We know that the world of coffee, with its many brewing methods, single origin coffees, blends, roasts and curiously changeable names can be overwhelming. But creating a delicious, high quality cup of Joe doesn’t have to be complicated. The aeropress has been making waves for over a decade now and is hailed as the easiest way to get a top-notch drink, especially when away from home. So, here is our guide on how to use Aeropress to create great tasting coffee, complete with insider tips and know-how, no degree in coffee related studies required.
So, why is Aeropress Coffee so good?
There’s no denying that Aeropress can be seen as a gateway brewer to a full blown coffee making obsession. But why? In an industry occupied by professionals and passionate amateurs all equally obsessed with the ritual and pursuit of the fables perfect brew, the Aeropress brewer is widely regarded as an exquisite coffee experience in and of itself, before we even get to the coffee that it produces.
Yet Its unique brewing process is fairly simple to understand: it involves pressing coffee through a filter using air pressure. This results in a smooth, rich and highly concentrated cup of coffee that is often compared to espresso, with a full-bodied and robust flavour profile.
It is this simplicity as a manual coffee maker that offers great versatility, allowing for experimentation with different brewing methods and grind sizes to achieve the perfect cup of coffee based on personal preferences. Plus, as it is made of durable plastic and has a compact size it is wonderfully portable. It’s a perfect companion for coffee enthusiasts who want to enjoy the taste of premium coffee anywhere; at the office, when visiting friends or even when camping in the wilderness; All they need is access to hot war and a good supply of coffee beans. Does it even have a downside? Well, yes. If you are making coffee for more than one person, the repetition of filling, timing and pressing may get tiresome. But it’s not impossible to make coffee for many people with an Aeropress, just a bit laborious and long winded.
Is aeropress immersion or percolation?
There’s no denying that coffee made with Aeropress is good. But what exactly is the brewing style described as? Does it sit comfortably in team immersion, or is it a form of percolation? Well, both actually. Aeropress caused such a sensation when it was released back in 2005 as it was unlike anything else that had come before. And yet it is not difficult to use. See our previous blog on how to make coffee with an Aeropress to learn just how easy. This ease of use may be down to its relative likeness to the brewing method that came before it: Aeropress is considered to be a hybrid coffee brewing method that combines both immersion and percolation techniques. When using an Aeropress, the coffee grounds are immersed in hot water for a short period of time, and then pressure is applied to force the water through a filter and into the cup. This results in a clean and flavorful cup of coffee.
Tastewise, it is the most akin to an espresso shot, without actually having to use an espresso machine (not the most portable, or affordable of the coffee brewing methods, yet one of the most popular, thanks to the proliferation of coffee shop beverages: the latte, cappuccino, americano and flat white are all espresso based coffee drinks.)
What coffee grind is best for Aeropress?
The easiest way to make sure your coffee bean grind level is right for an Aeropress, is to select ‘Aeropress Grind’ when ordering your pre ground coffee beans from a reputable coffee roastery, such as us here at the Coffee Bean Shop.
But then, where is the fun in that if your aim is to learn how to use Aeropress for a great tasting coffee? Half of the appeal of using an Aeropress is the ability to control each aspect of your brew: the timing, the bean type, the temperature and measurements, and the coffee coarseness is just one other variable to play with. So what do you need to know about the Aeropress grind level?
Whenever you make a coffee from scratch (regardless of the chosen brewing method) the grind level of the coffee beans plays a crucial role in determining the final taste and quality of the beverage. Generally, the Aeropress requires a fine to medium grind of coffee beans. This is possible thanks to the use of paper filters which are able to handle a much finer level of grind than many other manual brewing methods.
However, the specific grind level needed to create your desired drink will depend on several factors, including the recipe being used and personal preferences. To get a better idea of what grind size works best for your Aeropress, it's recommended to start with a grind similar to table salt. This grind size will help ensure a balanced extraction while avoiding over or under extraction of the coffee. With that said, you can experiment with different grind levels to find the one that works best for your specific taste preference.
Experiment with different grind sizes to see which produces the best cup of coffee for your taste. A finer grind will produce a stronger, more intense cup of coffee, while a coarser grind will produce a milder, smoother cup.
It also helps to remember that while the grind size is important, there are other variables at play in making coffee with an Aeropress, some of which can work with, or against the desired results you are trying to get by looking at the grind level alone. By paying attention to details such as the grind size, water temperature, and brew time, you can hone your Aeropress coffee skills, ultimately working out what recipe and ratio is the magic combination for your perfect coffee.
Seven top tips on how to use Aeropress for great tasting coffee
- Before using a new paper filter (yes, they can be reused) Insert the filter into the Aeropress cap first and rinse with hot water to remove any paper taste.
- Make sure the temperature is right! While it may be difficult to gauge if you’re making a coffee in a tent from a travel kettle, the temperature of the water you use in your Aeropress makes all the difference. The ideal temperature is between 175°F and 185°F. If the water is too hot, it can burn the coffee and produce a bitter taste.
- Clean your Aeropress straight after using it. Now, we know that it may look like science-experiment apparatus, and while the Aeropress is uniquely durable compared to other brewers, it is worth remembering that coffee is acidic and will be working on the components from the get go. Give it a good rinse right away, paying particular attention to the rubber parts which are more likely to suffer when exposed to the acid naturally found in coffee beans.
- Experiment with inversion! Now, this is something that has curiously ignited vigorous debate within the coffee community, but it is definitely something you should try at least once. Inverting the Aeropress can produce a stronger cup of coffee with more body. To invert the Aeropress, place the plunger on the top of the chamber and flip it over onto a stable surface.
- Use the right amount of coffee: The recommended amount of coffee for the Aeropress is 17 grams or 1 scoop. However, you can adjust the amount of coffee to your taste preferences.
- This should go without saying, but the very best coffee will only ever come from using the freshest of beans.
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If you are as passionate about coffee as we are, have a scroll of our blog for more informative articles, easy to follow how-to guides for your favourite coffee beverages and insightful behind the scenes look at the coffee industry itself.
Or, if you’re just after some really, really great tasting coffee, here at the coffee bean shop, we roast daily from our family run roastery in Ashford, Kent and work incredibly hard to provide the best single origin and blended coffee beans anywhere within the UK.