How to prepare coffee in AeroPress?

What is AeroPress?

AeroPress is a tool for making filter coffee. It is cylindrical in shape and works by pressing the coffee through a paper filter. There are two main ways to make coffee in the AeroPress - classic and reverse. I'll tell you more about them later.

What you will love about AeroPress:

Lightness and durability
Easy cleaning
Even more aromatic and varied coffee taste
Quick preparation

Alan Adleris behind the invention of the AeroPress . This method is not new to the coffee world, having been invented in 2005. The AeroPress is made of hard plastic, making it the ideal partner for making filter coffee on the go. The durable material makes it virtually unbreakable, and it's also very lightweight.

While the classic version of the AeroPress is suitable for travel, a few years ago the company came out with a travel version of the AeroPress Go. Its primary advantage is its smaller size, and even better storage. The entire AeroPress fits into the cup and lid that is included.

I want the AeroPress Go!

The taste of coffee from the AeroPress

Thecoffee you brew with this machine will taste nicely balanced. This is mainly because, the ground coffee is in contact with water throughout the extraction process. The cup of coffee is clean, it does not contain any small particles like the coffee from a French Press. Compared to the V60, however, it is usually a little fuller.

Instructions for preparing AeroPress using the traditional method

For the preparation you will need: filter beans, AeroPress, coffee grinder, paper or metal filter, barista pot and a scale.

Heat the water in the barista kettle to 98 °C.
Place the paper filter inside the lid. Screw the lid and filter onto the cylindrical body of the AeroPress.
Then rinse the AeroPress with water. This will get rid of the paper taste in the coffee and the paper filter will stick better in the AeroPress. Plus, this will warm up the AeroPress and the mug. Pour out the water afterwards.
Weigh 11 grams of coffee per 200 grams of water.
Grind the coffee to the coarseness of the AeroPress.
Pour the ground coffee into the Aeropress.
In a circular motion, pour 200 ml of water onto the coffee bed.
Immediately afterwards, insert the plunger into the AeroPress and press it down about 1 cm. This creates a vacuum that prevents the coffee from dripping.
Wait 2 minutes. Gently swirl the AeroPress.
Wait 30 seconds and then gently press the plunger. This takes about 30 seconds.
Now all you have to do is enjoy your cup of coffee.

The reverse method of brewing coffee in the AeroPress

As with the classic method, you will need: filter beans, an AeroPress, a coffee grinder, a paper or metal filter, abarista pot and a scale.

The first thingyou do is heat the water to 95°C, then take the paper filter and put it in the lid and rinse it once the water is heated.
Grind 14 grams of beans to make filter coffee.
Now insert the plunger into the body of the AeroPress, but do not squeeze it, this will create a tunnel bottom. Turn the top of the plunger onto the surface of the barista scale.
Pour the ground coffee into the body of the AeroPress and pour 50 grams of waterover it .
Stir the coffee either by swirling or with the stirrer provided in the package.
Wait 30 seconds.
Add another 170 ml of water, stir again and wait.
At 2:00 from the start, screw the filter cap on the AeroPress.
Turn the AeroPress onto the cup and begin to slowly squeeze. This should take approximately 30 seconds.
Now all that's left to do is enjoy a great cup of filtered coffee.

Cleaning and caring for the AeroPress

The AeroPress is absolutely easy to clean. After brewing, you unscrew the lid and squeeze out the coffee bud. TheAeroPress container itself can be rinsed very quickly and easily. Make sure your AeroPress is completely dry before storing it to avoid any mould.

The difference between the AeroPress and other alternative brewing methods

You may be deciding between buying an AeroPress and other accessories, so I will now make the main differences clear and hopefully make the decision easier.

AeroPress vs. moka pot

Unlike the other methods, moka pot coffee is really close to AeroPress coffee. However, you will notice one difference right away, the turbidity. In an AeroPress, the coffee flows through a paper filter that catches even the smallest particles, while in a moka pot the coffee is pushed through a strainer.

Another significant difference is the temperature. Often only 80 °C water is used to make coffee in the AeroPress. In contrast, in a moka pot, the coffee is forced through the strainer precisely because of the boiling point and bubbling.

Both methods ensure a full-flavoured cup. Unlike the AeroPress, the moka is much more maintenance intensive. After each use, you should disassemble it and wash it properly.

AeroPress vs. espresso

The comparison between these two methods/drinks is one of the most common. Of the alternative brewing methods, it is the AeroPress that is most often compared to espresso. This is because with the AeroPress you can prepare both a large 250ml cup of coffee and a smaller volume concentrate that has a strong body and thus resembles espresso.

The magic lies in the use of finer ground coffee and shorter brewing times.

Grind 17g of coffee finely, practically like an espresso. You can also use beans designed for espresso.
Heat the water to 90 °C.
Prepare your AeroPress for the reverse method and put it on the scale.
Pour the coffee in.
Start the stopwatch and pour 55 ml of water over the coffee. Pour very slowly.
Then take the AeroPress and swirl the coffee around for about 10 seconds.
At 0:30, put on the filter cap, turn the AeroPress and press the coffee.
Now you can enjoy your espresso from the AeroPress.

To enhance the creaminess of your AeroPress espresso, it is a good idea to use a metal filter or the Fellow Prismo attachment .

The AeroPress will never completely replace espresso, it lacks crema above all. However, if you get a taste for it once in a while, this trick can satisfy your cravings at least partially.

AeroPress vs. V60

Deciding whether to go for the AeroPress or the V60 dripper? Both methods are very popular. However, the coffee and the preparation are quite different.

Coffee brewed in the V60 is a bit more similar in texture to tea and is very light. If you follow certain rules, you can get very subtle flavours that you can't capture with other methods.

By rules I mean, for example: using the right coarseness of coffee grind, water at the right temperature, but also the right pouring procedure.

In contrast, the AeroPress will offer a cup that has very strong and full flavours. It is especially great if you like natural processed coffees. The V60, on the other hand , is great withwashed coffees.

The V60 also comes in handy if you want to brew more coffee. In that case, reach for the02size for 4 cups, or the 03size , with which you can prepare up to 6 cups.

The AeroPress is more suited to brewing one or two coffees. You can also increase the quantity if you brew enough concentrated coffee, which you then dilute with hot water.

AeroPress vs. Chemex

Coffee from a Chemex and coffee from an AeroPress are the most different methods. For Chemex, coffees that are fruity with a nice acidity are suitable . On the other hand, fuller and less acidic tasting coffees are more compatible with AeroPress.

Chemex requires coffee ground coarser, this too then results in a more acidic coffee. While for the AeroPress you should set your Comandante grinder to 20-25 clicks, for the Chemex it is 25-35 clicks.

A coarser grind results in a cleaner coffee in addition to a more sour taste. It takes about4 minutesto prepare coffee using this method . The AeroPress will make you a cup of coffee in practically half the time.

AeroPress vs. French Press

Both methods are part of the so-called coffee infusion methods, which involve pouring hot water over the ground coffee and then pressing the coffee. But the pressing is probably the only common element of the preparation.

French Press coffee is brewed for a longer period of time, usually 3-5 minutes, and uses a metal strainer to separate the loger. Whereas in an AeroPress, you brew your coffee in under two minutes and you mostly squeeze it through a paper filter.

To make coffee in a French Press , thecoffee needs to be ground coarser so that the metal strainer catches all the coffee grounds as best as possible. In contrast ,the AeroPress requires the coffee to be ground more finely also because the extraction is shorter.

Similar to a mocha pot, the coffee from a French Press is more turbid. However, you can often achieve a very similar result in terms of taste. A full-flavouredcup of coffee.