How to make AeroPress® coffee
AeroPress® is for those who love to experiment. It's a versatile tool for brewing single servings of espresso-style concentrated coffee, delicious straight or diluted in a smooth Americano-style drink.
Why choose to make coffee as AeroPress®?
AeroPress® is for those who love to experiment. It's a versatile tool for brewing single servings of espresso-style concentrated coffee, delicious straight or diluted in a smooth Americano-style drink. It's effortlessly portable and clean-up is a breeze.
What supplies you'll need
AeroPress®
The portable lightweight coffee maker is available in several styles. Any will do!
Prismo attachment for AeroPress®
This optional attachment is a pressure-actuated valve to help brew coffee with a consistency closer to espresso.
Coffee
Any coffee will do! Lighter roasts tend to be brighter with AeroPress®, whereas darker roasts lend themselves more to an espresso-style or Americano-style drink.
1. Measure and grind coffee
Measure out 20 g of coffee beans and grind them on a medium setting. We suggest starting with setting 4 on Ode with Gen 2 Burrs, 3 on Ode with Gen 1 Burrs, 5 on Ode + SSP burrs, and right in the middle of the pour-over range on Opus.
2. Prep Your AeroPress®
Prepare your method by pre-wetting your filter with hot water.
Standard Method: Secure the attachment to the bottom of the chamber.
Inverted Method: Push the plunger 1/2 inch into the top of the chamber and flip the unit so the open end faces up.
Prismo Attachment: Use the Prismo metal filter and secure the attachment to the bottom of the chamber.
3. Pour water
Start your timer. Pour 200 g of 200°F water into your AeroPress®, making sure to soak all grounds.
4. Stir it up!
After one minute, use your AeroPress® agitation stick to stir. Stir for approximately 20 seconds vigorously.
5. The Plunge
Remove your setup from the scale and apply steady, even pressure.
Standard/Prismo: Plunge immediately once the plunger or Prismo is attached.
Inverted Method: Secure the cap, carefully flip onto your mug, and plunge until you hear a hiss.
Pro Tip: Use a Carter Wide Mug for a perfect, stable fit.
6. Sip, savor, and experiment!
Use this recipe as a starting point, and experiment to suit the coffee you're brewing with and find the flavors and textures you enjoy. To add more body to your coffee, try agitating the grounds more or brewing it for longer. If you feel you're extracting too much and want to pull back on the body, agitate less and shorten the brew time. You can also try diluting the concentrate to make a smooth Americano-style drink with a flavor profile between an Americano and pour-over.
Watch our AeroPress® tutorial
See all the steps in action with certified Q Grader Hailie.
FAQ
How do I pick the right coffee beans?
Coffee is very subjective. Everyone has their own preferences, and none are incorrect! However, we suggest starting with flavor notes that sound appealing to you. Experiment with flavor notes you're familiar with, and start to take note of the coffees you like: their origin and processing method (washed, honey, natural, maybe even anaerobic?).
What if it's super hard to plunge my AeroPress®?
You might have ground too fine! You don't need to grind super fine if you're brewing with Prismo or brewing with the standard attachment using the inverted method. The super fine grind setting is suggested when brewing with the standard attachment according to AeroPress®'s specifications so the coffee will drip slowly through the filter, giving you more time to extract (because the standard attachment doesn't seal).
How can you make espresso with an AeroPress®?
You can make espresso-style coffee with AeroPress® by using less water to coffee in your ratio, and perhaps grind a little finer. However, espresso machines push water through coffee grounds at extremely high pressures, which is the biggest driver in creating that thick, rich, creamy espresso texture. Using Prismo will also help you get closer to that fluffy, thick espresso texture by sealing the chamber of the AeroPress® and creating more pressure inside of it.
Is making coffee with AeroPress® time efficient?
Yes. Generally, AeroPress® brew recipes only call for sub 3 minutes total brew time. However, this method is very manual. If you are looking for more of a hands off brew method that still creates delicious coffee, we'd recommend checking out the French Press method!
Perfect coffees for AeroPress®
Ready to try your hand? Discover our curated collection of coffees, ideal for AeroPress®.
