Aeropress Coffee: A Beloved $30 Coffee Maker for Brewing Clean, Flavorful Coffee
The best way to describe an Aeropress would be a hybrid design of an espresso machine and a French press.
Except with an Aeropress and compared to its counterparts, it’s a lot lighter in weight, easier to clean, and travel-friendly.
So what kind of coffee can you brew with an Aeropress? And how do you brew coffee with one?
Our review will share all the answers you need. Let’s dive in!
Aeropress Coffee Summary
Pros
- Takes less than 1 – 2 minutes to brew coffee
- Can make various types of coffee drinks (even a cold brew)
- Travel-friendly
- Lightweight
- Brews clean, flavorful notes
- Durable
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Only makes 1 cup
- Inverted method can be challenging
Bottom Line: Who Is an Aeropress For?
Hands down, an Aeropress makes a delicious cup of coffee.
If you prefer coffee that’s clean and flavorful without the robustness or heavy-body a French press or other coffee makers offer, you’ve got to grab yourself one.
Additionally, it’s ideal for campers, backpackers, travel junkies, anyone who’s constantly on-the-go, and let’s not forget, curious coffee enthusiasts.
You can brew a wide range of unique cups by adjusting brewing time and grind size, making it a versatile device to have for any coffee lover.
It even makes for an excellent kitchen gift, not to mention it’s stylish enough to place on your kitchen counter!
Just note, though, you’re only limited to making one cup of coffee. If this suits you, you’re the best candidate for this “espresso maker.”
In-Depth Review of an Aeropress Coffee Maker
Brew time: 2- 4 minutes (depends on the type of coffee you want)
Coffee grind level: Fine (similar to sea salt)
Material construction: BPA-free plastic
Price: $29.99
Serving size: 6 to 8 ounces
How Does It Work?
An Aeropress is considered to be a full-immersion brewer, similar to a French press.
Unlike drip coffee makers, the brewing method used to make drip coffee involves pouring hot water over coffee grounds.
On the other hand, an Aeropress involves steeping the coffee grounds in hot water while using pressure (about 0.75 bars) and a paper filter to make coffee.
The Aeropress’ design might seem intimidating at first, but it’s as easy as placing your grounds in the device, pouring hot water, and applying downward pressure.
This brings us to the two ways you can brew coffee with an Aeropress: Standard and Inverted Methods.
Methods of Brewing Coffee
Standard Method
The standard method follows 4 steps:
- Placing your Aeropress on top of your mug/cup
- Pouring hot water into the brew chamber
- Insert the plunger
- Apply downward pressure and press down
Inverted Method
The inverted method is similar to the standard method except for the first step:
- Invert your Aeropress or position it upside down on top of the plunger
- Pouring hot water into the grounds
- Flipping the Aeropress onto your mug once you’re ready to press it down
Is There a Difference?
Yes, there is!
The standard method produces a weaker brew than the inverted method.
With the standard method, water leaks through the filter as soon as you pour water (This might be solved using a different filter).
Ultimately, this weaker brew influences the strength of your cup so if you love strong coffees, try the inverted method.
What makes the inverted method brew stronger coffees compared to the standard method are:
- You can control the brewing time far more
- You can increase the contact time & ratio of your grounds to water
Before turning the Aeropress to an upright position, you can leave the grounds steeped in water for as long as you want without water dripping right out of the filter.
This method is much more similar to how you brew coffee with a French press.
The result? You get a more balanced cup and stronger flavor. Before you try this method though, it’s important to hold the device firmly when turning it back upside down.
If you’re not careful, you may accidentally spill burn yourself.
10 Steps to Brew Coffee Using an Aeropress (Inverted Method)
For beginners and newcomers, it’s always best to start with the standard method to prevent any accidents in the process.
Step 1: Grind 15 to 17 grams of coffee and bring about 200 ml of water to a boil. The texture of your grind should be fine (similar to sea salt). If you want a stronger cup, you can grind 17 or 18 grams of coffee.
Step 2: Insert a paper filter into your Aeropress’s detachable filter cap. Rinse your filter and cap with water. This will help the filter adhere to the cap.
Note: Make sure to pour the water slowly and hold the cap by its edges to prevent burns.
Step 3: Assemble your Aeropress but ensure all the parts are dry since moisture can affect the seal.
Step 4: Place your device on a weighing scale and press the “tare” button to prep your device when pouring your grounds in. Once done, add your ground coffee to your brew chamber. You can also use the funnel if you want to add your grounds. After, remove the funnel.
Note: A funnel is useful for pouring the grounds neatly onto your device.
Step 5: Start your timer. Add about twice the amount of water than your grounds (for 17 grams of coffee, add 34 ml of water).
Note: The temperature of your water should be 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 degrees Celsius)
Step 6: Ensure all your grounds are saturated evenly with the water, and let it sit for 30 seconds. You can use a butter knife or paddle for this or you can stir your brew chamber.
Step 7: Pour the remaining water into the device.
Step 8: After a minute or so, agitate the grounds by stirring it 10 times.
Step 9: Fasten the cap ensuring the grooves lock tightly with the cap. Then, flip your device carefully and place it on top of your mug. Once you push down and apply downward pressure, take note of the resistance.
Note: If pushing down is too easy, your grounds are too coarse. If there’s a lot of resistance, your grounds are too fine. After hearing a hissing sound, stop pushing down. Or, if you know when to stop just before the sound, this would be better.
Step 10: Unscrew the cap and pop out the filter by pushing the Aeropress’s interior section by an inch. Afterward, pour your coffee, enjoy, and smile. Make sure to also clean your brew chamber, cap, and plunger after.
Alan Adler: Founder of Aeropress
Before the Aeropress came into the picture, Alan worked as an engineering instructor at Standford University.
Alan is also widely recognized for creating the Aerobie Pro flying ring, which set a Guinness World Record for the longest throw.
In 2004, Alan dove into the coffee industry, studying various designs and brewing processes.
This led to the birth of Aeropress a year later where its sales flourished for more than a decade and expanded all across the U.S. & over 60 countries.
Today, Alan continues to develop revolutionary products and build higher success for his beloved Aeropress maker.
Conclusion
Aeropress is a fascinating device and even more so for anyone who’s always on the go. Although it was initially marketed for being able to brew espresso-style coffee, that’s only scratching the surface.
Over the years, various recipes have emerged allowing you to brew the perfect Americano to the cold brew you longed for.
Not many devices offer the versatility that an Aeropress offers. We love how you can enjoy your coffee without bitterness or a robust body.
Some of you may prefer a lighter and cleaner taste. An Aeropress can give you that. And although you can’t brew multiple servings, we’re hoping Alan might even create one that can!
