The Aeropress is one of our favorite brew devices. It is an incredibly simple yet versatile brew device that has developed a massive following including a global brew competition. You will find countless Aeropress recipes online, including in our own brew guides, for brewing with the Aeropress inverted. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to use your Aeropress to brew a perfectly balanced cup of coffee.
What is an Aeropress
An Aeropress is a single cup coffee brewer that combines infusion and immersion brewing in a simple, compact, and affordable device. Its form factor is perfect for travel and camping. Because of its versatility, it has garnered a massive following with countless Aeropress recipes.
It was invented in 2005 by retired Stanford professor, Alan Adler, founder of Aerobie, Inc. Here’s a fun fact, Alan also invented the Aerobie Pro flying ring, which won a Guinness World Record for farthest thrown object.
Aeropress vs. French Press
The Aeropress may look similar to a french press, but it’s fundamentally different. The french press brews coffee through immersing coffee in water for a period of time. The press simply acts as a filter by confining the grounds to the bottom of the carafe, allowing the brewed coffee to be easily poured. The Aeropress also brews through immersion, but the press actually forces the water through the coffee and out a paper-lined filter on the bottom of the device. This pressure further extracts the coffee in a similar way as an espresso machine.
Learn more: AeroPress vs. French Press: What's The Difference? | How to brew the best French Press
Aeropress Coffee Ratio
For this non-inverted Aeropress recipe, we’re using a water to coffee ratio of 16:1. This means 16 grams of water for every gram of coffee.
Learn more about coffee to water ratios.
Aeropress Coffee Grind
We recommend a medium to fine grind with a consistency similar to ground cinnamon. Keep in mind that a coarser grind will make the plunge easier, whereas a finer grind will make the plunge more difficult.
Learn more about coffee grinding on our How to Grind Coffee guide.
Aeropress Coffee Recipe
- Water to coffee ratio: 16:1
- Water: 200g
- Coffee: 12g
- Grind: Medium/Fine (ground cinnamon)
- Brew time: 2:30
How to Make Non-Inverted Aeropress Coffee
Step 1: Heat your water to 204 degrees and grind your coffee. Waiting to grind your coffee until just before you brew is another way to get closer to that perfect cup.
Step 2: Set the circular filter within the basket lid and lightly dampen it with hot water. This will cause the filter to stick to the lid making it easier to get a good seal while screwing the basket lid onto the Aeropress.
Step 3: With the filter and lid screwed on, set the Aeropress on top of your mug and add the coffee grounds. Make sure your mug is solid, and the Aeropress sits comfortably on top of it because you’ll be applying some pressure when plunging and you don’t want any mishaps.
Step 4: Either set your mug on a scale or pre-weigh your water. If you’re using a scale, ensure that you tare it and it’s reading 0. Start your timer.
Step 5: Gently pour all 200g of water into the Aeropress ensuring you get all the grounds fully saturated and insert the plunger. By inserting the plunger you create a vacuum that stops the water from leaving the Aeropress.
Step 6: At 2 minutes, remove the plunger and give it a good stir with a spoon and reinsert the plunger.
Step 7: Before you plunge, carefully remove the scale if you’re using one. You don’t want to plunge while on the scale because the pressure may damage it.
At 2.5 minutes, gently apply pressure and plunge all the way down.
Step 8: Lightly swirl your mug to give it a gentle stir and enjoy.
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