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How to Make AeroPress Coffee: Guide, Grind Size and Recipe

What Is an AeroPress?

The AeroPress is one of the most versatile coffee brewing methods available. Lightweight, affordable, durable and easy to clean, it has become a favourite for both home brewing and travelling.

It was invented in 2005 by Alan Adler, an American engineer, professor and the creator of the Aerobie, the famous flying disc.

At first glance, the AeroPress may look like a combination of a French press and a filter coffee brewer. In a way, it is.

During brewing, coffee remains in contact with water for a period of time, as in other immersion brewing methods. At the end, a manually operated plunger creates pressure and pushes the water through the coffee bed and filter.

This combination allows you to control a wide range of variables: coffee dose, water volume, grind size, temperature, brewing time, agitation and pressing speed.

That is why there is no single “correct” AeroPress recipe. In fact, the range of possible techniques is so broad that there is an international competition dedicated entirely to the method: the World AeroPress Championship.

Can an AeroPress Make Espresso?

Not exactly.

An AeroPress can produce a concentrated and intense coffee, particularly when using a relatively low amount of water and a finer grind. However, it cannot reproduce the extraction conditions of an espresso machine.

Espresso machines typically operate at much higher pressures than a manually operated AeroPress can generate. So while an AeroPress recipe can produce a short, concentrated beverage, it should not technically be considered espresso.

The difference is not simply the amount of liquid. Pressure, flow and extraction dynamics are also fundamentally different.

AeroPress Coffee-to-Water Ratio

The coffee-to-water ratio is one of the key variables in AeroPress brewing.

As a starting point, you can use:

• Concentrated cup: around 100 g/L

• Longer cup: around 75 g/L

These ratios are not universal rules. One of the advantages of the AeroPress is the ability to experiment with different concentrations and dilute the final brew with additional water if necessary.

For a simple reference recipe, try:

18 g coffee + 230 g water

This gives you a ratio of approximately 1:12.8.

From there, you can adjust the strength by increasing or reducing the amount of water.

What Grind Size Is Best for AeroPress?

There is no single ideal AeroPress grind size.

A medium grind is a good starting point, but the AeroPress can work with a fairly wide range of grind sizes. A finer grind can work well for fast or concentrated recipes, while a coarser grind may be more suitable for longer immersion times.

As a visual reference, a medium grind can resemble fine sea salt or granulated sugar.

The most useful rule is to evaluate the coffee in the cup:

• If the coffee tastes weak or underdeveloped, try grinding slightly finer or increasing contact time.

• If it tastes excessively bitter, dry or astringent, try a slightly coarser grind or reduce extraction time.

• If the coffee tastes balanced and enjoyable, there is no need to change the recipe simply because the grind does not match a visual reference exactly.

How to Make AeroPress Coffee Step by Step

What You’ll Need

• AeroPress

• Paper filters

• Specialty coffee

• Water

• Coffee grinder

• Scale

• Kettle

• Timer

• Spoon

Step 1. Grind the Coffee and Heat the Water

Weigh 18 g of coffee and grind it immediately before brewing.

Heat 230 g of water to approximately 90–95 °C.

This is a good starting temperature, although it can be adjusted depending on the coffee and roast level.

Step 2. Prepare the Filter

Place a paper filter inside the perforated AeroPress cap.

Rinse it with hot water to reduce any papery flavour while also preheating the brewer and serving vessel.

Step 3. Set Up the AeroPress

For this recipe, we will use the inverted method, with the AeroPress positioned upside down.

Insert the plunger into the chamber by approximately 2 cm, creating a space where you can add the coffee and water without immediately draining them.

Place the AeroPress on the scale.

Step 4. Add the Coffee

Add the 18 g of ground coffee to the chamber.

Try to keep the grounds inside the brewing chamber rather than on the sealing edge where the cap will attach. This helps create a proper seal and reduces the risk of leakage.

Step 5. Start the Bloom

Start the timer.

Add approximately 30 g of water at 90–95 °C, making sure all the coffee is saturated.

Stir gently and let it rest for around 30 seconds.

This stage, known as blooming, allows the coffee grounds to become fully saturated and helps release some of the CO₂ retained in freshly roasted coffee.

Step 6. Complete the Infusion

Add the remaining 200 g of water.

Stir several times in a controlled manner to encourage even wetting.

Attach the cap with the filter and make sure it is securely locked.

Allow the coffee to remain in contact with the water for approximately 30 additional seconds.

Step 7. Flip the AeroPress

Place your serving vessel securely over the AeroPress cap and hold both pieces firmly.

Carefully turn the entire setup over so that the AeroPress is positioned on top of the vessel.

Take extra care during this step: the water is hot and the cap must be securely attached.

Step 8. Press the Plunger

Begin pressing the plunger slowly and steadily.

The pressing stage can take approximately 20–30 seconds.

There is no need to use excessive force. The purpose of the pressure is to push the water through the coffee bed and filter, not to force the extraction.

When the plunger reaches close to the end of its travel, you can stop. The characteristic hissing sound indicates that the plunger has reached the end of its path, but there is no need to chase the sound at all costs.

Step 9. Serve the Coffee

Remove the AeroPress and enjoy the coffee.

Taste it before making adjustments. If the brew is too concentrated, simply add a little hot water. This makes it particularly easy to control the final concentration of the drink.

How to Adjust an AeroPress Recipe

One of the biggest advantages of the AeroPress is that you can modify almost every brewing parameter.

For a stronger cup, you can:

• Use more coffee.

• Use less water.

• Grind finer.

• Increase contact time.

For a lighter cup, you can:

• Use less coffee.

• Increase the amount of water.

• Grind slightly coarser.

• Reduce extraction time.

Try not to change every variable at once. Adjusting one variable at a time makes it much easier to understand its effect on the cup.

Standard or Inverted AeroPress?

The AeroPress can be brewed using different techniques.

With the standard method, coffee and water are added while the AeroPress is positioned directly over the serving vessel. Water begins filtering immediately, so contact time depends on both the recipe and the speed of preparation.

With the inverted method, the AeroPress is positioned upside down during the immersion stage. This gives you greater control over when filtration begins.

Neither method is universally better. The choice depends on the recipe and the result you want to achieve.

Why Is the AeroPress So Versatile?

The defining characteristic of the AeroPress is the number of variables it allows you to control.

You can adjust:

• Coffee-to-water ratio

• Grind size

• Water temperature

• Brewing time

• Agitation

• Pressure

• Pressing speed

• Final beverage volume

You can also brew a concentrated coffee and dilute it afterwards, allowing you to create different styles of coffee with the same brewer.

This flexibility is one of the reasons why the AeroPress has become a favourite among specialty coffee professionals and enthusiasts.

How to Clean an AeroPress

One of the AeroPress's biggest advantages is how easy it is to clean.

After brewing, unscrew the cap and eject the coffee puck and filter.

Rinse the components with water and allow them to dry.

You do not need specialised cleaning products for routine maintenance. If you use your AeroPress frequently, an occasional deeper clean will help prevent coffee residue from building up.

Experiment Until You Find Your Recipe

The AeroPress was never designed around a single perfect recipe.

Its greatest strength is precisely the ability to experiment. A recipe using 18 g of coffee and 230 g of water is a useful starting point, but you can adjust the ratio, grind size, temperature and brewing time until you find the profile you enjoy most.

In specialty coffee, a recipe is a tool for achieving a desired result, not a set of rules that must be followed blindly.

Ultimately, the best AeroPress recipe is the one that extracts the characteristics you want to find in your coffee.