Brewing 9 min read

AeroPress Coffee: Fast, Clean, and Surprisingly Versatile

Dial in AeroPress with reliable recipes for classic, inverted, and bypass brews. Ratios, grind size, water temperature, and timing for a sweet, clean cup in minutes.

Published on 7/11/2025

Compact, forgiving, and travel-proof—the AeroPress can brew everything from juicy filter-style cups to syrupy, espresso-adjacent concentrates. The key is matching ratio, grind, and time to your preferred style.

Quick Start (Classic)

  • Dose: 15 g coffee
  • Water: 225 g
  • Ratio: 1:15
  • Grind: Medium-fine (finer than pour-over; ~700–800 μm)
  • Water temp: 92–94°C (198–201°F)
  • Time: 1:45–2:00 total
  • Method: Stir 10–12 seconds, cap, press slowly 20–30 seconds

Three Reliable Recipes

1) Classic (clean, balanced)

  1. Rinse paper filter and preheat.
  2. Add 15 g coffee. Start timer.
  3. Add 225 g water. Stir 10–12 seconds.
  4. Cap and wait until 1:20.
  5. Press slowly over 20–30 seconds.
  6. Top up with hot water if you want a longer cup.

2) Inverted (richer body)

  • Dose/Water: 17 g → 255 g (1:15)
  • Temp: 93–95°C
  • Bloom 20–30 seconds, then fill to target.
  • Steep to 1:30; flip carefully; press 25–35 seconds.

3) Bypass (sweet, low bitterness)

  • Concentrate: 16 g → 160 g water (1:10)
  • Bypass: Add 80–120 g hot water in the cup to taste (final 1:15–1:18).
  • Short steep (1:00–1:15); press gently.
  • Adjust bypass to control strength without over-extraction.

Grind, Ratio, and Temperature

  • If the cup is sour/thin → grind finer, extend contact time ~10–15 s.
  • If bitter/drying → grind coarser, reduce temp to 90–92°C, shorten time.
  • Light roasts like hotter water and slightly longer contact time.

Paper vs Metal Filter

  • Paper yields the cleanest cup and emphasizes sweetness.
  • Metal allows more oils/body and a heavier mouthfeel; expect more fines.

Troubleshooting

  • Stall while pressing: Grind coarser; reduce agitation; ensure filter is seated.
  • Harsh bitterness: Lower temp, coarser grind, or reduce steep time by 10–15 s.
  • Flat flavor: Increase ratio strength (1:14), raise temp, or add a gentle mid-steep stir.
  • Silt in cup: Use paper filter; reduce agitation; let slurry settle 10–15 s before pressing.

Tasty Variations

  • Iced AeroPress: Brew 1:12 concentrate over 120 g ice; swirl to chill.
  • AeroPress “Americano”: Brew 1:10, then bypass to 1:15–1:17 in the cup.
  • Filter-style: Coarser grind, 1:16–1:17, longer press for a bright, clean cup.

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