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AeroPress: One Brewer, Endless Recipes

Why the AeroPress is the most versatile brewer you can own, and a reliable recipe to start from.

6 min read

AeroPress: One Brewer, Endless Recipes — coffee brewing guide

The AeroPress looks like a plastic syringe and brews like a Swiss Army knife. By changing the grind, the steep time, and the amount of water, the same device can produce a clean, tea-like cup, a punchy espresso-style concentrate, or anything in between. It is rugged, cheap, and almost impossible to break, which is why it travels so well and why it has its own world championship.

A dependable starting recipe

Start with a concentrate-and-dilute approach, which is forgiving and consistent. Use about 17 grams of coffee to 220 grams of water, which is roughly 1:13 in the press before you dilute. A medium-fine grind, a little finer than you would use for pour-over, works well as a starting point.

Step by step

  1. Place a rinsed paper filter in the cap and twist it onto the chamber. Set the chamber on a sturdy mug.
  2. Add 17 grams of medium-fine coffee, then pour in about 220 grams of water just off the boil.
  3. Stir gently for ten seconds to wet all the grounds, then insert the plunger just far enough to create a seal (this stops dripping).
  4. Steep for about one to one and a half minutes total.
  5. Press down slowly and steadily — aim for a press that takes twenty to thirty seconds. Stop when you hear a hiss.
  6. Top up with hot water to taste if you want a longer, lighter drink.

How to change the cup

  • Want it cleaner and brighter? Grind a touch coarser and shorten the steep.
  • Want more body and intensity? Grind finer and steep a little longer — but watch for bitterness.
  • Want an espresso-style shot for milk drinks? Use less water for a thicker concentrate, then add steamed or hot milk.

Because the AeroPress is so sensitive to small changes, it is the method where saving your recipe pays off the most. A fifteen-second difference in steep time or five grams of water can swing the cup noticeably. Lock in the version you love, and when you want to brew a double, scale it precisely instead of guessing.