Brewing guide: Aeropress
Quick review
Level of effort
This is a good method to start learning how to brew specialty coffee as it is not that complicated.
Affordability
Accessories that come with the Aeropress can assist you in case you don’t have a scale to hand.
Quality
The cup brewed with this method has good body and texture.
Why we like it
It is portable, really easy to clean and easy to store.
Step by step guide
Brewing time: 1min 45s
You'll need the following equipment...
Aeropress
Aeropress paper filter
Grinder
Digital scale (optional)
Timer
Gooseneck kettle (optional)
Inverted method
Step 1
Measure your coffee
Measure 15 grams of coffee and grind it. We recommend a coarse grind (like caster sugar).
Step 4
First pour
Start your timer. Pour boiling water over the coffee, about double the amount of the coffee, and give it a couple of swirls to soak the grounds.
Step 2
Prepare the Aeropress
Put the paper filter on the cap of the Aeropress and rinse it with boiling water.
Step 5
Second pour
Start pouring boiling water slowly until you reach 240 grams of water (this should take about 25 seconds). Put the Aeropress cap on tight and invert the Aeropress carefully on top of a server or cup.
Step 3
Add the coffee
Place the Aeropress (inverted) on top of the scale and add some boiling water to pre-heat the vessel, then discard that water. Add the ground coffee and tare the scale.
Step 6
Press the coffee
When the timer hits 1 min 15 secs, start pressing slowly for 30 seconds more. You should hear a hiss when done.
Brewing without a scale
Use the scoop
A full scoop is enough for brewing one cup. Grind it.
Fill the plunger
Place the plunger along the line (on top of the number 4) to get enough water for one cup.
Add the water
Fill the Aeropress with boiling water.
AEROPRESS TROUBLESHOOTING
In case you come across these problems, here are some tips...
Resistance when pressing
This might be due to the plunger being tilted to the sides. Another reason might be the grounds are too fine.
Leakage
If liquid starts leaking from the sides of the Aeropress cap, then you might be pressing too fast.
Big particles in the brewed cup
This might be due to the paper filter not being placed properly in the centre, or the plunger being pressed too fast.
Coffee grind stuck on the rubber when inverting the Aeropress
Usually, when grounds get stuck on the rubber part of the plunger it means that those grounds were not properly absorbed into the water, therefore reducing the overall extraction. The solution is to swirl the water at the first pour to fully absorb all the grounds. Some baristas even use the help of a spoon or chopsticks.