The AeroPress Guide

Compact, quick, and surprisingly nuanced, the AeroPress rewards curiosity. You can brew it like espresso, like filter coffee, or something entirely your own. It is one of the few brewers that gets better the more you experiment with it, and it travels just as well as it brews.

What You'll Need

AeroPress (with filter cap and plunger)
AeroPress paper or metal filter
Burr grinder
Kitchen scale
Gooseneck kettle
Timer
Mug or pitcher to press into

Recipe

Coffee: 15g
Water: 200ml
Water temperature: 85 to 92°C
Grind size: Medium-fine
Total brew time: Approx. 2 minutes
Yield: Approx. 150ml

Steps

1

Place a paper filter in the filter cap and rinse it with hot water directly over your mug to preheat both. Discard the rinse water.

2

Assemble the AeroPress in standard position (cap facing down) and set it on your mug on the scale. Add 15g of medium-fine ground coffee.

3

Zero the scale, start your timer, and pour in 200ml of water between 85 and 92°C. Lower temperatures work well for lighter roasts and pull cleaner, brighter flavors.

4

Stir gently three to four times to saturate all the grounds evenly.

5

Place the plunger on top and press down just slightly to create a seal. Let it steep for 1 minute 30 seconds.

6

Press the plunger down slowly and steadily over 20 to 30 seconds. Stop pressing when you hear a gentle hiss of air.

7

Drink as is or dilute with 50 to 100ml of hot water for a longer cup. Clean the AeroPress immediately for the best next brew.

Tips

✦︎

Use lower water temperature for light roasts. Between 80 and 85°C brings out the brightness and fruit notes in single origins without tipping into bitterness or astringency.

✦︎

Try the inverted method for more control over steep time. Flip the AeroPress upside down, brew with the plunger seated at the bottom, then flip and press when ready. It gives you a longer, more even extraction.

✦︎

The AeroPress is the best brewer for travel. If you are heading somewhere and want specialty coffee on the road, pack it with a bag of Rositas beans and a hand grinder. It brews beautifully in a hotel room.