can be brewed at many different temperatures.
A practical working range is around 80–96 °C.
AeroPress themselves recommend as a starting point around:
80 °C for dark roast coffee
85 °C for medium and light roast coffee
This is lower than many traditional pour-over recipes.
However, you do not need to regard these temperatures as rules.
Many AeroPress recipes also use hotter water with good results.
For light roast coffee
Try, for example, 85–95 °C.
If the coffee seems thin or very sharp, a higher temperature might be worth a try.
For medium roast coffee
Around 85–92 °C is a good range to experiment with.
For dark roast coffee
Try, for example, 80–88 °C.
A lower temperature can be useful if the coffee becomes too bitter or tastes too strongly roasted.
How long should AeroPress steep?
There are AeroPress recipes with everything from very short brew times to several minutes of steeping.
For a simple standard recipe, around 1:30–2:30 minutes is a good range to start within.
If you brew with coarser coffee, a longer steeping time can work well.
If you use a very fine grind, a shorter brew time may be sufficient.
Therefore, do not use the stopwatch as a goal in itself.
If the coffee tastes good, you don't need to change the recipe because another AeroPress recipe uses a different time.
How fast should you press the AeroPress?
Press slowly and in a controlled manner.
You don't need to use much force.
A press of about 20–30 seconds is a fine starting point.
If the AeroPress is extremely difficult to press down, the coffee may be ground too fine, or your filter may be clogged by many very fine coffee particles.
Do not try to compensate by using excessive force.
Instead, try a slightly coarser grind next time.
Should you stop when the AeroPress starts to hiss?
When the plunger approaches the coffee bed, you can hear the characteristic hissing sound.
You can stop around this time.
However, there is no magic limit where the coffee instantly turns bad if you press a little longer.
The most important thing is to use approximately the same procedure every time, so your brews become easier to compare.
Should the AeroPress filter be rinsed?
It is optional.
You can rinse the paper filter with hot water before you brew.
It can help the filter stay in place and remove any loose paper fibers.
With the small AeroPress filters, the difference in taste is often limited, so it is not necessary for making good coffee.
Why does coffee drip through the AeroPress before pressing?
With the standard AeroPress method, it is normal for a small amount of liquid to drip through the filter before pressing.
If a lot of water runs through immediately, you can:
• Pour the water more slowly
• Ensure that the coffee bed is level
• Grind a little finer
• Insert the plunger carefully at the top after stirring
When the plunger is placed a few millimeters into the brew chamber, a vacuum is created, which helps to limit the flow-through.
This makes it possible to let the coffee steep without using the inverted method.
What is inverted AeroPress?
The inverted method means that the AeroPress is turned upside down during brewing.
The method became popular because coffee and water could steep together without dripping through the filter.
When brewing was finished, the filter cap was attached, after which the entire AeroPress was turned over onto the cup.
Should you use the inverted method?
We recommend the standard method.
The manufacturer of AeroPress today advises against the inverted method because the AeroPress is less stable while filled with hot water.
There is therefore a greater risk that the brewer will tip over or spill hot water.
If you want to prevent flow-through during a longer steep time, you can instead insert the plunger a little way into the top of the brew chamber.
It creates a seal and reduces the flow-through.
AeroPress with paper filter or metal filter?
AeroPress can be used with both paper and metal filters.
Paper filter
The paper filter retains many of the coffee's fine particles and a portion of the oils.
The result is typically a clean and relatively clear cup.
The paper filter is discarded after brewing.
Metal filter
A reusable metal filter typically lets more oils and very fine particles through.
This can provide more body and a different mouthfeel.
The metal filter can be washed and used again.
There is no one filter that is objectively best.
It depends on which type of coffee you prefer.
Can you use two paper filters?
Yes.
Some AeroPress users use two paper filters to achieve an even cleaner cup.
It is, however, not necessary.
Start with one filter and experiment later if you want to investigate the difference.
Which coffee beans are best for AeroPress?
One of AeroPress' great strengths is that virtually all coffee types can be used.
You can brew both light, medium, and dark roast coffee.
Light roast coffee
Light roasted coffee beans can provide a lively cup with distinct fruitiness and acidity.
Try, for example, a slightly higher water temperature or longer brew time if the coffee becomes too light.
Medium roast coffee
Medium roasted coffee beans are a good all-round choice.
You often get a balance between sweetness, body, acidity, and roast character.
Dark roast coffee
Dark roasted coffee beans can provide a stronger and more roasted AeroPress coffee.
Try, for example, a lower water temperature if the result becomes very bitter.
AeroPress is a great brewer to experiment with because the same coffee can taste quite different when you change the recipe.
AeroPress or French press?
Both brewing methods use immersion, where coffee and water are in contact with each other during brewing.
The difference lies especially in the filtration and the actual end of the brewing process.
French press
Usually uses a metal filter.
The coffee often has more body, more oils, and more sediment.
AeroPress
The coffee is pressed through a paper or metal filter.
With a paper filter, the cup is typically cleaner and with less sediment.
AeroPress is also more flexible when it comes to small portions and different recipes.
AeroPress or Hario V60?
V60 is primarily a pour-over brewer.
The water moves through the coffee bed throughout the brewing process, and the pouring technique has great significance.
AeroPress uses immersion to a greater extent.
Coffee and water are allowed to steep together before the drink is pressed through the filter.
AeroPress is therefore typically less sensitive to precise pouring technique.
V60, on the other hand, is interesting if you want to work more actively with water flow and pour-over.
AeroPress or Clever Dripper?
The two brewers actually have quite a bit in common.
Both give coffee and water time to steep together before the filtration is finished.
Clever Dripper uses gravity when the valve is opened.
AeroPress, on the other hand, uses the plunger to actively press the coffee through the filter.
AeroPress is smaller and more flexible for concentrated recipes, while Clever Dripper is more reminiscent of traditional filter coffee in both size and workflow.
Can AeroPress make espresso?
Not in the traditional technical sense.
Espresso is usually brewed at about 9 bars with an espresso machine.
AeroPress cannot create that same pressure.
You can, however, make a concentrated AeroPress coffee, which can be used in some of the same ways as espresso.
For example, you can use less water and more coffee and then combine the concentrated coffee with:
• Hot water
• Milk
• Milk foam
• Ice
But the result is not the same as espresso from an espresso machine.
Concentrated AeroPress recipe
If you would like to make a stronger coffee, you can try:
18 grams of coffee
90 grams of water
Medium-fine to fine grind size
Pour the water over the coffee, stir, and let it steep briefly.
Press slowly through the filter.
The finished coffee can be drunk concentrated or used as a base for a larger drink.
Adjust the ratio to taste.
Can you make Americano with AeroPress?
You can make a drink that resembles an Americano.
Brew a concentrated AeroPress coffee first and then add hot water.
Example:
90 grams of concentrated AeroPress coffee
100–150 grams of hot water
It is technically not a traditional Americano because the base is not espresso, but the principle is similar.
Can AeroPress be used for iced coffee?
Yes.
An easy method is to brew the coffee more concentrated directly over ice.
Example:
15–18 grams of coffee
150 grams of hot water
100 grams of ice in the serving glass
When the hot coffee is pressed over the ice, it becomes both diluted and quickly cooled.
You can adjust the ratio between hot water and ice according to the desired strength.
Can AeroPress make cold brew?
Yes.
You can also make cold brew-like coffee with AeroPress by using cold water and longer contact time.
The method differs from classic cold brew, which normally steeps for many hours.
The advantage of AeroPress is that you can experiment with smaller portions and significantly shorter brew times.
What is AeroPress Original, Go, and XL?
AeroPress is available in several versions.
AeroPress Original
The classic standard model for daily home brewing.
It is compact and fits well for one portion at a time.
AeroPress Go
A more travel-oriented version, designed to be easy to take with you.
AeroPress XL
A larger AeroPress with about double the capacity compared to the standard models.
It is relevant if you often want to brew larger quantities of coffee at a time.
The brewing principle itself is fundamentally the same.
Is AeroPress good for travel?
Yes.
That is one of the reasons why AeroPress has become so popular.
It takes up relatively little space, requires no power, and can be used directly on top of a cup.
You just need:
• AeroPress
• Filter
• Coffee
• Hot water
If you also take a compact hand coffee grinder, you can grind coffee beans immediately before brewing.
Should I use a coffee scale?
It is not necessary, but it makes it significantly easier to repeat a good recipe.
If you know that you used:
15 grams of coffee
250 grams of water
2 minutes brew time
you can repeat exactly the same recipe or change one variable.
Without a scale, it becomes harder to know why one cup tastes different from the next.
How to clean AeroPress
AeroPress is very easy to clean.
After brewing:
- Unscrew the filter cap.
- Hold the AeroPress over the trash or compost bin.
- Press the plunger all the way through so the coffee puck and filter are pushed out.
- Rinse the relevant parts with water.
- Let the parts dry.
Clean the brewer more thoroughly as needed and follow the manufacturer's recommendations for your specific AeroPress model.
Why is my AeroPress difficult to press?
You should normally be able to press the AeroPress down slowly without extreme force.
If the plunger is very difficult to move, it may be due to:
• Grind size being too fine
• Many very fine coffee particles
• A clogged filter
• Too much pressure too quickly
Try to grind a little coarser and press slower.
Avoid using excessive force.
Why does my AeroPress taste bitter?
First, try changing one of the following things:
• Grind a little coarser
• Use lower water temperature
• Shorten the brew time
• Use a little more water
If you use dark roasted coffee, the roast level can also be a significant part of the bitter taste.
Why does my AeroPress taste sour or thin?
If the coffee becomes very sharp or lacks sweetness and body, you can try:
• Finer grind
• Longer steeping time
• Hotter water
• A little more coffee
Remember, however, that especially light roasted coffee beans can naturally have distinct fruitiness and acidity.
The best AeroPress recipe does not exist
There are thousands of AeroPress recipes.
That is actually part of the brewer's strength.
AeroPress gives you the opportunity to change:
• Coffee amount
• Water amount
• Grind size
• Temperature
• Brew time
• Stirring
• Filter type
• Press time
This also means that one recipe is not necessarily the best for all coffee beans.
Start with a simple recipe, taste the result, and then change one thing at a time.
This is the easiest way to find the AeroPress coffee that you personally prefer.
Frequently asked questions about AeroPress
How much coffee should I use for AeroPress?
Around 14–15 grams for a standard cup is a good starting point. For example, you can use 15 grams of coffee for 250 grams of water.
How fine should the coffee be ground?
Medium-fine is a good starting point. Then adjust the grind size according to brew time and taste.
How hot should the water be?
AeroPress can be used across a wide temperature range. Around 80–95 °C is a practical range to experiment with.
How long should the AeroPress steep?
Around 1:30–2:30 minutes is a good range to start with, but longer and shorter recipes can also work.
Can AeroPress make espresso?
Not traditional espresso, because AeroPress does not brew at the same high pressure as an espresso machine. However, you can make a very concentrated coffee.
Should I use the inverted method?
We recommend the standard method. AeroPress itself advises against the inverted method due to the risk of the brewer tipping over and hot water being spilled.
Should the AeroPress filter be rinsed?
It is optional. You can rinse the paper filter, but it is not necessary to make good coffee.
Can you use a metal filter?
Yes. A metal filter can be reused and typically results in more oil and fine particles in the cup than a paper filter.
Which coffee is best for AeroPress?
Light, medium, and dark roasted coffee all work. AeroPress is very flexible, so choose coffee beans according to your own taste.
Is AeroPress good for beginners?
Yes. It requires relatively little equipment and is easy to adjust without needing advanced pouring techniques.
Can AeroPress be used on vacation?
Yes. Its compact size and the fact that it does not require electricity make it suitable for traveling.
What is the difference between AeroPress and a French press?
Both use immersion, but AeroPress presses the coffee through a paper or metal filter. A French press usually uses a coarser metal filter and typically results in more sediment and oil in the cup.