Fast, portable, and versatile, the AeroPress produces a smooth, concentrated cup with very little bitterness and its flexibility means there's always something new to try. This guide covers our two go-to AeroPress recipes, plus everything you need to dial yours in.
What Is an AeroPress?
The AeroPress is a hand-powered brewer that combines immersion and pressure to produce a smooth, concentrated coffee. Unlike a French press, the grounds are only in contact with the water for a short time before being pressed through a filter.
The History of the AeroPress
The AeroPress was invented in 2005 by Alan Adler in the United States, quickly gaining popularity among coffee enthusiasts for its portability, speed, and versatility. Its lightweight design made it especially popular with travellers, home brewers, and café professionals alike, while the ability to experiment with different recipes helped create a passionate global community around the brewer. The AeroPress later inspired the annual World AeroPress Championship, now held in countries around the world.
Fun fact: The AeroPress was invented by toy designer Alan Adler, who is also the creator of the Aerobie flying ring.
Why We Love It
- Fast and portable
- Low bitterness
- Extremely flexible recipes
What You'll Need
Essentials
- AeroPress brewer
- Filter paper
- Fresh medium-fine ground coffee
- Stirrer
- Scales
- Timer
Bonus
- Coffee grinder
- Gooseneck kettle
Our Go-To AeroPress Recipes
We love the AeroPress because it works brilliantly two ways. The standard upright method is quick and clean; the inverted method gives you more control over brew time and tends to produce a slightly fuller, more syrupy cup. Try both and see which suits you.
Standard Method (Upright)
- Coffee: 16g
- Water: 220ml (~1:14 ratio)
- Grind: Medium-fine
- Temp: 88–94°C
- Time: ~1:45
- Heat brewing water just off boil
- Insert the filter in the cap and rinse it with hot water
- Secure the cap onto the chamber
- Add 16g of coffee to the AeroPress (placed on your cup)
- Shake gently to ensure coffee is level
- Place on scales and tare
- Start timer, and pour ~50ml of water
- Allow it to bloom for 30 seconds
- Add remaining water up to your target (e.g. 220ml)
- Stir gently once or twice to ensure full saturation
- Insert the plunger slightly to create a seal
- Press slowly and steadily until you hear a light hiss (~1:45 total)
- Serve and enjoy!
Desired Outcome: Clean and balanced, with more clarity and lighter body compared to the inverted method.
Inverted Method
- Coffee: 18g
- Water: 250ml (~1:14 ratio)
- Grind: Medium
- Temp: 88–94°C
- Time: ~2 minutes
- Heat brewing water just off boil
- Insert the plunger slightly into the chamber (about 1–2cm) and stand the AeroPress upside down
- Add 18g coffee to the chamber
- Shake gently to ensure coffee is level
- Start timer, and pour ~50ml of water
- Allow it to bloom for 30 seconds
- Add remaining water up to your target (e.g. 250ml)
- Stir gently once or twice to ensure full saturation
- Insert the filter in the cap and rinse it with hot water
- Secure the cap onto the chamber
- At ~1:30, carefully flip the AeroPress onto your cup
- Press slowly and steadily until you hear a light hiss (~2:00 total)
- Serve and enjoy!
Desired Outcome: Smooth and balanced, with low bitterness and a rounded, slightly syrupy body.
Dial-In Tips
The AeroPress is sensitive to grind size above most other variables, so start there before changing anything else.
- If the coffee tastes weak or sour, try grinding finer or extending your brew time slightly
- If the coffee tastes bitter or harsh, try grinding coarser or reducing your brew time
- If pressing feels very difficult, your grind is too fine. Ease off slightly
- If pressing offers almost no resistance, your grind may be too coarse
Troubleshooting Your AeroPress
Coffee tastes bitter or over-extracted
Try grinding coarser, reducing your brew time, or lowering your water temperature slightly. The AeroPress works well at lower temperatures than most methods — 88°C can produce a noticeably sweeter result than 94°C with some coffees.
Coffee tastes weak or sour
Try grinding finer, extending your brew time, or using slightly hotter water. Make sure you're fully saturating the grounds during the pour.
Pressing is very difficult or requires a lot of force
The grind is likely too fine. Ease the grind slightly coarser. A small amount of resistance is normal and desirable — but you should be able to press with steady, gentle pressure rather than forcing it.
Coffee drips through before I've finished brewing (upright method)
This is normal with the standard method — a small amount of drip-through happens. If it's excessive, try grinding slightly coarser or inserting the plunger earlier to create a seal sooner after pouring.
I spilled coffee flipping the AeroPress (inverted method)
Make sure the cap is secured tightly before flipping, and flip in one confident, smooth motion rather than slowly. Holding both the chamber and the cup together as a unit helps keep everything stable.
What You're Aiming For
Standard method: Clean and balanced, with clarity and a lighter body.
Inverted method: Smooth and balanced, with low bitterness and a rounded, slightly syrupy body.
AeroPress Coffee: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best coffee for an AeroPress?
The AeroPress works well with almost any coffee, which is part of what makes it so popular. Light to medium roasts tend to shine, as the method preserves clarity and brightness. Single origins with fruit or floral notes can be particularly rewarding, try experimenting with both filter and espresso roasts to see what you prefer.
Which method is better, standard or inverted?
Neither is objectively better, they just produce slightly different results. The standard method is quicker and easier, making it great for everyday brewing. The inverted method gives you more control over contact time and tends to produce a fuller, more even extraction. Most AeroPress fans end up with a favourite but enjoy both.
Can I use the AeroPress to make espresso?
Not true espresso. The AeroPress doesn't generate the 9 bars of pressure needed for proper espresso extraction. However, using a fine grind and a small amount of water produces a concentrated, espresso-style shot that works well as a base for milk drinks or diluted as a long black.
How do I clean my AeroPress?
The AeroPress is one of the easiest brewers to clean. After pressing, simply remove the cap, hold the AeroPress over a bin, and push the plunger to eject the puck of grounds. Rinse the rubber seal and chamber with warm water. That's it! No soaking or scrubbing needed.
