AeroPress Recipe

What You'll Need

Equipment:

  1. Grinder or preground coffee (not ideal)
  2. Aeropress brewer
  3. Aeropress filter paper
  4. Gooseneck kettle
  5. Scale
  6. AeroPress paddle or Spoon

Advised Methods:

Step 1: Measure and Grind Coffee

Coffee Amount: 15g

Brew Ratio: 1:16 (1 gram of coffee for every 16 grams of water)

Weigh 15g of freshly roasted coffee and 240g of filtered water, giving a 1:16 brew ratio.

Use a medium-fine grind, slightly finer than pour-over but coarser than espresso. The grind should resemble table salt.

Your grind size is one of the biggest factors in brewing a great AeroPress. A medium-fine grind will help you achieve a balanced extraction within the target brew time of 1–2 minutes, producing a cup that's clean, sweet and full of character.

If your coffee tastes sour or under-extracted, try grinding slightly finer. If it's bitter or overly intense, adjust to a slightly coarser grind. Pairing the correct grind size with the recommended water temperature for your roast profile will help you unlock the best possible flavour from every brew.

Place a paper filter into the AeroPress filter cap, ensuring it sits flat, then rinse it thoroughly with hot water. This removes any papery taste while preheating both the filter and your AeroPress for a more consistent extraction.

Once rinsed, attach the filter cap securely to the bottom of the AeroPress and place it on top of your mug or server, ready for brewing.

Cold Start Tip: A quick filter rinse makes a noticeable difference, delivering a cleaner cup and allowing the natural flavours of the coffee to shine.

Step 3: Add Coffee and Heat Up Your Water

Coffee Amount: 15g

Water Amount: 240g

Add your coffee into the AeroPress and begin heating up your water.

Make sure you are using high-quality spring water heated to the ideal brewing temperature for the roast type (hotter for light roasts, cooler for darker roasts).

Once the 15g of ground coffee is added into the AeroPress, gently level the coffee bed.

Start your timer and pour 50g of hot water (92–96°C) over the grounds, ensuring they're fully saturated. Stir gently for 5–10 seconds and allow the coffee to bloom for 30 seconds.

Blooming allows trapped carbon dioxide to escape, helping the remaining water extract flavour more evenly.

Step 5: Remaining Pour

Slowly add the remaining water until you reach 240g total.

Insert the plunger into the AeroPress just enough to create a seal. This prevents the coffee from dripping through while it finishes brewing.

Allow the coffee to steep until the timer reaches 1 minute 30 seconds.

Cold Start Tip: Let gravity do the work. Avoid stirring excessively, as this can introduce bitterness.

At 1 minute 30 seconds, apply slow, steady pressure to the plunger.

Aim for a press lasting 30–40 seconds, finishing at around 2 minutes total brew time.

Stop pressing down about 1 cm before reaching the bottom to prevent the extraction of the last bit of coffee, which may result in a slightly murky taste. To help this, you may hear a gentle hissing sound. This indicates most of the coffee has been extracted, and continuing to press can force bitter compounds through the filter.

Before you Enjoy:

Remove the AeroPress and eject the coffee puck into your food waste or compost.

Serve immediately and enjoy black, or add a small amount of hot water or milk to suit your taste.

Take a moment to notice how changes to grind size, brew time or water temperature subtly affect the flavour. Small adjustments are one of the joys of brewing with an AeroPress.

Frequently asked questions

What Grind size should i use?

A medium-fine grind is ideal for most AeroPress recipes. It should be slightly finer than pour-over but coarser than espresso. If your coffee tastes sour, grind a little finer. If it's bitter, try a slightly coarser grind.
what water temperature is best for this brewing method?

For most coffees, brew with water between 90–96°C.

  • Light Roast: 94–96°C
  • Medium Roast: 92–94°C
  • Dark Roast: 90–92°C

Choosing the right water temperature helps bring out the coffee's natural sweetness and balance.
how long should an aeropress brew take?

Most recipes finish between 1–2 minutes, including the pressing time. If your brew is much quicker or slower, consider adjusting your grind size.
why does my coffee taste sour?

A sour cup is usually a sign of under-extraction. Try:

  • Grinding slightly finer.
  • Brewing for a little longer.
  • Using slightly hotter water.
why does my coffee taste bitter?

Bitterness often comes from over-extraction. Try:

  • Grinding slightly coarser.
  • Shortening the brew time.
  • Lowering the water temperature slightly.
can i make espresso with an aeropress?

Not quite. The AeroPress doesn't generate enough pressure to produce true espresso, but it can brew a rich, concentrated coffee that's ideal for milk-based drinks such as flat whites and lattes.
Can I use metal filters instead of paper ones?

Yes. Paper filters produce a cleaner, brighter cup with very little sediment, while metal filters allow more natural oils through, resulting in a fuller body and richer mouthfeel. Neither is better—it simply comes down to personal preference.